When our friend, Muiris Ó Meara, passed away in the summer of 2014, Siún Ní Dhuinn and I wanted to do something to remember him. With the support of LeabhairCOMHAR, we approached friends and former lecturers of Muiris in UCD, Notre Dame and NUI Galway about a book of essays in his honour. Muiris had a dazzling intellect and was an accomplished writer of poetry, prose and non-fiction. He was also infectiously good fun to be around. We hope this books of essays goes some way to capturing his varying interests, from critical theory to the GAA. We also hope that a book of his own writings might be published in the future.

Muiris’s family attended the launch of Solas ar na Dumhchannaí at Oireachtas na Samhna in Killarney. It was very much a meitheal of his family and friends: Áine Ní Bhreisleáin launched the book, Sineád Ní Uallacháin created a beautiful image for the cover, based on a poem by Muiris and presented it to Máirín, Muiris’s mother.  Tomás Ó Séaghadha, Muiris’s uncle, spoke on behalf of the family, and Lillis Ó Laoire sang ‘Nil sé ‘na Lá’ to close. An Saol ó Dheas covered the launch – you can listen to the podcast here – and Meon Eile did a video and article about the book. Míle buíochas le Seán Ó Mainnín for the images below.

Na húdáir Siún Ní Dhuinn agus Ailbhe N Ghearbhuigh le Áine Ní Bhreisleáin, sa lár, a sheol an leabhar ‘Solas ar na Dumhchannaí’

Lillis Ó Laoire ag canadh “Níl sé ia Lá” i gcuimhne Mhuiris

Clann Mhuiris Uí Mheara leis an leabhar. Ó chlé tá Tomás Ó Séaghdha, uncail; Sorcha, deirfiúr; Maureen agus Thomas O’Meara, tuismitheoirí agus Mary O’ Shea, aintín