'Agenda': an Irish celebration
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The substantial new triple Irish issue of the literary journal Agenda is an essential read. It represents the tremendous poetic energy in Ireland, and contains challenging essays and reviews by respected critics. This is a handsome book, or anthology, rather than a mere magazine. As Jordi Doce, former guest editor of the Agenda Spanish issue, says: "It is a substantial achievement and I look forward to many evenings of pleasurable reading." John Greening, poet and critic, comments: "It deserves to go around the world, which it no doubt will."
Within this treasury is exciting new work by such well-known poets as John Montague, Seamus Heaney, Michael Longley, Paul Muldoon, Derek Mahon, Brendan Kennelly, John F Deane, Eilean Ni Chuilleanain, Carol Rumens and Peter Fallon; rare, previously unpublished poems by Padraic Fallon and James Simmons; and moving poems by new poets, including up-and-coming women poets such as Caitriona O'Reilly, Nessa O'Mahony, Sinead Morrissey, Kerry Hardie, Siobhan Campbell and Kathryn Gray.
The first 150 pages of the journal comprise a special 75th Birthday Supplement for John Montague, adding to the profile of this very considerable poet. There are essays by specialists such as Martin Dodsworth, Peter Robinson, Seamus Heaney, Gerald Dawe, Maurice Harman and Peter Robinson; and interviews by Dennis O'Driscoll, Thomas McCarthy, Matthew Geden and Elizabeth Wassell. A coloured, poster-sized broadsheet, which gives a forum for new, young voices, accompanies the journal.
In a poem in the issue, Brendan Kennelly defines poetry as "whatever lifts the moon off your back", and the wealth of poems here do just that. As Roger Garfitt, poet and critic, says of Agenda under the new editorship of Patricia McCarthy: "It is wonderful to see Agenda restored to its full vigour." For Brendan Kennelly, "It is the adventurousness of the book as a whole, as a statement of the rich complexity of Irish poetry now, that makes it such a spellbinding read."
'The Pear': for John Montague
By Michael Longley
Someone has left three oranges and a pear
On Baudelaire's grave. Orchard of headstones.
The pear dangles in memory as from a branch.
Or is it a symbol, a poetic windfall,
A lucky sign? You put it in your pocket.
We have betrayed each other, we agree.
Like Peter, I suggest, not like Judas - no.
I love it when you link your arm with mine.
You eat half the pear and hand the rest to me.
The dead poet forgives the thieves their hunger.
From 'Agenda: Irish issue'
'Agenda', The Wheelwrights, Fletching Street, Mayfield, East Sussex TN20 6TL (www.agendapoetry.co.uk; mail to: editor@agendapoetry.co.uk)
Subscriptions for four issues: Inland: private £28; concessions (students/OAPs) £22; libraries & institutions £35.
Europe: private £30 (€44); libraries & institutions £38 (€55).
Outside Europe: private £33 ($62); libraries & institutions £40 ($75)
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments