We have added a new perfomance podcast by Musician Donnacha Toomey in which Donnacha performs 3 pieces for us including the songs “Early one “, “ Same way that I do”  and the hauntingly beautiful instrumental “Daylight Moon“.  Also under Armchair Ireland/ Myths & Legends you can hear a brand new adaptation of the story of the birth of Fionn Mc Cumhaill and his early adventures with his Wolfhound Bran and there was some great news from Poet Terry Mc Donagh whose poem “A Slim Volume” was a runner up in The Fish Publishing Poetry Prize. An anthology, to include winners and runners-up in short stories, flash fiction and poetry competitions which will be launched at the West Cork Literary Festival in Bantry on July 7^th.

We are delighted to welcome Dublin born poet Pauline Fayne this week and to include the first of several readings by Thomas Mc Carthy and a reading by Ger Reidy from his just released second collection “Drifting Under The Moon“  Ger also features in this weeks Artbeat Archive as he reads a short story written especially for the show in 2007.

Happy Easter everyone it is lovely to see that the daffodils are in full bloom at last after a very late Spring in this part of Ireland.  We have some more Easter delights for you added today, we have a performance from Johnny Duhan of his song ‘Trying to get the balance right’ you’ll find that in our Featured Musicians Section.  Poet Mary Branley reads from her book ‘A Foot on the Tide’  in our Featured Poets Section and a new story in our Myths and Legends Section ‘No Bother’ will bring a smile to your face unlike its protagonist Sean Maguire.   Just  a few more recordings for you to enjoy over the Easter break, if you are new to the site you’ll find plenty to keep you occupied just check out the drop down menus at the top of the page.

We would like to extend a warm welcome to Rosemary Canavan whose page is now up in our Featured Poets section, here you will find an interview with Rosemary as she talks about her work, her love of the countryside in rural Cork and how it inspires her work as does working with diverse groups of people.  In coming weeks we will have more recordings of Rosemary reading for her collections.  We would also like to take this opportunity to wish you all a lovely Easter break!

A warm welcome to writer William Wall who has just joined us on podcasts.ie.  William Wall has just begun a 5 week residency at The Princess Grace Irish Library in Monaco but we caught up with him in Cork before he left, you will find his page in our Featured Writers Section.

Also newly added this week you will find another edition of the Calendar Road.  This month Sinéad focusses on a plant that is particularly prevalent along the roadway and is just about coming into its own at this time of the year.

And it’s now and then with the weekly installment of Artbeat Archive, as not only are we dipping into the archives but also we take a current look at the highlights from the arts calendar in April and May.