UpDate - Vol. 14, No. 24, Page 4
March 16, 1995
Irish poets to read from works in Memorial Hall

     Irish poets James Simmons and Janice Fitzpatrick-Simmons will
read from their works at 7:30 p.m., Monday, March 20, in 124 Memorial
Hall.
     The free public reading concludes a series of creative writing
readings sponsored in February and March by the Department of English.
     Simmons is a playwright, song writer and singer. He was born in
Londonderry and, while at Leeds University, worked with other noted
writers Tom Blackburn, Geoffrey Hill, Wole Soyinka and Tony Harrison.
     Later, while teaching in Nigeria, he published his first play,
Akin Mata.
     Simmons also has taught Anglo-Irish literature and drama at the
University of Ulster, Coleraine. He is currently the director of the
Poet's House in Islandmagee, which offered the first master of arts
degree in creative writing in Ireland.
     Simmons' many awards include the Gregory Award for poetry and the
Chalmandelly.
     His volumes of poetry include Mainstream, his most recent
publication; Selected Poems, which won the Irish Poetry Book Society
Award; James Simmons: Poems 1956-1986; and a book on Sean O'Casey.
Simmons also has released three recordings of his songs.
     Fitzpatrick-Simmons was born in Boston and received a master of
arts degree in English literature from the University of New
Hampshire.
     She has been the co-director of The Frost Place in Franconia and
is currently the co-director of The Poet's House. Her book, Leaving
America, was published in Belfast in 1992. Settler, her most recent
publication, is her first full collection of poetry.
     Books by both poets are available at the University Bookstore.
     For more information, call 831-1974.