Children – a poetry film

Children, a poetry film by Pat Boran

The poem ‘Children’ was first published in 1990 when it was written for a volume of poems, Thistledown, produced in aid of UNICEF by the Dedalus Press. Since then ‘Children’ has had a number of incarnations in anthologies and other publications. This new film version, with accompanying music by the author, is something of an […]

Jingle Bells, a version

Christmas is not an easy time for many, particularly those feeling the absence of loved ones. This version of Jingle Bells is for them.

Out of the Blue – a poetry film

Out of the Blue is a poetry film by Irish poet Pat Boran, shot in Baldoyle, Sutton and Howth, Co. Dublin, during Spring/Summer 2022. It remembers all those who, for various reasons and over many centuries, have come to make new lives in this part of Ireland, and whose names and influences are everywhere to […]

Immigrants Open Shops: A Poetry Film

Pat Boran, Immigrants Open Shops, a poetry film

Immigrants Open Shops is a short film about a truth that I missed for many years, until it was pointed out to me by my friend, the Iraqi poet, Sargon Boulus. Contrary to the fears, and often the fear-mongering in some communities, immigration has many benefits: bringing new energy, new talent and new perspectives, and […]

The Inverse Wave: A Poetry Film

Pat Boran, The Inverse Wave, a poetry film

The power of lovers to find each other in the world, and, even in hard times, to make the world bearable for each other, is something to celebrate. The Inverse Wave is a poetry film about recording, noise cancellation – oh yes, and love. Poem, music and film by Pat Boran. Entirely made from StoryBlocks […]

Lost and Found: A Poetry Film

Pat Boran, Lost and Found, a poetry film screenshot

First published  in 2001 in As the Hand, the Glove, Lost and Found is a poem about waste, sustainability and recycling – and about the gifts given to us by those who came before. It was prompted by my late father’s habit of accumulating all kinds of things, in case they might someday come in […]

A Winter Blessing: A Poetry Film

Pat Boran, A Winter Blessing, a poetry film screenshot

In an era when the word ‘snowflake’ has become an insult, A Winter Blessing considers our attitudes to openness and vulnerability, while the film also remembers Ukichiro Nakaya, a Japanese nuclear physicist who turned from his original profession in order to study the composition of snow — perhaps a lesson for our time.

On a Wave of Light: A Poetry Film

Pat Boran, On a Wave of Light, a poetry film screenshot

On a Wave of Light is the result of a ‘Local Live Performance Laois County Council’ commission, for which I’m hugely grateful. Like most of my previous films, it was shot entirely on an iPhone. The music, which I wrote and played (in something of a new departure), was greatly enriched by a generous contribution […]

The Statues of Emo Court: A Poetry Film

Pat Boran, The Statues of Emo Court, a poetry film screenshot

Recorded in the grounds of Emo Court, Co. Laois, Ireland, The Statues of Emo Court celebrates patience, resilience and the turning of the seasons, finding inspiration in the statues of one of Ireland’s most celebrated Big Houses at Emo Court, not far from my native Portlaoise. The poem was commissioned by Dunamaise Arts Centre, and […]

The Sea: A Poetry Film

Pat Boran, The Sea, a poetry film

The Sea is a poem about borders, natural and man-made. In the era of Brexit and Trump, mostly it is a letter of regret and enduring friendship to our neighbours across the Atlantic and the Irish Sea. A poetry film by Pat Boran.