WHITE ROCK — When Slainte by the Pier closed, Ray Fynes had to find a new place to host Irish Poetry Nights.
He didn't have to look too far.
Jimmy Flynn's Celtic Snug - just two doors up on Marine Drive - will now host the monthly performances of Irish poetry, including readings by such authors as W.B. Yeats, Louis MacNiece, Seamus Heaney and Oscar Wilde.
"Slainte had always been a receptive place because Jack Sixsmith, the owner, is into poetry," said Fynes. "He actually had done many of the readings and researched the topic for two or three of the nights."
The Irish Poetry Nights have proven to be a popular event since they started a year ago. Fynes said that between White Rock and South Surrey, about 15,000 people are of Irish heritage, so many locals come out every third Wednesday of the month to hear the readings.
"There are some nights that people have been turned away," he said.
The idea for the performances came to Fynes after seeing an open-mic poetry show by Semiahmoo Arts, of which he is a member.
"They do a thing called Zero to 360 - anyone has got six minutes to read something they've written," he said. "I went one night and was impressed by some of the local talent, and it reminded me of when I worked abroad."
While working overseas, Fynes frequented an Irish pub that was also attended by professors. He realized in 2012 that written works like poetry went hand-in-hand with "an environment where you can have a drink."
Every month has a different theme, and Fynes said they try to get about 10 people to read for a variety of voices throughout the night.
To mark the first anniversary of Irish Poetry Nights, the Jan. 15 showing will highlight contemporary female poets from Northern Ireland, including Moyra Donaldson, Janet Shepperson, Maria McManus, Cherry Smyth and Joan Bleakney.
Because Irish Poetry Nights do not run on an open mic format, anyone interested in reading or leading the performances should call Fynes at 604-542-3667.