New Poetry Magazine for Northern Ireland

by Fred Johnston Fri Nov 10, 2006 15:17 sylfredcar at iolfree dot ie

A second issue, much improved, of 'Speech Therapy' (If Pat C will excuse my woeful syntax!) is now out and about. And yes, you're absolutely right to lament the passing of the venerable 'Honest Ulsterman', a lit-mag which was born out of social and political concerns and well as those of Northern Irish literature and which had in those days - unthinkable, God knows, now - a distinctly Socialist grounding, with people like the poet and singer, the late James Simmons at the helm. It was considered - again, utterly unimaginable now! - that literature had something to say to politics. These days one is likely (anonymously, of course, in best Stalinist fashion) to be attacked on this site (and elsewhere) for daring to suggest that writers should become more éngagé with the politics of their time. Perhaps we should start up an 'Honest 26,' (though to be 'honest' there are actually 27 counties in the Republic) or 'The Honest Free-Stater' magazine down here, to do the same things the HU set out to do. Any takers, O ye poets?

by pat c Fri Nov 10, 2006 10:56

This originally went up a year ago; has there been progress? It is good to see a new magazine though. I was sad to see the long lived northern published poetry magazine "The Honest Ulsterman" expire. I think the HU ran for more than 20 years.

by Fred Johnston Fri Nov 10, 2006 04:05 sylfredcar at iolfree dot ie 087.2178138

I think Colin Dardis should be congratulated for at least trying, rather than whining. And yes, before someone else 'anonymously,' or calling himself 'Aoife' or 'Daithi' or 'John' or 'Irritated Reader,' says it, I DO qualify to have a couple of poems in one of the issues. But that's not the reason I support the magazine: since the demise of The Honest Ulsterman there has been a need for an independent literary magazine in Northern Ireland, where much of the writing is mollycoddled by a Belfast-centric university scene. Only if you know the Northern lit-scene is this understandable. The Republic is smothered by the plethora of lit-mags it has already, more than one of which caters for a small circle of contributors, and not unusually, the same ones. Anyone who objects to the 'Northern Ireland only' tag on the new mag should, as one decent contributor above sensibly says, start one of their own and stick in everybody and anybody. A button-review of the new NI magazine can be found at the Western Writers' Centre site. You can comment as much as you wish on it, but any unverifiable comment will be expunged: name, verifiable address and/or 'phone number necessary, please. On the other hand, you could always move up North.

by C Ó Brolcháin Sat Nov 12, 2005 22:16

Will the magazine be accepting poetry written in Irish? For that matter, will poetry written in Chinese, Portuguese etc. be accepted? Or is this an 'Anglophone only' affair?

by Mark C - Teacher Thu Nov 10, 2005 22:25

Gonzo,

Why don't you start a poetry magazine that will publish every poem (or note towards one) that was ever written by anyone in Ireland, right up to publication date of said magazine, all in the interests of "inclusiveness" and "cross-border co-operation"?

Being from Portlaoise, I'm barred from submitting, but never-the-less: Colony Ink, good luck with the project.

Mark.

by gonzo Thu Nov 10, 2005 20:03

if born in R.O.I and living in R.O.I you don't qualify to submit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Says it all..................

Inclusiveness, cross border co operation, etc

by Colin Dardis - Rancid Idols Productions Thu Nov 10, 2005 18:08

Submissions are welcome from anyone either originally from or living in the North.

So for example, if you were born in Belfast, but now living in France, you can still submit.

Or if you are from Germany, but living over here, you too are welcome to submit!

Hope this clears up things,
Colin.

by Duine Thu Nov 10, 2005 16:30

Go maire an fhilíocht!

Beirigí bua! agus Adh mór!

by Gonzo Thu Nov 10, 2005 01:42

So is this partitionist magazine for Northern Ireland( a british construction which contains six counties) or Ulster?

And would a, say, ltvian who had emigrated to Norniron, be a suitable contributor? or is it for the pure stock of Ulster?

Sure fair play to ye creative wee buggers! are yis gettin a wee grant from the brits? if yis arent ye probably qualify!!!!!!!!!!

No freestaters!!!!!!!!

I suppose yis call that art sans frontiers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Feicim McTaggart Wed Nov 09, 2005 20:28

Norn Iron, O country of my youth,
Thy sectarian artifice, thy oppressive black boot,
In Glengall Street and the glens of Antrim,
We segregate Catholics and we hate em.

But now, for shame, we've been outshadowed,
For the bold McDowell exceeds our bile,
By his side our histrionics seem mellowed,
Our distortion of history surpassed by a mile.

O, but could I touch your pale balding pate,
Buy you a pint and call you mate,
Build a new Ireland, unequal for all,
Me, McDowell, Bertie an all.