Patrick Cotter: 'The world is being led by the generation that did not experience World War II'

Patrick Cotter, devotes a section in his new collection entitled Quality Control at the Miracle Factory,to war under the heading, 'Songs in a Time of War'

Patrick Cotter at a previous Cork Poetry Festival event at the Farmgate  in Cork. Picture:Des Barry

Writing in dark times, poet and director of the Munster Literature Centre, Patrick Cotter, devotes a section in his new collection to war under the heading, 'Songs in a Time of War'. 

The book, Cotter’s fourth collection, entitled Quality Control at the Miracle Factory, is testament to his strong observational powers and empathy for his fellow man (and woman).

 “As a child, my childhood was dominated by the culture of war,” says Cotter. “Boys’ toys were all war toys and war films were popular. I remember at three years of age watching television and seeing footage of the Vietnam War. I have a memory of seeing the first petrol bombs being thrown during the Troubles.”

 In his previous collection, Sonic White Poise, Cotter included a section called 'War Songs in a Time of Peace'. He recalls broadcaster and journalist Olivia O’Leary interviewing him about the book’s preoccupations.

 “I had been sent questions in advance. I expressed the belief that I thought we were at the end of a Belle Époque. That was 2021. The last Belle Époque was at the turn of the twentieth century. We had sixty years of mostly peace in Europe. There was a certain deep complacency before World War I began.”

 It’s bad enough that there are wars in Ukraine and Gaza. Cotter hopes there isn’t going to be  another big war. 

"One of the problems we have now is that the world is being led by the generation that did not experience World War II. We’re being led by f**king eejits who think they can win wars.” 

 Smaller ‘wars’ meanwhile are being suffered every day on our streets and are of consequence to Cotter while others would just walk on by. In his poem, Elegy for a Cork Woman Who Died in Winter, the poet writes about Vanessa O’Callaghan who died last year after being attacked in the city where she slept rough. With her ‘ten-dollar name living thruppeny bit days’, O’Callaghan was a familiar face to Cotter. 

Patrick Cotter has just published his latest collection, Quality Control At The Miracle Factory. 

“She always perked up when she saw me coming. If I had coins, I’d give her something. She appreciated it. But as the poem outlines, that’s not something we can afford to clap ourselves on the back for.” O’Callaghan ‘never knew the insides of our heated homes.’ 

 Cotter grew up in the shadow of St Fin Barre’s Cathedral on Bishop’s Street. He wrote his first poem at the age of nine and wished to be a writer for as long as he can remember. He attended Deerpark secondary school, now Coláiste Éamann Rís. He went to UCC but did not complete his arts degree.

“I came from a family that was dependent on social welfare. I found myself trying to do work, for instance, as a night porter and going to college at the same time. It just wasn’t doable. The reason I went to college was because I wanted to be a poet. I didn’t want to be a teacher. 

"Coming from my background, the only use of a BA was to be a teacher. I was from a social class that didn’t really understand what a BA was for. I spent a lot of the time in UCC library, reading books that were not on my course. I was also politically involved, what is nowadays called an activist.” 

 In his job with the Munster Literature Centre, Cotter’s responsibility is to give other writers in the city and county opportunities.

“I have to hold myself back. It’s frustrating. I can’t put myself on the programme for the Cork Poetry Festival. But we now have a fringe event before the festival. My book will be launched at that.” 

Cotter’s day job involves organising the Cork Poetry Festival and the Cork International Short Story Festival. He also edits the journal, Southword, sets up mentorships and workshops and awards prizes. It’s a busy position.

“I feel I would have published many more books if it wasn’t for my job. But on the other hand, I’ve met writers who work in factories, and as teachers - admittedly for just eight months of the year. Most writers can’t make money out of writing. The strange thing is most of the poets associated with Cork city were from working class backgrounds, with no money. 

"What has happened in recent years is that all these writing degrees have been established. That has made a writing degree attractive to people from middle-class backgrounds who can justify it to their families,” says Cotter.

• Quality Control at the Miracle Factory by Patrick Cotter was launched at Waterstones on Monday May 12. Cork International Poetry Festival continues until May 17