The Gown Student Newspaper at Queen's University Belfast

ARTS: Ormsby and Longley celebrate RBAI’s bi-centenary

The commencement of the Royal Belfast Academical Institute’s bi-centenary celebrations saw the coming together of two of Northern Ireland’s most renowned literary talents. An evening with Michael Longley and Frank Ormsby combined a humorous reminiscence of school days with an evocative poetry reading. As the Irish Professor of Poetry, Michael Longley delivered a speech which resonated not only with past pupils, but offered an account of Belfast which all the audience could relate to. His belief that no experience is complete without poetry marked the significance of the occasion, whilst highlighting the important role which R.B.A.I. has played in shaping some of Northern Ireland’s most prominent literary figures.

BY ROBYN MCMURRAY

Arguably, Longley’s experience as a teacher manifested itself in his ability to engage the audience with his own poetry and the work of some of his past pupils, including Robert Johnson. Similarly, Frank Ormsby’s pride in the school was evident as he recounted the literary achievements of the school over the past two hundred years, including those he has taught over a career which has included thirty-nine years as the master of English. Both poets demonstrated their ability to transform everyday occurrences into art, including memories of school trips, as well as tackling the larger political issues which have affected the country. Longley describes poetry as his religion, which exemplifies its ability to unify personal experiences of Belfast despite the political tension which has occurred over the past decades. Their focus on mutual experience exemplified poetry’s ability to be a common denominator for the population of Belfast.

Undoubtedly the evidently close friendship between Longley and Ormsby also added to the atmosphere of camaraderie to be expected from an evening celebrating two hundred years of achievement by one of Belfast’s leading schools. The enthusiasm of current pupils assisting at the event suggests that R.B.A.I. will continue to engage and encourage its pupils’ literary talents. As Longley suggests, poetry is like a fountain and it seems that poetic flair will continue to spring from R.B.A.I as it celebrates this momentous anniversary in a manner which engages with the past as well as nurturing the poets of the next generation.

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