John Montague

Few could touch the quick of things as John Montague did in his verses

Bohemians rhapsodise about it and high society have always loved the magical estate in Wicklow

Culture review 2016: Seanad National Museum land grab shows depths of philistinism in our political culture

Since the foundation of the State, its relationship with the arts has been ambiguous

‘He would carry words through the noise of domesticity to drop them safely onto the page’

Montague and his poetic idiom were shaped by his childhood in Tyrone

Ulster poet had a ‘dramatic, engaged, fruitful literary life right to the end of his days’

Paul Muldoon, Eavan Boland, his publisher Peter Fallon and a host of poets and academics pay tribute to a great Irish writer

Higgins heard news ‘with sorrow’, describing him as ‘one of our finest poets’

Mike McCormack’s Solar Bones is novel of the year. Winners include Marian Keyes, Graham Norton, Paul Howard, Paul O’Connell and Tana French

£4.25m Bellaghy facility a permanent exhibition about life and work of Nobel Laureate

John Montague and Elizabeth Wassell are heartbroken over the attack in Nice

‘First Editions’ in Dublin’s Ballsbridge is a popular destination for book lovers

25 poets in special Irish issue of ‘Poetry’ are worthy of international exposure, says Patrick Cotter

A round-up of upcoming events in the books world

One of Ireland’s finest poets reviews the career of our Book Club author, from Tatty to The Lives of Women: 'her work sustains a voice, and evokes a place, with exceptional control'

Higher level exam judged to be a good test of students’ abilities overall

‘Bird Boy’ by acclaimed Irish poet is published as part of national poetry day, which features 50 events around the country

New plaques celebrating Yeats, ‘The Kasbah’ and Ó Conaire to be unveiled in Galway city

Conrad Devlin: September 19th, 1935 - October 19th, 2014

The centenary of the American poet, admirer of WB Yeats and one-time Dublin resident, is marked by the publication of two books and a conference in the city

Paris Letter: researchers trace ‘last great Frenchman’ to McCartan family

What will €150,000 buy?

President recalls family links with Leeside at a ceremony attended by several hundred

‘Such a pleasant man you could forget he was a genius’

Best-selling novelist and playright was one of Ireland’s most recognisable writers

Painter was based in Ireland since 1954 and was a leading contemporary artist

His books sold and continue to sell in the tens of thousands, while hordes of ‘Heaneyboppers’ flocked to his readings

So says Happy Days festival director Seán Doran of Beckett. Doran’s aim is to break new ground, and with the celebration of the playwright in Enniskillen he has pulled that off

When meeting old friends, there are times when things are best left unsaid

’This is the Way’ takes €15,000 Kerry Group Award at literary festival

Heritage Hot Spot

John McAuliffe reviews new poetry from Greg Delanty, Matthew Sweeney, Martin Dyar and Rebecca O’Connor

‘Most attentive and conscientious of proofreaders’