GAOTH Dobhair poet Máire Dinny Wren has been awarded first prize for a poem she composed about the well know Bunbeg pub Teach Hiúdaí Bhig.
The talented writer secured top place in the contest organised by Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiach in Belfast.
The poem is titled ‘Íochshláinte Teach Hiúdaí Bhig’, and she wrote it especially in memory of Kitty Hiúdaí Bhig who successfully ran the well known public house for many years. She passed away on March 18 this year at the grand age of 100 years.
Teach Hiúdaí Bhig is a hub for traditional music followers and is run by Kitty’s son Hugh. Both he and Máire Dinny Wren travelled to Belfast for the presentation ceremony.
Máire Dinny Wren lives in her native home of Cois Cladaigh, Gaoth Dobhair where she writes poetry and short fiction.
She is a daughter of the late Nan and Jimmy Dinny Ó Gallchóir.
Prior to returning home in 1999, Máire lived in London for 21years where she was a member of the Green Ink Writers group.
Her first collection of short stories, ‘Go mbeinnse choice saor’, was published by Éabhlóid in 2015. In these stories Máire gives voice to a wide range of characters – characters that might otherwise be overlooked.
Some of her previous short fiction was included in the collection ‘Go dtí an lábán’ also published by Éabhlóid.
Máire has received numerous awards for her stories, including Duais Fhoras na Gaeilge at The Listowel Writers’ week in 2010 for ‘Ag Téarnamh chun Baile’.
A radio adaption of the story ‘Thar an Tairseach’ was broadcast by Drama on One, RTÉ Radio One and was shortlisted for the Prix Europa 2013 award in Berlin for best radio drama.
Máire has published two collections of poems. The first, ‘Ó Bhile go Bile’, was published by Coiscéim in 2011.
Her second poetry collection, ‘Tine Ghealáin’, published by Éabhlóid in 2019 was shortlisted for the Oireachtas na Gaeilge, Gradam Uí Shuilleabháin Award 2020.
Íocshláinte Theach Hiúdaí
i ndilchuimhne ar Chití Hiúdaí Bhig
Rabharta ceoil as coirnéal an tí tábhairne,
highlands, strathspeys agus rincí sciobóil,
poirt, ríleanna, cornphíopaí agus masúrcaí,
is an seisiún ceoil faoi racht seoil.
Meitheal de cheoltóirí ag ceann an tí,
le fidleacha, fliúit, giotár, bocsa ceoil agus píb uilleann,
an fhuaim ag baint macalla as an mhaide mullaigh,
an fuinneamh le mothú sa cheol.
Rilleadh ceoil ag roiseadh fríd an teach
agus fear ag steipeáil i lár an urláir
le rithim agus lúth na gcos,
an ceol i dtiúin leis an damhsóir.
Ciúnas sa teach agus duine ag gabháil cheoil,
na ceoltóirí ag glacadh sosa,
cluas éisteachta á thabhairt ag a bhfuil istigh
d’amhrán sean-nóis as an cheantar.
Tá deireadh leis an cheol go mall san oíche
is na huirlisí anois ina dtost,
ardú meanman faighte ag an lucht éisteachta
is na ceoltóirí faoi réir don chéad seisiún eile.
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