With a foreword by President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins and contributions from over 100 poets and members of the wider literary community.
2021 is a very special year for Salmon as we celebrate 40 years publishing the finest Irish and international literature. To mark that achievement, and to pay tribute to the work of publisher Jessie Lendennie, 100 writers have come together in this special Festschrift presented as a complete surprise to Jessie at Christmas 2020.
All those who appreciate the written or spoken word are greatly indebted to Jessie Lendennie, whose decision in 1981 to make Ireland her new home was a seminal moment in the literary and publishing life of Ireland. Her eclectic reach, her generous nurturing of new talent, and her great desire to see the names of writers in print, including new entrants in particular, has made an invaluable contribution in terms of access to Irish literature, and the discovery, emergence and appreciation of new and exciting literary voices.
Many highly regarded poets can trace their writing journey back to the The Salmon Journal and the Salmon Poetry Press, established from the vision, and sustained and developed from the hard work and, at times, heroism of Jessie Lendennie, whose assistance and encouragement from their launch has enabled so many literary careers to grow and flourish.
This Festschrift is a deserved tribute to Jessie Lendennie and those at Salmon who support her. It is a great roll-call of some of Ireland and the world’s best loved writers, along with newer talent that is there to be fully explored. It is a collection that speaks profoundly of Jessie’s place in Ireland’s literary community where she is viewed with great appreciation, and particularly by those to whom she gifted that most important of experiences–their first opportunity for publication. Jessie is spoken of with admiration and affection by so many other renowned writers who are fortunate to call Jessie a friend.
This gathering together of writers from Ireland and beyond to pay Jessie such an honour is so well deserved. May I join with all those whose work appears in this celebratory publication in paying tribute to Jessie Lendennie for all she has done to enrich the world of Irish writing and publishing.
May she have continued success as the Salmon Poetry Press marks this milestone anniversary.
Traoslaim leithi agus guidhim gach rath uirthi agus ar Salmon do'n todchai.
-Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland
