March Folklore translation to be launched in Carna

University of Galway’s Áras na hOllscoile in Carna will host the launch of Conamara Chronicles: Tales from Iorras Aithneach, on Tuesday March 14 at 7pm. The event is open to the public.

Dr Róisín Nic Dhonncha will launch the publication which is an English translation by Liam Mac Con Iomaire and Tim Robinson of Annála Beaga ó Iorrus Aithneach, based on material compiled by Seán Mac Giollarnáth from storytellers and tradition-bearers in Iorras Aithneach in the 1930s.

The state publishing agency An Gúm originally published the influential text in 1941. The Chronicles consist of 14 chapters which carry accounts of islands, the famine era, political unrest, prominent personalities, smuggling, saints and priests, boats and boatmen. These traditional tales commemorate major community events and are a significant repository of folk history.

The Mac Giollarnáth/Forde family will also donate additional archive material relating to Seán Mac Giollarnáth to Ionad Charna as part of the event. Some 61 manuscripts and texts associated with Seán Mac Giollarnáth were previously donated to Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge. 

This material has been catalogued and digitised as part of PRTLI5, a major research project funded by the HEA. Researchers and the general public have continual digital access to the material since 2017 and it is intended to augment the digital collection with the new donation over time.

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