The Coleraine Cluster of poets and writers (a name coined later) was an informal collection of writers associated with the New University of Ulster in the early 1970s.
The New University of Ulster had been established near the town of Coleraine about 60 miles from Belfast in 1968. It attracted the English scholars Walter Allen (several novels and critical works)[1] and Alan Warner (several critical works)[2] who were appointed Professors of English Literature. They were joined by the poets James Simmons (editor of The Honest Ulsterman), Andrew Waterman, Bill McCormack and other writers such as Bridget O'Toole and the Russian scholar Michael Pursglove.
This grouping drew several mature students from Belfast who had delayed their entry to university for various reasons. This included Gerald Dawe, Brian Keenan, Brendan Hamill, Anne Devlin, and Aodán Mac Póilin, the Irish language activist. To this group was added Michael Stephens (the nephew of James Simmons) and, for a short period, Robert Johnstone.
All of these staff and students would go on to careers in writing.
Activitiesedit
This cluster initiated a lively literary scene including regular poetry nights in local bars[3] and more formal readings by such poets as Seamus Heaney and Derek Mahon. During this period, they also began to produce a range of publications including volumes of poetry. The cluster dissolved as the students graduated although its members continued to publish.
Various magazines were associated with members of the cluster. Acorn, the magazine of the English Society at Magee University College in Derry, was transferred to Coleraine in 1972 and then evolved into other magazines such as Quarto. During its lifetime Acorn published material by Walter Allen, Alan Warner, and Bill McCormack. Quarto published work by Stephens. Caret was edited by Johnstone and others and published work by Simmons. The more established The Honest Ulsterman also published poetry by Simmons, Waterman, Dawe, Stephens, and Keenan about this time.
Publicationsedit
During this period, staff associated with the cluster published several volumes of poetry. Simmons published three volumes, (Energy to Burn 1971; The Long Summer Still to Come, 1973 and West Strand Visions, 1974).[4] Waterman published Living Room.[5] McCormack (writing as Hugh Maxton) published The Noise of the Field.[6] Pursglove published translations of the work of Andrei Platonov.[7]
Among the students, Dawe published the collection Sheltering Places in 1978 and other work subsequently.[8] He then went on to establish and co-edit with Aodán Mac Póilin the literary journal Krino. They also co-edited a selection of the work of Padraic Fiacc.[9] Johnstone went on to co-establish Caret, a poetry magazine, and to co-edit several issues of The Honest Ulsterman and Fortnight (magazine).[10] Stephens guest edited an issue of The Honest Ulsterman in 1969 and had a poetry pamphlet published by it.[11] Hamill published poems and reviews in several journals and had a poetry pamphlet published by Lagan Press which had been established by Dawe.[12]
In the following decade all of these writers went on to greater success.[13] Although not as formalised as the Belfast Group[14] the people associated with the cluster supported each other during the early years of The Troubles in Northern Ireland.
Referencesedit
^Allen, Walter (1955). The English Novel. London: Dutton. ISBN0525098461.
^Warner, Alan (1964). A Short Guide to English Style. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 198.
^"West Strand Visions: A review". Quarto (1): 5–11. 1973.
^Simmons, James (1986). Poems 1956-1986. Dublin: Gallery Press. p. 202. ISBN1852240202.
^Waterman, Andrew (1974). Living Room. Marvell Press. p. 64. ISBN0900533080.
^Maxton, Hugh (1976). The Noise of the Field. Dublin: Dolmen. ISBN0851052940.
^Platonov, Andrey; Pursglove, Michael (1975). "Takyr". The Honest Ulsterman (50).
^Dawe, Gerald (1978). Sheltering Places. Dublin: Dolmen. p. 56. ISBN0955946808.
^Dawe, Gerald (2023). Another Time: Poems 1978-2023. Dublin: Gallery. p. 176. ISBN1911338552.
^Dawe, Gerald (1994). "Postscript: After the event". The Honest Ulsterman (97): 24–26.
May 04, 2024
coleraine, cluster, poets, writers, name, coined, later, informal, collection, writers, associated, with, university, ulster, early, 1970s, contents, origins, activities, publications, referencesorigins, editthe, university, ulster, been, established, near, to. The Coleraine Cluster of poets and writers a name coined later was an informal collection of writers associated with the New University of Ulster in the early 1970s Contents 1 Origins 2 Activities 3 Publications 4 ReferencesOrigins editThe New University of Ulster had been established near the town of Coleraine about 60 miles from Belfast in 1968 It attracted the English scholars Walter Allen several novels and critical works 1 and Alan Warner several critical works 2 who were appointed Professors of English Literature They were joined by the poets James Simmons editor of The Honest Ulsterman Andrew Waterman Bill McCormack and other writers such as Bridget O Toole and the Russian scholar Michael Pursglove This grouping drew several mature students from Belfast who had delayed their entry to university for various reasons This included Gerald Dawe Brian Keenan Brendan Hamill Anne Devlin and Aodan Mac Poilin the Irish language activist To this group was added Michael Stephens the nephew of James Simmons and for a short period Robert Johnstone All of these staff and students would go on to careers in writing Activities editThis cluster initiated a lively literary scene including regular poetry nights in local bars 3 and more formal readings by such poets as Seamus Heaney and Derek Mahon During this period they also began to produce a range of publications including volumes of poetry The cluster dissolved as the students graduated although its members continued to publish Various magazines were associated with members of the cluster Acorn the magazine of the English Society at Magee University College in Derry was transferred to Coleraine in 1972 and then evolved into other magazines such as Quarto During its lifetime Acorn published material by Walter Allen Alan Warner and Bill McCormack Quarto published work by Stephens Caret was edited by Johnstone and others and published work by Simmons The more established The Honest Ulsterman also published poetry by Simmons Waterman Dawe Stephens and Keenan about this time Publications editDuring this period staff associated with the cluster published several volumes of poetry Simmons published three volumes Energy to Burn 1971 The Long Summer Still to Come 1973 and West Strand Visions 1974 4 Waterman published Living Room 5 McCormack writing as Hugh Maxton published The Noise of the Field 6 Pursglove published translations of the work of Andrei Platonov 7 Among the students Dawe published the collection Sheltering Places in 1978 and other work subsequently 8 He then went on to establish and co edit with Aodan Mac Poilin the literary journal Krino They also co edited a selection of the work of Padraic Fiacc 9 Johnstone went on to co establish Caret a poetry magazine and to co edit several issues of The Honest Ulsterman and Fortnight magazine 10 Stephens guest edited an issue of The Honest Ulsterman in 1969 and had a poetry pamphlet published by it 11 Hamill published poems and reviews in several journals and had a poetry pamphlet published by Lagan Press which had been established by Dawe 12 In the following decade all of these writers went on to greater success 13 Although not as formalised as the Belfast Group 14 the people associated with the cluster supported each other during the early years of The Troubles in Northern Ireland References edit Allen Walter 1955 The English Novel London Dutton ISBN 0525098461 Warner Alan 1964 A Short Guide to English Style Oxford Oxford University Press p 198 West Strand Visions A review Quarto 1 5 11 1973 Simmons James 1986 Poems 1956 1986 Dublin Gallery Press p 202 ISBN 1852240202 Waterman Andrew 1974 Living Room Marvell Press p 64 ISBN 0900533080 Maxton Hugh 1976 The Noise of the Field Dublin Dolmen ISBN 0851052940 Platonov Andrey Pursglove Michael 1975 Takyr The Honest Ulsterman 50 Dawe Gerald 1978 Sheltering Places Dublin Dolmen p 56 ISBN 0955946808 Dawe Gerald MacPoilin Aodan 1996 Padraic Fiacc Ruined Pages Belfast Blackstaff Robert Johnstone Ricorso Retrieved 15 January 2024 Stephens Michael 1969 Blues for Chocolate Doherty Belfast The Honest Ulsterman Hamill Brendan 1976 Emigrant Brother Belfast Lagan Press Dawe Gerald 2023 Another Time Poems 1978 2023 Dublin Gallery p 176 ISBN 1911338552 Dawe Gerald 1994 Postscript After the event The Honest Ulsterman 97 24 26 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Coleraine Cluster amp oldid 1198979379, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
