An extraordinary beginning to the Yes But Are We Enemies? project in Ireland, the wonderful poets of Belfast couldn't have been more generous and hospitable, and enthusiastic, to us and the idea. Such a privilege to meet so many I have admired from afar in person, including Billy Ramsell, Ailbhe Darcy, Robert Maclean, Susan Tomaselli, Damian Smyth, and to be taken in so fully by the amazing young poets around the University and the Heaney Centre in Belfast like Manuela Moser, Stephen Sexton and Padraig Regan. After arriving and exploring the city a wee bit, I was taken in to a bookshop lock-in by Stephen Connolly who has created a real scene around the Lifeboat reading series before we headed to the Crescent Arts Centre. The readings were uniformly intense and generous, and the vibe, as so often is the case with Enemies, was really warm and cohesive, and carried on into the night after the poetry. Such a great way to begin our tour.
Stephen Connolly & Stephen Sexton - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGEISvlX-7U

Padraig Regan & Manuela Moser - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgc2OR8uL3Y

Sophie Collins & Robert Maclean - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yo9_BrrmBZU

Caitlin Newby & Andy Eaton - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxpcE3Rv3s8

Tom Saunders & Lorcan Mullan - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q03_BFgpoOY

Billy Ramsell & myself - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHNJGdbfkpo

Patrick Coyle & Ailbhe Darcy - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUw3x4W0fXk

Sam Riviere & Christodoulos Makris - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5K9yYcSHGQ