The Rhyming Weavers Anniversary

2024 will mark the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of John Hewitt’s Rhyming Weavers anthology – a publication which not only rediscovered for the modern reader the work of late-18th-/early-19th-century poets such as Samuel Thomson, James Orr, and David Herbison, but also helped to establish the perception of writing in Ulster-Scots as an autonomous literary tradition within the broader context of the literature of Ireland. This celebration of Hewitt’s achievement is an opportunity to discuss the significance of the cultural and linguistic diversity of the island of Ireland – particularly in relation to the cultural heritages of the province of Ulster. With poet Paul Muldoon as keynote speaker, this half-day event will assemble a collection of artists and scholars responding to the theme in diverse ways, followed by a buffet reception on the new Ulster University campus.

This event will be livestreamed. Details of the live-stream will be sent out to all registered attendees the day before the event.

Access requirements

Have you got any access requirements that we can assist you with, so that you can fully engage with our event? Please let us know by contacting our access officer, in advance of the event, by email at accessofficer@ria.ie