John Jordan (poet)
Encyclopedia
John Jordan was an Irish
poet born in Dublin on 8 April 1930. He was educated at Synge Street CBS
, University College, Dublin (U.C.D.) and Pembroke College
, Oxford. In his teens he acted on the stage of the Gate Theatre
, Dublin, before winning a Scholarship in English and French to Oxford University from U.C.D. In the mid-1950s he returned to U.C.D. as a lecturer in English and taught there until the end of the 1960s. He also lectured on sabbatical leave at the Memorial University in Newfoundland
and briefly at Princeton University
in the U.S. He was a celebrated literary critic from the late 1950s until his death in June, 1988 in Cardiff
, Wales, where he had been participating in the Merriman Summer School.
He was also a short-story writer, a poet and a broadcaster. In 1962 he re-founded and edited the literary magazine Poetry Ireland
. In this journal, he introduced a number of poets who were to become quite famous later, including Paul Durcan
, Michael Hartnett and Seamus Heaney
. This first series of Poetry Ireland lasted until 1968–69. In 1981 he became the first editor of the new magazine published by the Poetry Ireland Society, called Poetry Ireland Review
. His Collected Poems (Dedalus Press) and Collected Stories (Poolbeg Press) were edited by his literary executor, Hugh McFadden
, and published in Dublin in 1991. His Selected Prose, Crystal Clear, also edited by McFadden, was published by Lilliput Press in Dublin in 2006. Jordan's Selected Poems, edited with an Introduction by Hugh McFadden, was published in February 2008 by Dedalus Press. In 1953 the young Irish artist Reginald Gray
was commissioned by University College Dublin to design the decor and costumes for their production of "The Kings Threshold" by W.B. Yeats. The leading role was given to John Jordan. During the preparations for the production Gray started a portrait of Jordan, which he never finished. This work now hangs in The Dublin Writers Museum, Ireland.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
poet born in Dublin on 8 April 1930. He was educated at Synge Street CBS
Synge Street CBS
Synge Street CBS is a Christian Brothers School in Dublin 8, Ireland. It was founded in 1864.-Primary school:The primary section caters for boys from seven to twelve years. It is called Sancta Maria CBS. It opened in 1954.-Secondary school:...
, University College, Dublin (U.C.D.) and Pembroke College
Pembroke College, Oxford
Pembroke College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, located in Pembroke Square. As of 2009, Pembroke had an estimated financial endowment of £44.9 million.-History:...
, Oxford. In his teens he acted on the stage of the Gate Theatre
Gate Theatre
The Gate Theatre, in Dublin, was founded in 1928 by Hilton Edwards and Micheál Mac Liammóir, initially using the Abbey Theatre's Peacock studio theatre space to stage important works by European and American dramatists...
, Dublin, before winning a Scholarship in English and French to Oxford University from U.C.D. In the mid-1950s he returned to U.C.D. as a lecturer in English and taught there until the end of the 1960s. He also lectured on sabbatical leave at the Memorial University in Newfoundland
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
and briefly at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
in the U.S. He was a celebrated literary critic from the late 1950s until his death in June, 1988 in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, Wales, where he had been participating in the Merriman Summer School.
He was also a short-story writer, a poet and a broadcaster. In 1962 he re-founded and edited the literary magazine Poetry Ireland
Poetry Ireland
Poetry Ireland is an organisation for poets and poetry, in both Irish and English, in the island of Ireland. It is a public body that receives support from The Arts Council of Ireland and The Arts Council of Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1978 by John F. Deane and is based in Proud's Lane,...
. In this journal, he introduced a number of poets who were to become quite famous later, including Paul Durcan
Paul Durcan
Paul Durcan is a contemporary Irish poet.-Early life:Durcan grew up in Dublin and in Turlough, County Mayo. His father, John, was a barrister and circuit court judge; father and son had a difficult and formal relationship. Durcan enjoyed a warmer and more natural relationship with his mother,...
, Michael Hartnett and Seamus Heaney
Seamus Heaney
Seamus Heaney is an Irish poet, writer and lecturer. He lives in Dublin. Heaney has received the Nobel Prize in Literature , the Golden Wreath of Poetry , T. S. Eliot Prize and two Whitbread prizes...
. This first series of Poetry Ireland lasted until 1968–69. In 1981 he became the first editor of the new magazine published by the Poetry Ireland Society, called Poetry Ireland Review
Poetry Ireland Review
Poetry Ireland Review is a journal of Irish poetry published quarterly by Poetry Ireland, the national Irish poetry organization.Poetry Ireland Review publishes the work of both emerging and established Irish and international poets. In line with keeping the journal fresh, vibrant and progressive...
. His Collected Poems (Dedalus Press) and Collected Stories (Poolbeg Press) were edited by his literary executor, Hugh McFadden
Hugh McFadden
Hugh McFadden is an Irish poet, literary editor, executor and freelance journalist.-Early life:McFadden was born in Derry, Northern Ireland, where he lived briefly, and then moved to County Donegal, Republic of Ireland, before moving to Dublin...
, and published in Dublin in 1991. His Selected Prose, Crystal Clear, also edited by McFadden, was published by Lilliput Press in Dublin in 2006. Jordan's Selected Poems, edited with an Introduction by Hugh McFadden, was published in February 2008 by Dedalus Press. In 1953 the young Irish artist Reginald Gray
Reginald Gray (artist)
Reginald Gray is a portrait artist born in Dublin in 1930. He studied at The National College of Art and then moved to London, becoming part of the School of London led by Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud and Frank Auerbach. In 1960, he painted a portrait of Bacon which now hangs in the permanent...
was commissioned by University College Dublin to design the decor and costumes for their production of "The Kings Threshold" by W.B. Yeats. The leading role was given to John Jordan. During the preparations for the production Gray started a portrait of Jordan, which he never finished. This work now hangs in The Dublin Writers Museum, Ireland.
Collections of poetry
- Patrician Stations, New Writers Press (Dublin, 1971)
- A Raft From Flotsam, Gallery Press (Dublin, 1975)
- Blood and Stations, Gallery Press (Dublin, 1976)
- With Whom Did I Share The Crystal, (St. Bruno Press, 1980)
- Collected Poems, Dedalus Press, (Dublin, 1991)
- Selected Poems, Dedalus Press, (Dublin, 2008)
Prose
- Yarns, Poolbeg Press, (Dublin, 1977)
- Collected Stories, Poolbeg Press, (Dublin, 1991)
- Selected Prose: Crystal Clear, Lilliput Press (Dublin, 2006)
Further reading
- Remembering How We Stood, John RyanJohn Ryan (Dublin artist)John Ryan Dublin, Ireland was an Artist, broadcaster, publisher, critic, editor, patron and publican.John Ryan was many things but primarily a key figure in Bohemian Dublin for many years. He knew nearly every artist of note that lived in, or passed through, Dublin from the 1940s onwards...
(Gill and Macmillan, Dublin, 1975). - Envoy, A Review of Literature and ArtEnvoy, A Review of Literature and ArtDecember 1949- July 1951. Dublin, Ireland. Editor & Founder: John RyanDuring its brief existence, Envoy, A Review of Literature and Art, published the work of a broad range of writers, Irish and others. The first to publish J. P...
- Dead as Doornails, Anthony CroninAnthony CroninAnthony Cronin is an Irish poet. He received the Marten Toonder Award for his contribution to Irish literature....
(Dublin, Dolmen Press, 1976) - Essay and poem on Patrick SwiftPatrick SwiftPatrick Swift was an artist born in Dublin, Ireland. Patrick Swift was a painter and key cultural figure in Dublin and London before moving to the Algarve in southern Portugal, where he is buried in the town of Porches...
:Patrick Swift 1927-83 (Gandon Editions, Kinsale, 1993) - In Memorium, John Jordan http://www.jstor.org/pss/25484255
- Eirdata http://www.pgil-eirdata.org/html/pgil_datasets/authors/j/Jordan,John/life.htm
- Poets in Profile, Hugh McFadden http://www.news4.ie/oct09/frame3/11poets.html