Vivid voices from the past feature on the Poetry Programme when Olivia O'Leary is joined by the editors of Irish Women Poets Rediscovered. A Rockfinch production for RTÉ.

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 reply 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 is a Rockfinch production for RTÉ.

The programme will be available to listen back to after broadcast on the programme webpage: https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/the-poetry-programme/

PHOTO

Olivia O'Leary, Maria Johnston, Conor Linnie