Northern Ireland's disproportionate contribution to the world

In the realm of literature, sport, science, academia, governance and the military, Northern Ireland's contribution to the world has been immense. For a population of 1.8 million it's achievements have been remarkably disproportionate.

American David Remnick recognised this, especially in the field of poetry. The editor of the New Yorker wrote in 1994:

"The poets of Northern Ireland… there have been a remarkable number of them for a country of a million and a half."

Northern Ireland poet Nick Laird echoed this:

"There’s one and half million people in Northern Ireland so it is obviously over-represented as far as world-class writers go. And that is not a coincidence. Where there is a tradition in a culture of respect and application to an art form, then that art form tends to get good. Of course you want to be a part of it."

And fellow poet, contemporary of Michael Longley, Frank Ormsby repeated this observation:

"It is a source of great pride to me that such large numbers of poets, both male and female, continue to emerge here [Northern Ireland]."