Award-Winning Poet Jenny Mitchell Named First Poet-in-the-Community for Cork City Libraries

Cork City Council Libraries have announced the appointment of Jenny Mitchell as their first ever Poet-in-the-Community. The residency, funded by Creative Ireland, will run from June to October 2025 and aims to engage diverse communities through poetry and spoken word.

Mitchell, who won the prestigious Gregory O'Donoghue Prize in 2022 and the Poetry Book Awards in 2021, expressed her enthusiasm for the role:

"I first visited Cork to attend the International Poetry Festival after winning the Gregory O'Donoghue Prize. I fell in love with the city and the passion for poetry that seems to be everywhere."

The accomplished poet brings substantial experience to the position, having previously served as Poet-in-residence at Sussex University in 2024 and as the British Library Poet in the Community. Her work has gained international recognition, with her poetic tribute to Benjamin Zephaniah featured on the British Literature syllabus at the University of Connecticut.

Patricia Looney, Senior Executive Librarian at Cork City Libraries, highlighted the significance of the new programme:

"Cork City Libraries are very excited about this new residency which will reach out to a variety of communities for creative engagement through poetry and the spoken word."

As part of the residency, Mitchell will mentor local poet Kemi George-Simpson, who holds a masters in creative writing from UCC and is the 2024 Munster Poetry Slam Champion. George-Simpson, who has lived in Cork for 20 years, views the mentorship as a valuable opportunity:

"I look forward to learning from her depth of understanding and breadth of experience."

The five-month programme will feature in-person and online workshops, community open-mic sessions, and will culminate in an event during Black History Month in October. A blog/pamphlet showcasing the work produced during the residency will also be published.

Mitchell will additionally present an international workshop on Poetry and Best Practice when Working with Diverse Communities, open to poets, library and museum practitioners, and members of the public.