Extra Ordinary Women Logo Linen Hall Library Logo
search icon

Explore our Collections

close icon
Search Collections / Northern Ireland Literary Archive

Word of Mouth

Word of Mouth

Word of Mouth was a women's poetry collective based in Northern Ireland from 1991-2016. The Collective was founded by writer Ruth Carr, with encouragement from poet Ann Zell, and developed a rich relationship with the Linen Hall Library, where they held their monthly meetings. In 1996, Word of Mouth Poetry Collective published a  major anthology through Blackstaff Press. The collection, titled, Word of Mouth, featured many poets from the group, including: Margaret Curran, Elaine Gaston, Pia Gore, Ruth Carr, Ann McKay, Eilish Martin, Joan Newmann, Kate Newmann, Gráinne Tobin, Mary Twomey, Sally Wheeler and Ann Zell.  A partnership with women poets from St Petersburg resulted in publication of When the Neva Runs Backwards and a translation of the anthology into the Russian language.

This collection contains photographs of the group, cards and letters, festival literature, and administrative documents.

Overview of the archives within this section

View All Items

Browse Related Collections

View All Collections

Browse Related Blogs

View All Blogs
I Was There: Working-Class Women in Community Drama - ciara-mcallister-02

I Was There: Working-Class Women in Community Drama

The extraORDINARYwomen project at the Linen Hall Library has one fundamental goal: to celebrate the significance of ordinary women’s lives in Northern Ireland. As part of Ciara McAllister's PhD research, Ciara explored the Theatre and Performing Arts collections in the Linen Hall Library, looking specifically at materials relating to community arts.

read more
Anna Lo: an election journey - anna-lo-poster-1636113392

Anna Lo: an election journey

Anna Lo discusses her election journey, making change for a better future and her debut in politics. A tough campaigning journey proved to be fruitful as she made history by becoming ‘the first non-white elected politician in Northern Ireland and more astonishingly, the first China-born parliamentarian in Europe.’

read more
Charabanc: A Cultural Exchange in Russia - Picture1Charabanc-1636120033

Charabanc: A Cultural Exchange in Russia

Carol Moore, a co-founder of Charabanc Theatre Company, talks about the exciting first years of the company, and what she describes as ‘a journey of female empowerment’.

read more