A special event was hosted in Athlone Library as part of the All-Ireland Drama Festival Fringe to mark the 80th year of poet John Ennis.
Born in Westmeath in 1944, John Ennis has published 21 books of poetry. The critic Sean Dunne has said of John, “he leaves many other poets looking watery and confined to limited forms, like people who never stir out of the house.”
John’s work has received numerous awards and in 2010, his work was substantially represented in the Harvard Anthology of Modern Irish Poetry. His archive is held at Princeton University. The event, to mark his 80th year, included readings by Christa de Brun, Gearoid O’Brien, Tadhg Carey, Caroline Coyle, Arthur Broomfield, Jackie Gorman and Eleanor Hooker.
This event celebrated a life spent in poetry and someone who has contributed so much to the craft. All of the poets who participated acknowledged John Ennis’s vast contribution to poetry in Ireland and beyond, his use of the long form sequence, his advocacy particularly in relation to Palestine throughout his life, his encouragement of emerging poets and his dedication to the craft of poetry.
Copies of his new book ‘Poems for Alina’, published by Book Hub Publishing were available on the day at the event as well as his recent anthology ‘Later Selected Poems 2000-2020’.
“John Ennis has been described by none other than Seamus Heaney as ‘perhaps Ireland’s most undeservedly neglected living poet.’ Our work with him over the years seeks to address this and bring his work to a wider audience,” Susan McKenna, Director of Book Hub Publishing, commented.
The MC for the event was poet and academic Christa de Brun of the South East Technological University. She spoke about the seminal role John played over many years in the development of humanities programmes in SETU.
She remarked, “the groundwork in terms of establishing the now flagship BA Honours Arts degree programme, in which he was central, led to the development and initiation of many of the programmes and subject choices now available to SETU students. Without doubt neither English or Theatre Studies would exist as subject choices today were it not for his vision and his remarkable and inspirational leadership as Head of School.”
“John Ennis is an extraordinary poet, educator and humanitarian. In addition to producing a wide array of work himself, he also has the generosity of spirit to encourage other poets who are starting out along the path. We are all grateful to share in John Ennis’s work and to now celebrate his achievements,” local poet, Jackie Gorman, who was involved in the development of the event, stated.
Copies of John Ennis’s latest works are available locally in the Athlone Bookstore and from www.bookhubpublishing.com
