Publishing Profile—Micheál Ó Conghaile, founder of Cló Iar-Chonnacht which celebrates its 40th birthday this year
How I started in publishing
I started as a writer. I was writing poems in national school and continued in secondary school and started writing short stories in UCG. I was involved in a literary magazine there, Macalla, and was the editor for one year—which was my first taste of publishing: reading material with other writers, selecting material, proofreading, editing and working with the printers on selecting the paper and cover design. And then selling the magazine. Everything a publisher has to do more or less!
Where I work now
Now I devote most of my time to writing and translating. I founded the publishing company, Cló Iar-Chonnacht forty years ago this year but stepped aside from the publishing end of things and as director four years ago to devote more time to my own writing.
Irish is my native language and I can remember a time when I could not speak English
My mission as a publisher was to publish high quality books in the Irish language. There were many good writers such as Joe Steve Ó Neachtain, Antoine Ó Flatharta and Seán Ó Curraoin and it was great to bring their work to the market for the first time and to bring Irish language work to the fore. Irish is my native language and I can remember a time when I could not speak English. I must have been four or five before I learned English.
The best thing about my role
That I work for myself and that in general I can select the projects I want to work on. That I can devote most of my time now to creative writing and do translations for the theatre. It’s normal for me to be working on four or five projects at a time.
It’s normal for me to be working on four or five projects at a time
I’ve just published, Gearr Gonta, which is a collection of 100 poems by 100 poets, no poem longer than twelve lines. It’s the first of its kind in Irish. I’m also working on a novel, a travel book, and translating several short plays by Samuel Beckett for an An Taibhdhearc production for the Galway Arts Festival. I like the variety and of being able to work on several projects at the same time.
A mistake I made
I don’t dwell on my mistakes, just try to learn from them and move on!
My proudest moment so far
I don’t think there is any one moment. It’s not something that I think about much—there is always the next project to attend to in the writing and publishing world. One of the things that I’m happy about is that people are working full time in Irish language publishing now and that Cló Iar-Chonnacht opened the door for many writers, poets, singers and musicians and helped them to make a living out of their art.
Cló Iar-Chonnacht opened the door for many writers, poets, singers and musicians
I’m also happy to have brought the Irish classic novel, Cré na Cille by Máirtín Ó Cadhain to a worldwide audience through translations. The book is now in about 12 languages so he has gained the recognition he deserves as one of the major Irish writers of the last century. As Hilary Mantel said of his selected short stories, The Quick and the Dead, ‘One paragraph or two will convince the newcomer that this is an important writer, but Ó Cadhain fills no niche or cranny in the literature of Europe; he is a whole continent by himself.’
What the future holds
I don’t know, ní mise Dia. But if I can continue on as I am doing I’ll be happy enough with that.
A book recommendation
I’m often reading a few books at the same time. I’ve just finished reading An Ghluaiseacht by Rónan Mac Con Iomaire, a history of the civil rights movement in the Gaeltacht, from which we got Raidió na Gaeltachta and Údarás na Gaeltachta.
Alan Titley is always a great read, even his poetry! I’m enjoying his latest collection, Hellolúia!, getting through it and feeling good! I can also read books English also of course, and the novel I have lined up for my next flight is Clare Kilroy’s Soldier Sailor.
