Micheál Ó Conghaile – författare

Winner of the Irish-language book of the Year award, 2013. This is a book for anyone who would like to gain a wider understanding of traditional Irish singing. It contains over 400 traditional Irish sean-nós songs gathered from all over the country. Each song is accompanied by comprehensive background notes on the origins of the songs, the composers, the myriad ways that the songs radiated into the tradition and notes on the people who sing the songs today.Leabhar Mór na nAmhrán contains both well-known songs and less well-known songs. There are big songs and small songs, long and short songs, fast and short songs and new and old songs.''These are the songs that, at times, kept the people alive. Songs that gave comfort, solace, courage, pleasure and hope when times were hard. They were songs to raise the spirit and the people held them to their hearts. These songs are as compelling today as they were in times gone by.''-Micheál Ó Conghaile

"Before God created the first world, neither this world nor any other world existed..."

But He didn''t create the world found in the pages of this book, or if He did may some other god help us!

Mankind emerges groggily, blinking into existence in these stories, innocent as a child. These stories are a madcap swirling frenzy in which God is a trickster and his favourite target is his new creation. Why? Is it anger, malice or just pure spite? Who can say?

These are stories reminiscent of biblical tales and we will recognise many of the characters; the likes of Lazarus and Judas Iscariot make an appearance. Other characters populating the stories might be plucked from folklore or mythology or the Orient.

Likewise, the worlds of magic and realism are merged as Ó Conghaile returns to his familiar stomping ground in this collection that will entice and delight deists, theists, atheists and agnostics alike. """Sular chruthaigh Dia an chéad domhan ní raibh an domhan seo ná aon domhan eile ann..."" Ach ní hé an domhan seo é, nó más é, go bhfóire Dia eicínt eile orainn. Scéalta buile, scéalta mire iad seo ina n-imríonn Dia cleasanna den uile chineál ar chine daonna nach bhfuil ach díreach tagtha ar an saol. Ach más le teann oilc nó mailíse nó spite eicínt é, is iad an cine daonna a bhíonn thíos leis.

Scéalta iad seo a bhfuil blas an Bhíobla ar chuid acu agus a bhfuil aithne againn ar chuid de na carachtair cheana féin, leithéidí Lazarus agus Iúdás Iscariot. Carachtair eile, shílfeá gur ón mbéaloideas nó ón miotaseolaíocht nó ón Domhan Thoir féin a tháinig siad: ainmhithe a bhfuil bua na cainte acu agus daoine a bhfuil ainmhithe mar thuismitheoir nó mar chéile acu.

Sa chnuasach seo tá an meascán den draíocht agus den réaltacht is dual don Chonghaileach go rábach tríd síos. Scéalta iad seo a mbainfidh ilchreidmhigh, ainchreidmhigh agus neamhchreidmhigh araon tairbhe agus sásamh astu."

(An Irish-language title) The short story has flourished as a literary form in Ireland, not least amongst Irish-language writers. This lively anthology will be enjoyed by all and will be cherished by those with an interest in Irish literature, those in the field of Irish Studies and those with an interest in Translation Studies. It is a good illustration of the vibrancy of Irish-language writing today and demonstrates, in Declan Kiberd’s words, ‘that the example of Kafka has been as fully assimilated as that of Leabhar Sheain Ui Chonaill.’

If you''re not strong then you''d better be clever, so says the proverb, and in these stories, retellings of tales from Eastern folklore, the underdog always wins the day.

(An Irish-language title) Powerful, artistic, articulate writing, apt and effective in exploring the type of material in question … if good short story writing was lagging in recent times this should awaken a crowd from their slumber! — Books Ireland A new world is created here by Micheal O Conghaile, a world which didn''t and will never exist – but a world which is, nevertheless, uncannily familiar . . . stress, worry, irrationality and wit abound. Self identity and man''s raison d''être explored.

(An Irish-language title) The short story has flourished as a literary form in Ireland, not least amongst Irish-language writers. This lively anthology will be enjoyed by all and will be cherished by those with an interest in Irish literature, those in the field of Irish Studies and those with an interest in Translation Studies. It is a good illustration of the vibrancy of Irish-language writing today and demonstrates, in Declan Kiberd’s words, ‘that the example of Kafka has been as fully assimilated as that of Leabhar Sheain Ui Chonaill.’

Micheál Ó Conghaile is one of the foremost exponents of the short story in Irish, and if he is best known for fantastical postmodern, non-realist stories chronicling incredible events, unlikely happenings and bizarre acts, he is also adept at classical realism, and these touching and tender stories, contrast with the verbal energy and black humour of his non-realist work. The dazzling colours of this collection laugh aloud and shout to us to join them in their riotous travels and call on us to reflect on moments of profound loss, serious challenges and deep fears.

If there is a recurring motif in these stories, diverse in terms of themes, style and tone, it is the recurring chorus that living rather than life is sacred. This book celebrates the profusion of all the colours of man and all the shades, hues and tones of the spectrum contained within man and humankind.

This collection, encompassing seventeen stories from a twenty-six year period of writing, demonstrates not only a variety of styles, both literary and linguistic, but a deftness of style that characterises Ó Conghaile''s writing and marks him among the most accomplished and distinctive short story writers of his generation.

Illustrations by Brian Bourke.

Cover artwork by Nguyen Hu''ng Trinh

Micheál Ó Conghaile is one of the foremost exponents of the short story in Irish, and if he is best known for fantastical postmodern, non-realist stories chronicling incredible events, unlikely happenings and bizarre acts, he is also adept at classical realism, and these touching and tender stories, contrast with the verbal energy and black humour of his non-realist work. The dazzling colours of this collection laugh aloud and shout to us to join them in their riotous travels and call on us to reflect on moments of profound loss, serious challenges and deep fears.

If there is a recurring motif in these stories, diverse in terms of themes, style and tone, it is the recurring chorus that living rather than life is sacred. This book celebrates the profusion of all the colours of man and all the shades, hues and tones of the spectrum contained within man and humankind.

This collection, encompassing seventeen stories from a twenty-six year period of writing, demonstrates not only a variety of styles, both literary and linguistic, but a deftness of style that characterises Ó Conghaile''s writing and marks him among the most accomplished and distinctive short story writers of his generation.

Illustrations by Brian Bourke.

Cover artwork by Nguyen Hu''ng Trinh

If you''re not strong then you''d better be clever, so says the proverb, and in these stories, retellings of tales from Eastern folklore, the underdog always wins the day.

A novella in which the dividing line between reality and dreams becomes blurred when an old man falls in love with a young girl.

Scéal duine atá anseo; scéal guairneánach a bhainfeas suaitheadh asat. Aistear atá ann, aistear buachalla bháin a théann i gceann an tsaoil agus a imíonn le haer an bhaile mhóir. Cuntas é ar theacht in inmhe; ar fhéincheistiú, ar fhionnachtain, agus ar athnuachan; ar ghrá agus ar ghníomh in am an bhearrtha agus in aois na céille. Beatha dhuine a thoil. Toil an té seo a bheatha . . . sna fir.

A whirlwind account of the journey of a Connemara student, young, gay and determined in his quest for happiness and peace of mind; an ever-returning journey from the comfort and security of his family home to the blissful danger of the city.

Re-telling of folk tales from the Far-East, from lands far far away, full of kings and queens, princes and princesses, good people and bad people, lazybones, simpletons, drunks, beggars, soldiers, spirits, angels and even the devil himself.

Readers young and old will enjoy this rollicking collection of short tales.

This imaginative collection of short stories brings the reader on a riotous journey into a surreal world. It sweeps us along in a whirlwind through stories that are at times dark, at other times awash with colour, and often laced with a sardonic humour. From the sadness of the deserted train station to the hysterical story of the severed leg, by way of cannibalism, one-legged men, male prostitutes and real estate agents, this collection will appeal to the senses, the heart and the head!

Little by little in these stories Micheál Ó Conghaile destroys the boundary between the real and the surreal until they are indistinguishable. The fluidity of style and the lyricism of these stories are testimony to the author’s mastery of his craft.