Peadar Ó hUallaigh
Photographer: Máire Uí Mhaicín
Usage rights: Foras na Gaeilge
Date: 13 September 2011
Setting: Dunquin, Co. Kerry
Genres: Poet
Rugadh agus tógadh Peadar i gCluain Meala. Chaith sé na seascaidí ina dhéagóir i mBaile Átha Cliath. Tá na blianta fada tugtha aige ag gabháilt do cheol traidisiúnta, ag seimint don gcuid is mó ar Mhór-Roinn na hEorpa. I gCorca Dhuibhne atá sé lonnaithe le breis agus tríocha bliain. D’fhoilsigh Coiscéim a chéad chnuasach filíochta, Tír Tairngire (2009), agus bronnadh duais Strong ar an leabhar seo ag Féile Filíochta Dhún Laoghaire 2010 mar rogha na gcéadchnuasach in Éirinn sa bhliain roimhe, pé ar bith teanga. ‘Is beag début a fuair moladh chomh hard leis’ (Imram). Ghnóthaigh Peadar duaiseanna ag Féile Filíochta Bhéal Átha na mBuillí 2009, agus ag Seachtain na Scríbhneoirí, Lios Tuathail 2011. Foilsíodh Soilse an Chroí le Peadar in 2011 agus tá súil le bailiúchán nua ó Choiscéim in 2016, Tráth na Tairsí.
Born in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary in 1950, Peadar spent the sixties as a teenager in Dublin when his interest in traditional music developed, leading to extensive tours in Europe from 1975 to 1990. For over 30 years he has made his home on the Dingle Peninsula. At the 2010 Dún Laoghaire Poetry Festival he recieved the Rupert & Eithne Strong Award for the best first collection of poetry by an Irish writer in the previous year, Tír Tairngire (Coiscéim, 2009). Dublin’s Imram Festival announced his work: ‘Utterly visionary, he is a poet unafraid to take a lyrical voyage to the lands of Avalon. Seldom has a début received such commendation.’ Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill wrote: ‘I realized that something new and unique was pouring out of Peadar Ó hUallaigh in poetic form.’ He was awarded a prize by the Strokestown Poetry Festival in 2009, and also by Writers’ Week, Listowel in 2011. His collections Tír Tairngire (2009) and Soilse an Chroí (2011) have been published by Coiscéim, and Tráth na Tairsí is expected in 2016.
Fad Mo Radhairc Uaim
Bealach na Bó Finne
ag síneadh
ó bhárr na Cruaiche amach
thar an Oileán Tiar.
Thar mhuir leathan.
Shiúl an Bhó Fhionn seal
an bealach neamhaí seo
ag scaipeadh a beathú bainne
go flúirseach ar fud na spéartha.
Sin mar a rinneadh na reanna neimhe
in amharc súl agam anocht.
Gach uile neach acu
ina roinn den réaltra s’againne.
Sinn ag síor-rothlú ann.
Ach tugaim fé ndeara
léas eile aduain
i dtús na hoíche,
faoi mar a bheadh réiltín doiléir
thar Mhám Clasach,
níos sia thall i gcéin
ná na rinnsoilsí eile,
thar Andromeda anonn.
Breis is dhá mhilliún de bhlianta,
a deirtear,
atá luisne spréite an réaltra úd,
ár ndeirfiúirín cianda,
ar a slí chughainn
as farraigí na síor-spéire.
Casann an chruinneog —
Capella lonrach faoi lé anois,
ag géarsplancadh dearg is glas .