In Other Words - Irish Literature in Translation in Your Library

Dublin City Public Libraries and Ireland Literature presented a series of talks and readings, 'In Other Words . . .Irish Literature in Translation in Your Library' in the Central Library in November 2010.

Right: John Boyne, Hugo Hamilton, Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin

Margaret Hayes, Dublin City Librarian says:

This initiative, organised by Ireland Literature Exchange and Dublin’s Central Library, offers an opportunity to showcase the impressive range of Ireland’s literature in translation. It is particularly apt in the year that Dublin achieved recognition as a UNESCO City of Literature that members of the public can meet with some of the writers who made this designation possible.

Readings/Talks

John Boyne gained worldwide recognition for his fourth novel, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, published in 2006 and adapted for cinema in 2008. The book won the Irish Children’s Book Award in 2007 as well as the Bisto Children’s Book of the Year Award. Several of his children’s stories have been televised or adapted for radio. John Boyne’s most recent novel for adults, The House of Special Purpose, was published last year and his new novel for young readers, Noah Barleywater Runs Away, was published just last month. With the support of Ireland Literature Exchange, John’s works have been published in Slovenian, Hungarian, Russian, Bulgarian, Lithuanian and Finnish.

This talk was recorded at the Central Library on 10 November 2010.

John Boyne talk transcript.

Hugo Hamilton is a writer of German-Irish descent and a member of Aosdána. He is the winner of the prestigious Rooney Prize for Irish Literature. Hamilton’s memoirs, The Speckled People (2003) and The Sailor in the Wardrobe (2006), have become bestsellers and have fascinated readers all over the world. The Speckled People won the prestigious Prix Femina Étranger in France, as well as the Berto prize in Italy and has been translated into 15 languages to date.  His latest novel, Hand in the Fire, was published this year by Fourth Estate. Hugo’s works have been translated into Dutch, French, Italian, German, Romanian, Bulgarian, Catalan, Greek, Serbian, Norwegian and Danish.

This talk was recorded at the Central Library on 17 November 2010.

Hugo Hamilton talk transcript

Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin

Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin is a writer, musician, editor and publisher based in An Spidéal, in the Conamara Gaeltacht. He has worked in television in Ireland for twenty five years, as scriptwriter, presenter and producer. His work has been recognised by a number of Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) Awards, for projects including the RTÉ arts series Cúrsaí Ealaíne, which he presented for five years. The TG4 teen comedy drama series Aifric, which he created and wrote, has won three IFTA awards for best young people’s programme, in 2007, 2008 and 2009. Aifric also won the Young People’s award at the Celtic Film and Television Festival, 2008. Tadhg’s publishing company, Futa Fata, produces high-quality books for the Irish market, working in co-operation with publishing partners in Belgium, Spain, France, Switzerland, the UK and the US.

This talk was recorded at the Central Library on 24 November 2010.

Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin talk transcript

Dublin City Public Libraries Rosetta Collection

The Rosetta Collection gathers a selection of contemporary Irish writing translated into thirty languages. It includes important donations to Dublin City Public Libraries by Ireland Literature Exchange. It features household names and lesser known lights alike, and makes Irish writing available to a world audience in Dublin.
Housed in the Central Library’s World Books collection, it is available to readers in all Dublin City Public Library branches and throughout the country. View the Rosetta Collection in our catalogue.

You can subscribe to the Dublin City Libraries and Archives podcast on Soundcloud, iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.