Poetry
Poetry, whether written in Irish or English, is not just a language: it’s a personal language, intimately bound up with the speaking voice and personal atmosphere of a poet. A poetic voice is not something that can be transferred or taught. But it can be encouraged, enabled, empowered by fine example and the reading of literary magazines and poetry collections. A public library is one of the best places for the aspiring poet to find recent work, in both books and magazines.
Cork has been particularly blessed with the publication of two crucial journals, Poetry Ireland, edited by David Marcus in the 1940s and Innti, edited by Micheal Davitt in the 1970s. David Marcus eventually went on to publish and edit Irish Writing, eventually New Irish Writing for The Irish Press, and now, The Sunday Tribune.
Southword from the Munster Literature Centre and The Cork Literary Review from Tig Filí in MacCurtain Street publish new poetry.
- The above is a summary of a fuller essay on Cork poetry in the wider context.
All of the above journals may be read in our Central Reference Library.