O'Driscoll, Dennis

(1954- )

   Irish poet, born in Thurles, County Tipperary, he studied law at University College, Dublin, and has been a civil servant since 1970. He is one of Ireland's most widely published and respected critics of poetry. He has reviewed poetry for Hibernia and The Crane Bag (focusing mainly on contemporary European writing), The Irish Times and international journals. His poetry includes The Bottom Line (1994), a poem of 550 lines on subject of business and bureaucracy. The collection Weather Permitting (1999) won the Lannan Prize, 2000. A selection from Pickings and Cuttings' column of poetry quotations, As the Poet Said, edited by Tony Curtis (see entry), was published by Poetry Ireland in 1997. Some of his other publications: Kist, 1982. Hidden Extras, 1987. Long Story Short, 1993. Quality Time, 1997. Exemplary Damages, 2002. New and Selected Poems, 2004. Some of his translations: Epiphany (Christine D'Haen, b. 1923). Friendship for a Woman of Grace ( J. Greshoff, 1888-1971). No, No, Nanette (K. Schippers, b. 1936). Pentecost (Gerrit Achterberg). Rubbish Bags (Victor Vroomkoning, b. 1938). That April Morning (Patricia Lasoen, b. 1948).

   Sources: Biography of Dennis O'Driscoll (http://www.irishwriters-online.com/dennisodriscoll.html). The Columbia Granger's Index to Poetry. 11th ed. The Columbia Granger's World of Poetry, Columbia University Press, 2005 (http://www.columbiagrangers.org). Turning Tides: Modern Dutch and Flemish Verse in English Versions by Irish Poets. Peter van de Kamp, ed. Story Line Press, 1994.