Caitlín Maude

Caitlín Maude (1941 – 1982) was an Irish writer, actress and traditional singer. She wrote prolifically and diversely in the Irish language, her works taking the form of poetry, song, plays, essays, reviews and parables.

She was born in Casla, County Galway, and reared in the Gaelic language. Her mother was also a school teacher from Casla. Caitlín's father, John Maude, was from Cill Bhriocáin in Ros Muc. Her mother worked as a teacher on a small island off the coast of Ros Muc. Caitlín Maude attended University College Galway. She taught at schools in Counties Kildare, Mayo, and Wicklow.

One of her poetic works is "An Geibheann", which describes an imprisoned animal. This poem is studied in its original Gaelic in some Secondary Schools for the Leaving and Junior Certificate Gaeilge Ardléibheal (Irish Higher Level).

As a member of the Dublin Irish-speaking community she was active in many campaigns, including the establishment of the Irish-medium primary school Scoil Santain in Tallaght, County Dublin.

An accomplished actor, she played the leading role in Máiréad Ní Ghráda's An Triail in 1964 and jointly wrote the drama, Lasair Choille, with Michael Hartnett; she also wrote prose and poetry.

She was a Sean nós singer. She made one album in this genre, "Caitlín" (1975).