Kildare County Council announce Ré Ó Laighléis as Scríbhneoir Cónaithe for academic year in MU

The role as Scríbhneoir Cónaithe (Writer in Residence) in Maynooth University was developed to give students and the general public the opportunity to engage with esteemed Irish language writers

Kildare County Council in partnership with Maynooth University are pleased to announce Ré Ó Laighléis as Scríbhneoir Cónaithe for the 2024 – 2025 academic year.  The role as Scríbhneoir Cónaithe (Writer in Residence) was developed to give students and the general public the opportunity to engage with esteemed Irish language writers, and also to provide an opportunity for Irish language writers to advance their own projects.

The position is co-funded by Maynooth University, the Creative Ireland Programme and Kildare County Council.

Ré Ó Laighléis is a native of Sallynoggin, Co. Dublin, but has lived in the Burren, Co. Clare for the last 32 years.  After teaching for years at primary, secondary and third level, he changed careers in 1992, to become a fulltime professional writer.

Ré writes in both Gaeilge and in English, with many of his novels and collections being translated into various other languages.  He excels in different genres, such as novels, short stories and dramas – and his writings have been acclaimed and multi-awarded both here in Ireland and abroad.  He has previously been Writer-in-Residence for Mayo County Council and for the National University of Ireland Galway (now University of Galway). 

As recently as November 2024, with joint funding from the University of Maynooth, Creative Ireland and Kildare County Council, Ré Ó Laighléis has been appointed to the position of Scríbhneoir Cónaithe by Roinn na Gaeilge in Ollscoil Mhá Nuad.   

Amongst his many Irish language works are the novels ‘Trumptaí Dumptaí agus An Falla Mór’, ‘Máchail’, ‘Gafa’ and ‘Chagrin’.  His best-known short story collections include ‘Punk agus scéalta eile’, ‘Ecstasy agus scéalta eile’ and ‘Goimh agus scéalta eile’.  Works such as ‘Terror on the Burren’, ‘Hooked’, ‘The Great Book of the Shapers’, ’Heart of Burren Stone and other stories’, have enjoyed huge appeal, both in Ireland and beyond.

On the announcement of his appointment, Gillian Allen, County Librarian and Kildare Creative Ireland Co-ordinator, Kildare County Council said “We are delighted to welcome Ré Ó Laighléis to Kildare as our inaugural Scríbhneoir Cónaithe in partnership with Maynooth University and Creative Ireland. This role will provide invaluable support to readers and writers of the Irish language in County Kildare over the coming year.”

Ré Ó Laighléis will recite from his seminal collection ‘An Nollaig sa Naigín’ in the seasonal literary/musical production at The Riverbank Theatre in Newbridge on December 19. Tickets are available for booking in advance on the Riverbank Arts Centre website - https://www.riverbank.ie/ and are free of charge.