# Event Details

- **Event Name**: Robert Breen Launches “The Light of Civil Day” – A Maine Irish Author Event
- **Event Start and End Date**: Fri, 27 Jun, 2025 at 06:30 pm – Fri, 27 Jun, 2025 at 09:30 pm
- **Event Description**: Join us on Friday, June 27th for an evening of poetry and celebration as Robert Breen launches his new poetry publication The Light of Civil Day! Admission is free, and RSVP's are encouraged.

Our cocktail reception begins at 6:30 – enjoy hors d’oeuvres and beverages, and the beautiful harp music of renowned harpist Julia Lane. At 7:30, Bobby will take the stage, and share his work. Come join the celebration!

All of Bobby’s books will be available for purchase at the event, and Bobby will be signing! Don’t miss your chance to snag your signed copies, and help us celebrate Bobby’s incredible work!

 

About the Author:

Philosophy of Poet Robert Breen

Tragic be as it may.

Time does not heal,

it whispers

an epic narrative differently.

Warfare ought

not occur after Troy.

 

I envision a Wordsworthian viewpoint stretching to feel a spontaneous flood of powerful feelings, recalling that spirit of serenity found in everyday experiences. Unswerving to be inclusive in writing and speaking, a communal language, with a sense of inquisitiveness to find the familiar in catching the heart of episodes, occurrences, in those relationships coexisting between nature and humanity.


Robert (Bobby) Breen was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, where he served for decades as a Boston firefighter. His poetry is deeply rooted in Irish-American heritage, working-class life, and the storytelling traditions of New England. A graduate of the University of Massachusetts Boston, Breen honed his craft through Harvard University’s Summer Writing Program and has been published in The Harvard Summer Review. His work has earned numerous awards, including the Joy of the Pen competition and the Margaret F. Tripp Poetry Award. Breen’s writing reflects a lifelong friendship with Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney, who celebrated Breen’s fireman’s helmet in his poem “Helmet” and considered Breen’s work rich with personal voice and lyrical strength. He lives in Brunswick, Maine, with his wife, Karen, and continues to write about place, memory, and the endurance of ordinary people.

___
 
About the Book
In The Light of Civil Day, Robert Breen—Boston firefighter, Irish-American poet, and observer of life’s quiet reckonings—delivers a collection of lyrical reflections on loss, love, endurance, and place. Grounded in the working-class streets of Boston and the coastal landscapes of Maine, these poems bear witness to the fragile moments of life and the deep human need for connection.

With the eye of a first responder and the heart of a storyteller, Breen explores both private grief and public tragedy. His poems, many previously published in respected journals, are informed by a lifetime of service, family heritage, and his friendship with literary legend Seamus Heaney. This collection speaks to readers who find grace in small details, reverence in ordinary moments, and resilience in the face of hardship. 

Enjoy this example of Robert Breen’s work:
Skating
Your joy,
Our civility,
in harmony,
with sharing
a cooperation
to be amiable.
All in balance on a thin single blade.


We are also launching the newly printed Second Edition of Bobby’s magnificent collection, Shore Digger!
A moving collection of poetry by Boston firefighter Robert Breen, exploring Irish heritage, immigrant stories, and working-class life with lyrical grace and hard-earned wisdom. Inspired by his friendship with poet Seamus Heaney.
- **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/portland/robert-breen-launches-the-light-of-civil-day-a-maine-irish-author-event/200028221669214
- **Event Categories**: art, literary-art, workshops, storytelling
- **Interested Audience**: 
  - total_interested_count: 10

## Ticket Details

- **Ticket URL**: https://maineirish.com/event/robert-breen-the-light-of-civil-day/?utm_source=AllEvents.in&utm_medium=event-discovery-platform&utm_campaign=portland-events

## Event venue details

- **city**: Portland
- **state**: ME
- **country**: United States
- **location**: 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, United States, Maine 04102
- **lat**: 43.6504
- **long**: -70.26249
- **full address**: 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, United States, Maine 04102

## Event Organizer details

- **affiliate_id**: 2
- **organizer**: Maine Irish Heritage Center (https://allevents.in/org/maine-irish-heritage-center/6937423)

## Event gallery

- **Alt text**: banner
  - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events9/banners/bde1a5294a81aa1b71f7c85c47a1e8099397b77e0cc86ff63cfcacab99cc2c9c-rimg-w1200-h675-dcd5d5d8-gmir?v=1750490605
- **Alt text**: thumbnail
  - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events9/banners/d59ebaf24b0fef9ff6ea5c6076308760bf97d45e0e54eadcc5c5156dae0d44ec-rimg-w300-h300-dcd4d6d9-gmir?v=1750490605

## FAQs

- **Q**: When is the event happening?
  - **A:** Fri, 27 Jun, 2025 at 06:30 pm
- **Q**: Where is the event happening?
  - **A:** 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, United States, Maine 04102
- **Q**: Who is organizing the event?
  - **A:** Maine Irish Heritage Center
- **Q**: What type of event is this?
  - **A:** art, literary-art, workshops, storytelling
- **Q**: Where can I find ticket details about Robert Breen Launches “The Light of Civil Day” – A Maine Irish Author Event ?
  - **A:** You can find ticket details about this event on AllEvents.

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