Valentin Iremonger

Background

He was born in Dublin and joined the diplomatic service.

Career

He served as Irish Ambassador to Sweden, Norway, Finland, India, Luxembourg and Portugal. His poetry collections include One Recent Evening (1944, with Robert Greacen and Bruce Williamson), On the Barricades (1944, with Robert Greacen and Bruce Williamson) Reservations (1950), Horan"s Field and Other Reservations (1972), and Sandymount (1988). He was poetry editor of the literary magazine Envoy from 1949 to 1951.

He also produced translations from the Irish language, including Dialann Deoraí by Dónall Mac Amhlaigh, (An Irish Navvy,1964).

And Rotha Mór an tSaoil by Micí Mac Gabhann (The Hard Road to Klondike, 1973), and a translation of the German poet Rilke (Beatha Mhuire /sraith dhánta Ghearmáinise le Rainer Maria Rilke, 1990). A radio play, Wrap Up My Green Jacket was broadcast by the British Broadcasting Corporation. He edited, with Robert Greacen, Contemporary Irish Poetry (1949).

And Irish Short Stories (1960).

Achievements

• In 1945 he won the Æ Memorial Prize for a manuscript collection of poems.