Rhymes Of The Gentry

Frances Browner 26NOV21

iven that we’re a bunch of arty, pretentious fecks here in Wicklow 4, it’s only fitting that a collection of poems celebrating our hallowed turf should be unleashed.

That Greystones You Are boasts 50 poems, all by local scribes and all waxing lyrical about their hometown, is a surprise though.

Have we really got that many poets hiding in our midst?

“I’m afraid so,” says Frances Browner, the brains behind this new collection. “And worse still, they’re all over the place. We have poets from Delgany, Kilcoole and beyond in the book, each just as passionate and just as enchanted by their stomping grounds too.”

Having organised last year’s Poetry Wall and this year’s Poetry Trail with a little help from Ross and Brian at The Whale Theatre, it made sense for Frances Browner to pull together all the poems written especially for these public exhibitions.

“There are some truly beautiful poems here,” she nods. “And the idea that that they would be exhibited around the town and then just fade away seemed silly, and somewhat sad. So, Greystones You Are was born…”

And just in case you think that, like every other poet out there, young Browner is only in it for the money, the €10 price tag on this collection all goes to Greystones Cancer Support.

Which is where we met up with Frances today, to find out more…

Available in SuperValu, The Village Bookshop, Bear Paw, Fiona Roche’s Pharmacy, Nicky’s in Kilcoole and Greystones Cancer Support (Mon, Tues, Thurs 9am-2pm). You can also contact Frances directly for copies on frannerb2@gmail.com.