NORTH Ayrshire’s Poetic Justice have teamed up with the Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum, in Baltimore USA, for a special Transatlantic Father’s Day event.

Three Towns based Poetic Justice are the production team behind Irvine’s new Ravenfest, which will return to the town in October this year. It celebrates the author and poet’s time spent in Irvine as a child.

They were invited to take part in the event, which took place in the early hours of Friday morning and was organised by the team who run the Poe Museum in Baltimore. Poe spent much of his life in Maryland and died in Baltimore aged just 40.

Allan vs Poe: A Father’s Day discussion about Edgar Allan Poe was held on Zoom and examined history, fatherhood, literature and heritage.

Attendees learned about the Scottish lineage of the Allan family as well as the life and time of immigrants and Southern gentleman in antebellum Richmond, Virginia.

It was followed by discussion about the differences between a loving father and a father who loves you.

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The author’s father, David Poe snr, was an actor who abandoned the young Edgar when he was just a year old.

When his mother Elizabeth died from consumption when he was just two years old, Poe was taken in by Irvine born John Allan and his family.

Allan was a successful merchant and would build his fortune on tobacco, tombstones, wheat and slavery. When Poe was just five, he joined the Allan family on a voyage to Irvine, where he attended the local grammar school.

John Allan would often spoil Poe, but at other times proved a strict disciplinarian. That led to a clash between the sensitive American and the brusque and practical Ayrshire businessman.

The event began at midnight until 1.30am (or 7.30pm Baltimore time). It will be available to view on the Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum’s website.

Poetic Justice director Neil Smith said: “We are very excited to be asked to take part in this special look at Poe’s childhood.

“We’ve been in regular contact with our colleagues in Baltimore and the cultural exchange of ideas will continue to be a huge benefit.”