Local poet reflects on landmark centenary year

A retired social worker-turned-poet is currently putting on an exhibit of some fifty poems at Omagh Library.

"1916 was a big year for Ireland - for all the communities in Ireland - so I started writing poetry based on that particular year," said Felim O'Neill.

He's the local poet behind a collection of poetry and photographs that have gone on display at Omagh Library this week.

The exhibit will be available to view for the next two weeks in the local library's foyer.

With some fifty compositions, the works centre on the First World War and its impact. Accompanying copies of photographs from publications and newspapers inspired the poems, according Felim.

"Sometimes the photographs inpsired the poems, sometimes the poems were married up later with the photograph," he said.

"The exhibition and the poems captures moments and events and personalities in the First World War," he added.

Felim cites one of the most significant poets from the period as a real inspiration for the work - Wilfred Owen. 

The retired social worker began writing not long after retirement and forms part of Omagh's Open Door Poetry Group.