Mr Rosenstock (76) was a globally renowned poet and writer, who brought the Irish language to the world’s literary circles. He was a member of Aosdána, the academy of Irish artists who have produced a significant body of work.
His family released a statement saying: “He believed in the power of poetry and in its ability to build bridges between different cultures. He was a prolific and restless soul who published over 400 books.
“He will be greatly missed by all who knew him and who read him. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.”
Mr Rosenstock spoke to the Sunday Independent in March about his cancer diagnosis, saying that although he knew he didn’t have long to live, he wanted to keep writing and going out to meet people.
“Life makes no sense to me until I begin to write about it,” the poet said at that time. “It’s only then that flashes of wit or insights occur to me about what is happening at that moment. And what is happening at that moment will never occur again.”
The poet also said he believed it was “possible to learn something from everything… In my case, I’m learning more of the mystery of life”.
Gabriel Rosenstock
Mr Rosenstock is survived by his wife Eithne and children Tristan, Heilean and Saffron. He had been working on an RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta documentary with his son Tristan before his death.
The documentary features conversations between the writer and his son, a broadcaster and musician. The documentary aired on Monday afternoon.
Former Poetry Ireland director Theo Dorgan told RTÉ his long-term friend was a very spiritual man “slightly withdrawn in himself”, but had a “great life in him”.
Mr Dorgan added that his “poetry wasn’t so much art as the expression of a deep spiritual quest”.
He was regarded as one of the most vital people in Irish-language literature and had started to write a diary to detail his journey during illness.
Mr Rosenstock was born in Kilfinane, Co Limerick, in 1949 and studied at University College Cork, where he was part of the Innti group of poets.
President Catherine Connolly said Mr Rosenstock will be deeply missed.
“May I join with all those who have expressed such sadness on learning of the death of the poet, translator, playwright and writer of so many different forms, Gabriel Rosenstock,” she said.
“Those titles alone could never capture the extent of the contribution which Gabriel made over the course of his life.
“Across an extraordinary career, he made a particularly special contribution to the Irish language, leaving not only a broad body of his own work, but also a remarkably diverse set of translations, through which he brought so many of the great writers of the world to the Irish language.
“His writing has been enjoyed, and will continue to be enjoyed, by people of all ages, while his translations will continue to ensure an engagement between our language and so many of the other cultures of the world.
“In recent weeks, Gabriel has made a further great and moving contribution in sharing his experiences of illness and his contemplations of life and death with the public.
“As President of Ireland, may I express my deepest condolences to Gabriel’s wife Eithne, to his children Tristan, Heilean and Saffron, and remembering his late daughter Eabha, to his extended family and friends, to his colleagues in Aosdána, and to his many readers and admirers around the world.
“Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.”