THE DISCOVERY LECTURES

THE DISCOVERY LECTURES, SEAMUS HEANEY CENTRE, Queens University Belfast

11.00.am – 11.45am

FIONNTÁN DE BRÚN

THE BLACKBIRD OF BELFAST LOUGH BEFORE AND AFTER

Fourteen centuries of Irish-language literature in Ulster

The 9th-century poem ‘The Blackbird of Belfast Lough’ is described by poet Paula Meehan as the beginning of Irish secular poetry. But this poem is to many people better known in English versions, suggesting a break with the language in which it was written. There is, however, a tradition of literature in Irish stretching back to the eighth century, taking in the Ulster cycle of heroic tales, bardic poetry, the great flowering of South East-Ulster literature from the 18th to 19th centuries followed by the shift to print literature in the late 19th century. Irish literature is rooted in this rich legacy - and reflects myriad aspects of life over fourteen centuries. In short, Ulster cannot be understood without discussion of its literature in Irish. What then, does literature in Irish tell us about Ulster?

Fionntán de Brún is the Professor of Modern Irish at Maynooth University; a literary scholar and creative writer. He is the author of the acclaimed novel, Béal na Péiste (Gradam Uí Shúilleabháin 2023; first prize in novel category, Oireachtas 2022) published by Cló Iar-Chonnacht in 2023, and of Seosamh Mac Grianna - an Mhéin Rúin.

12.00pm – 12.45pm

CAITRÍONA NÍ CHLÉIRCHÍN

IN THE BOAT ON A VOYAGE TO LITERARY REVOLUTION: THE INNTI GENERATION

The Innti literary movement of the late 1970s and 1980s was defined by a revolutionary introduction of modern themes into Irish poetry - or as Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill put it, a movement towards writing about ‘sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll’, which took its cues from Beat poetry and Bob Dylan’s surreal lyrics.

It found its birth in the magazine Innti, edited by Michael Davitt, and featured poets such as Gabriel Rosenstock, Liam Ó Muirthile, Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill, Biddy Jenkinson, Louis de Paor and others. These poets, while committed to revitalizing the Irish language, were determined to bring internationalist energies to the Irish language literary and youth culture of the time.

Caitríona Ní Chléirchín is a remarkable poet. Her collections include Crithloinnir which won the Oireachtas Prize for New Writers in 2010 and An Bhrídeach Sí, a joint winner of the Michael Hartnett Award in 2015, both from Coiscéim; and The Talk of the Town (Gallery Press). She is also a critic and an Irish Language and Literature lecturer in DCU.

2.00pm – 2.45pm

ALAN TITLEY

NEITHER SHILLELAGHS NOR SHAMROCK: THE OTHER IRISH NOVEL

The novel in Irish begins in the late 19th century as it did in most European countries. Since then about three hundred have been written and some have gained the status of classics amongst readers in the Irish language. This talk will look at some of those classics and aims to evaluate them both in their own time and for ours.

Alan Titley is nothing less than a phenomenon in Irish letters – a novelist, poet, dramatist, columnist, and a sparkling talker par excellence widely known for the wit of his expression.

3.00pm – 3.45pm

PANEL DISCUSSION

IMRAM director Liam Carson will chair a discussion with Alan, Caitríona and Fionntán on the day’s talks, with questions welcome from the audience.

IMRAM IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE SEAMUS HEANEY CENTRE AT QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY, BELFAST