Darach Ó Scolaí



Darach Ó Scolaí is an Irish novelist, playwright, publisher, and artist living in the County Galway Gaeltacht of Connemara. He was awarded the Oireachtas Prize for Literature in 2007 for his novel, An Cléireach.

Writing
His 2007 novel An Cléireach (The Clerk) (ISBN 978-1-898332-29-9, pbk ISBN 1-898332-29-0), won the 2007 Oireachtas Prize for Literature, and was published by Leabhar Breac, Inverin. As well as another novel and a number of modern retellings of old Irish tales, he has written and illustrated a number of children's books.

Stage and screen plays
Two of the author's plays have been produced for the stage, Coinneáil Orainn and An Braon Aníos, and two short screenplays have been filmed, Cosa Nite and An Leabhar. Coinneáil Orainn won the Walter Macken Prize in 2005 and a BBC Stewart Parker Award in 2006. Both Coinneáil Orainn and An Braon Aníos have been published, as well as a prose edition of Cosa Nite. Along with Ciarán Ó Cofaigh he founded the film and television production company Rosg, and was co-director of the company until 2005. In 2006 he founded the stage production company Salamandar, and directed his own play An Braon Aníos.

Publishing
In 1995 he co-founded the publishing house Leabhar Breac at Inverin (Indreabhán, Co. na Gaillimhe) with his brother, the typographer and designer Caomhán Ó Scolaí. Amongst other titles Leabhar Breac published the 2006 Gradam Uí Shúilleabháin award-winning novel Fontenoy by Liam Mac Cóil, and Seán Mac Mathúna's 2007 novel, Hula Hul.

Art symposium
In Inis Oirr, along with Val Ballance he co-founded the annual artists' symposium Ealaín ar Oileán, which he now directs. The symposium has been held annually in Áras Éanna, Inis Oírr, since 2004.

Published work
Súil an Daill, (a novel) Leabhar Breac 2021. Na Comharthaí, (a novel) Leabhar Breac 2014

Oileán an Órchiste (a translation of Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson), Leabhar Breac 2000

An Cléireach, (a novel) Leabhar Breac 2007

An Braon Aníos, (a play) Leabhar Breac 2007

Coinneáil Orainn, (a play) Leabhar Breac 2005

An Ceithearnach Caolriabhach (an illustrated retelling of a 15th-century tale), Leabhar Breac 2000

Feis Tigh Chonáin (a retelling of a 16th-century tale), Leabhar Breac 1998

Staged work

 * 2009: An tSeanbhróg, Salamandar 2009
 * 2008: Craos, Salamandar 2008
 * 2006: An Braon Aníos, Salamandar 2006
 * 2005: Labhraí Loingseach, Fíbín
 * 2005: Coinneáil Orainn, An Taibhdhearc

Filmed work

 * 2010: Na Cloigne, dir. Robert Quinn, prod. Ciarán Ó Cofaigh, Rosg
 * 2001: An Leabhar, dir. Robert Quinn, prod. Ciarán Ó Cofaigh, Rosg
 * 1999: Cosa Nite, dir. Dearbhla Walsh, prod. Ciarán Ó Cofaigh, Rosg

Documentary work for television

 * 1999Na Glúnta, co-directors Ciarán Ó Cofaigh & Darach Ó Scolaí, prod. Ciarán Ó Cofaigh, Rosg