IRISH LITERATURE: FROM PLUNKETT TO ROONEY
This carefully structured course is a general introduction to critically reading some of Ireland’s best-known literature in the context of a progressing Ireland. We will begin in the 20th century with short stories by James Plunkett, Flann O’Brien’s At Swim-Two-Birds, and Edna O’Brien’s The Country Girls. We take in John Banville’s The Book of Evidence and then move to contemporary literature through Mike McCormack’s Solar Bones, Claire-Louise Bennett’s Pond, Sara Baume’s Spill Simmer Falter Wither, and Sally Rooney’s Normal People.
By the end of the course, participants will have read and discussed a number of Ireland’s authors and critically analysed their themes. Irish Literature is an exciting and highly enjoyable new course, which would be ideal for the literary enthusiast or anyone preparing to study English at the third level. Limited places.
Next Start Date: Monday 12th January 2026 at 8-10pm
Concludes 23rd March 2026
(No sessions 2nd/9th February & 2nd March)
Plunkett, James
Plunkett, James. The Trusting and the Maimed: And Other Irish Stories. Hutchinson, 1959.
O’Brien, Flann
O’Brien, Flann. At Swim‑Two‑Birds. Longman Green & Co, 1939. Available as an eBook (or via many library catalogues) via long-term reprints by Dalkey Archive
O’Brien, Edna
O’Brien, Edna. The Country Girls. Hutchinson, 1960.
Banville, John
Banville, John. The Book of Evidence. (You may borrow this via your local library or via inter‑library loan; check Irish public or academic library catalogues.)
McCormack, Mike
McCormack, Mike. Solar Bones. Tramp Press, 2016.
Bennett, Claire‑Louise
Bennett, Claire‑Louise. Pond. Fitzcarraldo Editions, 2015. (Often available via public libraries or on loan from academic libraries.)
Baume, Sara
Baume, Sara. Spill Simmer Falter Wither. Bloomsbury, 2015.
Rooney, Sally
Rooney, Sally. Normal People. Faber and Faber, 2018. (Widely available through libraries, e-lending platforms, or local library systems.)
Finally the schedule for Literature courses in 2026
SUMMER TERM
Irish Literature: From Macken to Meehan– Remote Course Outline
Please join us for this wonderful summer literature programme on Zoom. We will journey through over a century of Irish writing, taking particular note of the development of Irish writing though this period of enormous change. With in-depth videos, high levle support readings, excerpts, newspaper pieces and an in-depth discussion each week with an expert turo, this will be a very rewarding, enjoyable and productive program. Ideal for those with a keen interest in literature, ireland and those contemplating a future in academic study. With several written assignments throughout and a final essay project (all optional!) which will receive expert feedback, this course represents a uniquely accessible opportunity to experience a university level module from the comfort of your home. Please do get in touch to ask any questions. Please email info@martinkeaveney.com.
Week 1
Introduction/William Trevor – ‘The Ballroom of Romance’
Week 2
Jennifer Johnston/The Captains and The Kings
Week 3
Walter Macken/Seek the Fair Land
Week 4
Seamus Heaney/ Death of a Naturalist
Week 5
Paula Meehan/ Painting Rain
Week 6
Ryan Dennis/ The Beasts They Turned Away
Week 7
Louise Nealon/ Snowflake
Week 8
Alvy Carragher/ The Men I Keep Under My Bed
Reading list
Trevor, William. The Ballroom of Romance. Paperview, 2005.
Johnston, Jennifer. The Captains and The Kings. Paperview, 2005.
Macken, Walter. Seek the Fair Land. Paperview, 2005.
Heaney, Seamus. Death of a Naturalist. Faber Poetry, 2006.
Meehan, Paula. Painting Rain. Wake Forest, 2009.
Dennis, Ryan. The Beasts They Turned Away. Epoque Press, 2021.
Nealon, Louise. Snowflake. Bonnier, 2021.
Carragher, Alvy. The Men I Keep Under My Bed. Salmon Poetry, 2021.
Please enquire for any assistance sourcing the books.
Designed by Dr Martin Keaveney Presented by Martin / Associate Lecturers.
Starts:
Monday 20th April 2026 8-10pm & for 8 weeks on Zoom.
No session ROI Bank Holidays May 4th, May 11th, ROI Bank Holiday June 1st, June 8th Concludes 29th June 2026
Registration: €389.99 Book here
AUTUMN TERM
Irish Literature – From Yeats to McKeon
COURSE OUTLINE
Irish Literature: From Yeats to McKeon – Remote Course Outline
In this specially designed course we consider several important works of Irish literature through the lens of Time. How does the time application of the story affect the content? What is the difference between story-time and real-time? How do characters interact with their past, presents and futures? By exploring this aspects of each work we come to a fascinating and rich understanding of the layered operation of fine literature. This course is designed for literary enthusiasts, those with a particular interest in Irish literature and culture and those interest in pursuing more formal study.
If you have any further queries relating to the course, please email info@martinkeaveney.com.
Week 1
Introduction/W.B. Yeats
Week 2
Maeve Brennan/The Springs of Affection
Week 3
Molly Keane/ Good Behaviour
Week 4
Patrick Kavanagh/ Collected Poems
Week 5
Colm Toibin/ The Blackwater Lightship
Week 6
Belinda McKeon/ Tender
Week 7
Naoise Dolan/ Exciting Times
Week 8
Contemporary Irish Poetry
Reading list
Yeats, W.B. The Major Works. Oxford University Press, 1997 (Reissue 2008).
Keane, Molly. Good Behaviour (First Published 1983) Papaerview, 2005.
Brennan, Maeve. The Springs of Affection (First Published Posthumously 1997) Papaerview, 2005. (Stories)
Kavanagh, Patrick. Collected Poems. Penguin Books, 2005.
Toibin, Colm. The Blackwater Lightship. (First published Picador, 1999). Papaerview, 2005.
McKeon, Belinda. Tender. Picador, 2015.
Dolan, Naoise. Exciting Times. Weidenfield & Nichol, 2020.
Contemporary Poetry TBA.
Monday 14th September 2026 8-10pm (No class on October 5th, ROI Bank Holiday October 26th, Nov 2) Course concludes 23rd November 2026.
Registration: €389.99 here
2026 BOOK FULL PROGRAM (24 SESSIONS) €1149.99
IRISH LITERATURE 2026 €1149.99 Book here
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