On Saturday 27 December at 7.30pm Fermanagh poet Frank Orsmby talks to Gerard Dawe on RTÉ Radio 1's The Poetry Programme. In an open interview Gerard talks to "The quiet man of Irish poetry" about what has influenced his work and his experiences of growing up in Fermanagh.

Born in 1947, Orsmby was raised in Enniskillen before leaving for Queen's University, Belfast where he quickly feel in love with the English language. Ormsby announced his arrival with his first major poetry collection, Ripe for Company, in 1971 and received critical acclaim all over Ireland. Similar success came with his publications such as A Store of Candles (1977) and A Northern Spring (1986) and The Ghost Train (1995).

Ormsby isn't just recognised for being a great poet, but is also seen as one of the most influential Northern Irish scholars from the late 20th century. Having always looked at Northern Ireland in a unique way, Ormsby has created important models for younger poets who attempt to process some of the tougher aspects of Northern Ireland, such as political and social turmoil.

His unique way of viewing Northern Ireland is highlighted in his publications, Poets from the North of Ireland (1979,1990) and A Rage for Order (1992), and has gone on to see him being labelled as a father figure on the "Northern Renaissance". As Head of English at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution and contributor to The Honest Ulster Man, it's unlikely that this is a title he's likely to give anytime soon.

The Poetry Programme is presented by Gerard Dawe and is produced by Aidan Mathews.

Tune in to RTÉ Radio 1 on Saturday 27 December at 7.30pm.