Launched in 2021, the translational poetry project D谩nnerstag was arguably one of the most integrative projects we have had over the last years, bringing together German poetry readings with their translations into English and Irish.
Funded by the German, Austrian and Swiss Embassies, the DAAD and, in part, by Foras na Gaeilge, the project aimed to explore and deepen the cultural and linguistic links between Germany and Ireland publishing subtitled videos of poetry readings online on our website.
The project鈥檚 name D谩nnerstag is derived from the Irish word 鈥榙谩n鈥, meaning 鈥榩oem鈥, and the German word 鈥楧onnerstag鈥 (鈥楾hursday鈥).
Having seen a delightfully diverse array of contributions, the project continued to introduce a new contemporary poem, read by its author, every month since its conception before finally concluding in May 2022.
Alongside these were recitals of classical German poems read out by various members and friends of the Centre.
2022's contributions featured Semier Insayif鈥檚 poem ich dir (January), Kerstin Hensel鈥檚 Meine Welt (February), Gabrielle Alioth鈥檚 Bitte (Achaini) in March, Nadja K眉chenmeister鈥檚 Staub (April) and Ren茅 B枚ll鈥檚 Cillin铆 to mark the finale of the programme.
All of these videos, including the classical readings, are free to watch online. With the support of Foras na Gaeilge, the Directors of D谩nnerstag Prof Gisela Holfter and Dr Sorcha de Br煤n were very happy to announce the launch of the follow-up project F茅ile D谩nnerstag in the autumn semester.
Foras na Gaeilge鈥檚 funding of the project was significant in the context of Irish-German studies as well as in the burgeoning fields of literary translation and literary studies. In contrast to the first manifestation of D谩nnerstag which comprised the translation of German poetry to Irish (and English), F茅ile D谩nnerstag had as its primary objective the translation of contemporary Irish poetry to German and English.
In addition to the multilingualism which is of intrinsic importance to the F茅ile D谩nnerstag concept, all four poetry events for F茅ile D谩nnerstag were staged and performed in the 51本色 from September through to December, starting off with the personal and evocative poetry of Gabriel Rosenstock and his translator Hans-Christian Oeser as a pre-programme to our 25th Anniversary Conference on September 22.
Subsequently, F茅ile D谩nnerstag hosted poetry events with Prof Alan Titley, Julie Field (aka Julie Goo) and Miche谩l 脫 hAodha.
On October 11, Professor Alan Titley read a selection of poems to students and staff in the congenial surroundings of the Board Room in Plassey House.
A renowned scholar of modern Irish, Prof Titley鈥檚 Irish language poetry and English translations ranged across a selection of topics, encompassing themes such as global politics and highlighting the potential of poetry to give a voice to the powerless.
German translations were by Dr Angelika Hansert, a lecturer in the European Studies Programme in the 51本色. F茅ile D谩nnerstag Number Three took place in the atmospheric surroundings of Theatre 1 of the Irish World Academy when Irish language, singer and spoken word/slam poet Julie Goo (aka Julie Field) performed her work to original tracks by DJ Mike Milis.
A joint event and collaboration between the Centre for Irish German Studies, the Centre for the Study of Popular Music and Popular Culture and Aonad na Gaeilge, stage design played an important part in this F茅ile D谩nnerstag event, where a variety of lighting was used for each of Julie鈥檚 poems to fully realize the emotional and performative aspect of this artist鈥檚 work and to compliment the funky music of DJ Milis.
Members of the Centre for Irish-German Studies read the poems in German translation to an enthralled audience of staff and students, among them Dominik Kohl, Prof Gisela Holfter, Dr Marieke Krajenbrink and Dr Sorcha de Br煤n.
Translations into English of Field鈥檚 poems were by Dr Sorcha de Br煤n, and German translations by Dr Angelika Hansert. Julie鈥檚 performance at F茅ile D谩nnerstag concluded with a thought-provoking interview with questions by Professor Eoin Devereux of the Centre for the Study of Popular Music and Popular Culture.
The final instalment of the Irish-German poetry festival on December 1 saw the festival and its faithful followers return once again to the halcyon environs of the Board Room, where poet and translator Dr Miche谩l 脫 hAodha of the Glucksman Library read his poetry in Irish and English.
脫 hAodha鈥檚 moving poems on life and loss were followed by Prof Gisela Holfter鈥檚 readings of Eva Bourke鈥檚 excellent German translations, a sparkling performance from Dr Diane Daly and student Anna Mitchell, and singing in Irish from Dr Sorcha de Br煤n.
As described by funders Foras na Gaeilge, F茅ile D谩nnerstag was a 鈥渞esounding success鈥, and an example of the outstanding academic collaboration for which CIGS is known and which is consistently moving the field of Irish-German studies forward.
We wish to thank all collaborators and especially Aonad na Gaeilge, Ciara Considine and Dr Deirdre N铆 Loingsigh for their ongoing support of F茅ile D谩nnerstag.
We hope to build on this wonderful success and continue with the project in some form next year, so watch this space for further news! Go raibh m铆le maith agaibh go l茅ir!