Ireland at 'Les Belles Etrangères' literary festival Nov. & Dec. 1989

Thirty years ago, in November and December 1989, ten Irish writers and poets were invited to France to discuss their work in front of audiences of academics and locals. Some of them were already known to French readers, as their work had previously been translated into French. I have just written an online article for the Irish Times newspaper about it. Read it here.

Painting of John Montague by Colin Davidson in University College Cork (UCC).

The literary festival, Les Belles Etrangeres, took place in France from 1987 to 2010. Each year, writers and poets from a different foreign country were invited to France to discuss their work. In 1989, Ireland was selected. 

Les Belles Etrangeres Festival Brochure 1989.

The official festival brochure was mostly written by Prof Patrick Rafroidi. He was an expert on Irish Studies in France and internationally. He was also a relation of Alfred O'Rahilly (1884-1969) (President of University College Cork, UCC). It contained information on each of the writers and also details of the French translation of their work. You can download a copy of the festival brochure here.

The festival was intended to introduce foreign writers to a French audience that might not ordinarily come across them. In the case of Ireland, it worked. Today, Irish writers are translated into French and are well known to the reading audience in France and in French speaking countries.