The role of poets in Ireland

There have been over the centuries various roles of the poets in Ireland. Surely some further understanding thereof is needed, before drawing any conclusions. However, it says already something that Michael D. Higgins became President of Ireland. As poet he has always been a most eloquent speaker. He lends credibility to the claim that aside from intellectuals, it is up to poets to raise their 'moral' voice. From Brendan Kennelly, it is known how much this search to find a true voice, in particular the voices of those usually not heard, is linked to what the education system has taught him and others to disregard or even worse to hate. Now in her book BRENDAN KENNELLY: BEHIND THE SMILE *, Sandrine Brisset links the role of the poet to what were their tasks in the past. Not priests, but still privileged enough in any Irish village or town, they would assume the role of moral guidance and spiritual uplift. As said already before when arriving in Galway 1996, it was clear that poets helped set the urban agenda. Since then, they have come to fame together with Seamus Heaney who won the Nobel Prize for Literature, and who stated in his acceptance speech that he received this prize thanks to three generation of poets. His was but another sign of a humble recognition giants stand on the shoulders of many little giants.

* This book about Brendan Kennelly by Sandrine Brisset was launched April 17, 2013, the day of Brendan Kennelly's birthday in Dublin, Ireland. Ever since its launching, it has been attacked as being untrue. It led to a break-up of a ten year friendship between the author and Brendan Kennelly. The question can be asked innocently why, or it can be posed another set of questions since some of the reasons are known to the extent that aside from having to defend a reputation, there is also the personal relationship between father and daughter which was touched upon, and which has prompted surely some of the sharpest reactions. Whether or not this is a trivial issue taken serious in a wrong way, as Brendan Kennelly would criticize a society of half truths and more in tune with use of labels than with good poetry, has to be followed up. Announcement of the launching of the book was made on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sandrine-Brisset/552443948107567

or else

http://www.raglanbooks.ie/

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The role of poets in Ireland