Gaining Insights into Irish Literature

August 28, 2007

Members of the English department visited Ireland this summer to immerse themselves in Irish literature

Fourteen members of the English department traveled to Ireland this summer to immerse themselves in Dublin's literary world. During the five-day trip, which coincided with Dublin Writers week, they toured the Joyce Centre and Joyce's Dublin (Martello tower included), attended talks by contemporary novelist Colm Tóibín and Joyce scholar Senator David Norris, visited the Dublin Writers' Museum, and attended a play at Peacock Theatre, part of the National Theatre of Ireland. They also soaked up Irish culture and history, visiting exhibits, historic Temple Bar, Saint Patrick's Cathedral and touring the Wicklow hills.

According to Eimer Page, English instructor, Irish native and graduate of Trinity College, Dublin, the highlight of the trip for many was a private meeting with Colm Tóibín, internationally renowned author and recipient of many literary awards.  "He is a generous and erudite writer and we are delighted to have forged a relationship with him," she explains. "It was fascinating to hear how details of his daily life were woven into the writing of the text. The sense of privilege in having him as our guest speaker really sank in," says Page, when the group attended a public lecture by Tóibín the following day, and found hundreds of people crammed in tightly to hear him speak.

For Becky Moore, chair of the English department, the trip was a wonderful match of department talent and interest. "We chose Dublin because we currently enjoy the company of several Irish scholars: Todd Hearon, Eimer Page, and Ellen Wolff, all of whom have studied and written about Irish literature," she says.

Page did much of the behind-the-scenes organizing, using her Dublin contacts and previous experience leading Dublin study tours. The Tóibín connection came from another PEA faculty member – Tom Giblin of the history department, also from Ireland. "It was important to offer an insight into both Ireland's literary 'canon' and the new generation of writers making ripples," explains Page of the trip's planning. "We had a day devoted to Joyce, since we were there in the run-up to Bloomsday, and we saw the Book of Kells and the exhibit on Yeats at the National Library, but we also had the meeting with Colm Tóibín and saw Mark O'Rowe's new play, Terminus. This offered a good range of perspectives on the centrality of literature in Ireland's past and present."

Prior to the trip, English faculty did their homework, reading four texts by Irish authors: John Banville, The Sea; James Joyce, Dubliners; Flann O'Brien, The Third Policeman; and Colm Tóibín, The Master. They also integrated more Irish works into the spring curriculum last year, including Translations by Brian Friel.

English faculty plan to introduce more Irish texts in English courses this year, using the knowledge they gained during the Dublin trip. The department has invited Colm Tóibín to speak on campus as part of a lecture series.

English instructors who joined the trip are: Jane Cadwell (recently appointed dean of academic affairs), Barbara Desmond, Michelle Dionne, Kelly Flynn, Lark Hammond, John Kane, LaShonda Long, Becky Moore, Eimer Page, Sarah Ream ’75 (joint member of the English department and chair of the department of theater and dance), Lundy Smith, Ralph Sneeden, Jim Von der Heydt and Ellen Wolff. They were accompanied by two spouses – Nick Unger '90 (instructor in Classical Languages) and Maryanne Kane – and Nita Pettigrew (Emerita member of the English department, and moving force in the initial planning for this trip).

The trip was financed through professional development funds earmarked for the English department and assistance from the Dean of Faculty office.

The trip, which was in the planning stage for three years, proved a great success. "We're all grateful for Eimer’s initial suggestion to take the trip, and her energy and efficiency in doing so much of the planning," says Moore.

Interested in learning more?

Read about Colm Tóibín...
Learn more about Exeter's faculty...
Check out Exeter's English department offerings…