Dáithí Ó hÓgáin

Dáithí Ó hÓgáin was born in Bruff, County Limerick, on 13 June 1949, a son of former jockey Davy Hogan and Mary (née Tyrell).^[1]

He obtained a BA in Modern Languages (Irish, English) History and Philosophy, then an MA in 1971 in Irish at University College Dublin, followed by a PhD in Folklore in 1976. His doctoral thesis at UCD, overseen by Bo Almqvist was later republished as An File (The Poet) in 1983. Its theme was the lore of how poets received the gift of poetry, and the supernatural powers poetry could manifest according to folk tradition. Before obtaining his doctorate, he had an 18-month stint as a radio journalist at Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ).^[1][2]

While at the department,^[which?] he gained acquaintance with three important scholars in the field, Seán Ó Súilleabháin, Caoimhín Ó Danachair and Séamus Ó Duilearga, the founding father of Irish folklore scholarship.^[3] He also served as rector of An Cumann Gaelach while at UCD.^{[citation needed]}

Ó hÓgáin wrote many books, including six poetry collections and one in English, and three short story collections,^[1] eight research books, and numerous research articles on literature, folklore, history and etymology, in scholarly journals and in encyclopaedias. One notable effort was the massive tome, Myth, Legend and Romance - an Encyclopaedia of the Irish Folk Tradition (1990), later reissued under the title The Lore of Ireland: an Encyclopaedia of Myth, Legend and Romance (2006), covering a wide range of folkloric material, from ancient times into the modern.^[4]

He was instrumental in drafting UNESCO's recommendations on the protection of world folklore in 1987, and was co-founder of the European Center for Traditional Culture in Budapest in 1994.^[1][5] He rose from associate professor to professor at the Folklore Department at UCD, but was forced into early retirement in 2009 due to failing health.^[2]

He lectured and read his poetry throughout Ireland and other countries: England, Comre,^[where?] Scotland, France, Monaco, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Estonia, Russia, Hungary and Iceland. He is well known as a radio and television broadcaster,^[2] and has produced four radio dramas.^{[citation needed]}

Poetry

• Cois Camhaoireach (1981). Dublin: Clóchomhar. 64 pp.
• Cóngar na gCrosán (1985). Dublin: Coiscéim. 62 pp.
• Idir an Dá Dhealbh (1988). Dublin: Coiscéim. 63 pp.
• Gadaí an Cheoil (1994). Dublin: Clóchomhar. 88 pp.
• Footsteps From Another World (2001). London: Philome. 171 pp.
• Ár gCogar Ciúin (2002). Dublin: Clóchomhar. 80 pp.

Short stories

• Breacadh (1973). Cork and Dublin: Mercier. 118 pp.
• Imeall an Bhaile (1986). Dublin: Clóchomhar. 103 pp.
• Scéalta Nua (2001). Dublin: Clóchomhar. 90 pp.

• An File (1982). Dublin: Foilseacháin Rialtais. 475 pp. [Staidéar ar chumhachtaí osnádúrtha an fhile agus na filíochta i dtraidisiún na Gaeilge].
• The Hero in Irish Folk History (1985). Dublin: Gill & Macmillan / New York:St Martin's Press. 354 pp.
• Fionn Mac Cumhaill: Images of the Gaelic Hero (1988). Dublin: Gill & Macmillan. 361 pp.
• Myth, Legend and Romance - an Encyclopaedia of the Irish Folk Tradition (1990), London: Ryan Publishing; (1991), Prentice Hall: New York. 453 pp.
• Irish Superstitions (1995). Dublin: Gill & Macmillan, 96 pp.; repr. (2002), 126 pp.
• Celtic Warriors (1999), London: Pegasus, 128 pp.
• The Sacred Isle: belief and religion in pre-Christian Ireland (1999). Cork: Collins Press: / Suffolk: Boydell & Brewer. 259 pp.
• Historic Ireland (2001). London: Salamander / Dublin: Gill & Macmillan. 144 pp.
• The Celts - a History (Collins Press: Cork / Boydell Press: Suffolk, 2002), 297 pp.
• Ireland – People and Places (2003). London: Salamander / Dublin: Gill & Macmillan. 144 pp.