Caitlín Maude facts for kids
Caitlín Maude (born May 22, 1941 – died June 6, 1982) was a very talented Irish woman. She was a poet, a teacher, an actress, and a traditional singer. She also worked hard to help keep the Irish language alive.
Caitlín's Early Life
Caitlín Maude was born in Casla, a place in County Galway, Ireland. She grew up speaking the Irish language. Her mother, Máire Nic an Iomaire, was a teacher. Caitlín learned from her mother on a small island near Rosmuc, in an area called Connemara. Her father, John Maude, was from a nearby townland.
Caitlín went to University College Galway. She was very good at French. After college, she became a teacher. She taught in schools in different parts of Ireland, including Kildare, Mayo, and Wicklow. She also worked in London and Dublin.
Her Amazing Career
Caitlín Maude was well-known as an actress. She performed at her university and in famous theatres like An Taibhdhearc in Galway and the Damer Theatre in Dublin. She was especially praised for her role in the play An Triail in 1964. Caitlín also wrote plays herself. She co-wrote a play called An Lasair Choille with another poet, Michael Hartnett.
She started writing modern literature in Irish when she was in secondary school. Her poems had a special rhythm, much like the way people spoke Irish in her home area of Conamara Theas. Caitlín was very good at reading her own poems aloud. Her poem Géibheann is one of her most famous works. Students in Ireland study it for their Leaving Certificate exams. After she passed away, her poems were collected and published in books like Caitlín Maude, Dánta in 1984.
Caitlín was also an activist for the Irish language. She was part of a group called Gluaiseacht Chearta Sibhialta na Gaeltachta. This group worked to protect and promote the Irish language. For example, they helped make sure that an Irish-speaking primary school, Scoil Santain, was set up in Tallaght, County Dublin.
She was also a wonderful sean-nós singer. Sean-nós is a unique style of traditional Irish singing. She released an album called Caitlín in 1975. This album included both traditional songs and readings of her own poetry.
Her Personal Life
Caitlín Maude married Cathal Ó Luain in 1969. They had one son named Caomhán.
Her Legacy
Caitlín Maude passed away in 1982 at the age of 41 after an illness. She is buried in Bohernabreena graveyard, which has a view of Dublin city.
In 2001, a new centre for writers in Galway City was named after her. It is called Ionad Scríbhneoirí Chaitlín Maude. Even though her full collection of poems was published after her death, Caitlín Maude had a big impact on Irish language poetry. Many other poets were influenced by her unique style and her strong commitment to the Irish language. Her work is known for being direct and honest, using the spoken language of Connemara.
Sources
- Ó Coigligh, Ciarán (ed.) (1984). Caitlín Maude: dánta. Coiscéim.
- Caitlín Maude - Caitlín [CD]. Ref: CEFCD042
