As tension persists over the future of the Protocol and frustration is leading to renewed speculation of the possibility of a United Ireland we engage with four writers whose work is gathered in a landmark new anthology reflecting on the border. The New Frontier: Reflections from the Irish Border (New Island, 2021) is a landmark anthology of fiction, non-fiction ...
The Brian Moore at 100 Project and the Irish Literary Society present a free screening of The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne, an adaptation of Moore's anti-church novel that features an astonishing Maggie Smith in a role regarded as one of her finest. Judith Hearne (Smith) is a middle-aged spinster who’s dedicated her life to the church and caring for ...
To mark the centenary of the birth of Belfast-born writer Brian Moore (1921-1999) Brian Moore at 100 and the Irish Literary Society have partnered to screen The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne (7 December) and deliver tonight's talk with Dr Sinéad Moynihan and Lucy Caldwell. Designed to coincide with the centenary of his birth, the Exeter University project has sought ...
2021 saw the passing of the brothers Thomas (1928-2021) and John Kinsella (1932-2021). Our event will look back over their careers as poet and composer and include music and readings. Thomas is credited with bringing the techniques of international modernism to Irish verse. He published his first collection, The Starlight Eye (1952), with Dolmen Press, helping to set the type ...
In this centenary year of the publication of Ulysses we are delighted to welcome Nuala O'Connor to the Society to discuss her novel Nora. When Nora Barnacle, a twenty-year-old from Galway working as a maid at Finn’s Hotel, meets young James Joyce on a summer’s day in Dublin, she is instantly attracted to him, natural and daring in his company. ...
In this centenary year of the publication of Ulysses we are delighted to welcome David Collard back to the Society with his new book, Multiple Joyce: One Hundred Short Essays About James Joyce's Cultural Legacy (Sagging Meniscus Press, June 2022). Springing from the essays we'll have discussion, song, readings and music to mark the UK launch of the book and ...
Sinéad Gleeson and Emilie Pine join the ILS to discuss their recent books of essays. Pine's winning last year's An Post Irish Book of the Year seemed to mark a reemergence of the essay form in Irish literature. Perhaps the flourishing of literary journals in Ireland has encouraged this, perhaps the renewed appreciation of Hubert Butler's work has been an ...
The scholar Meidhbhín Ní Úrdail visits the Society to deliver our joint annual Noel O'Connell memorial talk with the Irish Texts Society. Her subject is Thomas O’Connor (alias Tomás Ó Conchubhair, b. 1798), originally from the civil parish of Templemolaga, Co. Cork, he emigrated to London in 1820 where he worked as a tailor until his death around 1870. The ...
Joining us at the start of the ILS 2022-23 season are the poet James Conor Patterson and writer Darran Anderson to launch Patterson's book bandit country. bandit country is the much-anticipated debut collection from James Conor Patterson, who will be familiar to ILS regulars from our event last year launching his anthology of essays on the Irish border: The New ...
The award-winning playwright, David Ireland, known for his wickedly dark humour and biting satire, will be joining Dr Michelle Paull for a discussion on his work. The evening will also feature a live performance from the cast of Not Now, Ireland's play running in November at The Finborough Theatre. "Cyprus Avenue was commissioned by the Abbey Theatre Dublin. I ...
