The launch of new pamphlets by Matt Kirkham and Howard Wright in Belfast tonight, Thursday 26 May,  is being hosted by No Alibis bookshop, in association with Iota magazine and Templar Poetry.

Both poets were winners in the 2010 Iota Shots pamphlet competition, along with David Gilbert. Matt Kirkham lives on the Ards peninsula, where he works as a teacher. The Lost Museums (Lagan Press, 2006), won the Rupert and Eithne Strong award for best first collection. Matt's winning pamphlet is entitled, Aged Fourteen My Father Ran Away to Sea (Templar Poetry, 2011).

Howard Wright is a lecturer in fine and applied arts at the University of Ulster. He has two previous pamphlets, Yahoo (1991) and Usquebaugh (1997). He won the Frogmore poetry prize in 2004 and again in 2009. His debut collection is King of Country (Blackstaff Press, 2010). Howard's winning pamphlet is entitled, Blue Murder (Templar Poetry, 2011)

Venue: No Alibis bookshop, Botanic Avenue, Belfast. 6.30 – 8.30 pm. Admission free. Map