News and events this October

Visit of Irish poet Bernard O’Donoghue to Bulgaria

Irish poet and academic Bernard O'Donoghue visited Bulgaria between October 19th and 23rd and during that period participated in a number of events including lectures at Sofia University and the University of Veliko Turnovo, poetry readings at the British Council and Sofia University and a talk on the poetry and life of his friend Seamus Heaney. Bernard's talk on 'Irish Poetry at the end of the 20th Century and since' examined the history and parallels between Irish poetry in the two languages most commonly spoken by Irish people in putting into context where Bernard saw Irish poetry being at the end of the 20th century. In ending his talk on this topic in Veliko Turnovo he read some of his own poems.

Bernard's poetry is very much fashioned by his experience of growing up in rural Ireland, prior to his departure in his teens to live in the UK. The departure from Ireland would appear to have been particularly traumatic as it occurred following the sudden death of his father. His mother who was from Manchester decided to move her family back to her native city. This traumatic experience also featured in both poetry readings. In his talk on Seamus Heaney, Bernard compared the lives of Ireland's two greatest poets, Yeats and Heaney. He spoke of Heaney's contribution to modern Ireland and how he used his poetry to chronicle his experience in a divided community.

During his visit, Bernard was interviewed by both the national TV station and the natural radio station.

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