HoCoPoLitSo’s annual evening of Irish music and poetry
on Saturday, February 7th, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. presents
Sisterhood, Silence, and Survival
featuring novelist and poet Caoilinn Hughes
author of The Alternatives
in conversation with Cóilín Parsons,
and music by Poor Man’s Gambit.

In-person admission available for purchase now
Limited-time discount available before New Year’s!

HoCoPoLitSo’s 48^th annual Evening of Irish Music and Poetry on Saturday, February 7^th, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. presents Sisterhood, Silence, and Survival, featuring Caoilinn Hughes, author of novels, short stories and poetry, reading from her work followed by a conversation moderated by Cóilín Parsons, Georgetown University Associate Professor and Director of Global Irish Studies. The evening also features music performed by Poor Man’s Gambit and Unranked; a representative of the Irish Embassy to the United States has been invited to continue the long-standing tradition of providing opening remarks.

The evening program commences at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 7^th, 2026 in the Smith Theatre of the Horowitz Visual & Performing Arts Center on the campus of Howard Community College; guests may be seated starting at 7 p.m. Responsible patrons aged 21 and up are invited to partake of Irish beverages at our CASH-ONLY bar, at intermission and prior to the stage show while enjoying a performance by Unranked. Non-alcoholic drinks and light fare will be provided free to attendees. A book signing follows the reading and discussion, and books by the featured authors will be available for purchase. After intermission, Poor Man’s Gambit will play a concert of traditional Irish music.

Tickets are available now through the Horowitz Center Box Office— offered at a special discount of $40 if purchased before January 1st! A reduced rate is available for educators and students. We hope you will join us for what is sure to be another unforgettable evening.

You can find more information on this year’s event, including artist biographies, as well as on the history of HoCoPoLitso’s Irish Evening on its dedicated page, here. All proceeds from the event are used to underwrite HoCoPoLitSo’s literary programs in the community, and the production of The Writing Life, a writer-to-writer talk show now seen worldwide by more than one million viewers on youtube.com/hocopolitso, and through Howard Community College’s Dragon Digital TV.