Favourite poems & anthologies
A few of Ireland's leading poets have long graced the curriculum in Britain in
Years 10-13.
Ireland in Schools has been trying to ensure that more Irish poets are studied
in these years and in earlier years of schooling because of the quality of their
poetry and the range of issues addressed
Students’ responses have justified this attempt by demonstrating their appreciation
and enjoyment of poetry and knowledge and understanding of Ireland. Particularly
gratifying is the work of students who usually write half a page but become
expansive when responding to contemporary Irish poems.
These notes on poetry are arranged into five main pages:
Click
here for a list of IiS resources for poetry.
Modern favourite
The fast-paced Smugglers of Mourne, a narrative poem in a historical with setting
telling and chilling illustrations setting by Martin Waddell (Longman, 0-58212-195-7),
is enjoyed for its own right as much as for the cross-curricular work it inspires.
Tom and Nancy dramatically evade capture by the spy Ranaghan and the Excise
men, ‘dark shapes in the night’, sailing away forever from the Mountains of Mourne
in ‘the dark ship that was awaiting/to take them on board,/Tom and his brave
Nancy Bell.’
An excellent example of how to create drama and tension in a story, it also serves
as an introduction to the beauty and mystery of the countryside in Northern Ireland.
Resources
Ancient favourite
'The Butter' by Tadgh Dall Ó Huigínn in the late 16th century offers an amusing
health warning against the dangers of eating butter at that time.
There was a beard sprouting from it,
Bad health to the fellow's beard
A juice from it as venomous as poison
It was tallow with a sour draught taste.