I Am Lewy: Mícheál Ó hAodha & Rita Kelly

Time and date

Tuesday 12 July 2022

1:00 pm

Location

Bantry Library

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I Am Lewy is the first English translation of Eoghan Ó Tuairisc’s 1977 Irish-language novel An Lomnochtán. We are joined by poet Mícheál Ó hAodha who translated the work and by fellow poet Rita Kelly who was married to Ó Tuairisc until his death. Mícheál and Rita will also read a selection of their own Irish-language poetry and will be in conversation with Katie Ní Loingsigh

Admission: Free

Loodeen Winders – Lewy, six years of age – is growing up sharp. It’s the turbulent early 1920s in a market town in the west of Ireland. Free State soldiers patrol in front of the Workhouse. Lewy’s worried about his father’s car being commandeered again. The nuns loom over Lewy and his classmates, amongst them the orphans – those shadowy figures, ‘slobbery and weak and raggy’.

 

Encounters with Violet and ‘Brazenface’ Rosaleen McInally in the woods play on Lewy’s mind, even while he’s trying to fathom the death of his beloved Grandfather. For a treat he goes behind the screen at the Pictures where his father creates the sound effects with his ‘Jazzdrums’ for the Hunchback of Notre Dame. Lewy’s mother works magic on the sewing machine and picks up the pieces when things get out of hand – like the time he breaks his arm walking the wire in their backyard circus.

On the fortieth anniversary of Eoghan Ó Tuairisc’s death, this is the first appearance in English of the frank, funny voice of Lewy, a vital witness of his place and time.

 

Writers

Mícheál Ó hAodha

Is Gaillmheach é Mícheál Ó hAodha a chaith tréimhse fada ag cur faoi i dtuaisceart Shasana. File Gaeilge agus aistritheoir. Leabhair staire scríofa aige, go háirithe mar a bhaineann leis...

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Rita Kelly

Rita Kelly is an award-winning poet and writer in both Irish and English since 1972. Her work has been translated into French, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Galician and German. Some of...

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Katie Ní Loingsigh

Léachtóir le Gaeilge in Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh is ea an Dr Katie Ní Loingsigh. Rugadh agus tógadh i mBaile Mhúirne i nGaeltacht Mhúscraí í. Tá spéis faoi leith aici...

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