Efacis I can speak on behalf of all my MA colleagues in saying that Theo Dorgan’s visit was the highlight of the Seminar. Having read and analysed some of his poems, it was very touching to have the opportunity to listen to the author reciting them. Notably, when Theo read the poem 'Speaking to my father' some of the attendees started crying and it was a really emotional moment. It is also worth noting Theo’s patience and effort to answer thoroughly the questions of my MA colleagues. In particular, I enjoyed when he was asked about his passion for Greek mythology and he associated Rome to Britain and Greece to Ireland. Anytime that he was asked a question he was also capable of opening a new discussion and enriching us with his sharp remarks. My favourite part was his reading of the poem 'Envoi Cape Horn', which is my favourite one. I also appreciated his explanation about why he admired Lorca and how he considered his poetry to be a way of resistance. His reflections were very insightful and made us understand more profoundly the poems that we had previously analysed. Moreover, his presence in other activities of the Seminar such as the Daly’s workshop or the Glen Hansard’s roundtable further proved how humane and considerate he is. Overall, I am grateful that I discovered this wonderful poet thanks to the MA classes and I look forward to reading more of his work.
Elia Morilla García
***
Last Thursday 26th February we had the pleasure of having Theo Dorgan with us at the Faculty of Arts to present his two new books and read many of his earlier works that we had previously analysed in class. We conversed with the renowned Irish poet for almost two hours which passed too swiftly. He started introducing himself and reading some poems that we have studied for class such as 'Speaking to My Father' — which felt quite emotional and moving —, 'Envoi: Cape Horn' or 'The Witness'.
He was highly attentive to our questions and seemed to be enjoying everything as much as we did. He answered some questions my colleagues and I had prepared. He was completely transparent and generous and talked about his personal life to better understand his work. Greek mythology was one of the most salient topics we dealt with since, as Theo Dorgan himself told us, he has been greatly influenced by it and he likes reimagining and revising old myths. We also discussed the influence that Lorca had on him since we were in Aula García Lorca, and we talked about what it means to be a poet, about inspiration, sailing, his way of writing, the influence his dad had on him, and many other topics. The impression he left on us was that of a magnificent poet who shares his vulnerability in order to create beautiful art, meanwhile remaining humble and approachable. It was quite an emotional session that enriched our understanding of his work and greatly inspired many of us.
Mencey I. González Armas
***
During the celebration of The VI International Seminar on Irish Studies, me and other classmates who attend the Master’s Degree in English Literature and Linguistics at the UGR got to meet and talk to Theo Dorgan. In my opinion, listening to a writer recite their poetry is something unique as it amplifies the literary experience. The words that make up a poem take on new meanings, the stanzas become music, and the feelings and thoughts encapsulated in the poem become more vivid. That is exactly what happened during the session with Theo. By reading his poetry, Theo allowed us to see his poems in another light, a more personal and intense one. He was kind enough to answer our questions while sharing his personal views on issues such as memory, family, respect, love, and poetry. One of the reasons why I really like his poetry is the way he honours the people whose lives were marked by precariousness and injustice. As he answered our questions and made commentaries about his poems, I was able to understand where this exercise of acknowledgement and appreciation came from. When talking about his poetry, he said “that is the garden that I inherited”, a phrase that, in my opinion, reflects what makes his poetry so special. Counting on his presence during the seminars has been a great pleasure, I think we are all very grateful to have had the opportunity to spend some time with him.
Elvira Aguilera García
***
I usually do not like poetry that much, but when we read and analysed Theo Dorgan's poems in class I found them truly motivational. I thought the session with Dorgan would be entertaining because we would be able to talk about the poems we saw, but it was more than that. For me, the session with Theo Dorgan was the best of the whole Seminar in Irish Studies. His way of reading the poems and through the reading show a feeling beyond the words, the way he interspersed the explanation of a question with a personal anecdote, and his way of being in general, created a very nice atmosphere in the room that I am sure all the attendees noticed. In fact, I would like to read more of his work because of all that he conveyed in such a short time. It seems to me that he had a very approachable way of explaining his works, and that allows one to connect in a personal way.
Eva Villegas López
***
On the second day of the seminar, we had the pleasure of meeting Theo Dorgan, a writer whose work we have previously studied in class, and ask him questions related to the poems we had read. It was an honour for us having someone that important in the Irish culture and literature, and having the privilege to ask him questions about the topics in his poems. Theo Dorgan was incredible, not only as a poet, but as a person. Moreover, Theo Dorgan’s approach to his parents in his poems left us speechless. His performance was extraordinary and we could all see the love he has for his parents. As a person, we could all witness how Theo’s presence was spectacular. We all described Theo as a genuine and kind person, with a great sense of humour and a caring personality. Theo showed himself as a communicative and a generous person, as he did not mind staying with us several times responding to our doubts outside of the talks, taking pictures with us or even signing books. Due to the fact that there was a limited time for his session, I did not have the pleasure of asking him a question. However, my colleagues did have the opportunity to do so and Theo’s response was magnificent. Theo’s visit during this seminar, was a standout performance, not only for me, but for all of the students.
Samuel José García
***
On Thursday 26th January, the Irish poet Theo Dorgan came to give a one-hour-long talk where he read some poems that we had already read and discussed in class, such as 'The Witness', 'Orpheus', 'Eurydice', 'Family Tree', 'It Goes On', 'The Choice' and 'Cape Horn'. This was one of my favourite presentations as Theo has a way of communicating what he reads and what he says that truly gets to you and makes you empathise with him and his experiences. The poem that really made a difference for me was The Witness. This poem is a really personal one but I think that when I first read it, it did not have the same impact as it did when he read it in the presentation. His voice, his intonation and his emphasis turned the experience of the poem into a very different and more emotional one. He made the audience connect with the poem, with the meaning behind it, even if you have not experienced what the poem tells; you feel his story as your own.
Sheila Rodríguez
***
Many times when you analyse several texts by the same author in class, you feel a sort of connection with them. Having the opportunity to meet Theo Dorgan after having worked with his poems in class was a truly enriching experience that made that feeling of connection even stronger.
His talent has the ability of getting anyone into poetry. However, being able to listen to him speak with such passion was the icing on the cake. His reading was magnificent, and you could tell by how moved the people in the audience were. However, what surprised me most was how he answered our questions. He is one of those people that you can tell are wise just by the way they communicate, but still have the ability to give straightforward answers comprehensible to anyone listening. I am very thankful for him really taking the time to listen to us and to teach us all he had the opportunity to. This day definitely marked a before and an after in my love and appreciation for poetry.
Olatz Larrauri
***
Having the opportunity to meet in person a poet whose work we have discussed in class is not something you get to experience every day. Theo Dorgan's humility, humour and emotions touch the soul of every person who hears him recite his poems. No matter the listener's age, the power of his words moves you deeply. He took his time answering each one of our questions in a calm and interesting way, making us all feel very comfortable conversating. During his talk and recital, Theo Dorgan spoke about the fear of not doing enough in life, but I can assure you, from a young point of view, that he has changed many people's opinions of poetry, including my own. The way his words open up emotionally and the sincerity with which he expresses himself is not something that comes easily, as well as the beautiful way he gives voice to forgotten characters from Greek mythology. I can only thank him for the inspiration he has given, and give him my congratulations and my deep gratitude.
Silvana Delclós
