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===Irishing English===
Paradoxically, as soon as English became the dominant language of Irish poetry, the poets began to mine the Irish-language heritage as a source of themes and techniques. Probably the first significant Irish poet to write in English in a recognisably Irish fashion was [[Thomas Moore]] (1779-1852). Moore's <i>Irish Melodies</i>, his most enduring work, was extremely popular with English audiences and the poet became the toast of London. The poems are, perhaps, somewhat overloaded with harps, bards and minstrels of Erin to suit modern tastes, but they did open up the possibility of a distinctive Irish English-language poetic tradition and served as an exemplar for Irish poets to come.<br>
Paradoxically, as soon as English became the dominant language of Irish poetry, the poets began to mine the Irish-language heritage as a source of themes and techniques. Probably the first significant Irish poet to write in English in a recognisably Irish fashion was [[Thomas Moore]] (1779-1852). Moore's <i>Irish Melodies</i>, his most enduring work, was extremely popular with English audiences and the poet became the toast of London. The poems are, perhaps, somewhat overloaded with harps, bards and minstrels of Erin to suit modern tastes, but they did open up the possibility of a distinctive Irish English-language poetic tradition and served as an exemplar for Irish poets to come.<br>▼
▲Paradoxically, as soon as English became the dominant language of Irish poetry, the poets began to mine the Irish-language heritage as a source of themes and techniques. Probably the first significant Irish poet to write in English in a recognisably Irish fashion was [[Thomas Moore]] (1779-1852). Moore's <i>Irish Melodies</i>, his most enduring work, was extremely popular with English audiences and the poet became the toast of London. The poems are, perhaps, somewhat overloaded with harps, bards and minstrels of Erin to suit modern tastes, but they did open up the possibility of a distinctive Irish English-language poetic tradition and served as an exemplar for Irish poets to come.
In 1842, [[Charles Gavan Duffy]] (1816-1903), [[Thomas Davis]], (1814-1845), and [[John Dillon]] (1816-1866) founded <i>[[The Nation]]</i> to agitate for reform of British rule. The group of politicians and writers associates with <i>The Nation</i> came to be known as the [[Young Irelanders]]. The magazine published verse, including work by Duffy and Davis, whose <i>A Nation Once Again</i> is still popular among Irish Nationalists. However, the most significant poet associated with <i>The Nation</i> was undoubtedly [[James Clarence Mangan]] (1803-1849). Mangan was a true <I>[[poète maudit]]</i>, who threw himself into the role of bard, and even included translations of bardic poems in his publications.<br>
Another poet who supported the Young Irelanders, although not dirctly connected with them, was [[Samuel Ferguson]] (1810-1886). Ferguson once wrote: 'my ambition (is) to raise the native elements of Irish history to a dignified level.' To this end, he wrote many verse retellings of the Old Irish sagas. He also wrote a moving elegy to Thomas Davis.<br>
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