Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill
Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill, born in 1952 in Lancashire, England, is a distinguished Irish poet celebrated for her contributions to contemporary Irish-language literature. Raised in the Irish-speaking regions of West Kerry and Tipperary, she was immersed in the Irish language from a young age. Ní Dhomhnaill pursued studies in English and Irish at University College Cork, where she became a member of the 'Innti' group—a collective of Irish-language poets who founded the literary journal Innti in the late 1960s1.
Her poetry is renowned for its rich engagement with Irish folklore, mythology, and contemporary themes, including feminism and cultural identity. Ní Dhomhnaill's work has been translated into English by notable poets such as Seamus Heaney, Paul Muldoon, and Medbh McGuckian, making her poetry accessible to a broader audience2.
Throughout her career, Ní Dhomhnaill has received numerous accolades, including the Seán Ó Ríordáin Award for each of her four poetry collections in Irish. She was appointed Ireland Professor of Poetry from 2001 to 2004, becoming the first Professor of Irish Language Poetry. In 2018, she was honored with the Zbigniew Herbert International Literary Award for her significant contributions to poetry3.
Ní Dhomhnaill's dedication to the Irish language and her innovative poetic voice have solidified her status as a central figure in modern Irish literature.
Here is a list of Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill's poetry collections with publication years and links to sources:
- An Dealg Droighin (1981)
- Féar Suaithinseach (1984)
- Feis (1991)
- Pharaoh's Daughter (1990)
- The Astrakhan Cloak (1992)
- Spíonáin is Róiseanna (1993)
- Cead Aighnis (1998)
- The Water Horse (1999)
- Northern Lights (2018)
Footnotes
Mindful Irish Poetry
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