Voicing ‘the native tang of idiom’: Lagan Magazine, 1943–1946

Abstract

This chapter analyses the short-lived Northern Irish periodical Lagan, published annually between 1943 and 1946. Edited by John Boyd, the magazine, over its limited run of only four issues, sought to foster a vital tradition of Ulster writing. Short stories published in Lagan served to promote Ulster idiom as the basis for a new regional literature. While regionalism could often be perceived as insularism, which perhaps contributed to the magazine’s limited success, Lagan arguably provided a cultural touchstone for Northern Irish writers, thus proving influential for a post-war generation that included the likes of Seamus Heaney, James Simmons, and Derek Mahon. In spite of being short-lived, therefore, Lagan and its editor successfully sought to promote a creative tradition and writing community in Northern Ireland.