Fermanagh presenter John Kelly's new poetry collection

The collection will be published on May 2 by Dedalus Press.

The ‘space’ of John’s second collection of poems is, to begin with, the marvellous unknown that fascinates his younger self. But it’s also very much an earthly realm – the place where daily life occurs, the small territories each of us claims and clears, and from which we attempt to make sense of the world.

John Kelly.

As with space, time too proves elastic, and full of openings onto unexpected discoveries.

“It’s not that I don’t know where I am, exactly,” one poem begins, only to travel back some 50 years, prompted by no more than the barking of a dog. While the past insists on casting its shadow, and certain spaces reveal themselves as traps, the poet’s memory is nevertheless drawn to the light, to the stars, to the comforting presence of the dead, and to the many birds that move throughout these pages.

Intense, humorous, and with the poet’s eye for the telling detail, these poems take us from the wonders of the everyday to the deep and mysterious spaces beyond – and beyond again.

New poetry collection 'Space' from John Kelly.

Born in Enniskillen, John currently lives in Dublin. His poetry has been published in numerous journals and anthologies, and his debut collection, ‘Notions’, was published by Dedalus Press in 2018.

A novel, ‘From Out of The City’, was shortlisted for Novel of the Year at the Bord Gáis Book Awards, and a radio play, ‘The Pipes’, was broadcast by RTÉ.

For many years John has been at the forefront of music and arts broadcasting in Ireland, presenting some of the best-loved and most critically acclaimed music programmes on the Irish airwaves.