Maidhc Dainín Ó Sé
Photographer: Máire Uí Mhaicín
Usage rights: Foras na Gaeilge
Date: 12 September 2011
Setting: Ballydavid, Co. Kerry
Genres: Poet, Non-fiction prose writer, Novelist
Saolaíodh Maidhc Dainín Ó Sé i gCarrachán, Paróiste Mordhach, Co. Chiarraí. Bhí féith an cheoil agus féith na scéalaíochta go smior ann. Nuair nach raibh sé ach trí bliana déag bhí sé ina cheoltóir cumasach ar an mbosca ceoil. Thug sé tamall ag obair i Londain — i monarcha ar dtús, agus mar thógálaí ina dhiaidh sin. Chuaigh sé ansin go Chicago agus thosaigh ag obair le Sears Roebuck. Bhíodh sé ag seinm ceoil i dtithe tábhairne agus i hallaí móra Chicago. Bhuail sé le Caitlín Nic Gearailt, Ciarraíoch eile, i 1962. Phósadar agus d’fhilleadar go Ciarraí i 1969 mar a bhfuair sé post lánaimseartha in uachtarlann an Daingin. Bhíodh sé i gcónaí ag cumadh filíochta, ach ba tar éis filleadh go hÉirinn dó a tháinig bláthú ar a chuid scríbhneoireachta. I measc na bhfoilseachán ag Maidhc tá Corcán na dTrí gCos, Tae le Tae, Chicago Driver, Dochtúir na bPiast, A Thig ná Tit orm, Greenhorn, Is Glas iad na Cnoic, Madra na nOcht gCos, Mair a Chapaill, Lilí Frainc, Mura mBuafam – Suathfam, Idir Dhá Lios, Nuadha agus Breoghan ar Neamh, agus Seán Óg Máirtín. Tá dlúthdhioscaí le ceol Mhaidhc orthu ar fáil chomh maith, Ó Chicago go Carrachán ina measc. Bhí sé fós i mbun pinn nuair a cailleadh go tobann é i mí Lúnasa 2013.
Maidhc Dainín Ó Sé was an author, poet, and musician. He was a board member of Raidió na Gaeltachta for many years. A former milk-truck driver with Kerry Co-op, he lived and worked for many years in the US before returning to Kerry in 1969. Maidhc was a prolific author, having published several Irish-language books, including A Thig Ná Tit Orm, which for many years was one of the core texts for the Leaving Certificate and which recounted his experiences growing up in west Kerry, as well as his exploits in the US. Maidhc was a great character, a great community man and a great family man. He was also a wonderful exponent of the Irish language and enjoyed being present each year at the Oireachtas festival, where he contributed to music and song, and usually had a new book published. Maidhc was married to Caitlín and they had five children — Kevin, Danny, Dáithí, Mary Ellen and Deirdre. He died suddenly at his home in August, 2013. He was aged 71.
Birth date: 2 February 1942
Place of birth: Carrachán, Co. Kerry
Death date: 29 August 2013
Links: Biography on Ainm.ie »
Share this portrait:
