Deirdre Brennan
Brennan in 2020
Born1934
Dublin
Alma materUniversity 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]

Biography

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]

Published works

Poetry collections

Prose Collections

Plays

  • Smideadh: Makeup, Arlen House, 2020, 9781851322619
  • Cuma agus Claochmú: Mutagenesis: a bilingual play, Arlen House, 2022, 9781851322398

Awards and distinctions

  • Oireachtas Literary Award, 2000 for Ag Mealladh Réalta (Coiscéim, 2000).[4]
  • Winner of The SHOp Translation Award, 2002 The SHOp: a magazine of poetry, vol.10, Autumn/Winter, 2002 for Stillbirth : Marbhghin.[30]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Deirdre Brennan". Portraits of Irish-Language Writers. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  2. ↑ "Deirdre Brennan". Aontas na Scríbhneoirí Gaeilge. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  3. ↑ Weekes, Ann Owens (1993). Unveiling Treasures: The Attic Guide to the Published Works of Irish Women Literary Writers : Drama, Fiction, Poetry. Attic Press. p. 53. ISBN 978-1-85594-072-7.
  4. 1 2 3 "Farmgate Café National Poetry Award Shortlist – Munster Literature Centre". Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  5. ↑ "Deirdre Brennan". www.ricorso.net. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  6. ↑ "Poetry Programme: Deirdre Brennan and Tom French live". 25 November 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  7. ↑ "About us | Carlow Arts Festival". Carlow Arts Festival. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  8. ↑ Clark, Josh. "LibGuides: Irish Arts Festivals Archive: Carlow Arts Festival". libguides.ucd.ie. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  9. ↑ "Twenty years a-growing, Eigse festival realises founders' dream". The Irish Times. 9 June 1999. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  10. ↑ Traynor, Jessica (1 April 2023). "New poetry: Jamais Vu; More Sky; Oh!; and Medea's Cauldron". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  11. ↑ Cotter, Patrick (18 April 2023). "Shortlist announced for Farmgate Café National Poetry Award". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  12. ↑ "Carlow poet launches new book at festival". The Nationalist. 13 June 2003. p. 135.
  13. ↑ "At Home". The Nationalist. 5 April 1996. p. 16.
  14. ↑ "Deirdre in the Great Book". The Nationalist. 6 December 1991. p. 2.
  15. ↑ The Field Day Anthology of Irish Writing, Volume 5. New York: NYU Press. pp.1308-1309. ISBN 0814799078.
  16. ↑ "Ragged Sky Press | Eating Her Wedding Dress". raggedsky.com. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  17. ↑ "Catullus Gaelach Eag: Pádraig B. Ó Laighin Gaius Valerius Catullus". www.coisceim.ie. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  18. ↑ "Poet to launch two new books". Independent.ie. 24 October 2007. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  19. 1 2 "Hidden Places / Scathan Eile – Arlen House". Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  20. ↑ "I Reilig na mBan Rialta". Litríocht. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  21. ↑ "Scothanna Geala". Litríocht. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  22. ↑ "Media eyes on Éigse '89". The Nationalist. 19 May 1989. p. 32.
  23. ↑ "Thar cholbha na mara". Litríocht. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  24. ↑ "Ag mealladh réalta". Litríocht. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  25. ↑ "As Trunc Fernando Pessoa". Litríocht. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  26. ↑ "Friends and fans gather for launch of Deirdre's latest book of poems". Carlow Nationalist. 16 April 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  27. ↑ "An Oíche ar Bheophianadh". Litríocht. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  28. ↑ "An Banana Bean Sí agus scéalta eile | Litríocht". Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  29. ↑ "Carlow poet chosen". The Nationalist. 21 July 1989. p. 11.
  30. ↑ "Deirdre's poem translates into an award winner". The Nationalist. 29 November 2002. p. 2.

Further reading

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