Contemporary Irish Poetry and the Canon

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This book makes a significant contribution to discussions about influence in contemporary Irish poetry. Through sharp insights on allusion, word choice, and formal structure, it introduces a variety of new and lesser-known voices that enrich the exploration of inheritance, history, and the Irish poetic canon. It examines how contemporary Irish poetry is shaped by criticism, arguing that critical practices often create reductive and static interpretations of poetic texts, identities, and the evolution of modern Irish poetry. The study critiques the tendency within criticism to stabilize and limit the understanding of texts, which could otherwise challenge the formation of a singular canon. It includes detailed close readings of works by established poets like Paul Muldoon and Medbh McGuckian, as well as emerging voices. This approach offers an alternative critical methodology that resists the traditional pursuit of singular meaning, instead celebrating the indeterminacy and multiplicity inherent in contemporary Irish poetry.