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Irish language poet a visiting professor at Boston College

February 16, 2011

By Staff Reporter

Nuala Ni Dhomhnaill, Ireland’s leading poet writing in the Irish language, has arrived at Boston College to begin her tenure as the university’s 1998-99 Burns Library Visiting Scholar.

Ni Dhomhnaill, whose papers were acquired by BC’s Burns Library of Rare Books and Special Collections last year, is the most acclaimed and widely translated poet in Irish of this century. She also brings a strong background in Irish language texts and manuscripts to Boston College, where it will enrich the university’s Irish Studies Program throughout her term.

At B.C., Ni Dhomhnaill will teach, continue work on her own projects, and present a series of readings and lectures. In addition, her latest book, "Ceach Aighnis," will be launched from Boston College in October.

Ni Dhomhnaill’s course for the fall semester is titled "Contemporary Literature in Irish: Poetry, Fiction and Drama," in which the class will focus on contemporary Irish works in translation, tackling the issues of using Irish to express modern themes and the implications of translation. In the spring semester, she will teach "1500 Years of Irish Literature: A Sampler," which will look at the history of Irish language writing, but also address texts which continue to have a very modern aspect.

Ni Dhomhnaill also will work with Boston College Director of Irish Music Programs Seamus Connolly and Irish Studies Professor Phillip O’Leary as she incorporates music from the James Goodman collection in the university’s Irish Music Center into a play she currently is writing. Many of the Goodman melodies were lost during the Great Famine; in reviving them she hopes to remember those who lost their lives during that period.

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