The University of Limerick are looking for their first ever poet in residence

UL Poet in Residence – The University of Limerick is accepting applications for their new position of poet-in-residence. Picture: Luke Curley

The University of Limerick are looking for their first-ever poet in residence

By I Love Limerick Correspondent Ann Mc Donald

Pictured above is Paddy and Darlene Meskell, who made a generous donation to support the poet-in-residence position

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The University of Limerick is currently seeking applications for their highly esteemed poet-in-residence position.

The individual will be working with the UL creative writing team and is required to show a ‘substantial achievement in published poetry’ and demonstrate a ‘record of published prose.’

The poet will have a 10-month fixed contract, and will serve as a lecturer below the bar, meaning an introductory level in third-level education training.

The donation of the position was made by Paddy Meskell, a graduate of UL’s founding class, and his wife Darlene.

“Darlene and I are absolutely delighted to support Joseph O’Connor and the Creative Writing program and to further raise the university’s profile as a champion of creativity and of Ireland’s vaunted literary tradition,” Paddy said.

Sarah Hartnett, Director of Development at the UL Foundation, welcomed the contribution saying, “It is so encouraging to see our alumni donating to their Alma Mater, especially in the area of Arts, which can often be a challenge in terms of fundraising. Our sincere thanks to Paddy and Darlene for their generous support.”

The position will be integral to the creative writing initiatives at UL, led by the award-winning Irish author, Professor Joseph O’Connor, who was appointed as Frank McCourt Chair in Creative Writing at UL in 2014.

Thanks to the generosity of Paddy & Darlene Meskell, we are delighted to see the launch of a new Poet in Residence to complement UL's Frank McCourt Chair in Creative Writing @UL @ULFoundationCEO @ULAlumniUL @ResearchArtsUL https://t.co/LhdZHlmqZT

— University of Limerick Foundation (@UofLFoundation) September 24, 2021

Speaking about the position, Professor O’Connor said, “I am deeply thankful to Paddy and Darlene Meskell for helping us to fulfil the long-time hope of bringing a poet to UL Creative Writing. Here we are in autumn, what Keats called ‘the season of mellow fruitfulness’. This generosity will bear fruit for many seasons to come and will place poetry at the heart of our Creative Writing programme. Limerick’s strong traditions of poetry and creativity are well known. This gift helps to move that proud history forward.”

Speaking about the gift, UL President, Professor Kerstin Mey said, “We are very grateful to Paddy and Darlene for this wonderful resource, which will complement the Frank McCourt Chair in Creative Writing and build on the University’s exceptional tradition of the Arts, a relationship growing ever stronger as we approach UL’s fiftieth anniversary.” 

Duties will include teaching creative writing, particularly the writing of poetry, and to ‘contribute to the development of creative writing teaching at the University of Limerick.’

The faculty is teeming with literary talent and the successful candidate will be joining Joseph O’Connor, Donal Ryan, Kit de Waal, Eoin Devereux and Sarah Moore Fitzgerald.

According to the university, the successful poet will be taking home an attractive pay package of between €40,000 and €50,000.

Desirable criteria for the candidate include experience in community literary activity such as public events, festivals, readings, work in schools, colleges and other public settings, with marginalised people, in outreach or voluntary groups.

The position is open for applications until Thursday, October 14.

For more information about the opportunity go HERE 

For more stories about UL go HERE

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