Jumping off Shadows

An important celebratory collection of Irish poetry by graduates of University College, Cork writing in both English and Irish, which groups together poets of international standing in a single volume, Paul Durcan, Eileain Ni Chuilleanain and Michael Davitt.



Irish language poetry, long considered the death wail of a dying beast, experienced a remarkable resurgence in the late 60s and early 70s. This emanated mainly from the poetry magazine INNTI, first issued as a broadsheet by UCC students and later going on tyo become one of the most prestigious poetry publications in these isles. Most of the poets associated with INNTI are alumnae of UCC and beteeen them they have already produced a remarkable body of work. The presence in UCC of Sean O Riordain, the poet, and Sean O Tuma, poet, scholar, teacher, dramatist and critic was of major importance in the development of Irish language poetry. In the English Department Sean Lucy and John Montague were a major source of inspiration for poets writing in the English language. Through the influence of these teachers many of Ireland's most distinguished poets have been through the portals of UCC. The contributors to the collection include Paul Durcan, Patrick Cotter, Michael Davitt, Roz Cowman, Theo Dorgan, Sean Dunne, Eileain Ni Chuilleanain and Colm Breathnach. The editors will provide a main introduction, introductions to each poet, and translations of the Irish poetry.