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Northern Ireland is a place with a very complex history that is all its own. The politics and civil discord in Northern Ireland has helped to produce some fantastic literature over the years. Take a look at the writers below so that you can learn more about Northern Irish literature.
Seamus Heaney
Seamus Heaney has won a Nobel Prize and is considered to be among the best poets of the late twentieth century. Heaney’s poetry has been quite influential and he could even be considered the quintessential Northern Irish poet.
Sinead Morrisey
Sinead Morrisey is a very important poet who has even won the T.S. Eliot Prize. She has five volumes of poetry and all of them are held in high regard. The poetry focuses on the voices of women throughout history.
John Hewitt
Hewitt is considered to be one of the most influential poets from Northern Ireland. He has written many things throughout the years and often depicted conflicts from the history of Northern Ireland in his poetry. One of his most famous works is called The Bloody Brae. This poem describes a 1642 massacre of Roman Catholics.
Brian Friel
Brian Friel was a playwright and a dramatist who had many plays featured on broadway during his life. He founded the Field Day Theatre Company and has written many famous scripts. His most famous production is 1990s Dancing at Lughnasa. Friel also made significant contributions to The New Yorker during his lifetime.
C.S. Lewis
C.S. Lewis is likely the most famous author from Northern Ireland. He wrote The Chronicles of Narnia series, which has become a worldwide phenomenon. This book series was also famously adapted into a film series. Lewis remains an influential and highly regarded writer well after his passing.
Louis MacNeice
MacNeice is one of the elite playwrights of his era. He took a lot of inspiration from the poetry of T.S. Eliot. One of his most famous works is 1937s Letters From Iceland.
Deirdre Maddon
Deirdre Maddon dedicated her literary efforts to telling the story of Northern Ireland. She is well-known for bringing a sense of humility to the Northern Irish conflicts of the late twentieth century. Maddon does a superb job of capturing conflict and her works have always been captivating.