Poet Doireann Ní Ghríofa awarded Rooney Prize for Irish Literature 2016

Posted on: 06 September 2016

The roll-call of Ireland’s great writers gathered at Trinity College Dublin for a double celebration: the announcement of this year’s Rooney Prize of Irish Literature 2016, and the 40th anniversary of Ireland’s oldest literary award. The stellar cast included Anne Enright, Frank McGuinness, Bernard Farrell and Medbh McGuckian among many others who as emerging writers were awarded the prize over the years. The young bilingual Cork poet, Doireann Ní Ghríofa joins these auspicious ranks this year as the 2016 winner.

The celebratory event paid tribute to benefactors, President Emeritus of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dan Rooney and his wife, Patricia Rooney, who have supported the award since 1976 when there were very few of its kind.

Hosted by Trinity Provost, Dr Patrick Prendergast, he paid tribute to the Rooneys’ significant  contribution to Irish literature: “Ireland, Dublin, Trinity, and all who love literature are in the debt of Dan and Patricia Rooney. Every autumn as the Rooney Prize shines its light on a spectacular new talent, we salute their generosity and their vision.”

The prize is awarded for a body of work by a young Irish writer that shows exceptional promise. Doireann Ní Ghríofa has published widely and her recent collection of poetry, Clasp was a significant factor in being awarded the prize.   

Announcing the 2016 winner, Ireland Chair of Poetry and selection committee member, Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin said:  “Doireann Ní Ghríofa is a poet to watch, with a fresh view of the world: apparently ordinary houses, shops, common objects and activities.  The sureness of her touch and the skill with which she handles language and shapes her poems are almost invisible, but it is through them that she achieves the feat of making us look again at the usual and illuminates its pulsating strangeness.”

Professor Ní Chuilleanáin added: “She is a brilliant addition to the distinguished succession of bilingual poets writing in Irish and English.”

The award is administered by the Oscar Wilde Centre for Irish Writing at the School of English at Trinity.