Posted 05 July 2010
Dublin-born poet named Ireland Professor of Poetry
An Taoisaeach, Brian Cowen has announced that Harry Clifton is the new Ireland Professor of Poetry. Clifton takes over the position from Michael Longley, who was the fourth Ireland Professor of Poetry.
The role was established in 1998 to honour the achievements of Seamus Heaney following his award of the Nobel Prize in Literature. Created by the Arts Council, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, University College Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, and Queen's University Belfast, the Chair is for 3 years, during which time Mr Clifton will be attached to the three universities in turn and will give lectures and readings to the public.
57-year-old, Clifton spent many years living and working abroad before returning to Ireland to teach at University College Dublin in 2004. He said the appointment was a 'huge honour and totally unexpected.'
His collections of poems include 'The Desert Route; Selected Poems 1973-1988' and 'Secular Eden; Paris Notebooks 1994-2004'. His work has been translated into several languages and he has received many awards.
UCD Homepage photograph: Courtesy of Frank Miller / The Irish Times
(Produced by UCD University Relations)
