Ag Greadadh Bas sa Reilg – Clapping in the Cemetery

Roghnaíodh na dánta seo as ceithre chnuasach Gaeilge: Próca Solais is Luatha (1988), 30 Dán (1992), Seo. Siúd. Agus Uile (1996), agus Corcach agus Dánta Eile (1999), atá anois as cló.  Fáilteofar roimh an mbailiúchán téagartha seo de 59 dán, go háirithe ina measc siúd nach raibh deis acu blaiseadh de shaothar de Paor go dtí seo, cheal Gaeilge.  Is í seo an chéad uair gur foilsíodh na haistriúcháin sa tír seo. 

Tá réamhrá achomair, beacht ag an Dr Caoimhín Mac Giolla Léith ar shaothar de Paor.  Deir sé faoin mbailiúchán seo:

Is filíocht fhuinniúil, spleodrach í seo, filíocht inar léir tríd síos achmhainn éachtach an fhile geit a bhaint as an léitheoir le samhailteacha atá mealltach agus neamhghnách. 

Filíocht í seo a thugann orainn féachaint ar gach uile ghné den ghnáthshaol, dá shuaraí é, ar bhealach úrnua, úrnite.  Filíocht í ina n-aimsímid meascán máistriúil den tocht agus den intlíocht, den mhacnas agus den mhacnamh, den ghreann agus den ísle bhrí. 
Dóibh siúd nár léigh saothar de Paor roimhe seo, is féidir leo a bheith ag tnúth go mór le Ag Greadadh Bas sa Reilig – Clapping in the Cemetery.  Dóibh siúd gur léigh, is féidir leo a bheith ag dúil le hathchuairt a thabhairt air. 

The poems in this book are drawn from four previous collections in Irish: Próca Solais is Luatha (1988), 30 Dán (1992), Seo. Siúd. Agus Uile (1996), and Corcach agus Dánta Eile (1999), all of which are now out of print.  This substantial selection of 59 poems will be welcomed by many who are curious to discover Louis de Paor's poetry, but have been unable to do so until now as these poems have not previously been published in translation in this country.

The foreword by Dr Caoimhín Mac Giolla Léith is a wonderfully succinct introduction to de Paor's poetry.  He describes the selection as ‘an energetic, even boisterous, body of poetry, enlivened by a gift for the unexpected but compelling metaphor, ever ready to invite the reader to look afresh at the world of the everyday.  These are poems that effectively combine emotion and intellect, sensuousness and insight, humour and melancholy.'  Those who are new to de Paor's poetry have much to look forward to in Ag Greadadh Bas sa Reilig – Clapping in the Cemetery.  Those who are already familiar with his work can enjoy rediscovering it.