We are paying tribute this week to the late writer and researcher of all things Irish, Manchán Magan who has departed our current world for the next one. We talk about his influence on the recent fire under the belly of Irish culture and share a few pages of his book '99 Words For Rain'.

Good news for the artists of Ireland came in the form of the basic income scheme for artists being stamped as permanent. We hear from writers, playwrights and poets on what this news means and the reality of being an artist in Ireland.

We've got a load of Irish sayings courtesy of listenter Theresa McCormack, a circle of life poem from Tanaaz about her own Granny and a banger of a poem from Derek Walcott as a reminder to be kinder to ourselves.

Our Agony Aunt is back helping someone who has a certain itch to scratch. Filthy carry on, really.

Music this week is from Ciaran Lavery who was recently shortlisted for the Northern Ireland Music Prize.

Hopefully see a few of you at the Rising Tide event this Wednesday.

Ryan and Leon

Poems from the show

Mánchan Magan - 99 Words For Rain

https://www.easons.com/ninety-nine-words-for-rain-and-one-for-sun-manchan-magan-9781804583340?srsltid=AfmBOoqb6KOMGIik3tc1OAUqANYGgiHJ3iML-zn-Vz0QUicV1sOZRep4

Derek Walcott - Love After Love

https://allpoetry.com/love-after-love

Leon Dunne - Scars On The Landscape

Tanaaz Kothawalla - Mangoes And Granny

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/poe_tryforme/

Agony Aunt - A Man

Music by Ciaran Lavery

https://ciaranlaverymusic.com/

Support the show

Original music by Matthew Keating
Artwork by Paddy Downey
Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey