Destroyer Of Cities, Homer, JRR Tolkien And George RR Martin
When I was fifteen or sixteen I read a relatively well-known book called In Search of the Trojan War by the British historianContinue Reading
Category: Poetry
Tom Shippey Discusses JRR Tolkien’s Beowulf Translation In Three Video Lectures
JRR Tolkien began to write a tentative prose edition of the Medieval epic poem, Beowulf, while teaching at the University of Leeds inContinue Reading
Current Affairs Feminism Health History Irish Mythology - Seanchas Poetry Politics Religion The Irish Language - An Ghaeilge
Casting The Women Of Ireland Beyond The Ninth Wave: We Face This Land
Ireland’s indigenous literature has long regarded the ninth wave, reputedly the outermost one surrounding the shoreline of the country, as a supernatural boundary. When the invadingContinue Reading
Better Be Hanged At Home Than Die Like Dogs In Ireland
The literary historian, James Shapiro, has a fascinating article in the Irish Times on William Shakespeare’s aversion to Ireland and the Irish.Continue Reading
Reclaiming The Past And The Present
Some interesting thoughts on translation and the Irish language from the Cork-based poet Louis de Paor in an interview withContinue Reading
Festival Interceltique 2014
Sometimes we need reminding that – whatever our origins – we are not just Irish but Celts too, one ofContinue Reading
Gabriel Rosenstock, Margadh Na Míol In Valparaíso
Would I be right in suggesting that Gabriel Rosenstock and Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill are probably the two greatest living IrishContinue Reading
The Fatal Strain: Cultism
I’ve always been interested in clandestine military, political or religious groups, be they revolutionary movements, secret societies or arcane cults.Continue Reading
Imram 2012, Leonard Cohen And More
Today’s Irish Times has a lengthy examination by Úna Mullally of the Irish arts scene that is well worth reading:Continue Reading
Mícheál Ó hAirtnéide
A quick post to mark a review by Theo Dorgan in the Irish Times of a new biography of the Irish poet Mícheál Ó hAirtnéideContinue Reading
Dáithí Ó hÓgáin – Ar Dheis Dé Go Raibh A Anam
A brief post to mark the passing of Professor Dáithí Ó hÓgáin, a man who brought academic rigour to the popular promotion of Early Irish Literature, MythologyContinue Reading
An Irish Slam!
Nice report from the Derry Journal on the recent All-Ireland Poetry Slam competition held in the Maiden City and its winner, IrishContinue Reading
Oireachtas na Samhna
The Irish Times carries a very personal report celebrating the weekend’s Oireachtas na Samhna, the annual Irish language and culture festival, this year heldContinue Reading
Hail To Nova Scotia
Interesting news in the Scotsman highlighting the international dimension that is increasingly important to the two main Gaelic languages, IrishContinue Reading
Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru – Oireachtas Náisiúnta na Breataine Bige
The people of Wales have been marking the celebration of their native language and culture in this year’s Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru orContinue Reading
Somhairle Mac Giolla Eoin
One of my favourite poets is the Scottish writer Somhairle Mac Giolla Eoin (Somhairle MacGill-Eain / Sorley MacLean) so its nice to seeContinue Reading
AN SIONNACH FIONN 