Armagh Theatre Group are delighted to welcome back internationally acclaimed artist/poet Raquel McKee to Abbey Lane as our special guest for August 30th Open Mic
Raquel has been resident in N. Ireland for over 18 years. She is a performing artist who is recognised in N.I. for her role as Asha the asylum seeker in the play Lives in Translation, which toured N. Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. She is also known for her storytelling; for being one of the Pivot ladies who hosted their own podcast UnMute Now (Check it out on You Tube) and for her Jamaican Dub Poetry performances and poetry readings, for which some in Armagh might remember her. (Check out Raquel McKeeChannel on You Tube). She is an active member of the John Hewitt Society committee, where this year she hosted the panel discussion on Crossing Thresholds: The Migrant’s Narrative.
The Garage Band originated as a six-piece band during the lockdown in Armagh.
The current lineup consists of Ryan Beagan on Bass, Aidan McGillion on drums and percussion, Sárán Ó Machail on electric guitar, and recently Adrian Kissane on guitars and vocals filled in for Eoin Kelly and Eamon Trainor.
They have since performed at various community events throughout the county and have recently played at the 7 Hills Blues Festival.
See the band perform their wide variety of musical talents at Open Mic in Abbey Lane Theatre, 30th August doors open 7.45pm £5 in.
Five minute slots availble for performers on the night- Poets, singers, storytellers,writers yarnspinners etc - Super half time raffle
See you there and remember ---Limited seating. Co Armagh's premier Open Mic for the last 10 years!
ATG are delighted to announce our John Hewitt International Summer School/ Open Mic special guest is Gaynor Kane.
Gaynor Kane is a poet from Belfast who came to writing late and is trying to make up for time.
She has two poetry pamphlets, and a full collection, from Hedgehog Poetry Press, they are Circling the Sun, Memory Forest, and Venus in Pink Marble (2018, 2019 and 2022 respectively).
She is co-author, along with Karen Mooney, of a pamphlet of pandemic poetry entitled Penned In (2020). Gaynor has performed at several literary events including Mount Stewart Conversations, The Belfast Book Festival, Open House Festival, Stendhal Music Festival, Gloucester Poetry Festival and Cheltenham Poetry Festival.
Recently, she has been guest sub-editor for the inaugural issue of The Storms: A journal of prose, poetry and visual art. Her latest chapbook, Eight Types of Love, was released in July, 2022.
Diary date Friday 26th July 8 *Note later start of 9pm.*Prebook your 5 min slot to perform by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. before
Monday 22nd midnight. Indicate your subject please (Poetry/Song/Music/Stories etc)