UCD HONOURS IRELAND CHAIR OF POETRY THE IRELAND CHAIR OF POETRY TRUST The Ireland Chair of Poetry Trust was set up in 1998 and is jointly held between Queen's University Belfast, Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon. Every three years a poet of honour and distinction is chosen to represent the Chair as Ireland's Professor of Poetry. During their tenure the holder spends a year attached to each of the three universities and resides for a period of approximately eight weeks at each. While in residence, the poet gives informal workshops or readings, spends time working with students and performing outreach work and makes one formal presentation a year, usually in the form of a lecture. PREVIOUS PROFESSORS 1998 - 2010 In 1998 John Montague was chosen as the first Professor of Poetry. His successor, Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill, held the post from 2001 to 2004, Paul Durcan was elected the third holder of the Chair from 2004 to 2007 and Michael Longley held the Professorship from 2007 to 2010. PROFESSOR HARRY CLIFTON 2010 - 2013 On Wednesday 30th June, An Taoiseach Brian Cowen, T.D. announced Harry Clifton as the Ireland Professor of Poetry 2010. In making the announcement An Taoiseach said: "My warmest congratulations to Harry Clifton on receiving this very well deserved honour as Ireland's next Professor of Poetry. He is a most worthy champion of our country’s long poetic tradition and I would like to wish him every success during his tenure." http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0701/122273707910.html HARRY CLIFTON IN QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY BELFAST Harry Clifton will spend his first year as Ireland Professor of Poetry with Queen's University Belfast. He performed his inaugural lecture: 'Seriously Into Cultural Detritus: Writing the Rustbelt in Britain and Ireland' in the Great Hall of Queen's University Belfast on Tuesday the 8th February 2011 at 8pm and repeated this lecture in the John Hume Institute for Global Irish Studies, University College Dublin on the 1st March 2011 at 7.30pm. Harry Clifton will also give a reading in Trinity College Dublin on the 30th of March next at 7.30pm in the Neill/Hoey Lecture Theatre in the Long Room Hub Building. Click below to listen to a recording of the lecture: OUTREACH WORK The Professor of Poetry carries out a number of outreach activities each year which include speaking and reading at schools, libraries, festivals, museums, galleries and conferences. If you would like to know more about the Outreach Programme, please contact info@irelandchairofpoetry.org BURSARY AWARD Each year Ireland's Professor of Poetry nominates a 'poet of promise' for a bursary award which enables the recipient to spend time working on their arts practice, away from domestic duties or disturbances. The nomination is confirmed by the trustees of the board of the Ireland Chair of Poetry and the recipient is entitled to spend four weeks at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre in Annaghmakerrig, Co Monaghan. Dave Lordan is the Bursary recipient for 2011. Previous winners of the award include Miriam Gamble, Leanne O' Sullivan, Leontia Flynn, Maureen Boyle, Nick Laird, Iggy McGovern and Alice Lyons. MANY MANSIONS The Ireland Chair of Poetry announced the publication of a limited edition hand printed book, MANY MANSIONS, in November 2009. This book features twelve new, unpublished poems - two each by JOHN MONTAGUE, NUALA NÍ DHOMHNAILL, PAUL DURCAN, MICHAEL LONGLEY, CIARAN CARSON and SEAMUS HEANEY. Seamus Heaney has also written a foreword to the volume. MANY MANSIONS was designed and published by Stoney Road Press for the Ireland Chair of Poetry. The text is composed in 12.5 point Book Antiqua and printed by hand at the National Print Museum, Dublin. The paper is 250gsm BFK Rives Blanc paper and the inside papers are Somerset velvet black. It is quarter-bound in mid-blue goatskin leather and beige bookcloth with matching slipcase by Antiquarian Bookcrafts, Dublin. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/features/2009/1109/1224258390883.html This special edition is limited to one hundred and twenty five copies and each numbered copy is signed by all the contributors. All copies of the publication, Many Mansions, have been sold. THE POET'S CHAIR 'The Poet's Chair' celebrates the first nine years of the Ireland Chair of Poetry and brings together public lectures given by John Montague, Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill and Paul Durcan with a foreword by Seamus Heaney. You can purchase 'The Poet's Chair' in most bookshops or alternatively you can contact the Ireland Chair of Poetry Trust Administrator for a copy.
‘A huge honour, and totally unexpected. And to succeed Michael Longley, one of the most admired poets in the language itself, let alone the country, is especially wonderful.’ Harry Clifton commented.
Events
