Published by Bloodaxe Books, Leabhar na hAthgabhála is a major -and majorly comprehensive- critical anthology of modern poetry in Irish with English translations. Ably edited by Louis de Paor, it ranges from Patrick Pearse and Liam S. Gógan via major figures like Seán Ó Ríordáin and Máire Mhac an tSaoí to more recent poets like Gearóid Mac Lochlainn and Áine Ní Ghlinn.
The anthology has translations by some of Ireland’s most distinguished poets and translators, including Paul Muldoon, Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin, Maurice Riordan, Peter Sirr, David Wheatley and Mary O’Donoghue, I’m honoured that my own translations of Conleth Ellis have been included.
A response to to Seán Ó Tuama and Thomas Kinsella’s classic anthology,An Duanaire 1600-1900 / Poems of the Dispossessed, this volume is a superb act of cultural recuperation and essential reading fro anyone even remotely interested in contemporary Irish poetry!
Myself with Louis De Paor, Biddy Jenkinson and Colbert kearney at an event celebrating Leabhar na hAthgabhála at Cork City Library
Billy Ramsell | Poet 