In the Poetry Programme on 10th April 2022, at 7 pm on RTÉ Radio 1, presenter Olivia O'Leary is joined by Maria Johnston and Conor Linnie, editors of Irish Women Poets Rediscovered, published by Cork University Press in 2021 - listen above.
The book includes fascinating essays on the lives and work of 17 poets from the 18th century to the present day, and Maria and Conor introduce a selection of the poets featured:
-Ethna MacCarthy (1903-1959), poet and doctor, and we hear her poem Viaticum read by actor Cathy Belton.
-Patricia Avis (1928-1977), also a poet and doctor, and Conor reads her poem Le deuxième sexe, written in response to Simone de Beauvoir.
-Lynda Moran (1948-2020), and Maria reads her visceral poem Something Else.
-Emily Lawless (1845-1913), poet and scientist, and we hear her poem To that Rare and Deep-red Burnet Moth, only to be met with in the Burren read by actor Cathy Belton.
-Ellen Taylor (dates unknown, published in 1792), who worked as a servant, and Paula McGlinchey reads an extract from her poem Written by the Barrow-side, where she was sent to wash linen.
We hear a rare recording from 1977 of the poem With What Joy I Would Greet You read by the poet herself, Madge Herron (1915-2002).
Finally, Conor talks about the contemporary poet Cathleen O'Neill, who played a key role in publishing writing working class writers, and we hear her poem Off the Wall, read by Emma Penney.
The Poetry Programme, Sundays at 7 pm on RTÉ Radio 1 - listen to last week's edition below:
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