A Literary Treasure – “The Belfast Group”
About the Group
Philip Hobsbaum (1932-2005) was a lecturer in the Faculty of Arts at Queen’s University Belfast between 1962 and 1966. It was during this period that he established a creative writing group known as the “Belfast Group”. The group met once per week at Hobsbaum’s house in Fitzwilliam street, where they would each critique a writer’s work before moving towards an open discussion.[1]
Professor Hobsbaum presented the Belfast Creative Writing Group Manuscripts to Queen’s, where they are held in Special Collections under the reference MS1/204; see here for a complete listing.
This includes 10 of Philip’s own poems such as ‘Derry City’, and ‘In Retreat’. A play prepared by Philip’s former wife, Hannah, When Rebecca Comes, is also enclosed.
About the Collection – Heaney, Longley and MacLaverty’s Contributions
This collection is made up of the works of 29 different authors. Although comprised primarily of poetry, the manuscripts also contain plays, short stories, prose pieces, and book chapters– including pieces from high profile contributors such as Seamus Heaney. The manuscripts hold 49 poems by Heaney. ‘Death of a Naturalist’ chronicles the collection of “Frogspawn” from a festering “flax-dam”, and ‘Boy Driving His Father to Confession’ explores a strained father-son relationship.
‘At a Potato Digging’ is a 4-part poem which draws
contrasts between a potato harvest conducted with a
“mechanical digger”, a more natural potato harvest
(“a clean birth”), and finally, a blighted potato harvest.
Further high profile contributions come from Belfast born poet Michael Longley CBE. The collection contains 27 poems prepared by Longley, including ‘Leaving Inishmore’, which details a boat journey into the Atlantic with “the harbor wall of Inishmore astern”. Also held is a 3 part poem entitled ‘Persephone’, as well as ‘Elegy for Fats Waller’– celebrating the famous jazz pianist.
The manuscripts hold a short story by Bernard MacLaverty entitled ‘Jim Scroggy’. This piece follows the aging owner of an overgrown farm to confession, later exploring the death of his child Oliver. 2 further short stories entitled ‘The Choice’ and ‘Wiglaf the Viking’ are in the collection as well as a play by Bernard, The Interview.
Midwinter Break, published in August 2017, is available for consultation in Special Collections. See our catalogue for further details.
Other Contributions – Tone of the Collection
This collection provides a keen insight into Northern Irish writing during this period, which was often characterised by a dark sense of humour. James Simmons’ ‘Drinker’s Blues’ exemplifies this. The protagonist in this poem suffers from alcoholism, yet faces continuous failures from the barman to take the condition seriously (MS1/204/25). Similar issues are explored in the ‘Last Bus’ by Michael Brophy. This poem outlines a conversation between two “half drunk” men on a bus filled with the “smell of smoke and drink”, amid the sound of “beer cans rattle” (MS1/204/7).
Joan Watton’s poetry similarly utilised comedy while addressing serious issues. ‘A Lone, Middle-Aged, Unmarried Woman Relates’ explores a lonely aging process, and ‘Aunt Alice’ details the transformation of young girl with “wild eyes” into a “porcelain spinster” (MS1/204/30).
Consulting the Collection
A rich resource for anyone with an interest in literature, the “Belfast Group” manuscripts are available to view in the Special Collections & Archives reading room. Please see here for further information about visiting Special Collections.
The published works of many of its members are also available for consultation and may be found in our catalogue.
For those interested in the work of Seamus Heaney, Special Collections also holds a collection of manuscripts (MS20), which relate to Heaney’s translation of Beowulf. The collection also houses an assortment of poems, correspondence, personal notebooks, and other writings by Heaney.
[1] For more information about the group including interviews with its members, see ‘The Belfast Group: A Symposium’ in The Honest Uslterman, No 53 (November/December 1976). This is available for consultation in Special Collections. See our catalogue for further details.
I enjoyed reading the blog about the Group and pleased to see the reference to the “Last Bus” after fifty three years. I still have Philip’s letter inviting me to give the reading on 26th January 1966 and the duplicator sheet It was Seamus, then my lecturer at St. Josephs, who introduced to Philip who then invited me to the Group.
Many thanks for your comment. I’m glad you enjoyed it. I decided to do a blog entry when I was working on creating a listing for the Belfast Group manuscripts, I read through the poems and found “Last Bus” intriguing. If you’re ever interested in having a look at the manuscripts do let us know- we’d be delighted to accommodate.
We’d love to see the letter if at all possible!
Thanks,
Conor
Sure. Can I post it over to you?
I have the duplicator sheet for Philips presentation ( Dead End to Cock of the Walk). I think you will already have it.
Michael
Yes that would be great if you could post it over. Thank you!
The typescript we have with both of these poems contains:
Dead End, Derry City, The Riding-Mistress, A False Martyr, Undergraduate Party, Stout Person’s Meditation on Sex and Cock of the Walk.