1. Introducing Paul Durcan Date:

2. (Paul Durcan about his own poetry)
‘There is only one right word. You must find that word. The other part is music’.
(Paul Durcan about his own poetry)
Durcan’s poetry is very personal. It is linked to his life experiences. What are the pros and cons of this style do you think?
Points to consider
Who
When
Why
Where
What
How
2-3 sentences please.

3. Paul Durcan (1944 – present day) is a contemporary Irish poet who has had a very tough life. Suffering from mental health issues when he was young and a heartbreaking divorce when he was older, his poetry truly comes from the heart. It has been called a blend of the ordinary and the extraordinary, using simple language to convey deep insights and taking unusual approaches to relatively common dilemma.

4. The poetry of Paul Durcan
The Difficulty that is Marriage
Wife Who Smashed Television Gets Jail
Father’s Day, 21 June 1992
Six Nuns Die in Convent Inferno
“Windfall”, 8 Parnell Hill, Cork
Sport
Parents
En Famille, 1979
What do you think about this collection of poem titles.
Are there any connections between any titles?

5. There is a sense of helplessness and longing in Durcan’s poetry
There is a sense of helplessness and longing in Durcan’s poetry. Many of his poems deal with the end of things and his role in their conclusion. Some of his themes such as the love of family or the grief of loss are so universal that they can help us, the readers come to terms with own problems.

6. Great Durcan notes at: