Ed. Kevin Barry, Tom Dunne, Richard Kearney and Edna Longley

CONTENT

Bernard Crick, ‘An Englishman Considers his Passport’, pp.1-10. Cogitates the political, social and cultural inter-dependency of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales in terms of individual, self determination and national identities, and the arising conflicts when England assumes it is dealing with a homogenous group; believes England lacks definition of its own national identity, resulting from very little exploration in this area in comparison to its neighbours and emphasises the necessity for an understanding of personal social, psychological and cultural needs of the national character; refers to Orwell’s The Lion and The Unicorn and Kipling’s literature of imperialism, his somewhat piorneering work in this area.

Jennifer Todd, ‘The Limits of Britishness’, pp.11-16. Discusses the right of Ulster Unionists to institutional expression of their British national identity; identifies with British social and political institutions and identities, in opposition to an Irish identity and heritage, where the positive qualities of Britishness are implicit in the negative Irish image; insists on Northern Ireland unionists right to a British heritage without denying the influence of life in Northern Ireland.

John Wilson Foster, ‘Culture and Colonisation: View from the North’, pp.17-26. Contemplates the plight of the contemporary Ulster Protestant, the complicated relations with Catholics and Southerners and his exclusion from government politics by his mother country, Britain; encompasses the threat to the Ulster Protestant as a result of the infliction of a stereotype, his shame for the mistreatment of the Irish by the British and his consequential self-contempt; believes a renewal of personal pride is tantamount to their survival; includes references to Albert Memmi’s The Coloniser and the Colonised as well as theories put forth by Tom Nairn and Hugh Roberts.

Patrick Sheeran, ‘The Idiocy of Irish Rural Life Reviewed’, pp.27-33. Castigates the continuing regurgitation in literature of traditional Ireland as mystical and conservative which proves to be depressingly sentimental and backward looking; blames anthropologists, sociologists and ethnographers for their chronicling of the deterioration of Irish culture and rebukes our repetitive, reductionist interpretations of the works of Yeats, George Russell and Lady Gregory; hails the futuristic perspective of intellectuals such as Czeslaw Milosz, Fritz Schumacher and David Bohm which incorporates the New Science i.e. the metaphysics of the soul with holistic and ecological foci, ultimately, an ‘increasing respect for intuitive wisdom’.

[ top ]

Kevin Whelan, ‘Town and Village in Ireland: A socio-cultural perspective’, pp.34-43. Charts the evolution of Irish rural villages and towns over the past three centuries, contrasting it to European counterparts in political, ethnic, social and cultural terms; identifies four individual ‘zones of urban tradition’, which pinpoints variations in religious institutions and colonial influences; adjudges Irish rural life and Catholicism to have triumphed in decolonising modern Ireland and aiding the late development of a manifestly new era of Irish village, unique to modern day Europe.

Austen Morgan, ‘Connolly and Connollyism: the making of a myth’, pp.44-55. Sketches the influence of James Connolly’s politics since his death in the 1916 Rising, set out in seven stages which cover the Irish Revolution, the Civil War, Cumann na Ngaedheal, Fianna Fáil under William Cosgrave and De Valera, interparty government from 1948-57, the modernisation of Ireland between 1957-73 and up to present day; classes him as the most impressive socialist activist Irish or English history has ever witnessed.

Denis Donoghue, ‘The Political Turn in Criticism’, pp.56-67. Condemns modern critical theory for the harsh interrogation of literature and poetry and the growing ‘parasitic relation to politics’; alludes to Seamus Deane’s writings on Yeats’ ‘Ancestral Houses’ and Fredric Jameson on Joyce’s ‘Ulysses’; finds both critics guilty of sacraficing imagination, feelings and art itself for political representations which jeopardises the literature they read; uses Northrop Frye’s differentiation between the natural, and the poetic, man, and refers to Ernst Bloch’s utopic presentations, to highlight the importance of allowing freedom in art, in both the reading and the writing of it.

Gearóid Ó Crualaoich and Diarmuid O Goilláin, ‘Folklore in Irish Studies’, pp.68-74. Stresses the value of folklore in Irish Studies as a ‘cultural resource’ and as a ‘repository of human experience’; outlines the continuing disregard and/or alteration of folklore through out the ages as it represents an alternative world view, one in opposition to the state, elite classes and established capitalist social systems.

Edna Longley, ‘Putting on the International Style’, pp.75-81. Relates the topics under discussion at the International Writers Conference which places Irish literature in relation to international works; subsumes the literature and ideals of writers such as Yeats, Joyce, Hewitt, Kavanagh, MacNeice and Muldoon; outlines the varying styles and approaches and investigates the inter-relationship of Irish and English traditions.

Thomas McCarthy, ‘Cataloguing Twelve Fenian Novels’, pp.82-85 [poem]

Luiza Valenzuela, et al. ‘Literature as Celebration: Four Papers from the First International Writers Conference, Dublin 1988’, pp86-98. [1] Luiza Valenzuela. Relates familiar experiences of life growing up in Buenos Aires and literary influences in her early days such as Lisa Lenson, Eduardo Mallae and Rodolfo Walsh. [2] Tadeusz Rozewicz. Begins by quoting his own poem ‘No Exaggeration’ and follows with an insightful view into the varying roles of the ‘poet-priest’ in modern society. [3] Adam Czerniawski. Underlines the complex nature of the term ‘celebration’ and pays tribute to the ‘benevolent impact of poetry on human experience’ while offering some examples of the celebratory aspect of poetry itself. [4] Yehuda Amichai. Praises the topic of celebrating poetry where poets, writers and intellectuals have an opportunity to honour their ‘creative egos’; theorises on the role poetry plays in celebrating traumas, dangers, pain and loss, this inherent quality of lulling the senses; draws on biblical refernces to enhance his point.

Michael Donaghy, ‘Footage from the Interior’ pp.99-100 [poem].

John McGrail, ‘Finula’s Final’, pp.101-03 [poem]; [trans.], Horace, Ode XIV, Book II, pp.104. [poems].

Roz Cowman, ‘Catskin’s Song’, pp.105 [poem].

Gréagóir O Dúill, ‘Redshanks’, pp.106 [poem].

[ top ]

John Whyte, ‘Ethnic Frontiers’, pp.107-09, review of Frank Wright, Northern Ireland: a Comparative Analysis (Dublin: Gill and Macmillan). Commends Wright’s juxtapositions of the Northern Ireland crisis with similar situations, past and present, around the globe, which serves to highlight the hidden dangers that should be avoided when instigating joint sovereignty.

Richard Dunphy, ‘Unities Contradicted’, pp.109-11, review of Austen Morgan, James Connoly: A Political Biography (Manchester: U.P.). Acclaims this unique study of Connolly’s personal political ideals which analyses the evolving conditions in political life, the socialist movement and the influence of religion during his time.

Thomas Docherty, ‘The Sign of the Cross’, pp.112-16, review of Seamus Heaney, The Government of the Tongue : The 1986 T.S. Eliot Memorial Lectures and other Critical Writings (London: Faber and Faber). Examines the dual dealing of Heaney’s book which involves a selection of reviews, articles and lectures relating to works by Heaney’s contemporaries and follows with his own thoughts on Auden, Lowell and Plath.

Aidan Higgins, ‘Paradiddle and Paradigm’, pp.116-18, review of Bernard MacLaverty, The Great Profundo and Other Stories (Belfast: Blackstaff Press); John Montague, The Lost Notebook (Cork: Mercier Press). Applauds MacLaverty’s bona fida, provincial treatment of his subject in his selection of, sometimes freakish, tales. Berates Montague’s lack lustre, lewd symposium which rests on clichéd carnel desires and renounces any resemblance to reality.

Mary Montant, ‘Sullen Craft or Art’, pp.118-20, review of The Blackstaff Book of Short Stories [no ed.] (Belfast: Blackstaff Press 1988); Peter Hollywood, Jane Alley (Belfast: Pretani Press 1987); Deirdre Madden, The Birds of the Innocent Wood (London: Faber and Faber 1988); Arden Mathews, Adventures in a Bathyscope (London: Secker and Warburg 1988); Melissa Murray, Changlings (Dublin: Attic Press, 1097); Eilís Ní Dhuibhne, Blood and Water (Dublin: Attic Press 1988); Glenn Patterson, Burning Your Own (London: Chatto and Windus 1988). Ascertains an affinity in the consistent and skillful crafting of all these texts, though while praising the high standards, finds them less than riveting in entertainment value.

[ top ]

Ger Fitzgibbon, ‘A Sanitised Text?’, pp.120-21, review of Daniel J. Murphy (ed.), Lady Gregory’s Journals, Volumn Two: Books Thirty to Forty-Four (Gerard’s Cross: Colin Smythe 1987). Registers these journals as covering the seven years prior to Lady Gregory’s death in 1932, noting the partiality of her recounting of her role with the Abbey theatre and her family life; also a potentially valuable resource for the period.

Patrick Ramsey, ‘Quality and Quantity’, pp.122-26, review of Medbh McGuckian, On Ballycastle Beach (London: Oxford U.P. 1988); Peter Sirr, Talk Talk (Dublin: Gallery Press); Micheal Coady, Oven Lane (Dublin: Gallery Press); A.A. Kelly (ed.), Pillars of the House: An Anthology of Verse by Irishwomen from 1690 to the present (Dublin: Wolfhound Press). Observes an alteration in McGuckian’s tone, a more optomistic slight in a generally more emotionally balanced compilation; Perceives Sirr’s symposium as ‘a series of witty and sharp observations’; Impresses the simple nature of Coady’s second collection which captures instances of ritual and transcendence in terms of every day life; Finds this selection of women’s verse, though beneficial, to be a harrowingly detailed read.

Terence Brown, ‘Letters from Nowhere?’, pp.126-29, review of Katie O’Donovan, Irish Women Writers - marginalised by whom? ; Anthony Croin, Art for the People? ; Ferdia Mac Anna, Bald Head, A Cancer Story; Michael O’Loughlin, Frank Ryan, Journey to the Centre; Fintan O’Toole, The Southern Question; Colm Toibin, Martyres and Metaphors (All published as Letters from the New Island: Raven Arts Press 1987/88). Records the revelation in these letters of a mystical, Southern Ireland, steeped in tradition, history and art and full of very real human experiences which have been entirely ignored under the sway of writings about the Northern Ireland crisis.

Tom Clyde, ‘Too far out, too far in’, pp.129-31, review of Desmond Hogan, Lebanon Lodge and other stories (London: Faber and Faber); George O’Brien, The Village of Longing (Mullingar: Lilliput Press). Remarks on Hogan’s natural ability as a writer and his literary attraction for marginalised groups; Annotates O’Brien’s instinctive eye for expressionist detail, though faults his romantic, and somewhat sentimental, representations of an Irish childhood.

Clair Wills, ‘Male Arbiters’, pp.131-33, review of David Cairns and Shaun Richards, Writing Ireland: colonialism, nationalism and culture (Manchester: U.P.). Admires this study of English delineation of the Irish as uncouth barbarians and then as a submissive people of lessor intelligence, also of the repercussions of such depictions on the Irish people and their attempts to break free from the stronghold of British colonial power.

[ top ]

Terence Killeen, ‘Diabolical Liberties’, pp.133-35, review of C. George Sandulescu, The Language of the Devil: Texture and Archtype in Finnigans Wake (Buckinghamshire: Colin Smythe). Designates this text as curious, obsessive and ultimately inadequate.

Kathy McArdle, ‘No Magic Formula’, pp.135-39, review of Fintan O’Toole, The Politics of Magic: the Work and Times of Tom Murphy (Dublin: Raven Arts Press); Ulf Dantanus, Brien Friel: a study (London: Faber and Faber). Places the importance of O’Toole’s book on his theory of integrating two political systems, one of action and one of words, drawing on the work of Tom Murphy as an inspirational model on which to focus; Compliments Dantanus’ tracing of the evolution of Friel’s plays and his expansive and consistent approach.

Joseph Long, Challenging the Soft Soap’, pp.139-40, review of Helena Sheehan, Irish Television drama: a society and its stories (Dublin: R.T.E.). Regards this charting of Irish T.V. Drama over its three decade lifespan as a balanced, optomistic account and an informative portrayal of future challenges upon entering the satelite era.

Roibéard pp.104. Ó hUrdail, ‘The Marginalisation of Irish’, pp.141-44, review of Pádraig O Riagáin (ed.), Joshua A. Fishman (General ed.), International Journal of Sociology of Language, 70: Language Planning in Ireland (Monton de Gruyter); Liam Mac Mathúna, Pobal na Gaeilge: oidhre agua ceannródaithe (Coiscéim). Hails O Riagáin’s journal as timely, and the analysis therein as enlightening and praiseworthy, also highlights many of the works it entails; Congratulates Mac Mathúna’s collection as a reminder of the miraculous survival of the Irish language on the periphery of society.

Michelle O’Riordan, ‘Chapmen and the Common Man’, pp.145-46, review of J. R. R. Adams, The Printed Word and the Common Man: Popular Culture in Ulster 1700-1900 (Belfast: Institute of Irish Studies). Testifies to the indept and accurate study of the literature available during the given period and lists some of the publications which comprise Adam’s voluminous symposium.

Jim Smith, ‘Confrontation and Confusion’, pp.146-47, review of Gerard O’Brien, Anglo-Irish Politics in the age of Grattan and Pitt (Dublin: Irish Academic Press 1988). Deems this to be a ‘scholarly exposition’ of the political complexities which existed during Gratten’s term in parliament, taking in Legislative Independence in 1782, Pitt’s Commercial Propositions in 1784/85, the Regency Crisis in 1788/89 and the Act of Union in 1800/01.

Clare O’Halloran, ‘Dabblers and Scholars’, pp.147-49, review of Patricia Boyne, John O’Donovan (1806-1861): A Biography (Kilkenny: Boethius Press 1987); C.C. Ellison, The Hopeful Traveller. The Life and Times of Daniel Beaufort LL.D (Kilkenny: Boethius Press 1987); David Dickson (ed.), The Gorgeous Mask. Dublin 1700-1850 (Dublin: Trinity History Workshop 1987); Peter Somerville-Large, Dublin: The First Thousand Years (Belfast: Appletree Press 1988). Dissatisfied with Boyne’s moral eulogising of O’Donovan’s volumns, on Irish archaeology and history, Historical classics and Topographical reprints, as opposed to a more informative and detailed account; Characterises Ellison’s portrait of Beaufort as appealing though criticises the absense of references for identifying the material used; Considers Dickson’s professional production of articles a worthy project which offers insights to the existing class systems in eighteenth and nineteenth century Dublin; Praises Somerville’s realism in this analysis of Dublin’s traditional history.

Andrew Gailey, ‘The View from the Castle’, pp.149-50, review of Eunan O’Halpin, The Decline of the Union (Dublin: Gill and Macmillan 1987). Commends O’Halpin’s moral, yet erudite, analysis of the governing system of Dublin Castle, though faults his excessive treatment of unionist politics while neglecting the precarious position of Nationalist informers or the plight of the Castle Catholics.

Michael Laffan, ‘Northern Voices’, pp.151-52, review of Peter Brooke, Ulster Presbyterianism (Dublin: Gill and Macmillan 1987); Robert A. Crawford, Loyal to King Billy (Dublin: Gill and Macmillan 1987); Philip Orr, The Road to the Somme (Belfast: Blackstaff Press 1987); Tom Clyde (ed.), Ancestral Voices: the selected prose of John Hewitt (Belfast: Blackstaff Press 1987). Appreciates Brooke’s investigation of theology and church-state relations, though flaws his ommision of the central bearings of Irish non-Conformity; Reports Crawford’s efforts in understanding the Northern crisis, as over simple but honest; Acclaims Orr’s vivid and realistic presentation of life in the trenches in W.W.1; Finds Clyde’s selection of Hewitt’s poetry appealing, both for his calm detachment, and the insightful treatment of Ulster’s art history.

Frank Barry, ‘Anarcho - Environmentalist Gospel’, pp.153-54, review of P.J. Emerson, What an Extraordinary Title for a Travel Book (Belfast). Commends Emerson’s warm and witty interchanges while on foreign travels, dealing with language barriers, the green issue, economy, nationalism and basic humanity.

Keith Jeffrey, ‘England’s Irish - American Problem’, pp.154-56, review of Stephen Hartley, The Irish Question as a Problem in British Foreign Policy 1914-18 (London: Macmillan 1987). Compliments Hartley’s fresh perspective from the British political viewpoint.

Pauric Travers, ‘The Revolutionary Mind’, pp.156-58, review of Tom Garvin, Nationalist Revolutionaries in Ireland 1858-1928 (Oxford: Clarendon Press 1987). Regards this examination of social foundations, ideologies and political and elite prejudices, which preceeded the Irish revolution, 1858-1928, as a general but well researched, hardhitting and truthful account.

[ top ]

[ top ]