Séamus Ó Néill

Séamus Ó Néill, (1910–1981), was a versatile Irish writer from Clarkhill, Castlewellan, County Down, Ireland. Following a primary degree from Queen's University, Belfast, he did historical research under Eoin MacNeill at University College, Dublin. He spent periods as editor of the journals An Iris and Comhar.

The endpiece from Dánta do pháistí (Poems for Children), entitled "Subh Mhilis" ("Sweet Jam"), a poignant poem dedicated to his mother (subtitle: "Ceann do Mhama"), is one of his best-known works:

Original

Bhí subh mhilis
Ar bhaschrann an dorais
Ach mhuch mé an corraí
Ionam a d'éirigh,
Mar smaoinigh mé ar an lá
A bheas an bhaschrann glan,
Agus an lámh bheag
Ar iarraidh.

Translation

There was jam
On the doorhandle
But I suppressed the anger
That rose up in me,
Because I thought of the day
That the doorhandle would be clean
And the little hand
Would be gone.

Two of his novels, Tonn Tuile and Máire Nic Artáin, dealt with marital breakdown - the first set during The Emergency and the latter in the religiously divided communities of Belfast during the First World War.

Works

Critical and bibliographic material

See also

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