Deirdre Brennan
Hidden Places / Scathan Eile
ISBN: 9781851320318
This book, Hidden Places ¦ Scáthán Eile, consists of two separate collections of poetry, one in Irish, and one in English. Themes encompass ageing, the abandoned nest, emigration and exile, thresholds that can’t be crossed. Landscapes throb with the eternal pulses of the natural world and scenes of childhood are revisited along with violence, both physical and sexual, against young and old.
Deirdre Brennan is a bilingual writer of poetry, short stories and drama. Born in Dublin, she studied English and Latin at UCD followed by a H.Dip. in Education. Among her collections of poetry are: I Reilig na mBan Rialta (Coiscéim, 1984), Scothanna Geala (Coiscéim, 1989), a Poetry Ireland‘Choice of the Year’, Thar Cholbha na Mara (Coiscéim, 1993), Ag Mealladh Réalta (Coiscéim, 2000), an Oireachtas prizewinner, The Hen Party(Lapwing, 2001), Beneath Castles of White Sail (Divas, Arlen House, 2003), Swimming with Pelicans and Ag Eitilt fara Condair (Arlen House, 2007). Her short stories appear in The Irish Times, Passages, Anois, Comhar, Feasta, Lá and Foinse and have featured on RTÉ Radio 1, as did a six-part drama series, Go to Blazes. Her collection of short fiction was published as An Banana Bean Sí agus Scéalta Eile (Coiscéim, 2009). A founder member of Éigse Carlow Arts Festival in 1978, Deirdre was Chair and Secretary during its early years, and she was also a founder member of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí in Carlow, serving as Chair and Secretary.
Is scríbhneoir dátheangach í Deirdre Brennan. I measc an tsaothair óna peann tá filíocht, gearrscéalta agus drámaí. Rugadh i mBaile Átha Cliath í agus bhain sí céim amach sa Bhéarla agus sa Laidin i UCD agus ina dhiaidh sin, an tArd Teastas san Oideachas. Tá ocht gcnuasach filíochta foilsithe aici go dtí seo: I Reilig na mBan Rialta (Coiscéim, 1984), Scothanna Geala (Coiscéim, 1989), ‘Rogha Éigse Éireann’ na bliana sin, Thar Cholbha na Mara (Coiscéim 1993), Ag Mealladh Réalta (Coiscéim, 2000), a fuair duais san Oireachtas, The Hen Party (Lapwing, 2001), Beneath Castles of White Sail (Divas, Arlen House, 2003), Swimming with Pelicans agus Ag Eitilt fara Condair (Arlen House, 2007). Tá a gearrscéalta curtha i gcló ag The Irish Times, Passages, Anois, Comhar, Feasta, Lá agus Foinse agus craoladh iad ar RTÉ Raidió 1 chomh maith le sraith drámaí, Go to Blazes. Tá cnuasach dá gearrscéalta An Banana Bean Sí agus Scéalta Eile foilsithe ag Coiscéim. Ball den choiste a bhunaigh an fhéile ealaíne, Éigse Cheatharlach i 1978, bhí Deirdre ina rúnaí agus ina cathaoirleach ar feadh roinnt de bhlianta agus is duine de bhunaitheoirí Chomhaltas Ceoltóirí i gCeatharlach í chomh maith is í ag freastal mar chathaoirleach agus rúnaí.