My name is John Maher and as a Chair of the Centre for Newfoundland and Labrador Studies I want to offer from South East Technological University a Céad Míle Fáilte agus míle buiochas to Dr John Ennis. We thank him for sharing with us his experience and insights with respect to four milestone anthologies of poetry in this, the inaugural Three Sisters Lecture Series. The 2024 series marks 75 years since Newfoundland and Labrador joined Canada in 1949, following two referenda in the previous year.
We are deeply grateful to the Canadian Embassy in Ireland for their support for this lecture series and for the astute remarks of chargé d’affaires Elizabeth Rice Maden regarding the depth and breadth of the relationship across communications, flight, literature, politics, and trade between our peoples over the last 5 centuries. Thanks to Counsellor David Kyffin for his cooperation in obtaining this commitment of support in words and in treasure. We acknowledge Kieran Cronin for hosting this lecture on behalf of the Luke Wadding Library and its outreach programme to the community in SETU and in its hinterland. We believe that example is a great teacher and John’s work in compiling this poetic canon offers a path which other can follow in the years ahead in the disparate domains to be found in SETU.
Professor Veronica Campbell, our University’s president, has commended the organisation of this series. She has expressed her sincere gratitude to the guest lecturers for giving of their time and expertise as our students and community explore Canadian themes of the selected topics. She warmly acknowledged the support of the Canadian Embassy, and the recognition this gives to the connections between Ireland and Canada, and between the South-East and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Our speaker today Dr Ennis is a founding member of the Centre for Newfoundland and Labrador Studies. He is a published poet with 13 published collections that have been widely acclaimed in what is a field of considerable prestige in an Irish and international context. He was a recipient of the Irish American Cultural Institute Award, the holders of which have demonstrated a commitment to excellence in their work. He provided leadership to the School of Humanities and mentored many students and colleagues over his period of service in this institution in all its guises. His writing is characterised by its imagery, sensitivity, personal integrity, and vividness with respect to the human condition. His contribution to literary collaboration obtained a spark with his participation in the March Hare festival in Corner Brook in Newfoundland. The sustained commitment was later recognised by Memorial University when it awarded him the highest academic order of an honorary doctorate for his achievements in furthering the promotion and dissemination of Irish, Newfoundland and Canadian verse.
John will narrate his journey through the sourcing, framing, collaborating, editing, presenting, and publishing four masterful anthologies of poetry. The work included therein manifest musicality, emotion, and hope so essential for a full life We draw attention to the reading guides for this series diligently compiled by Kieran Cronin. These you may avail of for further exploration and inquiry in the weeks and months ahead.
Beannachtaí na nDéise ort, a Sheán. Bainfaimid tortha agus taitneamh as an oidhreacht liteartha agus saibhir a léirionn tú tráthnona inniu.
John Maher
Chair of the Centre for Newfoundland and Labrador Studies
Mr John Maher
Department of accounting & economics
South East Technological University
Executive Director - International Council for Canadian Studies
Council Member Association of Canadian Studies in Ireland
Email: john.maher@setu.ie