Cathal Ó Searcaigh
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Cathal Ó Searcaigh
Cathal Ó Searcaigh (pronounced [ˈkahəɫ ɔ ˈʃaɾˠki]) is an Irish poet who writes in the Irish language (specifically the Ulster dialect). Ó Searcaigh was born in Gortahork, a town in the Gaeltacht region of Donegal, in 1956 and lives at the foot of Mount Errigal. He is openly gay.[1]
Poetry worksHis collections of poetry include Homecoming/An Bealach 'na Bhaile (Cló Iar-Chonnachta, 1993); Na Buachaillí Bána (Cló Iar-Chonnachta, 1995); Out in the Open (translations by Frank Sewell, Cló Iar-Chonnachta, 1997); Ag Tnúth leis an tSolas (Cló Iar-Chonnachta, 2001) - for which he received The Irish Times Irish Literature Prize for the Irish language, in 2001; Gúrú i gClúidíní ('Guru in Nappies') (Cló Iar-Chonnachta, 2006). The poems Níl Aon Ní and Maigdiléana have featured on the Leaving Certificate examination of Irish, though they may be removed pending an investigation following public furor over his sexual relationships with young men in Nepal[2]". Plays include Mairimid leis na Mistéirí; Tá an Tóin ag Titim as an tSaol; Ghealaí, based on the story of Salomé (Letterkenny, An Grianán, 2001). Connections to NepalHis first prose work, Seal i Neipeal, an account of his time in Nepal, was published by Cló Iar-Chonnachta in 2004. Ó Searcaigh sponsors the education of many boys in Nepal and has an informally adopted son from this country. In 1998, an entry visa was granted by the Irish government to Prem Timalsina, a Nepali friend of Ó Searcaigh. Subsequently Timalsina was informally adopted by the poet. [3] The young man is again living in Nepal, where he has a son of his own whom Ó Searcaigh views as his grandson, and to whom he has addressed several poems.[4] Fairytale of Kathmandu controversyIn 2008, Fairytale of Kathmandu[5], a documentary that focussed on his charitable work in Nepal, included footage of Ó Searcaigh talking about having sex with local youths above the age of consent. [6] [7] Ireland's Minister for Education and Science, Mary Hanafin's initial reaction was that "there are 'difficulties' with the inclusion of poems by Cathal Ó Searcaigh on the Leaving Certificate curriculum."[8] Although she later noted that the lives of many authors of works on the curriculum were questionable.[citation needed] Following complaints by Fiona Neary of the Rape Crisis Network it has emerged that the Irish police force have been investigating Ó Searcaigh since 2006 following complaints from the film's director. [9]. The documentary was shown on Irish television on the evening of March 11, 2008, despite the misgivings of many of Ó Searcaigh's supporters. AwardsÓ Searcaigh was awarded the Seán Ó Riordáin Prize for Poetry in 1993 and the Duais Bhord na Gaeilge in 1995. He is a member of Aosdána and in 2006 won The American Ireland Fund Literary Award. References
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