John Hewitt

John Harold Hewitt (born October 28 1907 and died on June 1987) was a renowned poet who was born and lived in Belfast, Northern Ireland . He was appointed the first writer-in-residence at the Queen's University of Belfast in 1976. His collections include 'The Day of the Corncrake' (1969) and 'Out of My Time: Poems 1969 to 1974' (1974)'. He was also made a Freeman of the City of Belfast in 1983.

Related Topics:
October 28 - 1907 - 1987 - Poet - Belfast - Northern Ireland

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Hewitt had an active political life (describing himself as "a man of the left") and was involved in the British Labour Party, the Fabian Society and the Belfast Peace League. He was attracted to the Ulster dissenting tradition and was drawn to a concept of regional identity within the island of Ireland. John Hewitt officialy opened The Belfast Unemployed Resource Centre (BURC) Offices on Mayday 1985.

Related Topics:
British Labour Party - Fabian Society - Ulster

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His life and work are celebrated in two prominent ways - the annual John Hewitt International Summer School - and, less conventionally, a Belfast pub is named after him -the 'John Hewitt Bar and Restaurant' which is situated on the city's Donegall Street. The pub is named after him because he officially opened The Belfast Unemployed Resource Centre (BURC), and they own it.

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