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THE FIRST IRELAND Professor of Poetry John Montague has died at the age of 87.
He passed away at his home in Nice and it is expected he will be laid to rest in Tyrone.
He was born in Brooklyn in 1929 but was sent to live in Tyrone at the age of four. He was educated at University College Dublin, and Yale University and the University of California at Berkeley. He co-founded Claddagh Records, and became president of Poetry Ireland in 1979. He had taught at UCD, University College Cork and the Sorbonne.
His poetry included Forms of Exile (1958); Poisoned Lands(1961), Drunken Sailor (2001); Speech Lessons (2011) and New Collected Poems(2012). The Lost Notebook , a novella set in Florence, won the first Hughes Award in 1987.
He won the Marten Toonder Award in 1977, a Guggenheim fellowship in 1980, and the Ireland Funds Literary Award in 1995. He was the first Ireland Professor of Poetry from 1998 to 2001.
Tributes to Montague have been led by President Michael D Higgins, who called his death “another great loss to Irish letters”.
“The death of John Montague represents another great loss to Irish letters, a further break with a rich body of work that was the gift of poets and dramatists, to Ulster, Ireland and the world.
“His wry, self-deprecating company, his humour, his openness to opposite opinions, will be missed by all of us who were privileged to be his friends – and so many were.
“To his wife Elizabeth Wassell; his daughters Sibyl and Oonagh, and all those who loved him, Sabina and I send our deepest sympathy.”
Sheila Pratschke, Chair of the Arts Council said:
“A true giant of Irish letters, John Montague possessed a voice and vision which was wholly unique and deeply needed.”
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It’s always good to see Saudi Arabian sportswashing lose out. And I’m pleased for Nunez too.
@Brendan O’Brien: that’d be the same sportswashing that liverpool made a handy wedge off over the summer.
One of the best comebacks you’ll ever see. Like Klopp said even better than the Barcelona game. I totally agree.
@Denis Rathsallagh Brady: read before the game,if Liverpool win,it’ll be first time in their history to win away at Newcastle 3 times in succession. Don’t know if that’s PL history or all time history,either way,I was jumping up and down in front of tv celebrating!
@Larry Betts: hope you didn’t spill any beer
@mainmsam: Tried replying to you twice,my comments have been removed?
@Larry Betts: sure look once the beer is safe
@mainmsam: You got it! Nothing controversial,just my usual comments. Beer is safe!
Not bad for a carthorse,as described by a football illuminati last week,well done Darwin nunez.
@Thomas: Wijnaldim did the same in famous game v Barcelona. Disappointed at being left out,intended to make a huge impression. That’s why Origi was such a super sub too
@Larry Betts: yes larry I remember said game,it was nearly three days before I made it home after that one,and origi did something similar to Newcastle a few years back,I was in work for that one thank god.
Liverpool haven’t really kicked into gear at all yet so having 7 points on the board is quite the achievement. Hopefully Nunez kicks on from here. He should get the nod ahead of Gakpo really.
@ecrowley ecrowley: A lot of Liverpool players had an off game today,for some reason or other. Gakpo usually very reliable. It’s good to mix things up though give all players a chance,keep them all hungry
@Larry Betts: It’s actually amazing they got a result with the amount of poor performances. And with 10 men… very strange game. Still, I’ll take it!
How’d you like them touches, eh Neville?
Delighted for the Saudis
Absolute bottle job from the barcodes. Could be auf wiedersen pet to eddie howe if things dont improve.
@Brian Dunne: So many controversial incidents in that match,Brian.Doesn’t make sense. And you know who I support! Second TTA foul warranted a yellow,ie a sending off. But the 1st yellow was a joke. Trent fouled and slid off the pitch,threw the ball back on the pitch,gets booked! Rule is ‘kicking the ball away when opponents are awarded a free kick’. It was Liverpool’s free kick,he threw the ball back into play,not kicked away. LFC played terrible all game,but what a result to turn it around with (deservedly) 10 men.
@Larry Betts: bizarre weekend for the refs larry! Great result for the pool to be fair, excellent start to the season for them.
@Brian Dunne: Fair play to ya Brian. Sporting rivalries are put to one side in the name of Fair Play. Cheers,mate
@Brian Dunne: Newcastle by far the better team and if it wasn’t for Allison this game would have been a cricket score. Huge improvement needed going forward or it’ll be another bad season. Don’t let this win paper over some very big cracks
@Thomas Reddy: Give over, with all the chances, Newcastle had, they still couldn’t score and goals with games.
They still need a 20+ a season striker and a couple of defenders, they’re far from the finished article.
Why are my comments all of a sudden banned? Posted two replies,nothing showing. Is this a VAR review?
What a joke Newcastle are. Cannot beat a terrible Liverpool squad with only 10 men!
@Canada Goose G Dog: Go goose your g dog Canada
@Canada Goose G Dog: You’re only as good as your last game!
Absolutely delighted the sport washing Newcastle Saudis beaten.
The Saudi league are buying up any players that are willing to take the big money on offer.
We have to push back and not pay any attention to this Saudi league.
That is the only way to stop them.
@John Duff: A noble idea,but football is all money now Saudi or otherwise,and has been for a long time,just look at Chelsea,taken it to another level entirely.
Newcastle blew it smash and grab job for Liverpool a decent side will destroy that defence.
@paulie: Newcastle are a decent side.
That’s Nunez’s goals for the season done !
@Stephen Moroney: He will have two more than anthony so.
Don’t tell me the scouse won their Second league in 33 years LOL #embarrassing
@Liam Dunne: they are peaking now for this season.
@Liam Dunne: way past your bedtime. Mummy will be up in a few to tuck you in.
@Dave c: can your mummy tuck me in
@Liam Dunne: Probably a Manchester United fan. I was wondering when they’d rear their heads here. Good to see them focus their minds back on soccer after all their off-field troubles with Giggs and Greenwood.
@Hugh De Payans: don’t forget Antony
@Mise Freisin: reported
Hang ur heads in shame
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