Is mór an brón ar Aosdána bás an fhile, an scríbhneora agus an chomhalta cháiliúil Gabriel Rosenstock.
Le linn a ghairmréime fada éachtaí, bhí Rosenstock ar dhuine de na pearsana ba thábhachtaí i litríocht na Gaeilge. Scríobh sé formhór a shaothair i nGaeilge – filíocht agus prós do pháistí, drámaí, úrscéalta, aistí agus gearrscéalta san áireamh.
Rugadh i gCill Fhíonáin, Contae Luimnigh, sa bhliain 1949 é agus d’fhreastail sé ar Choláiste na hOllscoile, Corcaigh, áit a raibh sé páirteach sa ghrúpa filí Innti. Bhí an grúpa chun tosaigh sa ghluaiseacht liteartha ina raibh filí ag scríobh litríocht nua-aimseartha i nGaeilge, agus bhí baint acu freisin leis an iris liteartha Innti. Bhí Rosenstock ar dhuine de bhunaitheoirí na hirise sin.
Bhí sé ag obair mar Ghinealeolaí le Celtic Studies. Le linn a ghairmréime éachtaí, scríobh nó d’aistrigh Gabriel breis agus 180 leabhar, a bhformhór i nGaeilge. Ba fhile, saineolaí tanka, drámadóir, saineolaí haiku, úrscéalaí agus aisteoir é. Thar ceann na Comhairle Ealaíon, déanaim comhbhrón ó chroí lena theaghlach, lena chairde, le comhaltaí Aosdána, agus leo siúd go léir ar spreag a chuid oibre iad. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
Dúirt Maura McGrath, Cathaoirleach na Comhairle Ealaíon:
“Is scéal fíorbhrónach do litríocht na Gaeilge é bás Gabriel Rosenstock. Is suntasach an méid a rinne sé don nGaeilge, agus d’fhág sé saothar ollmhór ina dhiaidh a spreagfaidh na glúnta amach anseo. Le linn a ghairmréime éachtaí, scríobh nó d’aistrigh Gabriel breis agus 180 leabhar, a bhformhór i nGaeilge. Ba fhile, saineolaí tanka, drámadóir, saineolaí haiku, úrscéalaí agus aisteoir é. Thar ceann na Comhairle Ealaíon, déanaim comhbhrón ó chroí lena theaghlach, lena chairde, le comhaltaí Aosdána, agus leo siúd go léir ar spreag a chuid oibre iad. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.”
Dúirt Peter Sirr, comhalta de chuid Thoscaireacht Aosdána:
“Ba mhór an brón ar Aosdána a chloisteáil faoi bhás Gabriel Rosenstock. Bhí Gabriel ar dhuine de na filí ba nuálaí agus ba bheoga sa Ghaeilge, agus bhí cuardach spioradálta domhain le sonrú ina chuid filíochta i gcónaí. Ba úrscéalaí, aisteoir agus aistritheoir é freisin, agus réimse leathan spéiseanna aige. Le blianta beaga anuas, d’aistrigh sé amhráin le Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, Kate Bush, Jonie Mitchell, Van Morrison, The Pogues agus Leonard Cohen don fhéile IMRAM. Rinne sé leaganacha Gaeilge de shárshaothair ar nós The Gruffalo, chomh maith le hathinsintí ar scéalta Indiacha ársa agus meánaoiseacha.
Sa bhliain 1970, in éineacht le Michael Davitt, Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill agus Liam Ó Muirthile, bhunaigh sé iris shuntasach a ghlúine, an iris Innti, a raibh an-tionchar aici. Bhí sé thar a bheith bisiúil, agus breis agus 200 leabhar curtha i gcló aige; áiríodh lena shaothar filíocht do pháistí agus an iliomad bailiúchán haiku, seánra a chleacht sé go díograiseach.
Chuir sé tús le dialann chun a thinneas deiridh a thaifeadadh, agus craoladh clár faisnéise bunaithe ar chomhráite idir é féin agus a mhac Tristan – craoltóir agus ceoltóir – ar RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.
Cuireann Aosdána a gcomhbhrón ó chroí in iúl do bhean chéile Gabriel, Eithne, agus dá theaghlach, dá chairde, dá chomhghleacaithe, dá léitheoirí agus do gach duine a mhothaigh cumhacht a spioraid agus a fhocail.
Suaimhneas síoraí dá anam.”
Aosdána expresses its condolences on the death of poet and writer Gabriel Rosenstock (1949 – 2026)
Aosdána is saddened by the passing of the renowned poet, writer and member Gabriel Rosenstock.
During his long and illustrious career, Rosenstock was one of the most important figures in Irish literature. He wrote most of his works in Irish, including poetry and prose for children, plays, novels, essays and short stories.
He was born in Kilfinane, County Limerick, in 1949 and attended University College Cork, where he was involved with the Innti group of poets. The group was at the forefront of the literary movement in which poets wrote modern literature in Irish, and they were also involved with the literary magazine Innti. Rosenstock was one of the founders of that magazine.
He was a Genealogist with Celtic. During his illustrious career, Gabriel wrote or translated over 180 books, most of them in Irish. He was a poet, tankaist, playwright, haikuist, novelist and essayist. On behalf of the Arts Council, I extend my deepest condolences to his family, friends, all members of Aosdána and all those who were inspired by his work. May his soul rest in peace.
Maura McGrath, Chair of the Arts Council said:
“The sad death of Gabriel Rosenstock is truly sad news for Irish literature. His contribution to the Irish language is remarkable, and he has left behind a vast body of work that will inspire generations to come. During his illustrious career, Gabriel wrote or translated over 180 books, most of them in Irish. He was a poet, tankaist, playwright, haikuist, novelist and essayist. On behalf of the Arts Council, I offer my heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, all members of Aosdána and all those who were inspired by his work. May his soul rest in peace.”
Peter Sirr, member of the Toscaireacht of Aosdána said:
“Aosdána was saddened to learn of the passing of Gabriel Rosenstock. Gabriel was one of the most inventive and enlivening poets in the Irish language, and his poetry has always been infused with a profound spiritual questing. He was also a novelist, essayist and translator with a wide range of interests. In recent years he translated songs by Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, Kate Bush, Jonie Mitchell, Van Morrison, The Pogues and Leonard Cohen for the IMRAM festival. He also produced Irish versions of such classics as The Gruffalo and retellings of ancient and medieval Indian tales.
In 1970, along with Michael Davitt, Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill, and Liam Ó Muirthile he founded the signature journal of his generation, the influential Innti magazine. He was astonishingly prolific, with over 200 books to his name, work which included poetry for children, and numerous collections of haiku, of which he was a devoted practitioner.
He began writing a diary to chronicle his final illness and a documentary based on the conversations between him and his son Tristan – who is a broadcaster and musician – aired on RTÉ Radió na Gaeltachta.
Aosdána extends its deepest condolences to Gabriel’s wife, Eithne and family, his friends, colleagues, readers and everyone who felt the power of his spirit and his words.
Suaimhneas síoraí dá anam.”