Last updated by tymon on 2014-11-21. Originally submitted by tomash on 2010-05-19.
IFA STAFF MEMBER RECEIVES INTERNATIONAL AWARD
On the 8th May 2010 at the Lucian Blaga International Literary Festival in Alba Iulia, Romania, Diarmuid Johnson, currently Visiting Professor of Celtic Languages and Literature at IFA, UAM, Poznań, Poland, was presented with an award in recognition of the excellence of his contribution to the promotion of Romanian culture abroad.
Together with Tomasz Klimkowski (IFRom, UAM Poznań) and Emilia Ivancu (IFRom, UAM Poznań and Univ. Of Alba Iulia Romania), Diarmuid Johnson is co-founder of Arados, a society for the appreciation of poetry and music from Celtic, Slavic and Romance cultures.
The prestigious award was made in recognition of the work and objectives of Arados, and in appreciation of the book The Birth of Trystan and Other Poems which was launched during the festival. The Birth of Trystan and Other Poems includes original poems in English, Irish and Welsh by the recipient of the award, with translations of the texts and eight original poems in Romanian by Emilia Ivancu.
Speaking in Alba Iulia at the festival, Diarmuid Johnson said: ‘Like the cultures of the Celtic countries, Romanian culture is one of the riches Europe deserves to rediscover. Thanks to the enthusiasm of it members and partners – The Lucian Blaga Library Alba Iulia and Alba County Council – Arados now hopes to further this work of heightening international awareness of artists and writers like Lucian Blaga, and above all of the humanist values which inspired their lives.’
He added: ‘I would like to thank my wife Amanda Reid MSc, Prof. Katarzyna Dziubalska-Kołaczyk (IFA, UAM), and Mgr. Michał Jankowski (IFA, UAM) for supporting me in my work in Poland, as well as the staff of Dom Bretanii, Poznań, in whose library much work was done on The Birth of Trystan, all the staff of the Department of Celtic Languages and Literatures (IFA, UAM) and, for his part in the advent of Arados, Maoilios Caimbeul (Skye, Scotland).’
The Birth of Trystan is published by Reintregirea, Alba Iulia.
For further information, please contact lacunaj@tiscali.co.uk .
