Belfast Group Poetry|Networks

The Belfast Group connected a new generation of poets and writers from Northern Ireland.

Meeting at Philip Hobsbaum’s house in the shadow of Queen’s University, the Group read and commented on the drafts of each others’ poems, plays, and stories. Notable members of the Group included Seamus Heaney, Paul Muldoon, and Michael Longley. Read drafts from these poets and others.

Interactive networks and digitized drafts of poetry make the Belfast Group's connections visible.

After the Group stopped meeting in 1972, many participants downplayed its importance to their writing, but by graphing the interactions among the members of the Group—in poems or letters—we can better understand the relationships created during the writing workshop.

Visualize the relationships around the Belfast Group.

Michael Longley

A portrait of Seamus Heaney, with him reclining in a field — Seamus Heaney

James Simmons with his head resting on his hand on the edge of a bench, looking off and to the right — James Simmons

Brendan Kennelly in front of shelves with copies of his books on them — None

Hannah Hobsbaum seated, with her husband Philip behind her — Hannah Hobsbaum

Paul Muldoon with a book in his left hand at a poetry reading — None

Edna Lonlgey standing next to a portrait of herself — Edna Longley

Stewart Parker standing in a phone booth in a street covered in rubble from a bombing. — Stewart Parker

Frank Ormsby standing with his arms crossed — Frank Ormsby

Philip Hobsbaum reading student work with his wife Rosemary in the background — Philip Hobsbaum

The Heaney family in a field with Marie Heaney walking toward the foreground and others near a fence in the background — Marie Heaney

Ciaran Carson hold bothin his son Manus (who has a bib on) and an accordion — Ciaran Carson

Derek Mahon at a poetry reading with a book in his left hand and a a microphone in the foreground — None

Arthur Terry seated at a desk with bookshelves behind him, a pipe in his right hand — Arthur Terry