A question of taste - Eibhlís Carcione

Eibhlís Carcione lives in Cork city, and will be reading at the at the Ó Bhéal Winter Warmer Festival this weekend in the Kino. She won Duais Fhoras na Gaeilge in 2012. 

Her poetry has been published in such journals as Southword and The Moth. Coiscéim published her first collection of Irish-language poetry, Tonn Chlíodhna, in 2015.

Best recent book you’ve read: An Paróiste Míorúilteach by Máire Mhac an tSaoi. The Spinning Heart by Dónal Ryan.

Best recent film:

We always wonder how we will react in a crisis. The husband in the Danish film Force Majeure runs away from his family in a moment of crisis. What happens next makes for a fascinating film.

Best recent show/exhibition you’ve seen… and what you enjoyed about it:

One of the highlights of the 1916 commemorations for me was Women of The South:Radicals and Revolutionaries at the Farmgate Café. The event gave these Irish revolutionaries the voice they deserved.

Also, The Beauty Queen of Leenane at the Everyman in Cork. The bitter and manipulative mother battles with the love- hungry daughter. Throw in the darkness of rural life and it’s about as Irish as it gets.

Best piece of music you’ve been listening to lately (new or old):

I’ve been listening to The Buena Vista Social Club again — that classic Cuban sound never gets old.

I heard ‘The Lakes of Ponchartrain’ sung by Liam Ó Maonlaoi on the radio recently and it’s been playing in my head ever since.

First ever piece of music or art or film or gig that really moved you:

The poem ‘Snow’ by Louis MacNeice and short stories by Pádraic Ó Conaire inspired me at a young age to think creatively.

The most enjoyable poetry reading you’ve ever been at (if you had to pick one!):

Paul Durcan in Dublin. He read the poem ‘Sally’, one of the most haunting love poems ever written.

Tell us about your TV viewing:

I watched some great documentaries recently. Asking for It? Reality Bites with Louise O’Neill on RTÉ 2 and The Field — Crá sa Chré on TG4 were two of the standouts.

I rarely miss Imeall and The Works. A movie from Netflix or iTunes can often round out the weekend. When I want to laugh, I go back to Larry David and Curb your Enthusiasm.

Radio listening and/or podcasts:

The John Creedon Show always gets a nightly airing in the house.

Lyric Fm or Audiophile Baroque on the internet radio are always playing in the background. Even when I’m not at home I leave it on for my two basset hounds! I catch up with Arena on the RTÉ radio app.

You’re curating your dream poetry festival — who’s on the bill (living or dead)?

Biddy Jenkinson, Ailbhe Ní Ghearbhuigh, Doireann Ní Ghríofa, Brian Merriman, Thomas McCarthy, Robert Frost, Louise Gluck, and no festival would be complete without Seamus Heaney. And I would be thrilled if Ted Hughes dropped in.

Your best/ most famous celebrity encounter:

I was lucky enough to do a workshop with the great poet Michael Longley.

Do you have any interesting ancestors?

My husband’s great-grandfather owned a pet shop in New York City. Franklin D Roosevelt used to go there and buy horsemeat for his dogs.

Favourite ever item of clothing:

A grey coat with silver buttons which I bought in a vintage shop in Dublin. A few years ago on a declutttering whim, I gave it into a charity shop in Cork. I miss it and keep an eye out to see who might be wearing it on the streets of Cork.

Unsung heroes:

The Irish Navy for the great humanitarian work they are doing in the Mediterranean.

You are queen for a day — what’s your first decree?

I would reward the good and banish the wicked!