'Beyond Language: Musical Translations of Romanian Poetry'. 
This presentation outlines challenges faced in translating the poems of Ana Blandiana, a Romanian dissident writer, and how the concept of music as a 'Third Space' allows for a more universal translation of her work, as well as the work of writers from minority languages and cultures. 

About the speaker

Dr Shannon Kuta Kelly is a writer, translator, and musician. She recently completed her PhD in poetry at the Seamus Heaney Centre, the critical component of which examined Ciaran Carson’s use of coded language and translation. Her work has appeared in such places as the New England Review, Poetry Ireland Review, the Irish Times and the London Magazine. She has collaborated with the Romanian ConTempo String Quartet for events such as the Dublin Enescu Festival and performances in conjunction with the Embassy of Romania in Ireland. Shannon is a SHC Ciaran Carson Writing and the City Fellow for 2025 and her debut poetry collection is forthcoming in spring 2026.