Galway is known as the cultural heart of Ireland and is revered for its history, festivals, and arts. The city has been one of the pioneers of literary culture in the country.
The city is renowned for its annual International Arts Festival every July. It is spread across two weeks with highlights of events ranging from art and cultural displays, live music street performances, dancing and everything in between.
Here are a few ways the city has contributed to the country's literary development.
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Literary Festivals and Archived Digitised Collections
Galway has a library called The James Hardiman Library which holds over 300 archived and digitised collections of manuscripts and literary works from decades ago. This development seeks to preserve indigenous literature in digital formats so it can still be accessed many years later. This is especially useful because of digital books' role in today's social media world and what they will play in the future. This is correctly pointed out in this article by the PIA blog titled 'Reading Is Cool Again. The Reason?'. According to the piece, eBooks alone generated over $1 billion in 2020, thanks to book influencers who paved the way for a new generation of reading enthusiasts in the 21st century.
In addition to the city's effort to conserve its literature, it also hosts an annual Cúirt International Festival of Literature festival that attracts writers, artists, and literature influencers from different parts of the world to the city. This festival has been functional for over 35 years and has been vital in attracting foreign attention to the country's literature.
Ireland's Only Postgraduate Education for Literature
For over 28 years, Galway has remained the only city in Ireland whose university offers a postgraduate programme dedicated to literature and publishing. The course is a one-year holistic programme that covers both the art and business side of publishing and literature. This course by the University of Galway prepares students for a professional career in literature and publishing and also gives them access to benefits that can accelerate their careers.
Students are allowed contact with literature and publishing industry experts and access to facilities like libraries, publishing houses, cultural institutions, and more. This aids the development of new indigenous literary talents and contributes to the growth of the academic culture in Ireland.
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Galway's Writers, Poets, and Poetry
Galway is home to some of Ireland's finest poets and poetic pieces. As you will discover from this wild-n-happy-travel article, the city's geography and cultural sway make it an attractive place for writers looking to connect with traditional Irish culture and draw inspiration for their works. As reported by Poetry Ireland, Galway has produced noteworthy poets like Fred Johnston, Mary O'Malley, and many others that have gained global acclaim for their works in literature.
These individuals and their works have served as exports of Irish literature to the international world and have offered people abroad a feel of Ireland's cultural heritage. For example, Patrick Deeley has had his works translated into different languages, including Spanish, French, and Italian. Books like Ulysses by James Joyce are used as a tool for studying literature in other parts of the world, and Dracula by Bram Stoker has become the basis for many films and plays.
One common thing is that most of these writers and poets are either natives of Galway or have had their works influenced by the city's culture, people, or other elements.
