Lewis Kenny has been appointed Poet in Residence 2015 at Bohemian FC – the first such appointment in Irish football.
As Poet in Residence, the 21-year-old student from Cabra will compose poems about the club, Dalymount Park, football and the local community which will be published in the club’s match-day programmes. In return, Lewis has been presented with a VIP Season Ticket.
Lewis has performed at and hosted several spoken-word evenings at Dalymount Park since 2013. His work draws on urban experience and youth culture, bringing to light social and economic situations of young people. Some of his poetry, including ‘Cabra’, refers to Bohemians and Dalymount Park.
“My reaction to this appointment is pure joy,” Lewis said. “My boyhood dream was to play for Bohemians, and I have been a fan all my life. I never thought I would represent the club as a poet.”
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Lewis has several pieces “in the works” and hopes to unveil one of these at the start of new league season next month.
He is a regular performer on the Dublin and festival circuit and headlined his own show, ‘OutStraight’, at Electric Picnic. He is the founder of the Inter-Varsity Poetry Slam, a college competition which starts in March and aims to become an all-Ireland event next year.
Lewis is also Chairperson of the Poetry Society at the Institute of Art Design and Technology (IADT) in Dun Laoghaire, where he studies audio-visual media technology.
Lewis Kenny’s appointment comes in Bohemian FC’s 125th anniversary year. The programme of events includes an exhibition, a drama reading, a family day, historical talks and other cultural initiatives. Already known as “the people’s club”, Bohemians are increasingly recognised also as a “club of culture”.
