- Cathal Ó Searcaigh
Infobox Writer
name = Cathal Ó Searcaigh
awards =
birthname =
birthdate = birth date|1956|7|12|mf=y
birthplace =Gort an Choirce ,Donegal ,Ireland
deathdate =
deathplace =
occupation =Poet Cathal Ó Searcaigh (IPAga|ˈkahəlˠ ɔ ˈʃaɾˠki; born 1956) is an Irish poet who writes in the
Irish language (specifically the Ulster dialect).Ó Searcaigh was born in
Gort an Choirce , a town in theGaeltacht region ofDonegal , and lives at the foot ofMount Errigal . He is openlygay .citation |title=Irish Writing in the Twentieth Century: A Reader |first=David |last=Pierce |year=2000 |publisher=Cork University Press |isbn=1859182585 |page=1183]Poetry works
His collections of poetry include "Homecoming/An Bealach 'na Bhaile" (
Cló Iar-Chonnachta , 1993); "Na Buachaillí Bána" (Cló Iar-Chonnachta , 1995); "Out in the Open" (translations by Frank Sewell,Cló Iar-Chonnachta , 1997); "Ag Tnúth leis an tSolas" (Cló Iar-Chonnachta , 2001) - for which he receivedThe Irish Times Irish Literature Prize for the Irish language, in 2001; "Gúrú i gClúidíní" ('Guru in Nappies') (Cló Iar-Chonnachta , 2006).The poems "Níl Aon Ní" and "Maigdiléana" have featured on the
Leaving Certificate examination of Irish, though they may be removed pending an investigation following public furore over his sexual relationships with young men in Nepal. [http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0220/osearcaigh.html "Ó Searcaigh poems may be taken off curriculum"]Plays include "Mairimid leis na Mistéirí"; "Tá an Tóin ag Titim as an tSaol"; "Oíche Dhrochghealaí", based on the story of
Salomé (Letterkenny , An Grianán, 2001).Connections to Nepal
His first prose work, "Seal i Neipeal", an account of his time in
Nepal , was published byCló Iar-Chonnachta in 2004.Ó Searcaigh sponsors the education of many boys in Nepal and has an informally adopted son from this country. In
1998 , an entry visa was granted by the Irish government to Prem Timalsina, a Nepali friend of Ó Searcaigh. Subsequently Timalsina was informally adopted by the poet. [Irish Mail on Sunday 10 February 2008, pp.1-2, 4-6, 16.] The young man is again living in Nepal, where he has a son of his own whom Ó Searcaigh views as his grandson, and to whom he has addressed several poems. [County Donegal on the Net News. Vol.8 No.2 February, 2007 [http://www.dun-na-ngall.com/nw74.html] ]"Fairytale of Kathmandu" controversy
In
2008 , "Fairytale of Kathmandu" [cite web
url=http://www.fairytaleofkathmandu.com/
title=Fairytale of Kathmandu web site
author=Neasa Ní Chianaín
publisher=Vinegar Hill Productions] , a documentary that focussed on his charitable work in Nepal, included footage of Ó Searcaigh bringing young men into his room for the night, and his later comment that he has sexual relations with them.The premise of the film is that although the poet's actions were legal in Nepal, nevertheless the relationship was an exploitative one akin to or equal to
sex tourism .Awards
Ó Searcaigh was awarded the Seán Ó Riordáin Prize for Poetry in 1993 and the Duais Bhord na Gaeilge in 1995. He is a member of
Aosdána and in2006 wonThe American Ireland Fund Literary Award.References
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