The story of Jamaican poet Ferdinand Levy, who brought to the grey streets of 1940s Ireland the rhythms and language of the Harlem Renaissance.

FORTHCOMING Sunday 11th October 2026, 6 pm, on RTÉ lyric fm

Presented by author and academic this programme tells a hidden story from our literary history and our black history that reveals unexpected links between Ireland, Harlem and Jamaica.

In 1941, Jamaican poet Ferdinand Levy published Flashes from the Dark, which is believed to be the first ever collection by a black poet published in Ireland. Ranging in theme from life in Ireland to racism, colonialism, the beauty of the Caribbean and the vitality of Harlem, the poems bring to the grey streets of 1940s Ireland the rhythms and language of the Harlem Renaissance.

The producer of Flashes from the Dark is Claire Cunningham, sound supervision is by Tinpot, and the programme is a Rockfinch Production for RTÉ lyric fm.

Funded by Coimisiún na Meán with the Television Licence Fee. Producer for Lyric fm was Eoin O’Kelly.

Photo (right): presenter Emma Dabiri outside the GMB in May 2026.