Irish poetry

The history of Irish poetry includes the poetries of two languages, one in Irish and the other in English. The complex interplay between these two traditions, and between both of them and other poetries in English, has produced a body of work that is both rich in variety and difficult to categorise.

Irish poetry now

As can be seen, there has been a tendency for Irish poets to become academics and teachers of poetry. In recent years, and thanks partly to the activities of the Arts Council and of Poetry Ireland, this tendency has widened out to include a network of writers' workshops spread around the country with funding provided to employ writers to facilitate. These bodies also support and fund poetry readings. In addition, most local authorities and many schools, prisons, universities, and other institutions employ writers-in-residence.

Related Topics:
Arts Council - Poetry Ireland - Writers' workshops - Writers-in-residence

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These opportunities for employment have tended to lead to the professionalisation of poetry in Ireland and this is probably most clearly demonstrated by the establishment in recent years of an M.A. course in Creative Writing at Trinity College Dublin. The possible implications of these developments for the future of poetry in Ireland remain to be seen.

Related Topics:
M.A. - Creative Writing

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In contrast, contemporary poet Pat Ingoldsby makes a living exclusively from the sale of his books, both through bookshops, and on the streets of Dublin and Galway.

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