Deirdre Brennan | |
|---|---|
 Brennan in 2020 | |
| Born | 1934 Dublin |
| Alma mater | University College Dublin |
| Occupation(s) | Poet, author, playwright, translator |
Deirdre Brennan (born 1934) is a bilingual Irish poet, playwright and short story writer who writes both in the Irish language and in English. [1] [2]
Brennan was born in Dublin and was raised in County Tipperary where she attended schools in Clonmel and Thurles. [1] [3] She studied English and Latin at University College Dublin, then undertaking a Higher Diploma in Education. She moved to Carlow in 1965. [4]
Brennan taught at St Patrick's College, Carlow. [5] She began writing in Irish after co-founding the Éigse Carlow Arts Festival [1] [6] in 1979. [7] [8] [9] She has published sixteen books to date, including twelve collections of poetry. She was awarded an Oireachtas Prize for Ag Mealladh Réalta, and was shortlisted for the Farmgate Café National Poetry Award in 2023 for Medea's Cauldron. [4] [10] [11]
She collaborated with writers Máighréad Medbh and Nuala Ní Chonchúir on Divas! (2003), a volume of poetry, which was launched during Éigse by Olivia O'Leary. [12] Her poem At Home was included in The Works anthology of women's poetry, Women's Work VII. [13] Her poetry is included in The Great Book of Ireland, [14] The Field Day Anthology of Irish Writing, Volume 5, [15] Eating her Wedding Dress (Ragged Sky Press, 2009), [16] Catullus Gaelach, edited by Pádraig Ó Laighin (Coiscéim, 2010), [17] and is widely anthologised. Brennan's work is featured on the Irish post primary curricula and in the courses and textbooks of Royal Irish Academy of Music. [18]
Her two collections of short fiction were published as An Banana Bean Sí agus Scéalta Eile (Coiscéim, 2009) and Staying Thin for Daddy (Arlen House, 2014). Her short stories have appeared in The Irish Times , Passages, Anois , Comhar , Feasta , Lá and Foinse and have featured on Cork Campus Radio, RTÉ Radio 1, as well as a six-part drama series, Go to Blazes. Her work is represented in Nua Scéalta, selected by Séan Ó Mainnín (Cló Iar-Chonnacht, 2005), Twisted Truths, selected by Brian Ó Conchubhair (Cló Iar-Chonnacht, 2011), Thar Toinn, selected by Micheál Ó hAodha (Coiscéim, 2015). [19]
Brennan served as chair and secretary of the Éigse festival during its early years. She was also a founder member of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann in Carlow, serving as chair and secretary. [19]
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Michael Hartnett was an Irish poet who wrote in both English and Irish. He was one of the most significant voices in late 20th-century Irish writing and has been called "Munster's de facto poet laureate".
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Connacht Irish is the dialect of the Irish language spoken in the province of Connacht. Gaeltacht regions in Connacht are found in Counties Mayo and Galway. Connacht Irish is also spoken in the Meath Gealtacht Ráth Chairn and Bailie Ghib. The dialects of Irish in Connacht are extremely diverse, with the pronunciation, forms and lexicon being different even within each county.
Munster Irish is the dialect of the Irish language spoken in the province of Munster. Gaeltacht regions in Munster are found in the Gaeltachtaí of the Dingle Peninsula in west County Kerry, in the Iveragh Peninsula in south Kerry, in Cape Clear Island off the coast of west County Cork, in Muskerry West; Cúil Aodha, Ballingeary, Ballyvourney, Kilnamartyra, and Renaree of central County Cork; and in an Rinn and an Sean Phobal in Gaeltacht na nDéise in west County Waterford.
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