Reception for U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins

Padraic Keane playing the uilleann pipes

On May 2nd, former US Poet Laureate (2001-03) Billy Collins was honored by Ambassador Rooney with a reception at his Residence in the Phoenix Park.  Mr. Collins was in Ireland for the Galway Cuirt Festival, as well as a follow-on Poetry Symposium at Trinity College. At the Embassy’s tenth anniversary Commemoration of September 11, Mrs. Patricia Rooney had read HIS haunting poem, THE NAMES, which he had written to remember the victims of the tragedy of September 11, 2001.  The evening included readings by Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney and traditional uilleann piping by Padraic Keane.