Michael Davitt (poet)

Poetry

Although Davitt wrote in Irish, it was not his first language. A successor to Seán Ó Ríordáin, whose first language was also English, his work was considered avant-garde with urban and rural tones in combination, and an expression of "...a belief in language as the locus of personal and ... national and international self-definition." The importance of location in which the real and imaginary worlds are part of one another is another major theme of his work.

Analytic and intellectual, Davitt's poetry is infused with a self-awareness of his choice of language, and incorporates some English words, which seem to act as a challenge to the poet to validate the use of Irish in any topic, breaking those ties to traditional forms which might limit his "contemporary imagination." The confrontation of traditional Irish culture and modern English culture is a core theme in many of his works. As he put it, "What is important is to continue believing in the Irish language as a vibrant creative power while it continues to be marginalised in the process of cultural McDonaldisation..."

Described as an "impresario" for Irish language poetry, in 1970 Davitt founded the journal Innti.

Production and direction work

Davitt worked for Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ) as a presenter from 1985–1988, and subsequently as a producer and director through the 1990s. His production credits include the television documentaries Joe Heaney: Sing the Dark Away (1996) and John Montague: Rough Fields. He took early retirement to devote himself to writing, travelling between Ireland and France with partner Moira Sweeney.

Recognition and death

In 1994, Davitt was awarded the Butler Prize by the Irish American Cultural Institute.

In 2005, Davitt died unexpectedly in Sligo, Ireland, survived by one son and two daughters.