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Barney is 'upset' over fuss about poet controversy

Barney Sheehan: "I regret that she [Emma Sharn] regrets my approach"

« Previous« Previous Next »Next »ADVERTISEMENT Published Date: 27 February 2009 By Anne Sheridan THE management of the White House pub have backed the views of their poetry MC who believed a controversial poem on swapping genders wasn't suitable for their audience. Aspiring poet and comedian Emma Sharn, 30, was recently asked by Barney Sheehan, MC of the White House poetry revival night, to tone down her work after her last recital. She has now decided not to perform again at the White House and believes that "so-called open mic sessions at the White House is a joke" and has accused them of attempting to censor her work. The poem questions what it would be like for the sexes to swap genders and references to sexual acts was reputedly found to be "crude, explicit and personal." Manager of the White House, Glen McLoughlin, said while he was not present on the night he is backing the views of Mr Sheehan "100 per cent". "The content of the poem wasn't suitable. The general rule of thumb is that pubs are for the enjoyment of everyone, not a few. You have to respect the house and the decisions of the house, and if you don't you can go elsewhere," said Mr McLoughlin. However, Ms Sharn who has read her work in the pub on numerous occasions said people approached her saying they were glad she raised these issues.

Thursday, 26th March 2009

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She wants to continue to tackle taboo issues such as rape, suicide, and child abuse, but will no longer do so in the White House. Among the lines from the poem which reputedly sat uncomfortably with the audience were: "Oh bend over baby, I'll go from behind, you can swallow my sperm, if you feel inclined." It also included descriptions of a female's experience of her menstrual cycle, stating "push in that tampon, there's nothing to fear". Mr Sheehan said the reaction from the audience in the White House pub was "subdued" and said he has no issue with poets referring to sex or sexuality in their work. "I'm a bit upset by the whole thing, and I'm upset that she's upset," said Mr Sheehan. "I've never, ever criticised any poetry in my five or six years at the White House. There is an obligation on me to control the event, but not to control the poetry as an expressive form. She read on two to three nights but there was no sign of her work being toned down. I gently went up to her at the bar and asked if she could tone down her poetry a small bit. I regret that she regrets my approach." Ms Sharn, who is now trying to break into the comedy circuit, claims she was informed by Mr Sheehan "not to use poetry as a vehicle for my personal stuff", but she believes that "any true artists must be able to talk about what they know". "If everybody has the same type of poetry and nothing new or different is allowed in, doesn't this mean that the so-called 'open mic' sessions are in fact 'closed'?" she asked. Close to 300 poetry nights have been held in the pub each Wednesday night to date. Over the past six years some of the world's most successful poets have visited the White House, including Austrian poet Vicky Rhomberg, American poets Buddy Wakefield and Derrick Brown, France's Rolland Pauzin, Sarah Donnelly from Africa and Harry Zefenbegen of Holland. Page 1 of 1

� Last Updated: 27 February 2009 10:21 AM � Source: n/a � Location: Limerick

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