Tributes are pouring in for popular Irish poet Maurice Scully after he passed away aged 71.
Maurice was born in the capital in 1952 and spent his childhood between Clare, the Ring Gaeltacht, and Dublin.
Mr Scully was a graduate of Trinity College Dublin, where he studied Irish and English Literature.
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Scully, who was elected to Aosdána in 2009 died on Sunday in the village of Boléa, Spain.
In a writing career that began in the early 1970s, he published over a dozen volumes of poetry and took part in conferences and festivals in Ireland, the UK, and the US, where his readings were prized as key interpretations of his complex, engaging work.
His debut collection, Love Poems and Others, was published by Raven Arts Press in 1981.
After many years living in Italy, Greece, Africa and the west of Ireland, Scully settled with his wife and four children in Dublin, where he taught for a time at Dublin City University.
In 1981 he was awarded the Macaulay Fellowship and Arts Council Bursaries in Literature in 1986 & 1988 along with the Katherine & Patrick Kavanagh Fellowship in 2004.
Poetry Ireland shared a statement reflecting on the loss of the Irish literary, the statement said:
“The Board, Director and Staff of Poetry Ireland wish to express their deepest sympathy with the Scully family on the death of Maurice Scully.”
“A gifted and acclaimed poet, his published collections include Love Poems & Others, (Raven Arts Press, 1981), Doing the Same in English (Dedalus Press, 2009), Several Dances (Shearsman Books, 2014), Things That Happen (Shearsman, 2020), Airs (Shearsman Books, 2022) and Game On (hardPressed Poets) with Jordi Valls Pozo in 2019.”
“Regarded as one of the foremost modernists of his generation, his playful, experimental approach to his art was recognised and rewarded by his peers with his election to Aosdána in 2009.”
The Arts Council expressed its sadness at the passing of poet and Aosdána member Maurice.
Chair of the Arts Council Prof. Kevin Rafter said: “The Arts Council is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of renowned poet Maurice Scully.
"His writing displayed tremendous sensitivity and empathy, earning him loyal readers across the world.
"His death is a great loss to Irish literature.”
On hearing the news several members of the public took to Twitter to offer their condolences.
One wrote: “Really saddened to hear of the death of Maurice Scully. A fantastic poet and a lovely person.”
A second said: “We were blessed to know Maurice Scully, and to have his beautiful art. My heart is with his family. RIP.”
While a third wrote: “Sad to hear that Maurice Scully is no longer with us. RIP”
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