Ruaidhrí Ó Báille
Genres: Translator, Playwright, Editor, Childrens' author, Lyricist, Academic writer, Novelist
Rugadh Ruaidhrí Ó Báille i mBaile Átha Cliath – cóngarach do Leabharlann Bhaile Bhailcín – a pharthas pearsanta féin agus é ag fás aníos. Rinne sé céim sa Ghaeilge agus sa Bhéarla sa Choláiste Ollscoile B.Á. C. Tá tréimhsí caite aige le haisteoireacht, le múinteoireacht, le scríobh, le craoltóireacht agus le ceol.
Thosaigh Ruaidhrí ag aisteoireacht go proifisiúnta agus é fós ar scoil i gCroimghlinn. Bhí páirteanna aige in Amharclann an Gheata, in Amharclann na Mainistreach agus in Áras Cheoldrámaíochta Chorcaí mar aon le páirteanna scannán. Bhí sé gníomhach sa Chumann Drámaíochta sa Choláiste Ollscoile – áit ar scríobh sé agus ar léirigh sé reiviú dátheangach i gcomhoibriú lena chara Gearóid de Briotúin.
Chuir Ruaidhrí an tsraith theilifíse Anois is Arís i láthair ar RTÉ agus chaith sé tamall mar eagarthóir ar Mahogany Gaspipe, an iris cheannródaíoch Gaeilge do dhéagóirí.
Ba é An Tobar (1985) a chéad shaothar foilsithe. Ina dhiaidh sin d’fhoilsigh sé Dúnmharú ar an Dart (1989), Aililiú Bop Siúáidí (1992) agus Imithe! (1993).
Tá raidhse leabhar múinte Gaeilge foilsithe ag Ruaidhrí – ina measc Scaoil Amach É!, An dTuigeann Tú?, Gaeilge Gach Áit, Tabhair Leat Í, agus Tá Gaeilge Agam! Tá úsáid fhorleathan bainte as a shaothar, idir liteartha agus acadúil, i scoileanna ar fud na tíre.
Ar na hamhráin féinchumtha agus aistriúcháin atá déanta ag Ruaidhrí tá ‘Is Leatsa Í (É Ó É Ó)’ agus ‘Uaigneach i m’Aonar’ a chantar go fóill sna coláistí samhraidh.
Bronnadh duaiseanna Oireachtais ar Ruaidhrí as a shaothar próis agus ceoil. Bhí sé ar phainéal moltóireachta ghradaim Bisto agus Leabhair Pháistí Éireann. Mhúin sé Gaeilge agus Béarla i Scoil Phobail Chábán tSíle.
Ruaidhrí Ó Báille was born in Dublin – just down the road from Walkinstown Library – his own personal paradise while he was growing up. He completed a degree in Irish and English in UCD and has spent periods acting, teaching, writing, broadcasting and making music.
Ruaidhrí started acting professionally while he was still at school in Crumlin. He performed in The Gate Theatre, The Abbey Theatre, in the Cork Opera House and in several films. He was active in the Cumann Drámaíochta while he was in UCD, writing and producing a bilingual revue along with his friend Gearóid de Briotúin.
Ruaidhrí presented the RTÉ television series Anois is Arís and he spent a period as editor of Mahogany Gaspipe, the pioneering Irish language magazine for teenagers.
His first published work was An Tobar (1985). He subsequently published Dúnmharú ar an Dart (1989), Aililiú Bop Siúáidí (1992) and Imithe! (1993).
Ruaidhrí has published a large number of Irish language teaching books – including Scaoil Amach É!, An dTuigeann Tú?, Gaeilge Gach Áit, Tabhair Leat Í!, and Tá Gaeilge Agam! His books, both literary and academic, have been widely used in schools around the country.
Ruaidhrí’s songs and translations include ‘Is Leatsa Í (É Ó É Ó)’ and ‘Uaigneach i m’Aonar’ - still sung in Summer Colleges to this day.
Ruaidhrí has won Oireachtas awards for his prose and for his music. He has been a member of the judging panel for the Bisto and Children’s Books Ireland awards. He taught Irish and English in Cabinteely Community School.