James Healy, The Leinster Leader.

Perhaps the most outstanding feature of the International Summer School at Monasterevin are the regulars. By regulars I mean the enthusiasts and poets who arrive year in year out and bring with them a friendliness and informality that makes each gathering very special.

Joan doesn't write poetry but she loves the atmosphere

Joan Toomey normally stays in a BB over the course of the week long festival. "I do not write poetry myself,' she told me, `But I love the whole atmosphere here.'

Liam has a quirky take on life!

Liam O'Meara is a Dublin poet who has a quirky take on life that always provides an interesting diversion when he gets down to sharing some of his poems. Liam is a stalwart at the poetry workshop which normally kicks off the week and where he tends to try out new work in the group setting.

Always a buzz of Expectation

He was joined as per usual this year by his friend Michael O'Flanagan. Michael is another Dub and speaks with all the toughness, warmth and humour of that great city. There is always a buzz of expectation when these two arrive at the Hopkins Festival.

r I remember back in 1997 Michael standing up to recite a poem and producing a music synthesiser from from nowhere before intoning the verse to his own discordant accompaniment. He is living proof that poetry must be lived if it is to be alive.

A Fair Share of European Poets

The Hopkins School brings in a fair share of European poets who are considered at the front rank of their art. Bruno Gaurier from France was back again this year and I enjoyed some of his work which seems to me to bring French rhythms and intonation naturally and unselfconsciously into the English language. Bruno is a fair man to read out a poem as well and at a Thursday evening performance provided a very arresting presentation of an original Desmond Egan poem dedicated to Ezra Pound.

Scores of people from all walks of life

se are just some of the scores of people from all walks of life who return each year to Monasterevin and help make the Hopkins festival a remarkably human celebration.

See why HOPKINS 2000 was the best festival yet