Eoghan Ó Tuairisc
Encyclopedia
Eoghan Ó Tuairisc (April 3, 1919–24 August 1982) was an Irish
poet and writer.
and was educated at Garbally College
. His entered St. Patrick’s Teacher Training College, Drumcondra
in 1939, graduating with a Diploma in Education in 1945. He was awarded an M.A.
, by University College Dublin
in 1947.
Ó Tuairisc held a commission in the Irish Army
during the Emergency from 1939 to 1945. He was a teacher in Finglas
, Co. Dublin from 1940 to 1969. From 1962 to 1965, he was editor of Feasta, the journal of Conradh na Gaeilge
. His first wife, the Irish artist Una McDonell, died in 1965. The following fived years were an unsettled period of limited productivity, changing residence and jobs, and, ultimately, serious depression.
In 1972 he married the writer Rita Kelly
, also of Ballinasloe. They lived in an isolated lock house that Ó Tuairisc had bought on a canal near Carlow town. Kelly survived him on his death in 1982.
, drama
and criticism
in both Irish
and English
. His first major publication was his controversial novel Murder in Three Moves which was followed by Irish prose epic L'Attaque, which won an Irish Book Club
award. Both works had a strong poetic flavour. His next book was a volume of verse entitled Week-End.
His narrative poem Dermot and Grace, an Irish version of Venus and Adonis
, is considered his finest work.
Ó Tuairisc produced little during the five years following O'Donell's death. In 1981 he published The road to Brightcity: and other stories (Swords: Poolbeg Press, 1981). This is a translation of nine of the best short stories written originally in Irish by Máirtín Ó Cadhain
. Also in 1981, he and Rita Kelly published a joint collection of their poems, Dialann sa Díseart.
Eoghan Ó Tuairisc was an inaugural member of Aosdána
, when it was founded in 1981, and the first of its members to die. He was a recipient of an Arts Council of Ireland
prize, as well as an Abbey Theatre
prize for a Christmas pantomime
in Irish. A bibliography of Ó Tuairisc's work, together with biographical information, was published in Irish in 1988.
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...
poet and writer.
Life
He was a native of Ballinasloe, County GalwayCounty Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
and was educated at Garbally College
Garbally College
Garbally College is a Catholic, boys-only, secondary school based in Ballinasloe, County Galway, Ireland. It is officially known as St Joseph's College .-History:...
. His entered St. Patrick’s Teacher Training College, Drumcondra
St. Patrick's College of Education (Drumcondra)
St Patrick's College of Education is a linked college of Dublin City University since 1993, located in Drumcondra, Dublin City, Ireland. The college is in existence since 1875 and has a Roman Catholic ethos. It is the largest primary teacher training college in Ireland...
in 1939, graduating with a Diploma in Education in 1945. He was awarded an M.A.
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
, by University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
in 1947.
Ó Tuairisc held a commission in the Irish Army
Irish Army
The Irish Army, officially named simply the Army is the main branch of the Defence Forces of Ireland. Approximately 8,500 men and women serve in the Irish Army, divided into three infantry Brigades...
during the Emergency from 1939 to 1945. He was a teacher in Finglas
Finglas
-See also:* List of towns and villages in Ireland* List of abbeys and priories in Ireland...
, Co. Dublin from 1940 to 1969. From 1962 to 1965, he was editor of Feasta, the journal of Conradh na Gaeilge
Conradh na Gaeilge
Conradh na Gaeilge is a non-governmental organisation that promotes the Irish language in Ireland and abroad. The motto of the League is Sinn Féin, Sinn Féin amháin .-Origins:...
. His first wife, the Irish artist Una McDonell, died in 1965. The following fived years were an unsettled period of limited productivity, changing residence and jobs, and, ultimately, serious depression.
In 1972 he married the writer Rita Kelly
Rita Kelly
Rita Kelly is an Irish poet from Ballinasloe in east County Galway and now lives along the river Barrow between Athy and Carlow. She has published several collections of poetry and has been featured in a number of magazines and journals...
, also of Ballinasloe. They lived in an isolated lock house that Ó Tuairisc had bought on a canal near Carlow town. Kelly survived him on his death in 1982.
Writing
He wrote novels, versePoetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
, drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
and criticism
Criticism
Criticism is the judgement of the merits and faults of the work or actions of an individual or group by another . To criticize does not necessarily imply to find fault, but the word is often taken to mean the simple expression of an objection against prejudice, or a disapproval.Another meaning of...
in both Irish
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. His first major publication was his controversial novel Murder in Three Moves which was followed by Irish prose epic L'Attaque, which won an Irish Book Club
Book sales club
A book sales club is a subscription-based method of selling and purchasing books. It is more often called simply a book club, a term that is also used to describe a book discussion club, which can cause confusion.-How book sales clubs work:...
award. Both works had a strong poetic flavour. His next book was a volume of verse entitled Week-End.
His narrative poem Dermot and Grace, an Irish version of Venus and Adonis
Venus and Adonis
Venus and Adonis, a classical myth, was a common subject for art during the Renaissance and Baroque eras. Some works which have been titled Venus and Adonis are:-Literary works:...
, is considered his finest work.
Ó Tuairisc produced little during the five years following O'Donell's death. In 1981 he published The road to Brightcity: and other stories (Swords: Poolbeg Press, 1981). This is a translation of nine of the best short stories written originally in Irish by 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...
. Also in 1981, he and Rita Kelly published a joint collection of their poems, Dialann sa Díseart.
Eoghan Ó Tuairisc was an inaugural member of Aosdána
Aosdána
Aosdána is an Irish association of Artists. It was created in 1981 on the initiative of a group of writers and with support from the Arts Council of Ireland. Membership, which is by invitation from current members, is limited to 250 individuals; before 2005 it was limited to 200...
, when it was founded in 1981, and the first of its members to die. He was a recipient of an Arts Council of Ireland
Arts Council of Ireland
The Arts Council of Ireland was founded in 1951 by the Government of Ireland to encourage interest in Irish art and channel to funding from the state to Irish artists and arts organisations...
prize, as well as an Abbey Theatre
Abbey Theatre
The Abbey Theatre , also known as the National Theatre of Ireland , is a theatre located in Dublin, Ireland. The Abbey first opened its doors to the public on 27 December 1904. Despite losing its original building to a fire in 1951, it has remained active to the present day...
prize for a Christmas pantomime
Pantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
in Irish. A bibliography of Ó Tuairisc's work, together with biographical information, was published in Irish in 1988.
Translations
- John Jordan (ed.), "Dialann Deoraí", in: The Pleasures of Gaelic Literature (1977).
- Máirtín Ó CadhainMáirtín Ó CadhainMáirtín 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...
, The road to Brightcity: and other stories, Swords: Poolbeg Press, 1981. - Pádraic Ó ConairePádraic Ó ConairePádraic Ó Conaire was an Irish writer and journalist whose production was primarily in the Irish language.-Life:Ó Conaire was born in Galway in 1882. His father was a publican, who owned two premises in the town...
, 15 Short Stories, Swords: Poolbeg Press, 1982.
Poetry
- Dialann sa Díseart, Dublin: Coiscéim, 1981.
- Rogha an Fhile, anthology with translations. 1974.
- New Passages, 1973.
- Dé Luain, Dublin: Allen Figgis 1966.
- The Weekend of Dermot and Grace, Dublin: Allen Figgis & Son, 1964; rep. in "Eugene Watters Special Issue" Poetry Ireland Review 13 (1985)@.
- Lux Aeterna, including Hiroshima Mass, Dublin: Allen Figgis, 1964.
Plays
- Fornocht do Chonac, Dublin: Foilseacháin an Rialtais, 1981.
- Lá Fhéile Michíl, Dublin: Clodhanna Teo., 1967.
- Song of the Nightingale, written together with Sandra Warde, 1971.
Essays
- Religio Poetae agus Aistí Eile, ed. Maírín Nic Eoin, Baile Átha Cliath: An Clóchomhar, 1987.
- Focus, (with Desmond Egan), 1972.
Books
- An Lomnochtán. Autobiography, Dublin & Cork: Mercier, 1978.
- [The Story of a] Hedgeschool Master, 1975.
- L’Attaque, Dublin: Allen Figgis, 1962.
- Murder in Three Moves, 1960.
Other activities
- "Christian names", in Encyclopaedia of Ireland, Dublin: Figgis 1968, pp. 119–21.
- "Infinite Variety - Dan Lowrey's Music Hall 1879-97" (Eugene Watters & Matthew Murtagh) Gill&Macmillan, 1975.