Dr Margaret Wright taught Pádraic Fiacc’s work to French University students as a lecturer at Bordeaux University, France in the 1980’s. In recent years she taught at Queen’s University in her native Belfast, and rediscovered her love of Fiacc’s poetry when she attended the 2016 launch of ‘SEA – Sixty Years of Poetry by Pádraic Fiacc’. Margaret felt she wanted to once again evaluate and share her insights with others. In this paper she has articulated the genius of Pádraic’s poems in a very thought-provoking way.

When SEA was published in The Linen Hall Library in late 2006, the building was almost overwhelmed by the attendance of so many people. This demonstrated Fiacc’s significant poetic achievements but also highlight that many people in the poet’s native Belfast and beyond have never heard of him or his work.

‘SEA may encourage many more people to delve into the mesmerising and unforgettable work of Pádraic Fiacc’ (Michael McKernon, Editor, SEA).

As the publisher and editor of SEA, my purpose in bringing A REVIEW AND CRITICAL ANALYSIS by Dr Margaret Wright into existence is twofold:
a) to present the paper in an engaging format that
can be, like Fiacc’s poetry, enjoyed by anyone.
b) to make the paper available to literary establishments, educational
facilities and the general public.

The book will be launched online March 7th 2021 at noon, accompanied by a film (which is free of charge). The film includes readings of Dr Margaret Wright’s text by narrator Marion Jordan, and features clips of a Pádraic Fiacc lecture given in 2014 at City Hall Belfast by Dr Wright entitled ‘The Blackbird of Belfast Lough’. The film also includes a reading from poet Maria McManus and a choral piece by Clare Galway and the Féile Women Singers.

Sadly Margaret died on 7th January 2020. The publication is a tribute to her research and appreciation of Pádraic Fiacc’s work.