Cathal Ó Searcaigh (pronounced "kah-hill oh-sharkey") has emerged over the last ten years as one of Ireland's most distinguished poets. His Irish-language poems are notable for their honest intimacy and international worldview.
As an Irish language poet with global appeal, Cathal has seen his work translated into ten languages, and has read his work in arts festivals as far afield as Belgium, Italy, France, Germany, Spain and Canada.
"His confident internationalism", according to Theo Dorgan, writing in Irish Poetry Since Kavanagh (Four Courts Press, 1996), "has already begun to channel new modes, new possibilities, into the writing of Irish language poetry in our time."
The following poems are from his new collection, "Out in the Open", a bilingual compilation of Cathal Ó Searcaigh's finest poems, accompanied by English translations by Frank Sewall.
Hear the poems!