Louis de Paor
Encyclopedia
Louis de Paor is a well-known poet in the Irish language. Born in Cork
in 1961 and educated at Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh
, de Paor edited the Irish language journal Innti, founded in 1970 by Michael Davitt
, Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill
, Liam Ó Muirthile and Gabriel Rosenstock
. He was awarded a PhD in Modern Irish from the National University of Ireland
in 1986 for his thesis on Máirtín Ó Cadhain
.
He emigrated to Australia
in 1987 and lived in Melbourne
, where he wrote, gave poetry readings and broadcast in Irish on the Special Broadcasting Service
(a network set up for speakers of ethnic languages). He was given scholarships by the Australia Council
in 1990, 1991 and 1995.
He returned to Ireland
in 1996, and is now the Director of the Centre for Irish Studies at the National University of Ireland, Galway
.
De Paor has worked alongside several other Irish language writers, such as Seán Ó Tuama
, with whom he edited a twentieth century anthology of poetry in Irish. He has also published academic works.
literary competitions: his first collection, Próca solais is luatha (BÁC: Coiscéim, 1988), won Duais an Ríordánaigh, a prize which he has won several times since. Among his other collections are 30 dán (BÁC: Coiscéim
, 1992), Corcach agus dánta eile (BÁC: Coiscéim, 1999) and Agus rud eile de (BÁC: Coiscéim, 2002).
Two collections emerged from his Australian sojourn: Aimsir bhreicneach / Freckled weather (Canberra: Leros Press, 1993) and Ríleanna báistí (Indreabhán: Cló Iar-Chonnachta
, 1992). His most recent collection is Agus Rud Eile De/ And Another Thing, published by Cló Iar-Chonnachta (2010).
His style, characterised originally by lightness, clarity and directness, has become darker and more complex, though he remains to some extent a "public" poet. Much of his work has been published bilingually.
traditional and folk singer, John Spillane
under the name Gaelic Hit Factory. He has also collaborated with such traditional musicians as the piper Ronan Browne
and the Irish-Egyptian sean-nós singer Naisrín Elsafty
.
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
in 1961 and educated at Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh
Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh
Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh is a voluntary secondary school for boys run under the jurisdiction and patronage of the Presentation Brothers in Bishopstown, County Cork, Ireland.- History :...
, de Paor edited the Irish language journal Innti, founded in 1970 by Michael Davitt
Michael Davitt
Michael Davitt was an Irish republican and nationalist agrarian agitator, a social campaigner, labour leader, journalist, Home Rule constitutional politician and Member of Parliament , who founded the Irish National Land League.- Early years :Michael Davitt was born in Straide, County Mayo,...
, Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill
Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill
Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill is an Irish poet.Born in Lancashire, England in 1952, of Irish parents, she moved to Ireland at the age of 5, and was brought up in the Dingle Gaeltacht and in Nenagh, County Tipperary. Her uncle is Monsignor Pádraig Ó Fiannachta of An Daingean, the leading authority alive on...
, Liam Ó Muirthile and Gabriel Rosenstock
Gabriel Rosenstock
Gabriel Rosenstock is an Irish poet, haiku writer, translator and author. He was born in Kilfinane, County Limerick in 1949. He currently resides in Dublin.-Biography:...
. He was awarded a PhD in Modern Irish from the National University of Ireland
National University of Ireland
The National University of Ireland , , is a federal university system of constituent universities, previously called constituent colleges, and recognised colleges set up under the Irish Universities Act, 1908, and significantly amended by the Universities Act, 1997.The constituent universities are...
in 1986 for his thesis on Máirtín Ó Cadhain
Máirtín Ó Cadhain
Máirtín Ó Cadhain was one of the most prominent Irish language writers of the twentieth century.-Career:Born in Connemara, he became a schoolteacher but was dismissed due to his IRA membership. In the 1930s he served as an IRA recruiting officer, enlisting fellow writer Brendan Behan...
.
He emigrated to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1987 and lived in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, where he wrote, gave poetry readings and broadcast in Irish on the Special Broadcasting Service
Special Broadcasting Service
The Special Broadcasting Service is a hybrid-funded Australian public broadcasting radio and television network. The stated purpose of SBS is "to provide multilingual and multicultural radio and television services that inform, educate and entertain all Australians and, in doing so, reflect...
(a network set up for speakers of ethnic languages). He was given scholarships by the Australia Council
Australia Council
The Australia Council, informally known as the Australia Council for the Arts, is the official arts council or arts funding body of the Government of Australia.-Function:...
in 1990, 1991 and 1995.
He returned to Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
in 1996, and is now the Director of the Centre for Irish Studies at the National University of Ireland, Galway
National University of Ireland, Galway
The National University of Ireland, Galway is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland...
.
De Paor has worked alongside several other Irish language writers, such as Seán Ó Tuama
Seán Ó Tuama
Seán Ó Tuama was an Irish poet, playwright and academic.-Life:Raised in Cork city and educated at the North Monastery school and University College Cork, Ó Tuama first came to prominence in 1950 with his anthology of modern Irish language poetry titled Nuabhéarsaíocht 1939-1949.Notable academic...
, with whom he edited a twentieth century anthology of poetry in Irish. He has also published academic works.
Poetry
De Paor has had considerable success in the OireachtasOireachtas
The Oireachtas , sometimes referred to as Oireachtas Éireann, is the "national parliament" or legislature of Ireland. The Oireachtas consists of:*The President of Ireland*The two Houses of the Oireachtas :**Dáil Éireann...
literary competitions: his first collection, Próca solais is luatha (BÁC: Coiscéim, 1988), won Duais an Ríordánaigh, a prize which he has won several times since. Among his other collections are 30 dán (BÁC: Coiscéim
Coiscéim
Coiscéim is a prolific Dublin-based Irish-language publisher founded by writer, artist and language activist Pádraig Ó Snodaigh in 1980. Well-known authors who have published with Coiscéim include Gabriel Rosenstock, Alan Titley, Michael Davitt, Michael Hartnett, Biddy Jenkinson, Tomás Mac Síomóin,...
, 1992), Corcach agus dánta eile (BÁC: Coiscéim, 1999) and Agus rud eile de (BÁC: Coiscéim, 2002).
Two collections emerged from his Australian sojourn: Aimsir bhreicneach / Freckled weather (Canberra: Leros Press, 1993) and Ríleanna báistí (Indreabhán: Cló Iar-Chonnachta
Cló Iar-Chonnachta
Cló Iar-Chonnachta is an Irish language book publisher and traditional Irish music label founded in 1985 by the writer Micheál Ó Conghaile. The company has, to date, released over 150 music albums and some 300 books, predominantly in Irish. Ó Conghaile's motivation in establishing the company was...
, 1992). His most recent collection is Agus Rud Eile De/ And Another Thing, published by Cló Iar-Chonnachta (2010).
His style, characterised originally by lightness, clarity and directness, has become darker and more complex, though he remains to some extent a "public" poet. Much of his work has been published bilingually.
Artistic collaborations
De Paor has collaborated with the CorkCounty Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
traditional and folk singer, John Spillane
John Spillane
John Spillane is a singer-songwriter from Cork, Ireland. He graduated from University College Cork with a degree in Irish and in English.-Background:Spillane grew up in the Cork suburb of Bishopstown, in a large family of boys...
under the name Gaelic Hit Factory. He has also collaborated with such traditional musicians as the piper Ronan Browne
Ronan Browne
Ronan Browne is an Irish musician and composer who plays the uilleann pipes. He is the grandson of Delia Murphy. He is the Uilleann Piper and Singer with CRAN. He plays in a duet with Peter O'Loughlin...
and the Irish-Egyptian sean-nós singer Naisrín Elsafty
Naisrín Elsafty
Naisrín Elsafty is of Irish-Egyptian descent and is a distinguished exponent of sean-nós singing, an unaccompanied and heavily ornamented style characteristic of the Irish-speaking area where she grew up.-Cultural background:...
.