Frank McGuinness reads from his collection May Twenty-second and we mark the centenary of the birth of Leland Bardwell.

In the first episode of a new autumn series, on Sunday 16th October 2022 on RTÉ Radio 1, presenter Olivia O'Leary is joined by the poet and playwright Frank McGuinness. Frank reads poems from his collection May Twenty-Second, published by The Gallery Press, on themes that range from his parents, to the characters in Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice, to killings in Northern Ireland.

2022 marks the centenary of the birth of Leland Bardwell, who was born on 25th February 1922. Her son John McLachlan tells Olivia about her Collected Poems, published by Salmon Poetry, which he has edited and which will be launched at A Single Rose, a three-day festival taking place in November 2022 at The Model in Sligo. We also hear archive recordings of Leland reading two of her remarkable poems.

Photo: Frank McGuinness and Olivia O'Leary