Poetry Ireland Review Issue 127

Poetry Ireland Review Issue 127

Eavan Boland’s Poetry Ireland Review 127 features new poems from such eminent practitioners as Harry Clifton and Vona Groarke, along with the emerging voices of Manuela Moser, Emma Must, and Seán Hewitt, and a first published poem from Sarah O’Neill. Maureen Boyle’s poem ‘The Nunwell Letter’ – written as a commission from the Ireland Chair of Poetry Travel Bursary – is another highlight of the issue, a long poem which gives a compelling voice to Ann Donne, wife of John, the metaphysical poet. Books reviewed include new titles from Nick Laird, Jean Bleakney, Ailbhe Darcy, Damian Smyth, Ciaran Carson, Anne Haverty, and Anamaría Crowe Serrano, along with a comprehensive review by Máirín Nic Eoin of Calling Cards: Ten Younger Irish Poets. This issue also contains eight measured responses in prose to a typically disputatious statement from Patrick Kavanagh as to the regard (or lack thereof) in which poetry is held by the Irish public, in his time and in ours.