The Irish poetry community pay tribute to Eavan Boland

Eavan Boland has died, following a stroke in her home in Dublin, at the age of 75.

She published 10 volumes of poetry, releasing her first collection, 23 poems in 1962 before she was 20 years old.

Upon hearing the news the Irish poetry community flocked to Twitter to pay tribute to “one of the greatest Irish poets”.

They shared her work, work of their own, and tried to put into words what Boland meant to each of them.

President Michael D Higgins began by saying she had the "extraordinary ability to invoke Irish landscapes, myth and everyday experience".

Quite by chance yesterday I posted a reading of Eavan Boland’s ‘poem, The Emigrant Irish’. Here it is again in her memory as we mourn her loss. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. @poetryireland pic.twitter.com/W2WC4JHnpv

— Daniel Mulhall (@DanMulhall) April 27, 2020

The great Irish poet Eavan Boland died yesterday. Her remarkable poem Quarantine was read out on his radio this morning. Feels very fitting for the current moment. pic.twitter.com/I3s4I0TD5W

— Peter Geoghegan (@PeterKGeoghegan) April 28, 2020

Take a moment to read a poem by Eavan Boland who sadly passed away yesterday-the poem is aptly named This Moment pic.twitter.com/0hwOXc5oQn

— Brigid Laffan (@BrigidLaffan) April 28, 2020

The loss of Eavan Boland hit me pretty hard today. Here is one of my favorites from her. pic.twitter.com/1Hf4d907nd

— Poe_A_Tree👾 (@poe_a_tree) April 28, 2020

When my daughter was born I taped Evan Boland's ' Night Feed' to my Diary so I would be reminded every day of the privilege that is parenthood..
She changed so many of our inner lives for the better - her like will not be seen again..

— Dr. Suzanne Grennan (@SuzanneGrennan) April 27, 2020

Her daughter, Eavan also took to the social media platform to pay tribute to her “wonderful mum” who was an “inspiration to so many”.

My wonderful mum.Just utterly heartbroken.I am immensely proud of all that she achieved,the legacy she leaves behind and that her powerful voice will continue to be an inspiration to so many. RIP mum,it’s been an utter privilege being your daughter x #EavanBoland @poetryireland https://t.co/XYyAHPiP4i

— Eavan Casey (@CaseyEavan) April 27, 2020