Voices on the Bridge poetry collection is launched in Latvia

VOICES on the Bridge, a poetry collection in English, Latvian and Gaeilge by Noel Lyons and Skarleta Feierabends, has been launched in Latvia, with the Mayo launch taking place later this month.

A concert of song, poetry and Riverdancers from Céilí Rue - a Riga-based Irish dancing group comprised of all native Latvians - opened the launch celebrations in Latvia.

Professor Arvids Barsevskis from Daugavpils University, Professor Joseph Horgan, Jelgava University, Dr. Gints Apals, history professor and curator of Latvia's Museum of Occupation and former Latvian Ambassador to Ireland, and Ilze Kreslina, CEO of the Irish Latvian Chamber of Commerce, were among the guests at the launch.

The publication contains several poems of Mayo interest, reference and influence with titles such as Laughing Eyes of Mayo, Broken Waters, Mise Raiftéirí, and the Boat of Life, written a day after Mayo's defeat to Tyrone in the 2021 All-Ireland final.

There are also several poems which deal with aspects of homeland, emigration, of love and loss, and the burning desire of returning in body and spirit to our birthplace, common to many of our diaspora abroad. These emotions desires and longings also pertain to the Latvian diaspora who toil in our land and community and are seldom expressed.

The principal authors of the collection, Noel Lyons and Skarleta Feierabends, expressed their gratitude to all who contributed to bringing the book to publication. Councillor Richard Finn and Mayo County Council gave huge encouragement and support, as did Elizabeth Hutchison and staff of the Irish Hospice Foundation through their Creative Ireland programme. The illustrators who did an incredible job were Samantha Kruma, a talented young Claremorris artist born in Latvia, Ainars Feierabends and Skarleta Feierabends.

Two very special guests at the launch were Dzintra and Sandra Meijere, wife and daughter of Gunars Meijers, the talented Latvian singer and composer who performed in Ireland and instigated the composition and production of the translated album Angels in Your Eyes by Noel Lyons and Skarleta Feierabends which was nominated for Latvian Album of the Year in 2019 in their national Golden Microphones Awards.

* The Irish launch will be held in Warde's outdoor arena in Claremorris on Saturday, May 14, at 4 p.m.