The Coleraine Cluster of poets and writers (a name coined later) was an informal collection of writers associated with the New University of Ulster in the early 1970s.

Origins

The New University of Ulster had been established near the town of Coleraine about 60 miles from Belfast in 1968. It attracted the English scholars Walter Allen (several novels and critical works)[1] and Alan Warner (several critical works)[2] who were appointed Professors of English Literature. They were joined by the poets James Simmons (editor of The Honest Ulsterman), Andrew Waterman, Bill McCormack and other writers such as Bridget O'Toole.

This grouping drew several mature students who had delayed their entry to university for various reasons. These included Gerald Dawe, Brian Keenan, Brendan Hamill, and Anne Devlin. To this was added Michael Stephens (the nephew of James Simmons) and Robert Johnstone. All of these staff and students would go on to careers in writing. Aodán Mac Póilin, the Irish language activist, was also associated with the cluster

Activities

This cluster initiated a lively literary scene including regular poetry nights in local bars[3] and more formal readings by such poets as Seamus Heaney and Derek Mahon. During this period, they also began to produce a range of publications including volumes of poetry. The cluster dissolved as the students graduated although its members continued to publish.

Magazines

Various magazines were associated with members of the cluster. Acorn, the magazine of the English Society at Magee University College in Derry, was transferred to Coleraine in 1972 and then evolved into other magazines such as Quarto. During its lifetime Acorn published material by Walter Allen, Alan Warner, and Bill McCormack. Quarto published work by Stephens.

Caret was edited by Johnstone and others and published work by Simmons. The more established The Honest Ulsterman also published poetry by Simmons, Waterman, Dawe, Stephens, and Keenan about this time.

Books

During this period, staff associated with the cluster published several volumes of poetry. Simmons published three volumes, (Energy to Burn 1971; The Long Summer Still to Come, 1973 and West Strand Visions, 1974).[4] Waterman published Living Room.[5] McCormack (writing as Hugh Maxton) published The Noise of the Field.[6]

Among the students, Stephens had guest edited an issue of The Honest Ulsterman in 1969 and had a poetry pamphlet published by it.[7] Hamill published a poetry pamphlet.[8] Dawe published the collection Sheltering Places in 1978.[9] In the following decade all of these writers went on to greater success.[10] Although not as formalised as the Belfast Group[11] the people associated with the cluster supported each other during a difficult period in Northern Ireland.

References

  1. ↑ Allen, Walter (1955). The English Novel. London: Dutton. ISBN 0525098461.
  2. ↑ Warner, Alan (1964). A Short Guide to English Style. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 198.
  3. ↑ "West Strand Visions: A review". Quarto (1): 5–11. 1973.
  4. ↑ Simmons, James (1986). Poems 1956-1986. Dublin: Gallery Press. p. 202. ISBN 1852240202.
  5. ↑ Waterman, Andrew (1974). Living Room. Marvell Press. p. 64. ISBN 0900533080.
  6. ↑ Maxton, Hugh (1976). The Noise of the Field. Dublin: Dolmen. ISBN 0851052940.
  7. ↑ Stephens, Michael (1969). Blues for Chocolate Doherty. Belfast: The Honest Ulsterman.
  8. ↑ Hamill, Brendan (1976). Emigrant Brother. Belfast: Lagan Press.
  9. ↑ Dawe, Gerald (1978). Sheltering Places. Dublin: Dolmen. p. 56. ISBN 0955946808.
  10. ↑ Dawe, Gerald (2023). Another Time: Poems 1978-2023. Dublin: Gallery. p. 176. ISBN 1911338552.
  11. ↑ Dawe, Gerald (1994). "Postscript: After the event". The Honest Ulsterman (97): 24–26.
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