Galway’s literati turned out in force for one of their own last week, as Galway poet Anne Donnellan celebrated the launch of her new collection in style.

If Only We Could Bottle It is the title of a new collection of poems from the Menlo poet, published with Revival Press – and it was launched to aplomb in the Galway City Library last week.

Fellow author Mary Madec – one of the many poets and artists in attendance – was full of praise for Anne Donnellan’s work.

“She paints a rural world that exists for many at the edge of memory, a world which had to deal with the pain of emigration at a time of limited communications, and depended on unthinkable small consolations such as lemon drops, Sunday hackneys and Spot the Ball,” she said.

“In the backdrop, the moods and colours of nature console and offer hope, and a deep pride of place makes this book a memorable read,” she added.

Anne Donnellan’s latest work promises to captivate readers with fresh perspectives and lyrical insight. The collection is on sale in local bookstores now.

Pictured: Anne Donnellan (second left) with fellow poets Liam Boyle, Anne Irwin and guest reader Tony O’Dwyer at the launch of Anne’s second collection If Only We Could Bottle It, in the Galway City Library.