Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Paul Muldoon is coming to the SHU Community Theatre on Friday, Nov. 7 at 8 p.m. The evening will feature Irish poetry, history, and live music, with featured guest performers. This event is presented in partnership with the SHU Center for Irish Studies.
Source: Abby Bender, Director of Center for Irish Studies
“Paul Muldoon is widely considered Ireland’s greatest living poet,” said Dr. Abby Bender, associate professor in the Department of English and director of the Center for Irish Studies. “Students shouldn’t miss this opportunity to hear him talk about how poetry can help us understand Ireland’s complex and fascinating history.”
Muldoon is an Irish Poet, born and raised in Co. Armagh, Northern Ireland, in 1951. He has penned 15 full-length collections of poetry, as well as countless other smaller works, literary criticisms, children’s books and more. His poetry has been translated into 20 languages. He is also the recipient of honorary doctorates from ten universities.
The event will also include a special performance by Grammy-nominated musician John Doyle, known for his folk and traditional Irish music. Doyle has performed with the popular Irish group, Solás, and in recent years, he has gone out on his own and recorded two solo albums.
“John Doyle is one of the most influential accompanists currently in Irish music,” said Prof. Chelsey Zimmerman, adjunct music professor. “He’s played with well-known groups like Solas and contributed to the specifically Irish style of backing music on the guitar.”
This performance aims to help support the reopening of Ireland’s Great Hunger Museum in Fairfield. The museum was originally founded at Quinnipiac University in 2012 and is now reopening in downtown Fairfield.
“As an English major, I have found myself drawn to Irish literature for its unique storytelling tradition,” said senior Emma D’Entremont. “After studying abroad in Dingle, learning about their history, between the conflict and the Hunger, it is amazing to see how the Irish have been able to create such beautiful art out of their suffering.”
Thanks to a generous donation, SHU students will be able to attend this event free of charge.
“It will be a lively event, showcasing both music and poetry as a way of understanding Ireland, and it would also be a wonderful introduction for students who plan on studying at our campus in Dingle,” said Bender.
