When the Department's last inspector goes in search of th last two native Irish speakers questions are raised that come a bit too close to the bone.
“Ó Scolaí is relentless in his outspoken observances and criticisms of language policies.... This is a satirical comedy about language, lies, bureaucracy, and Gaeltacht grants that cleverly uses language as the context of the dramatic conflict.” —Norma-Jean Kenny, The Galway Advertizer
Liz is twenty seven years old and has been quite successful in life. She has a good husband, a son and a daughter, and they live in a comfortable house by the river in a coastal town not far from the city. Yet, she is bored, or thinks she is. A sparingly written account of the two years spent by three young people together, from the arrival of the stranger to the parting of companions. In the words of the female narrator, 'Maurice was prudent. Add to that my romantic view, and George's tragic view, and you have three sides of our small triangle'.
Combining the taut action-pacing of a thriller and the reflective depth of the literary novel, Darach Ó Scolaí has written a book to follow in the heels of his prize?winning best?seller An Cléireach. In this heady paranoic thriller set in a contemporary world of postmodernist conspiracies and cults, we meet Joe, a man trained in servility, as he sets off to serve 'better masters'. Following in his footsteps we set from Dublin to Paris to Istanbul as Joe rushes headlong towards his destiny.
In Boston, New England, an Irish woman was convicted of witchcraft and sentenced to death by hanging on the 16th November 1688. She comes to us from history under the name ‘Goody Glover’, a slave name. The only language she spoke in court was Irish, and it is from her trial that we find the first record of the Irish language in North America. An Bhean Feasa imagines the life and circumstances of this woman from Boston, to Barbados to Ireland. The novel is presented in through the medium of poetry, the first of its kind in Irish.
L'Attaque is a classic Irish language book and recounts the part played by a small group of United Irishmen from County Leitrim in the military revolt which was sparked by the landing of French General Humbert in Killala, County Mayo, in 1798.
An historical novel set in the last fort held by the Gaeil in Ulster. In 1651, Eoghan Rua Ó Néill is dead and Cromwell's army has swept the country. In Ulster, a small band of Gaeil under Féilim Ó Néill stand alone. They fortify Mountcharles Fort against the English. Before long they are surrounded by the English and their artillery is trained against the Gaelic garrison.
A ceasefire was announced between the Confederation of Kilkenny and Charles I in 1644. An Irish brigade sailed across the sea to Scotland to take part in the fight against the Covenenters. Annraoi Ó Liatháin tells the vivid tale of an Irish invasion of Scotland in the seventeenth century – blood, guts and intrigue!
What are the best novels, most important novels or most central novels in Irish? What are the Irish-language novels that ought to be in the public eye and on the cultural platform? What are the major novels that we should read, should study in universities? What is the literary canon of Irish novels in the 20th century? What are the major classics in the Irish literary canon? What is the value of any literary canon? A seminar which was held in Dublin in 2015 discussed this topic and examined these questions. Sixteen novels were chosen to represent the Irish-language literary canon and this book contains a selection of the discussions.
THE SECOND BOOK IN THE 'LÚCÁS Ó BRIAIN' SERIES (An Litir). The Atlantic port of Galway 1612, Lucás, a young student and a gifted swordsman, is entrusted by a shady Jesuit priest with an important letter to be delivered into the hands of Aodh Mór Ó Néill, Earl of Tyrone (leader of the Irish chieftains in Rome seeking the help of Philip of Spain to retake Ireland from the English). Lúcás's mission will take him on a perilous journey across Europe. Following hot on his heels, in the narrow streets of the city, is the enemy's most devious and brutal spy - with orders to stop him, at all costs.
When Fionn mac Cumhaill and Diorraing go astray in the dark woods, they find themselves in the house of their enemy, thus beginning a night of storytelling that lasts to this very day, and a story culminating in a wedding feast arson and murder on the banks of Lough Derg.
Shortlisted for the IRISH BOOK AWARDS
One of the greatest epics ever written, now available in Modern Irish This is the story of Cú Chulainn, the Hound of Ulster, and of how he stood his ground, along with his charioteer Lao, against the great host of Ailill and Maeve. Here, we read of his youth, of how he got his name, of his single combat with Ferdia, and of the deadly quarrel between Ailill and Maeve which led to the taking of the Brown Bull of Cooley. Táin Bó Cuailnge was written in the 11th Century and was translated into Modern Irish by Darach Ó Scolaí.
The final book in the Lúcás Ó Briain trilogy (An Litir). The Atlantic port of Galway 1612, Lucás, a young student and a gifted swordsman, is entrusted by a shady Jesuit priest with an important letter to be delivered into the hands of Aodh Mór Ó Néill, Earl of Tyrone (leader of the Irish chieftains in Rome seeking the help of Philip of Spain to retake Ireland from the English). Lúcás's mission will take him on a perilous journey across Europe. Following hot on his heels, in the narrow streets of the city, is the enemy's most devious and brutal spy - with orders to stop him, at all costs.
