Máire Mhac an tSaoi

Máire Mhac an tSaoi is a scholar, a novelist, and one of the greatest poets in Modern Irish.

Her work includes the poetry collections Codladh an Ghaiscígh (1956), Margadh na Saoire agus Véarsaí Eile (1973), Shoa agus Dánta Eile (1999) as well as the work of scholarship Dhá Scéal Artúraíochta (1946), the novella A Bhean Óg Ón (2001) and her autobiography The Same Age as the State (2003). She worked for a while as well on the team of the English-Irish Dictionary under Professor Tomás de Bhaldraithe. Her novel Scéal Ghearóid Iarla won the Irish language book of the year award 2011.

Describing her autobiography, the poet Seamus Heaney had this much to say: “There is truth to experience here, a forthrightness about passion and transgression that is thrilling and exemplary.”

Máire Mhac an tSaoi was appointed Honoury Professor in Irish Studies in National University of Ireland, Galway, in 2005.