Mícheál Ó hAodha

Born in Galway, Mícheál Ó hAodha grew up between the west of Ireland and the north of England. He has written many books in Irish and English on various aspects of the Irish working-class experience, particularly as relating to migrants and groups who’ve traditionally lived on the margins of society, including Irish Travellers and Roma. He has published 7 books of poetry in Irish and translated works from Dutch, Welsh and Irish including Ireland’s leading twentieth century writers – Seosamh Mac Grianna, Seán Ó Ríordáin, Eoghan Ó Tuairisc, Dónall Mac Amhlaigh and Máirtín Ó Direáin, amongst others. His translation of Saol Saighdiúra (A Soldier’s Song) by Galway writer Dónall Mac Amhlaigh was the first ever Irish-language novel to be awarded a Pen UK translation award, in 2023. Spring Seaweed, his translation of Máirtín Ó Direáin’s 1961 Feamainn Bhealtaine was published by Mercier Press in 2025.

Is Gaillmheach é Mícheál Ó hAodha a chaith tréimhse fada ag cur faoi i dtuaisceart Shasana. File Gaeilge agus aistritheoir. Leabhair staire scríofa aige, go háirithe mar a bhaineann leis an Lucht Siúil, na Roma, lucht oibre na hÉireann agus na Gaeil a thóg an bád bán orthu féin. I measc na n-aistriúchán ata déanta aige tá Mo Bhealach Féin le Seosamh Mac Grianna faoin teideal This Road of Mine (Lilliput, 2020); Seán Ó Ríordáin: Life and Work (Mercier, 2019) agus Exiles (Parthian: UK, 2020); Letter from my Foster Mother and other Stories – le Fionntán de Brún (Evertype, 2020. Y Castell Siwgr le Angharad Tomos (Gwasg Carreg Gwalch: Cymru, 2022). Leabhair filíochta leis, foilsithe: Slán le hÉirinn (Coiscéim, 2012); Leabhar na nAistear I (Coiscéim, 2017); Leabhar na nAistear II (Coiscéim, 2019); Leabhar na nAistear III (Coiscéim, 2022).