Celebrate Brigid with Poetry at Roe River Books Dundalk

February 1, 2026

Welcome to the Roe River Books blog

Until recently, we did not have a dedicated space online to document the many events that have taken place in the shop over the years. As we move into 2026, we are starting afresh and beginning to build a record of readings, performances, and gatherings at Roe River Books.

This post marks the first blog entry of the year. While we will also be adding selected events from previous years in time, this reading was our first literary event of January 2026, and it felt like the right place to begin.

On Saturday 31 January 2026, we hosted a poetry and spoken word event at Roe River Books in Dundalk to mark St Brigid’s Day through literature, music, and live performance.

The afternoon was centred around poet Lynda Tavakoli, who was the main reader throughout the event. Her voice carried the session from beginning to end, setting its rhythm and tone, and guiding the audience through the afternoon with clarity, warmth, and emotional presence.

The shop filled early with poets, readers, listeners, and members of the local community. People travelled from Dundalk and surrounding areas to be part of it. From the outset, the atmosphere was attentive and generous, with a strong sense of shared listening.

That Saturday Afternoon

From the first reading, the energy in the room was focused and calm. Every seat was taken, and many people stood between shelves or leaned against the walls. Despite the full space, the afternoon never felt rushed or crowded.

Audience responses shifted naturally with each piece. Some poems were met with stillness, others with quiet laughter or sustained applause. There were moments when the room seemed to hold its breath together.

This sense of collective attention was what made the afternoon feel special. It was not a performance set apart from its audience, but a shared experience unfolding in the space.

Lynda Tavakoli

Lynda Tavakoli was the principal reader of the afternoon, returning to the mic repeatedly across the session. Her readings formed the backbone of the event and gave it continuity and depth.

Originally from County Down, Lynda is a professional member of the
Irish Writers Centre
and has been nominated for
Best of the Net
and the
Pushcart Prize.

She facilitates adult creative writing classes and has tutored for the Seamus Heaney Award for Schools. Her work has won poetry and short story prizes in Lisdoonvarna and the
Westival
international poetry competition programme, and she has been published in
The Irish Times,
including work referenced in New Irish Writing contributor notes.

Her debut poetry collection, The Boiling Point for Jam, received wide acclaim for its raw honesty and emotional clarity. Her second collection, A Unison of Breaths, has been recently published by
Arlen House.

We stock both collections in our bookshop. Please contact us for availability.

A series of Lynda’s Gaza poems has also appeared as
Unbroken: The Gaza Poems.

We were delighted to welcome Lynda Tavakoli to Roe River Books for our poetry celebration marking St Brigid’s Day. Many listeners stayed afterwards to speak with her, and several copies of her books were purchased and signed on the day.

Opening the Afternoon

The afternoon was introduced and supported by Marian Brannigan, who welcomed the audience and helped set the tone for the event.

Her introduction offered context for the readings and created a warm opening to the afternoon, grounding the event in a sense of community and shared purpose before the first poem was read.

Host and Curation

The event was curated and hosted by Longford native John Noonan, a past winner of The Goldsmith Poetry competition, who opened the afternoon, guided the programme, and closed the event by thanking contributors and attendees.

Alongside his role as host, John also contributed readings of his own work. His presence provided structure and continuity, allowing space for each voice while holding the afternoon together.

Music and Song

Sophie Coyle is an Irish alt folk singer songwriter based in Dundalk. She is known for her narrative driven music and a distinctive storytelling style that blends folk traditions with gothic and contemporary influences.

She released her debut album, Blame Me for the Storm, in 2018 to critical acclaim. Her second album, Cuentista (Storyteller), released in 2024, was inspired by her travels in South America and reflects a deep engagement with place, voice, and lived experience.

Her performance at Roe River Books brought poetry and song into close conversation, adding a musical layer to the afternoon that sat naturally alongside the spoken word.

Watch: Sophie Coyle, Dancing to Tom Paine Poems

Looking Ahead

This reading felt like the right place to begin our 2026 record. We will continue to document events as they happen, with a focus on the voices in the room and the shared listening that makes afternoons like this possible.