Seán Ó Tuama facts for kids

Seán Ó Tuama (born 1926, died 2006) was a famous Irish writer and professor. He wrote many poems and plays. He also taught about Irish literature at universities.

Life and Education

Seán Ó Tuama grew up in the city of Cork in Ireland. He went to the North Monastery school. Later, he studied at University College Cork.

He became well-known in 1950. This was when he published a collection of modern Irish poems. It was called Nuabhéarsaíocht 1939-1949. This book showed off new Irish language poetry.

Academic Career

Ó Tuama was a professor of Irish Literature. He taught at University College Cork. He also visited and taught at other famous universities. These included Harvard, Oxford, and Toronto University.

He wrote important academic books. One was An Grá in Amhráin na nDaoine. This book looked at how old European songs influenced Irish music. It inspired many other poets.

Another important work was An Duanaire: Poems of the Dispossessed. This book came out in 1981. It was a collection of Irish poems from the 16th to 19th centuries. Seán Ó Tuama chose the poems. Thomas Kinsella helped by translating them into English.

Seán Ó Tuama also helped guide Irish language efforts. He was chairman of Bord na Gaeilge for a time. He was also a member of the Arts Council of Ireland. This group supports arts and culture in Ireland.

Awards and Recognition

Seán Ó Tuama received an important award for his work.

• 1983 American Book Award

His Works

Seán Ó Tuama wrote many different types of works. These included poetry, plays, and academic studies.

Poetry Collections

• Faoileán Na Beatha (1962)

Plays He Wrote

• Ar aghaidh linn, a Longadáin
• Moloney
• Is é seo m'oileán
• Corp Eoghain Uí Shúilleabháin
• Déan trócaire ar shagairt óga
• Iúdás Iscariot agus a bhean
• Scéal ar Phádraig

Academic Books

These books are about literature and language.

• An Grá in Amhráin na nDaoine (1960)
• An Grá i bhFilíocht na nUaisle (1988)

Anthologies He Edited

An anthology is a collection of writings.

• Coiscéim na hAoise Seo (a collection of 20th-century Irish poetry)

Essays and Other Writings

• Cúirt, Tuath agus Bruachbhaile (1990)
• Nuabhéarsaíocht 1939-1949 (as editor, 1950)