Deirdre Brennan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Deirdre Brennan
Brennan in 2020
Born	1934 Dublin
Alma mater	University College Dublin
Occupation	Poet, author, playwright, translator

Deirdre Brennan (born in 1934) is a talented Irish writer. She is a poet, a playwright (someone who writes plays), and a short story writer. What's really cool is that she is bilingual, meaning she writes in two languages: both the Irish language (also called Gaeilge) and English.

About Deirdre Brennan

Early Life and Education

Deirdre Brennan was born in Dublin, Ireland. She grew up in County Tipperary, going to school in towns like Clonmel and Thurles. Later, she went to University College Dublin to study English and Latin. After that, she earned a special diploma in education. In 1965, she moved to Carlow.

Teaching and Starting to Write

Brennan taught at St Patrick's College in Carlow. She began writing in Irish after helping to start the Éigse Carlow Arts Festival in 1979. This festival celebrates arts and culture.

Her Amazing Works

Deirdre Brennan has written many books, sixteen so far! Twelve of these are collections of her poetry. She won an Oireachtas Prize for her book Ag Mealladh Réalta. In 2023, she also won the Farmgate Café National Poetry Award for her book Medea's Cauldron.

She worked with other writers, Máighréad Medbh and Nuala Ní Chonchúir, on a poetry book called Divas! in 2003. Her poem At Home was part of a special collection of women's poetry called Women's Work VII. Her poems are also found in other important books like The Great Book of Ireland. Her writing is even used in school lessons and music courses at the Royal Irish Academy of Music.

Deirdre Brennan has also published two collections of short stories. These are An Banana Bean Sí agus Scéalta Eile (2009) and Staying Thin for Daddy (2014). Her short stories have appeared in famous newspapers like The Irish Times. They have also been featured on radio shows, including a six-part drama series called Go to Blazes.

Community Involvement

Besides writing, Brennan was very involved in her community. She was the chair and secretary for the Éigse festival in its early years. She also helped start Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann in Carlow, which is an organization that promotes traditional Irish music, dance, and language. She served as chair and secretary there too.

Published Books

Poetry Collections

• I Reilig na mBan Rialta, Coiscéim, 1984
• Scothanna Geala, Coiscéim, 1989
• Thar Cholbha na Mara, Coiscéim, 1993
• Ag Mealladh Réalta, Coiscéim, 2000
• The Hen Party, Lapwing Publications, 2001
• Beneath Castles of White Sail, in Divas, Arlen House, 2003
• Swimming with Pelicans: Ag Eitilt fara Condair, Arlen House, 2007
• Hidden Places: Scáthan Eile, Arlen House, 2011
• As Trunc Fernando Pessoa, Coiscéim, 2015
• Cuislí Allta, Rogha Dánta: Wild Pulses, Selected Poems, Arlen House, 2017
• An Oiche ar Bheophianadh, Coiscéim, 2019
• Medea's Cauldron, Arlen House, 2022

Short Story Collections

• An Banana Bean Sí agus Scéalta Eile, Coiscéim, 2009
• Staying Thin for Daddy, Arlen House, 2016

Plays

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

Awards and Recognitions

• Poetry Ireland ‘Choice of the Year’ in 1989 for her book Scothanna Geala.
• Oireachtas Literary Award in 2000 for Ag Mealladh Réalta.
• Winner of The SHOp Translation Award in 2002 for Stillbirth : Marbhghin.
• Winner of the Farmgate Café National Poetry Award in 2023 for Medea's Cauldron.

See also

• Irish poetry
• List of Irish women writers