Cuairt San Nioclás receives the De Bhaldraithe Award for translation
You might be familiar with ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’, Clement Clarke Moore‘s 200 year old poem, which carries with it all the hush and lore of Christmas Eve.
Moore’s poem has been translated into the Irish language for the first time by Darach Ó Scolaí, and Cuairt San Nioclás (Leabhar Breac) has been awarded the De Bhaldraithe Award for translation at this year’s Oireachtas Publishing Awards ceremony.
Also going by the title ‘A Visit From St. Nicholas’, the poem’s popularity was partly responsible for some of the conceptions of Santa Claus from the mid nineteenth century onwards, and had a significant effect on the tradition of giving gifts at Christmas time. Although debated by scholars, Clement Clarke Moore is credited as the author of the poem which was first published anonymously in 1823.
Translated by Darach Ó Scolaí, this award-winning volume is beautifully illustrated by Jessie Wilcox Smith’s art work from the 1912 edition.
Darach Ó Scolaí said he was delighted to have won the award.
“I’m grateful to all who helped me along the way, to my wife, Anna, to my late and much lamented colleague and friend, Feargal Ó Béarra, and to the poet Pól Breathnach. Although I feel a little guilty about the unseasonal publicity, it’s a great opportunity to reach a wider readership in the coming months.”
