Saturday 23rd May, 2.00-4.00pmCalling all poets and poetry lovers based in Ireland! I’m delighted to announce that I will be reading and in conversation at Speak Your Truth at The Poetry Lounge, Waterford Gallery of Art, O’Connell Street, Waterford. The event is free… yes, totally free! Come along to hear Kerrie Hardie, Eoin Devereux andContinue reading “Speak Your Truth”
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Karen Downs-Barton Wins the John Pollard International Poetry Prize
I’m beyond delighted to be able to share news that I won the John Pollard International Poetry Prize. I’d like to thank Dr Linda Doyle and Trinity College Dublin, Stephen Vernon and the John Pollard Foundation, the lovely judges Professor Eoin McNamee, Una Mannion, and Seán Hewitt for welcoming me and this bestowing this wonderfulContinue reading “Karen Downs-Barton Wins the John Pollard International Poetry Prize”
Swindon Literature Festival
Join me with poets Zoe Brooks and Chris Horton at Lower Shaw Farm for the Swindon Literature Festival’s POETS THREE event. We’ll be talking all things poetry and reading from our recent book releases. Poets Three: KAREN DOWNS-BARTON, ZOE BROOKS, and CHRISTOPHER HORTON Presented in association with Poetry Swindon Prize-winning poet Karen Downs-Barton PhD isContinue reading “Swindon Literature Festival”
Minx and Magma
A whole year after my little Minx was launched upon an unsuspecting world it was a joy to find a review of her in Magma magazine. The lovely Aoife Lyall (@aoife_lyall) gave a very thoughtful review alongside Rosamund Taylor’s Filly and Teresa Lola’s Ceremony for the Nameless. It was lovely to be alongside two poetsContinue reading “Minx and Magma”
Deptford Literature Festival
Mother Tongue, Poetry, Family and Inheritance, Saturday 28 March. Just one week until this fabulous event. I’ll be sharing the stage with three wonderful poets, Sarah Howe, and Erica Hesketh, hosted by writer and critic April Yee. We’ll be reading from our latest collections, exploring themes of matrilineage and family, reflecting on how they nourishContinue reading “Deptford Literature Festival”
Soho Poly Poetry
I’m delighted to share that I’ll be appearing at Soho Poly Poetry on Thursday 12th March alongside Erica Hesketh, Nick Makoha, and Wayne Holloway-Smith. I’ll be reading from Minx and I’ve popped an overview of this stellar lineup below. Tickets available through Eventbrite don’t miss the write about this stellar event below. Join us atContinue reading “Soho Poly Poetry”
Minx in the Guardian
I’m super excited to announce that Minx has made it into the pages of the Guardian newspaper as one of Rishi Dastidar’s ‘Best Poetry of 2025’. Here’s what Rishi had to say about her… ‘Karen Downs‑Barton’s debut /Minx/ (Chatto & Windus) was similarly eye-catching, unsparingly detailing both the poet’s time in the care system, and theContinue reading “Minx in the Guardian”
i Newspaper Article
Did you know that November is National Care Leavers month? It wasn’t well publicised but as an in-and-out resident of state childcare I was delighted to contribute this article to the i newspaper. I hope it goes some way to raising awareness of the changes taking place for young people in care and how simpleContinue reading “i Newspaper Article”
A New Form for National Poetry Day
I’m delighted to announce that Ink Sweat and Tears has published my poem Gone Not Gone on International Poetry Day. This years theme is PLAY and the poem not only features the wonders of the infinite inventiveness of children in a form that ‘plays’ with the use of language.
Minx at Edinburgh International Book Festival
I’m excited to share that next week I’ll be at #EdBookFest, in conversation with the lovely Shasta Hanif Ali about what it means to belong, and how exploring belonging is at the core of Minx. Expect the unexpected in this conversation that looks at the quirks of language, mining archives for rootedness, and creating newContinue reading “Minx at Edinburgh International Book Festival”
Karen Downs-Barton 