In October we rolled out our Irish Language Author Programme (ILAP) at Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich with different schools from around Belfast.
Our first event was ‘Seo í Rita!’ A celebration of the Rita series of books with author Máire Zepf and illustrator Mr Ando.
With storytelling, live illustration, fun and games, they explored all things Rita – the little girl with big ideas. The Rita series of picture books have won Máire and Mr Ando a loyal fan-base among young Irish speakers around the country, with nine books and an animated TV series on Cúla4.
Our next ILAP schools and public sessions celebrated Sadhbh Devlin’s book ‘An Fia sa Choill’.
She was joined by Máire Zepf, author of ‘An Féileacán agus an Rí’ in fun collaborative sessions exploring the world of Irish mythology and shape-shifters. Sadhbh and Máire shared their infectious passion for the weird and wonderful in Irish myths, encouraging the audience to imagine your own shapeshifting characters and stories.
BBC Radio ulster visited our primary school session of ‘An Fia sa Choill’ and interviewed pupils from Gaelscoil Na Bhfál.
Our final event was at Coláiste Feirste themed around Heartstopper, the popular graphic novel by Alice Oseman!
In this interactive workshop students worked with Eoin McEvoy, the Irish translator of Heartstopper, to learn about the craft of translation. Covering the considerations that need be taken into account when translating youth literature into Irish. They discussed the importance of retaining the underlying meaning and tone of the original and examined the restrictions the speech bubbles in the graphic novel place on the translation. This workshop highlighted the importance of queer representation in Irish literature and media for inclusivity.
“It meant a lot to me that the festival included what was both a queer event and an Irish-language event and I’m very grateful to have made a connection with such a vibrant and important festival.”
Eoin McEvoy
Thank you to Foras na Gaeilge for their support in making the ILAP programme possible. Also thank you to Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich for hosting our events.
