Reading of Irish poet's works in Sarasota

   If you know who Eilean Ni Chuilleanain is, you’re probably from Ireland.

   If you don’t know who she is, you have a great chance to find out on Monday, March 11. A theater group called Improbable Athenaeum is presenting “A Green Leaf of Language,” a free reading of the acclaimed Irish writer's  poetry, at Sarasota’s Selby Library.

   Improbable Athenaeum is an unusual theater company that aims to present plays, readings and performance art happenings in non-traditional settings, such as libraries or parks. Almost all their performances are free or very low-cost.

   Every year around St. Patrick’s Day, Improbable Athenaeum seeks out material by Irish writers. Artistic director Jo Averill-Snell said this year it was an easy decision.

   “We try to bring people who are very high-quality and very literary but not very well-known here to the attention of our audience,” Averill-Snell said. “As I soon as I came across her I said, ‘Oh my god, her! We’re reading her!’"

Clare Ward-Jenkins

   Chuilleanain teaches at Trinity College and is “revered” in Ireland,” Averill-Snell said.
     Most of Improbable Athenaeum’s works are multi-media, but in this case the language was so gorgeous that Averill-Snell said she thought it would be best to present it unadorned. So it will simply be read by two professional actors – Averill-Snell and Clare Ward-Jenkins – in costume.

   It’s at Selby Library’s Jack J. Geldbart Auditorium,

1331 First St., Sarasota, from 6 to 7 p.m. Monday, March 11. Information is at improbableathenaeum.com.