The national festivities committee is organising a commemorative event to mark the birthday, 18 October, 1871, of the national poet, Dun Karm Psaila.

A monument to him in Floriana will be decorated for the period and on the day itself there will be an activity at the monument, in St Anne Street, corner with Great Siege Street, Floriana.

The activity starts at 9.15am from Antonio Galea school from where the schoolchildren will walk in procession to the monument accompanied by their school head, the mayor of Floriana, and the Minister of Tourism and Culture.

Other schoolchildren will also be taking part. At the monument there will be poetry reading and wreath laying. Members of the public are invited.

Dun Karm was born in Haz-Zebbug, studied at the seminary and was ordained at 23. His first book, Foglie d’Allora, was published in 1896, comprising 37 poems in Italian. Among his literary works are L-Ghanja tar-Rebha, Lil Malta, Ghal Dun Mikiel Xerri, Lil Mikiel Anton Vassalli, Wied Qirda and Innu Malti, Malta’s national anthem.

His best work was arguably the poem Il-Jien u Lilhinn Minnu.

Dun Karm died at the Blue Sisters Hospital in St Julian’s on 13 October, 1961.