Máirtín Ó Direáin

Máirtín Ó Direáin (November 29, 1910 - March 19, 1988) born in Sruthán on Inismór in the Aran Islands was an Irish language poet.

The son of a small-farmer, Máirtín Ó Direáin spoke only Irish until his mid-teens. He worked as a civil servant from 1928 until 1975. His main works include the poetry collections:

• Rogha Dánta (1949)
• Ó Mórna agus Dánta Eile (1957)
• Ar Ré Dhearóil (1962)
• Cloch Choirnéil (1967)
• Crainn is Cairde (1970)
• Dánta 1939-79 (1980)
• Ceacht an Éin (1984)
• Béasa an Túir (1984)
• Tacar Dánta/Selected Poems (1984)
• Craobhóg: Dán (1986)

His autobiographical essays are collected as Feamainn Bhealtine (1961). His awards include the An Chomhairle Ealaíon/The Arts Council Awards (1964 and 1971); the Butler Prize, with Eoghan Ó Tuairisc (1967); the Ossian Prize for Poetry, FVS Foundation, Hamburg (1977). He was a member of Aosdána.

Carraig agus cathair: Ó Direáin is a recent (2002) biography. Its title ('Rock and City') refers to Ó Direáin's journey from his native rocky island to Dublin, where he lived most of his life.

On 27 May, 2010, An Post (Ireland Post Office) issued a single stamp to commemorate the birth centenary of Máirtín Ó Direáin featuring a portrait of the poet. World Stamp News

Five of his poems have been put to music by Colm Ó Snodaigh from the music group Kíla. Faoiseamh a Gheobhadsa, Maith Dhom, Bua na Mara, Dínit an Bhróin and Bí i do Chrann. The first three have been recorded on Handel's Fantasy, Luna Park (two Kíla albums) and Giving - Colm's solo album from 2007.

References and external links

• Short Aosdána biography
• Brief biographical material and sample poem

Persondata
Name	O Direain, Mairtin
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	November 29, 1910
Place of birth
Date of death	March 19, 1988
Place of death