Paddy Bushe and John Liddy followed by book Launch of Amergin Step

with music by Harpist Kathleen Loughnane

Paddy Bushe, born in Dublin, has lived overlooking Ballinskelligs Bay for over fifty years. A poet, editor, and translator in both English and Irish, he is a member of Aosdána. His work is deeply influenced by the landscape and literature of Iveragh. His book The Amergin Step, for which he earned a Ph.D. from University College Cork in 2022, explores the cultural and natural heritage of the Iveragh Peninsula, drawing on literature, folklore, archaeology, and more. Named after the poem recited by the legendary figure Amergin as he landed in Ballinskelligs Bay, the book emphasizes the importance of connecting with our surroundings.

John Liddy, born in Youghal, Co. Cork, and raised in Limerick, is a poet, editor, and translator living in Madrid. He co-founded The Stony Thursday Book in 1975 and has edited special editions for The Café Review and The Hong Kong Review. Liddy’s poetry collections include Arias of Consolation (2021/22) and Slipstreaming in the West of Ireland (2024), coauthored with Jim Burke. He also has a forthcoming collection of short stories co-authored with his brother Liam.

 The Amergin Step will be launched by Benjamin Keatinge