City of Books

Writer Colum McCann talks about his hope that his book, Apeirogon, may contribute to peace. It fictionalises the true story of two fathers, an Israeli and a Palestinian, who each lose a child in the conflict.

Elsewhere in the interview, Colum says he can’t write poetry but is drawn to it, and talks about writers he has known including Frank McCourt and Benedict Kiely. He also reads from his novel.

Produced and presented by author and journalist Martina Devlin. Music by Daragh Dukes.

:: Apeirogon is published by Bloomsbury https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/apeirogon-9781526607874/

The Maamtrasna murders were sparked by a blood feud in a remote part of 19th century Ireland. A family of five was killed by neighbours - but the trial proved to be just as notorious as the murders. It was held in English and some of the defendants, who were from Connemara, could not speak the language.

Professor Margaret Kelleher of University College Dublin and Mr Justice Peter Kelly, president of Ireland's High Court, discuss the case and political context in Dublin's historic Green Street courthouse, scene of the trial.

Presented and produced by author and journalist Martina Devlin

For more on Margaret Kelleher’s book The Maamtrasna Murders: Language, Life and Death in Nineteenth-Century Ireland follow the link:

https://www.ucdpress.ie/display.asp?isbn=9781910820421&

Three Fs have been a consistent part of international bestseller Joanna Trollope's life:

Fiction, family and feminism. She explains why here.

The international bestseller says, “There will always be women who want to stay at home in the kitchen and make jam tarts with the three-year-old, and there will always be women who want to rule the world.”

Which kind is she?

And why does Jane Austen inspire her?

This episode also includes a tribute to poet extraordinaire Eavan Boland from writer Colum McCann.

For more on Joanna Trollope’s latest novel Mum & Dad follow the link https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/joanna-trollope/mum-dad/9781529003383

For more on Joanna Trollope follow the link https://www.joannatrollope.com

Presented and Produced by Martina Devlin

Music by Daragh Dukes

Marita Conlon-McKenna is the much-loved author of many books for children and adults. They include her children's classic about Ireland's Great Famine, Under The Hawthorn Tree. She talks here about the magic of storytelling, why famine stories continue to grip us and the powerful use of the child's voice in Tatty - the 2020 Dublin One City One Book choice.

For more about Tatty by Christine Dwyer Hickey https://www.newisland.ie/fiction/tatty/

For more about Marita Conlon-McKenna and her fiction including her latest novel The Hungry Road https://maritaconlonmckenna.com/

Produced and presented by Martina Devlin

Music by Daragh Dukes

In this episode, artist Robert Ballagh talks about why Samuel Beckett thought he kept him waiting for breakfast, how his postage stamp design infuriated Northern Irish political leader the Rev Ian Paisley, befriending Nobel scientist James Watson and getting on the wrong side of Britain’s Prince Philip. He also discusses his autobiography A Reluctant Memoir, published by Head of Zeus

Later in the episode, writer Mary Costello takes a tour of the iconic James Joyce Tower in Dublin where Joyce set the opening chapter of his masterpiece Ulysses. During her walkabout in the 200-year-old building, she explains why she is drawn back again and again to Joyce’s work and why her latest novel The River Capture is inspired by him.

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A monthly podcast supported by Dublin UNESCO City of Literature in association with the Museum of Literature Ireland (MOLI).

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Presented & Edited by Martina Devlin

Produced by Steve Byrne

Music by Daragh Dukes