More than a decade after it was taken off the Leaving Certificate curriculum, the poetry anthology ‘Soundings’ has been reprinted due to public demand.
‘Soundings’ was first published in 1969. Originally designed as an interim anthology, it endured for more than thirty years, before finally being laid to rest in 2000.
Copies were passed from generation to generation, along with the notes and doodles from their former owners.
Michael Gill of Irish publishers Gill & Macmillan needed clean copies of the anthology for the re-print and was amazed to find copies of 'Soundings' changing hands for up to 100 Euros.
'Soundings' editor Gus Martin died in 1995, but his family are delighted with the resurgence of interest in his work. His daughter Gráinne Martin says
In his lifetime he gave a lot to Ireland and in his lifetime he gave a lot to education, and I think it's great for the kids, for my children, his grandchildren that they see now how great he was and they share in the celebration of his life.
Now 'Soundings' is hoping to do something that a text-book has never done, and become a Christmas number one.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 7 October 2010. The reporter is Samantha Libreri.
