Michael Mullen
Photographer: Máire Uí Mhaicín
Usage rights: Foras na Gaeilge
Date: 19 June 2013
Setting: Castlebar, Co. Mayo
Genres: Childrens' author
Is úrscéalaí, staraí agus scríbhneoir don aos óg as Co. Mhaigh Eo é Michael Mullen. Tá cáil idirnáisiúnta bainte amach aige ar a chuid scéalaíochta a foilsíodh in Éirinn agus thar sáile. Tá scéalta staire agus miotaseolaíochta scríofa aige do dhaoine fásta agus do pháistí. Tá neart ceardlann scríbhneoireachta tugtha aige agus bhíodh sé le feiscint ar an teilifís go minic. I measc na scéalta do pháistí a scríobh sé, tá Glór na Mara (Coiscéim, 1991), scéal faoi chlann ar imirce i Sasana; An tOileán Órga (Coiscéim, 1994), scéal bleachtaireachta lonnaithe i Londain agus ar thaobh locha i nGaillimh; Na Saoithe Anoir (Coiscéim, 1993), scéal na Nollag i nGaeilge shimplí; Scáth na nAingeal (Coiscéim, 1997), scéal beathaisnéise an ealaíontóra Michaelangelo; agus An Bóthar Fada (Coiscéim, 2000), drumadóir óg ag triall ar Mhoscó le harm Napoleon.
Michael Mullen is a novelist, children's writer, historian, historical writer, and playwright from Co. Mayo. He has gained an international reputation with novels published both at home and abroad, written historical and mythological works for children and adults, given innumerable workshops, conventions, and has often appeared on television. He has to his credit numerous short stories, articles and radio plays written both in Irish and in English. These include stories for children The Flight of the Earls (Poolbeg, 1991, 1992), based on the diary of the O'Neills, the work of Pádraic de Barra and the late Cardinal Ó Fiach (Imeacht na nIarlaí); The Four Masters (Poolbeg, 1992), the alternative history of Ireland, the manner in which the manuscript was written, the clerical and secular scribes involved in the work on the pleasant banks of the Drowes River. Among his books for adults is The Festival of Fools (Wolfhound, 1984), based on the Aran Islands and the Blasket Islands, the bed of poets and their wonderful visions and philosophies. He believes that everyone has a story to tell, dull or bright though it may be.
