Funeral of poet John Montague in Dublin on Wednesday

First Ireland professor of poetry and author of over 30 books will be buried in Co Tyrone

John Montague: the author of more than 30 books of poetry, essays and short stories, including Collected Poems and New Collected Poems, died in Nice, France. Photograph: Paddy Whelan
John Montague: the author of more than 30 books of poetry, essays and short stories, including Collected Poems and New Collected Poems, died in Nice, France. Photograph: Paddy Whelan

The funeral of Irish poet John Montague is to take place in Dublin on Wednesday ahead of his burial in Co Tyrone, where he was brought up, on Thursday.

Mr Montague died in Nice, France, on Saturday.

His funeral will take place on Wednesday at 11am at the Newman University Church, St Stephen’s Green, Co Dublin.

His body will then be taken to St Matthew’s Church, Garvaghey, Co Tyrone, for a burial service at noon on Thursday.

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Mr Montague published more than 30 books of poetry, essays and short stories, including Collected Poems in 1995 and New Collected Poems in 2012.

In 1998 he was named the first Ireland professor of poetry, a three-year appointment to Queen’s University Belfast, Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin, created in the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement.

In 2010, he was made a Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur, France’s highest civil award.

Three weeks before his death, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards in Dublin.

He is survived by his wife, novelist Elizabeth Wassell, and daughters, Oonagh and Sibyl.