By Dionne Meehan
LETTERKENNY poet James Finnegan is gearing up to launch his latest collection of poetry ‘A Butterfly and its Shadow’ just in time for Christmas.
James, who taught in St Eunan’s College for 33 years, had a passion for writing poetry from an early age.
But since his retirement in 2012, that passion has had a chance to develop and the result is a growing reputation as a poet of rare insight.
‘A Butterfly and its Shadow’, James’ third poetry collection, was published by Revival Press in Limerick and like all his collections, dedicated to his wife Livinia.
“What is very interesting about this publisher is that they are a community collaborative publisher,” James said.
“They are not into making a big profit for themselves, the money feeds back into them facilitating other writers.
“I really like that idea,” he said.
Speaking about James’ latest collection, Thomas McCarthy, author of Plenitude, said: “It is difficult to describe just how polished, how complete, how wise, this new collection by James Finnegan really is. It is thrilling.
“A poetry with humour, wit, mischief, all of these qualities but tiny seeds inside juicy grapes of biography, memory, relationships and loneliness. He is the great Donegal pathologist of loneliness, traversing a cerebral life with one faithful Springer Spaniel for witness. The precision of the writing is also a real thrill.”
James Finnegan will launch his new poetry collection ‘A Butterfly and its Shadow’ on Tuesday, December 10 in U3A Derry at 2pm.
Molly Twomey, author of Raised Among Vultures, said: “Through playful language, sharp observations and tender moments, Finnegan grapples with modernity, mortality, and the creative impulse. With subtle humour and a deep reverence for literary heroes, ‘A Butterfly and its Shadow’ offers a unique glimpse into a poet’s daily life and fascinating inner world.”
Colin Criss, author of Hinterman, said: “Comparisons to Finnegan are wanting, because he has a chime and harmony all his own. His is an undentable faith in poetry. The poems tend to the points of contact between the truth and utterance; their deep images bring into focus the abstraction, insight, and resonance that emerges from a changing and challenging life. This poet is unique among Irish poets.”
And with such high praise from his fellow poets, is it any wonder James’ previous work received numerous accolades?
In 2022, James was the second-prize winner in the Gregory O’Donoghue International Poetry Competition and was shortlisted for the 2021 Bridport Poetry Prize and in the 2018 Hennessy Literary Awards for Emerging Poetry.
More recently, his collection ‘The Weather-Beaten Scarecrow’ was shortlisted for the National Farm Gate Poetry Award in April 2023.
The launch of ‘A Butterfly and its Shadow’ will take place in U3A Derry on Tuesday, December 10 at 2pm where James will be joined by Maureen Dunseath for a chat about the new book.
If you wish to purchase James’ new book, you can do so at the launch or online at Revival Press Limerick.
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