Gabriel Fitzmaurice Books

The author, Gabriel Fitzmaurice, has deep roots in Moyvane, County Kerry, where he has been a primary school teacher and now serves as principal. With a prolific career spanning over forty books, his works include poetry collections in both English and Irish, as well as children's verse. Fitzmaurice is also known for his translations from Irish and has edited various poetry anthologies. Additionally, he actively engages with the public through radio and television, focusing on education and the arts.

Based on the author's experiences as a teacher, as a parent, and as a big kid himself, these classic rhymes present the really rotten moments that children relish. These are rhymes that children, young and old, will enjoy repeating to themselves and to friends - they're rotten and they're slightly, but nicely, rude. The children love them, their grown-ups pretend to be less amused (but in secret they love them too!)

In his new book of sonnets, Gabriel examines his life in a small community in the south west of Ireland where he has spent all of his life and where he worked as a national school teacher for over thirty years. He examines his life from youth to the present day, as he approaches his sixtieth birthday. He writes about growing up in a village that played Beckett, Thornton Wilder, and Lady Gregory; the Irish language; old age, sickness, and death; as well as new life, parenthood, and grandparenthood; and Irish music, sports, politics, and conflict.

Completed before his A Farewell to Poetry , Poems for the Young and Young at Heart gathers the best of Gabriel Fitzmaurice’s poems dealing with the first five years of his granddaughter’s, Katie Crowley’s, life. It is a joyful celebration of the unique bond between grandparents and their grandchildren. The poems are full of love and humour and will be enjoyed by children, parents and grandparents.Table of ContentsGood Morning, Katie! 13Happy 14Katie is Coming 15Eating Grandad’s Books 16The Terrible Twos 17When I Get Tired of Shopping 18Let’s Pretend 19Grandad’s Best Girl is Growing Up 20Stop Looking at Me! 21Watching TV 22A Little Girl Discusses Her Grandad 23A Little Girl Discusses Her Daddy 24Nanas 25Nana’s Plate 26Nana Knits Me Jumpers 27When Grandad Made a Fart 28Katie and the Dolphin 29Beds are Good for Sleeping In 31Fridge 32A Little Girl Plays with the Figures in the Crib at Christmas 33A Three Year Old Girl Looks Forward to a New Baby 34A Baby Brother for Katie 35Babysitting 36Katie 37About the author 38

Exploring the essence of Kerry, this book delves into the lives of notable writers like John B. Keane and Brendan Kennelly, highlighting the region's rich literary heritage and vibrant singing tradition. It reflects on the significance of Kerry to both locals and visitors, while also examining its modern practices alongside ancient customs. The narrative includes intriguing side trips to meet Bodhran makers and to the Listowel Literary Fair, emphasizing the important role of the poet/teacher within this close-knit community.

Poetry, like prayer, should be strong enough to stand up to the dark, hence this collection is subtitled "Illuminating the Dark." The poems in this book have been collected from a lifetime of writing: they progress from spiritual poverty through the dark night of the senses to the celebration of a soul that has found rest. Along the way, this soul wrestles with a Church it has lost faith in, the decline of religion, and ideas of truth and beauty challenged by the modern world. The lone soul journeys through these poems, eventually finding the grace of a community in prayer. Smitten Soul is a frank account of spiritual struggle in the modern world, one that will appeal to anyone who travels towards the light.