POETS from Ireland’s county CORK

SBernard O’Donoghue (b. 1945): A poet, academic, and literary critic born in Cullen, North Cork.
David Nash (contemporary): A poet and writer born in County Cork.
Derry O’Sullivan (b. 1944): A poet born in Bantry who writes in Irish.
Elias Moore (1890–1915): A soldier-poet born in County Cork.
Ellen Mary Patrick Downing (1828–1869): A poet born in Cork city.
Gerry Murphy: Born in Cork City, County Cork . (1952-): A poet who dropped out of UCC, Murphy spent time in London and an Israeli kibbutz before returning to Cork. His work, published by New Writers Press, is known for its experimental and irreverent style, contributing to Cork’s vibrant poetry scene.
Greg Delanty: Born in Cork City, County Cork . (1958-): A contemporary poet, Delanty edited The Quarryman at University College Cork (UCC) and published early poems in the Cork Examiner. Now poet-in-residence at St. Michael’s College, Vermont, he is celebrated for his lyrical and accessible style, often reflecting Irish-American identity. Colum McCann called him the “poet laureate of the contemporary Irish-in-America.”
Gregory O’Donoghue (1951–2005): A poet born in Ballinlough, Cork city.
Maurice Riordan: Born in Lisgoold, County Cork . (1953-): Riordan, a poet and emeritus professor of poetry at Sheffield University, studied at UCC before moving to Canada and later London. His work, including collections like A Word from the Loki, blends rural Cork imagery with modernist influences. He edited The Poets of Munster (1985).
Seán Ó Coileáin (18th/19th century): A Gaelic-language poet born in County Cork.
Seán Ó Ríordáin (1916–1977): Born in Baile Mhúirne, he is considered one of the most important 20th-century Irish-language poets.
Seán Ó Súilleabháin (Sean “Irish” O’Sullivan): Born in Inishfarnard, Beara Peninsula, County Cork . (1882-1957): Known as “Butte’s Irish Bard,” Seán Ó Súilleabháin was an Irish-language poet and folklore collector who emigrated to Butte, Montana, in 1905. His poetry preserved Gaelic traditions, and he remained influential in Irish-American literary circles, writing in Irish about his homeland and diaspora life.
Theo Dorgan: Born in Cork City, County Cork . (1953-): Educated at North Monastery School and UCC, Dorgan is a poet, broadcaster, and former director of Poetry Ireland. His collections, such as The Ordinary House of Love, explore love, place, and Irish identity. He co-edited The Great Book of Ireland and is a key figure in Cork’s literary scene.
Uilliam Rua Mac Coitir (c. 1675–1738): An Irish-language poet born near Castlelyons.
Victoria Kennefick: Born in Shanagarry, County Cork . (1980s-): An award-winning poet, Kennefick’s debut collection Eat or We Both Starve (2021) won the Seamus Heaney First Collection Poetry Prize. As Cork County Council’s writer-in-residence (2023), she engages with local communities through workshops. Her work often explores personal and cultural themes with vivid imagery.
William Bernard Guinee (1839–1901): A poet, novelist, and journalist born in Buttevant.

Poets

Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow

County Cork:

Ireland’s county Cork blends historic sites with scenic beauty, with Cork City’s English Market and St Fin Barre’s Cathedral offering cultural and architectural depth. Blarney Castle, home to the famous Blarney Stone, provides historic allure, while the coastal town of Kinsale offers sailing and seafood. Other attractions include the Beara Peninsula’s rugged trails. Cork is Ireland’s largest county by size (7,460 sq km) and third largest by population (584,156). Population peaked at 854,118 in 1841 (when Cork was Ireland’s most populous county) and reached its lowest point, 330,443 in 1961. In terms of hospitality, Cork is Ireland’s second most visited tourist county with around 1,228,000 international visitors per year.

Introduction – Adventure – Anthem – Archaeology – Attractions – Awards – Birdwatching – Camping – Castles – Churches – Contact list – Cycling – Dining – Equestrian – Festivals – Fishing – Folklore – Gardens – Golf – Graveyards – Happening – Haunted – Highest – Hiking – History – Holy Wells – Hotels – Hotels top 8 – Hunting & shooting – Instagrammable – Itineraries – Largest town – Luxury – MICE – Movies – Music – New – Name – Novelists – Off the beaten track – Poets – Pubs – Quotes – Random Facts – Restaurant Awards – Sacred Places – Saints – Songs – Spas – Sports – Sunsets – Sustainable – Things to do – Towns – Video – Villages – Walking – Wanderlist – Weddings – Wild swimming – Writers – 1837– 1846 – 1852 – 1909 – 1955 – 1980 –