Background to the project 2: the interviews
On June 14th 2016 several people who had a role in the Portraits of Irish-Language Writers project were interviewed with the aim of putting the project story on the record. You can watch the project launch video and listen to the audio recordings of the interviews below.
Sound: Paul O'Connor
Camera/editor: Ronan Doherty
Thanks to: Maurice Earls, Books Upstairs; Honorary Faul, National Library of Ireland; Anna Davitt, Foras na Gaeilge
Launch video
Interviews
Liam Mac Amhlaigh
Dr Liam Mac Amhlaigh, Editor of Portraits of Irish-Language Writers, interviewed by Ursula Ní Choill in the National Library of Ireland.
Liam Mac Amhlaigh gives an overview of Portráidí na Scríbhneoirí Gaeilge / Portraits of Irish-Language Writers and describes various aspects of the work, as well as future plans for the project.
Alan Titley
Alan Titley, writer and Emeritus Professor of Modern Irish, interviewed by Ursula Ní Choill in Books Upstairs, D'Olier St., Dublin.
Alan Titley talks about the significance of the project and gives an insight into Máire Uí Mhaicín's skill as a photographer.
Deirdre Davitt
Deirdre Davitt, Commissioner, Portraits of Irish-Language Writers, interviewed by Liam Mac Amhlaigh in the offices of Foras na Gaeilge, Merrion Square, Dublin.
Deirdre Davitt discusses the origins of the project and how Máire Uí Mhaicín was selected to undertake the task.
Ursula Ní Choill
Ursula Ní Choill, Project Manager, Stage 1, Portraits of Irish-Language Writers, interviewed by Liam Mac Amhlaigh in the National Library of Ireland.
Ursula Ní Choill describes the different stages of work, the project participants, and discusses the art of portraiture.
Ferdie Mac an Fhailigh
Ferdie Mac an Fhailigh, Chief Executive, Foras na Gaeilge, interviewed by Liam Mac Amhlaigh in the offices of Foras na Gaeilge, Merrion Square, Dublin.
Ferdie Mac an Fhailigh describes Foras na Gaeilge's role in the Portraits project and talks about its general approach to promoting writing in Irish.