Abstract

Frank Sewell's book offers an informed and discursive introduction to four twentieth-century poets who wrote in Irish. He chooses to concentrate on Sean O Riordain and Mairtin O Direain from the nineteen fifties and nineteen sixties, and Nuala Ni Dhomhaill and Cathal O Searcaigh from the later decades. The appendix gives English versions of the principal poems discussed. The four poets chosen cover a geographical spread within Ireland. O Searcaigh is from Donegal, and the Ulster Gaelatacht; O Direain was from Aran Islands, and used Connemara Irish. Both O Riordain and Ni Dhomhnaill are associated with Munster irish.