University of Galway’s Centre for Irish Studies has announced the appointment of Máirín Mhic Lochlainn as Storyteller-in-Residence for this year.
Ms Mhic Lochlainn, who lives in Indreabhán but is originally from Rós a Mhíl, cites her father Beartla Ó Maoileoin as the first storyteller that she heard, and his dramatic renditions have had a long standing influence on her. She has won several awards for story-telling including Corn Neidí Frainc at the Oireachtas festival.
Máirín Mhic Lochlainn has conducted workshops in story-telling throughout Ireland, Wales, and Denmark. Her repertoire includes the Scéalta Fiannaíochta, and she said she is delighted at this opportunity to further the development of the craft of story-telling.
Professor Louis de Paor, director of the Centre for Irish Studies welcomed the appointment: “This is a great opportunity for us to recognise the art of oral storytelling and to celebrate Máirín’s particular ability in this area of our native culture,” he said. “We are really looking forward to working with her for the next year.”
Ms Mhic Lochlainn will teach a series of five workshops in the university in early 2023, and a second series in the autumn. The spring workshops will focus on the Scéalta Fiannaíochta.
The five spring workshops, which will be delivered through Irish, are free and open to the public and will run every Thursday, beginning Thursday February 2, at 7pm at the Centre for Irish Studies, 4 Distillery Road, University of Galway.
This project is funded by Ealaín na Gaeltachta, Údarás na Gaeltachta, and the Arts Council, in association with the Centre for Irish Studies at University of Galway.
For further information contact Samantha Williams at 091 492051 or [email protected].
