Show Notes
Peig Sayers (1873 - 1958) is one of the most remarkable figures in twentieth century Ireland. Her journey to publication is a story of beating the odds. An outsider from the Dublin literary scene by geography, language, gender, education and even literacy (she could write in English but not Irish), she gives a glimpse at the multitude of stories that never got told in a rapidly changing Ireland. It is a story of hardship and personal tragedy, but tells of an extraordinary community and their stories in elegant, blossoming prose.
This isn’t how Peig is typically thought of or referred to in Ireland, however, and for the past thirty or more years she has become a mascot of sorts for critics of the Irish education system, and of policies to protect, support and advance the Irish language or Gaeltacht areas. Why is this so?
In today’s episode, Darach, Peadar and Gearóidín look at Peig’s life and legacy. They listen to a contemporary account of her book being removed as a compulsory text for the Leaving Cert from 1995 onwards - a quarter of a century ago - and wonder why this scar hasn’t healed for certain commentators. They consider the process of the book’s dictation and how this may have influenced the final product. And they ask if criticism of this woman and her book (which passes the Bechdel test) can sometimes have an undercurrent of toxic masculinity.
We also hear from Irish women who are touched by Peig’s life and work and who feel it is as relevant as ever.
---
Support Motherfocloir on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/darach
Get Kirsten Shiel art prints here: https://www.inprnt.com/gallery/kirstenshiel/
---
Contact the show:
whatsapp - +353894784713
twitter - @motherfocloir and @theirishfor
email - [email protected]
---
Want to record your own podcast? Check out our studios at https://thepodcaststudios.ie
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
More from Motherfoclóir
Gaylinn dives into the weird, wonderful, and messy sides of life from sports to dating in Dublin all with humor, hot takes, and plenty of Irish language thrown in. It’s perfect for learners and fluent speakers alike.
An audiodrama for fans of Motherfoclóir! The Greatest Matter is a new gothic crime tale set in Victorian Dublin, about a criminologist who arrives in the city and gets caught up in a murder investigation with occult connections. It's a full-cast audiodrama, with a cast of great Irish actors, immersive sound design and original music. Have a listen to Ep 1 here, and all 12 episodes are available to listen to in full right now - just type The Greatest Matter into whatever player you're using now, or go to HeadStuffPodcasts.com. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We're back! Well, sort of. In March 2024 Darach, Gearóidín and Peadar were reunited for a live Seachtain na Gaeilge event in Clondalkin Library (a home advantage for Peadar!) On the occasion of the anniversary of Brendan Behan's death, the gang discussed the controversy surrounding the English translation of his Irish language play An Giall: did Behan approve of this version, and the significant differences in the text? This leads to a discussion of translating Hiberno English and Irish locals contexts in general. Is a Trinity Marxist in a Rooney novel comparable to the understanding of a Marxist that Chinese readers would approach her work with? How about the use of swearing in Roddy Doyle - do Germans swear the same way? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
With thanks to the Bram Stoker Festival, the Motherfoclóir Podcast was resurrected for one afternoon in October 2022 to discuss the translation of Dracula into Irish by Seán Ó Cuirreáin. In this recording of last year's live show Darach is joined by Peadar and Siún as they consider the different motives of the politicians who commissioned the translation and the writer asked to carry out the work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Motherfocloir is part of the HeadStuff Podcast Network and there are lots of other shows on the network we think you might like. Words To That Effect is a show that tells stories of the fiction behind popular culture and if you're a fan of Motherfocloir we think there's a very good chance you'll like this show too. Here's a full episode, all about the history of dragons in fiction and popular culture. Enjoy!