Pàdraig MacAoidh: In Conversation

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS EVENT IS NOW TAKING PLACE ON 22 OCTOBER AT 3.30 PM, NOT 6 PM AS ORIGINALLY ADVERTISED.

Join us for a special event with Pàdraig MacAoidh, Scotland’s new Makar. A native Gaelic speaker, and originally from the Isle of Lewis, Pàdraig MacAoidh is a poet, broadcaster, translator and lecturer. He is the author of a number of poetry pamphlets and collections, most recently Nàdur de / Some Kind of, and has written extensively on Scottish and Irish literature, especially Scots Gaelic literature. Writer Róise Ní Bhaoill will be talking to Pàdraig about his work; the literary, linguistic and cultural connections between Scotland and the island of Ireland, to which he has a strong connection; and about what he hopes to achieve in his role as Scotland’s national poet.

‘S ann à Leòdhas a tha Pàdraig MacAoidh, agus chaidh dà leabhar bàrdachd leis fhoillseachadh le Acair – ‘Gu Leòr’ (2015) agus ‘Nàdur De’ (2020) – agus pamflaid le Clutag Press, ‘From another island’ (2010). Tha e ag obair mar òraidiche aig Oilthigh Chill Rìmhinn agus o 2024 tha e air a bhith Makar na h-Alba. // Peter Mackay is a poet, broadcaster, translator and lecturer. He has two collections with Acair – Galore (2015) and Some Kind of (2020) – and a pamphlet, From another island (2010), with Clutag Press. Originally from the Isle of Lewis, he lives in Edinburgh and works in the School of English at the University of St Andrews. In 2024 he was appointed Scottish Makar.

Róise Ní Bhaoill is originally from Ranafast in the Donegal Gaeltacht. Her first short-story collection, Imram agus Scéalta Eile, was awarded An Post Irish language Book of the Year 2023. Her poetry collection, Idir an Dá Fhearsaid, was shortlisted for Gradam Uí Shuilleabháin 2024 (Oireachtas na Gaeilge Book of the Year). Her second poetry collection Dordéan will be launched during Oireachtas na Gaeilge in Belfast at the end of October. A translation of the work of the Iranian poet Mohsen Hosseinkhani will follow. Róise is also the author of language resources for both adults and children, has edited a range of essay collections on language and cultural issues, and transcribed and translated recordings of some of the last native speakers of Irish in her book Ulster Gaelic Voices. She has lectured extensively on Irish folklore and mythology.