Visit of Irish Poet, Nuala Ni Dhomhnaill

On Wednesday, 23 October, the Omaha Irish Cultural Center along with the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the UNO Writers' Workshop sponsored the Irish poet Nuala Ni Dhomhnaill.  Ms. Ni Dhomhnaill is a visiting professor at the Notre Dame Irish Studies Center.  A large audience of Omaha Irish, UNO students and poetry lovers heard Ms. Ni Dhomhnaill read from her published works including  Pharaoh's Daughter and The Fifty Minute Mermaid. 

Her writings focus on the rich traditions and heritage of Ireland and draw upon themes of ancient Irish folklore combined with contemporary themes.  She writes exclusively in Irish and says "Irish is a language of beauty, historical significance, ancient roots and poetic expression." 

She reads her poems in Irish and English as translated by major Irish poets like Seamus Heaney, Paul Muldoon, and Medbh McGuckian.

OICC board member James Cavanaugh noted "The Irish writer Sean O'Tuama is absolutely correct when he said "Nuala Ni Dhomhnaill can now be reckoned amongst the most highly gifted poets in Irish or English since Yeats." 

OICC hosted a dinner in Ms. Ni Dhomhnaill's honor at the French Bulldog in Dundee on 24 October.