Meirion Pennar
{{Short description|British writer and academic (1944–2010)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2012}}
Dr Meirion Pennar (24 December 1944 – 9 December 2010) was a Welsh poet and academic, who translated two works of Welsh language literature.
Early life
Career
Pennar became a lecturer in Welsh in Dublin, and was then appointed lecturer in the Welsh Department, University of Wales, Lampeter from 1975. It was here that he specialised in medieval Welsh poetry and the Welsh novel in the 19th century, completing his translations of Book of Taliesin poems and The Black Book of Carmarthen,{{cite book|author=Meirion Pennar|title=The Black Book of Carmarthen|publisher=Llanerch Press|date=August 1989|isbn=0-947992-31-6}} both of which remain in print. He also published two volumes of poetry, Syndod y Sêr and Pair Dadeni, and two long poems, Saga and Y Gadwyn. He resigned his position at Lampeter in 1993.
A language and political campaigner in the 1970s with the Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg (Welsh Language Society), he became a political columnist with Y Ddraig Goch, and was a parliamentary candidate for Plaid Cymru in the Swansea West constituency.
Personal life
Meirion Pennar lived in Llandysul, Adpar, and Newcastle Emlyn, during which period he had a son. He returned in 2000 to Swansea to care for his ageing mother and younger brother, Geraint. He died in Swansea on 9 December 2010.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-12023968|title=Poet and Welsh works translator Meirion Pennar dies|publisher=BBC News|date= 17 December 2010|accessdate=19 December 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2010/12/18/academic-and-poet-meirion-pennar-dies-at-65-91466-27846677/|title=Academic and poet Meirion Pennar dies at 65|author=Steve Dube|work=Western Mail|date= 18 December 2010|accessdate=19 December 2010}}
Publications
- {{cite book|title=Syndod y sêr|publisher=Llyfrau'r Dryw|date=March 1971|isbn=0-85339-112-2}}
- {{cite book|title=Pair Dadeni|publisher=Llanerch Press|date=March 1978|isbn=0-85088-458-6}}
- {{cite book|title=Poems by Taliesin|publisher=Llanerch Press|date=December 1988|isbn=0-947992-24-3}}
- {{cite book|title=The Black Book of Carmarthen|publisher=Llanerch Press|date=August 1989|isbn=0-947992-31-6}}
- {{cite book|title=Peredur: Arthurian Romance from the Mabinogion|publisher=Llanerch Press|date=February 1991|isbn=0-947992-54-5}}
- {{cite book|others=Nicholas Parry (illus.)|title=The Battle of the Trees: Cad Goddeu|publisher=Tern Press|year=1992|asin=B001OOX9EU}}
References
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Category:Alumni of Swansea University
Category:Alumni of Jesus College, Oxford
Category:Academics of the University of Wales, Lampeter
Category:Plaid Cymru parliamentary candidates
Category:20th-century Welsh poets
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