Irish Language Poetry of the Twentieth Century

Collections -- The best source for translations is the Selected Poems (1984) translated by Tomás Mac Síomóin and Douglas Sealy (PB 1399 .O4234 A25 1984b). The translations are imperfect, and yet, since many of the poems are relatively simple in Irish, and since the facing English translations often accord literalness the rite of passage at the cost of style, a basic understanding of the source text can be gained with less than fluent Irish.

Mac Giolla Léith, Caoimhín. Cime Mar Chách : Aistí Ar Mháirtín Ó Direáin. Baile Átha Cliath : Coiscéim, 1993.

This is a collection of six essays on Ó Direáin's work written by poets and critics such as Liam Prút and Tomás Mac Síomóin. Perhaps most interesting is the interview with Máirtín Ó Direáin in the concluding chapter.

Ní Riain, Isobel. Carraig Agus Cathair : Ó Direáin. Baile Átha Cliath : Cois Life Teoranta, 2002.

A sociological reading of Ó Díreáin's poetry drawing upon the work of Ferdinand Tönnies and Émile Durkheim. The island is an example of Gemeinschaft and the city, Gesellschaft. The breadth of the bibliography is particularly useful.

Ó Direáin, Máirtín. Selected Poems = Tacar dánta. Newbridge, Co. Kildare : Goldsmith, 1984.

The introductions gives a cursory history of Ó Díreáin's collections and locates Ó Díreáin within a web of theoretical and poetic influences ranging from Yeats to Nietzsche. It focuses on well-known themes such as the Aran Islands.

Prút, Liam,. Máirtín Ó Direáin : File Tréadúil. Maigh Nuad Kildare : An Sagart, 1982.

Prút is interested in the intersection of morality and poetry -- his chapter titles are:  "Moráltacht Phearsanta," "Moráltacht Shóisialta," and "Moráltacht Lánúnach." The book also includes a brief biography at the start as well as useful list of Ó Direáin's publications a the end.