The following text is taken from the Arts Office Kilkenny County Council Press Release
Kilkenny County Council’s Arts Office is delighted to announce the launch of the fifth edition of Rhyme Rag, a poetry publication featuring the work of young Kilkenny writers.
Once again the number and standard of poetry submitted for inclusion in edition five of the Rhyme Rag was overwhelming making the editors decision a good read but a difficult choice. Twenty seven poems from young people aged between twelve and twenty one years were selected in this year’s publication. The approach and scale of this year’s edition is very different to previous years, thus adding yet another dimension to the production and presentation of such work. Arts Officer Mary Butler ‘feels it is important not to become complacent and to continue to challenge and excite both ourselves and the young writers by what we produce.’
The illustration of the publication was undertaken by artist Ale Mercado and this year’s editor was Adam Wyeth.
Adam Wyeth comments on Rhyme Rag
‘It’s clear from the submissions I received for this year’s Rhyme Rag that these poets have been given the opportunity, at school and at home, to discover and appreciate many poems…They are already on their way to becoming the great fluent speakers of tomorrow’s poetry. With projects like this, set up by the Kilkenny County Council Arts Office, our young poets have been given a platform to make their own mark on Ireland’s literary landscape.’