The Great Book of Ireland

18/10/2021

We remember poets Máire Mhac an tSaoi and Brendan Kennelly, both contributors to The Great Book of Ireland, and are saddened by their passing.

07/10/2019

We are saddened to note the passing of poet Ciarán Carson, a Great Book of Ireland contributor.

18/02/2017

A remarkable visit to see a remarkable work of epic art created by a community of wild and generous artists. Eternally inspirational

30/08/2016

'I am the artful vo**ur...'

Today we remember Seamus Heaney, who died on 30 August 2013. We also fondly remember his presence at the unveiling of the Great Book of Ireland at its new UCC home in January 2013.

In celebration, here is a beautiful detail from Folio 37 of the Great Book which pairs his handwritten poem "Punishment" with the spectral art of the late Barrie Cooke and the fine calligraphy of Denis Brown.

24/04/2015

James Lawlor will present a paper entitled "Contested Space: The Great Book of Ireland" at The School of English, UCC's annual postgraduate conference Bookends UCC today.

His paper will explore the collaborative practise and the interaction between the visual and the textual elements in the Great Book.

Panel commences at 11.30am, ORB 2.12 (O'Rahilly Building, UCC). All welcome!

Thursday 23rd and Friday 24th April 2015. O'Rahilly Building 2.12, University College Cork

11/11/2014

Crónán Ó Doibhlin, Head of Research Collections & Communications, UCC Library recounts the planning and work that went into exhibiting The Great Book of Ireland at the Lewis Glucksman Gallery recently.

Crónán Ó Doibhlin, Head of Research Collections & Communications, UCC Library recounts the planning and work that went into exhibiting The Great Book at the Glucksman Gallery...

01/09/2014

For our final 'Manuscript Monday' we share this beautiful open view of the Great Book - a true national treasure!

It has been an incredible year for the Great Book which has seen it exhibited free to the public at the Lewis Glucksman Gallery - as part of the Facing Pages: The Art of The Great Book of Ireland exhibition - and the focus of much attention, poetic, artistic, and musical.

The Great Book of Ireland is now taking a well earned rest back in its permanent home of Special Collections at University College Cork Library, waiting for the next chapter in its wonderful story!

30/08/2014

'I am the artful vo**ur...'

Remembering Seamus Heaney who died on this day one year ago. Here is a beautiful detail from Folio 37 of the Great Book which pairs his handwritten poem "Punishment" with the spectral art of the late Barrie Cooke. We also fondly remember Heaney's presence at the unveiling of the Great Book at its new home of UCC in January 2013.

25/08/2014

It's Manuscript Monday! Featuring the work of artist Gráinne Dowling and the Great Book's 'only Russian poet' Bella Akhmadulina (1937-2010), kick off your week with this beautifully international and iridescent detail from Folio 25.

19/08/2014

Did you know that Ted Hughes has two poems in the Great Book?

The late British Poet Laureate hand wrote "Hawk Roosting" (dedicated to Seamus Heaney) and "That Morning" directly onto the vellum page, a detail of which we shared yesterday. That's your Tuesday trivia fix!

18/08/2014

For this 'Manuscript Monday' we share a beautiful detail from Folio 59 of the Great Book. Accompanying the artwork of Gabby Dowling (b.1954) is the poem "Hawk Roosting" by former British Poet Laureate Ted Hughes (1930-98) which is dedicated to fellow Great Book contributor Seamus Heaney (1939-2013).

06/08/2014

Did you know that no fewer than three Nobel Laureates contributed to the Great Book?
Samuel Beckett, Seamus Heaney and Derek Walcott, all contributors to the Great Book, have each been awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature.