An Aran Reader

by Breandán Ó hEithir (Editor), Ruairí Ó hEithir

The Aran Islands are among the most finely wrought land-masses in the western world. Their antiquity, diversity and cultural richness have made them a source of fascination for writers, romantics, naturalists, linguists, archaeologists, anthropologists and artists, provoking a variety of responses now inscribed upon Ireland’s history and literature. An Aran Reader encompasses folklore, fiction, botany, ethnography and autobiography from a wide variety of writers – from Giraldus Cambrensis to Tim Robinson, James Joyce to Derek Mahon, Liam O’Flaherty to Máirtín Ó Direáin, Lady Gregory to Seamus Heaney.

473 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 1999

About the author

Breandán Ó hEithir was an Irish writer and broadcaster. wrote in both Irish and English, and was highly regarded for the originality and liveliness of his journalism, especially his work in Irish. He was a regular columnist with the journal Comhar and also contributed a weekly column to the Irish Times. He also served as a staff journalist with RTÉ, working on the current affairs programmes Cúrsaí and Féach.

He was born in Galway City, but grew up on Inishmore (one of the Aran Islands), County Galway. His parents were national school teachers and Ó hEithir attended their school in Kilronan. He received his secondary school education at Coláiste Éinde (St Enda's College) in Galway. He attended University College Galway for three years but left without obtaining a degree.

After college, he spent a number of years working as a book manager for Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge. He served as an editor at Sáirséal agus Dill, the Irish language publishing house, and as Irish language editor for the Irish Press from 1957 to 1963 he also wrote a column for Sunday Press.

A biography of him has been written by Liam Mac Con Iomaire.