Mary McCarthy chats to Maureen Kennelly, outgoing director of Poetry Ireland and newly appointed director of The Arts Council [excerpt]

How does Poetry Ireland encourage poetry for all?

Since May 2018 we have been implementing our diversity strategy and we are working hard to make sure that we widen the diversity of voices, in terms of poets, participants and audience. We live in a country that is changing rapidly and we have to make sure that our literature reflects that change.

How healthy is our poetry scene now?

I think that we have a very supportive community in Ireland; it is not a clique. I am not being Pollyanna here—I know it can seem so at times, but I honestly believe we are welcoming and trying to be more open to newcomers than in the past.

I am extremely excited by the young talent that we have right now. Take for example this quartet of writers in their 20s – Sally Rooney, Ian Maleney, Nidhi Zak/Aria Eipe and Stephen Sexton – they are remarkably assured.