Voices from the Land is a 62-page booklet containing the creative work of 37 contributors connected to Irish agriculture. It presents fiction, nonfiction, and poetry about the farming experience.
Read a free a pdf version of the booklet here. You can also purchase the Kindle version here for 99 cents (the lowest price Amazon would allow).
About the Project
The publication was organised by author Ryan Dennis, in collaboration with Maynooth University and Kildare County Arts Council. Ryan was one of the 2021-2022 Maynooth University Writers-in-Residence. The focus of his residency project was on providing an opportunity for Irish farmers to be able speak for themselves and share their thoughts on what it means to be a farmer.
As the number of farms decrease in Ireland, so does the presence of the farmer in Irish literature. This ultimately makes it a lonelier occupation, as it becomes harder for those who don’t farm to learn about the farming lifestyle, as well more difficult for farmers to see their experiences in the things they read.
Regardless, farming is a unique act that requires moxie and selfhood. Those who do it typically have a story that needs to be told. The purpose of Voices From the Land is to allow Irish farmers the opportunity to share those stories and their understanding of what they do.
Following its initial publication, Voices from the Land received additional funding from Creative Ireland to produce another, larger print run and increase the distribution of the project.
Media Coverage of Voices from the Land
- RTE Radio1’s Countrywide, Michael Durack reads his poem “Handiwork,” found in the collection. Listen here.
- “New Literary Project ‘Gives a Voice to Irish Farmers’,” Agridirect. Read here.
- “Booklet is ‘Write’ up Farmers’ Street,” Agriland. Read here.
- “Keen Interest in ‘Voices from the Land’ Booklet,” Agriland. Read here.
- “The Launch of Voices from the Land,” Maynooth University. Read here.
- Agriview, radio interview with Noel Murphy, Shannonside-Northern Sound.