Pakistani poet's works translated into Irish

Works from a legendary Pakistani poet have been translated into the Irish language for a new book launched today.

Poetry Ireland said they believed it was the first time poems from a Pakistani poet had been released in Irish.

The work of poet Munir Niazi, who writes in Urdu, was translated by Gabriel Rosenstock for the volume Gaotha ar Fan, or Wandering Winds.

Joe Woods, director of Poetry Ireland, said: “He is a very distinguished Pakistani poet born in 1928.

“We believe it might actually be the first for a Pakistani poet to be translated into Irish.”

Toheed Ahmad, the Ambassador of Pakistan, was present to launch the book in the Royal College of Surgeon’s on St Stephen’s Green in Dublin.

Mr Woods said he believed there would be a market for the book of poems.

“It is an interesting event as it involves the crossing of two cultures,” he said, adding Niazi’s work had already been translated to other languages including Chinese, Russian and Japanese. “It is great to be able to read a contemporary living Pakistani poet in Irish.”