RTÉ 2FM daytime presenter Rick O’Shea is to present a new weekly RTÉ Radio 1 series, titled The Poetry Programme, which will see him exploring the diverse and vibrant world of poets and poetry.
O’Shea says: “I’ve been involved in arts programming on Radio 1 for quite a while as a contributor to Arena but this is going to be a great honour and a new adventure not only for me but for new listeners wanting to experience contemporary poets and their poetry. I’ll be the first to hold my hand up and say I’m no expert on the subject, just an amateur who is passionate about the written and spoken word. To be hosting my own programme on Radio 1 for the first time is a huge thrill.”
Across the series, Rick will meet established and acclaimed Irish poets, including Eavan Boland and Paul Muldoon, and international poets, such as Liz Lochhead, the National Poet for Scotland.
He will also introduce a new generation of poets such as Miriam Gamble, Dylan Brennan and Stephen James Smith, who write engaging and challenging poems about Ireland and Irish life today.
In addition, Rick will explore with guests new ways of approaching and thinking about our past greats, and experience the lively ‘live’ poetry scene around the country.
From slam poetry to Yeats, from Donne to Durcan, from Bishop to Boland, The Poetry Programme is for everyone who loves poetry… and those who just don’t know it yet.
He adds: “I’m hoping this will be a programme not just for those in the poetry community already but for people with an interest in poetry who’d like to dig in and find new and established contemporary poets and events that they might want to read more of or turn up at”.
Rick also assured his regular fans that this new show won’t affect his current programme, saying “No, of course, this doesn’t mean there’ll be any changes to the regular weekday show on 2FM. Think of this as a part-time job I’m taking on at the weekend”.
The series debúts on Saturday, January 24th on RTÉ Radio 1 at 7.30pm.