Poets from the North of Ireland

by Frank Ormsby (Contributor)

Revised, updated edition of a successful anthology first published in 1979. It presents the full spectrum of twentieth century Northern Irish poetry, from the contemplative John Hewitt to the personal, highly crafted work of Heaney. Here also is Michael Longley, John Montague, Paul Muldoon, Medbh McGuckian, and many others. Also includes work from the new generation of poets that has emerged since the original anthology was published.

Genres: Poetry

232 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1979

Reviews

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the 1979 edition, which is a great collection, with one major oversight: Ormsby manages to include not a single woman in this 212-page survey. Apparently they weren’t writing poetry before 1979. I think Ormsby managed to find some for the second edition.

[Homerun2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the poets spoke to me more than others. Overall it was a well mixed collection of poetry from some talented Irish poets, Seamus Heaney, Jon Montague, Frank Ormsby to name a few. Here is one poem from the collection.

Even the Whales

Even the whales now
communicate sparingly with staccato cries
Polyphony was yesterday's song
We are minimalists
now, even the whales.

by Tom Matthews