Q&A—Gearóidín Nic Cárthaigh

Author Gearóidín Nic Cárthaigh talks all things bookish in the companion series to our popular podcast

A book from your early days?

When I was a child, a family friend used to gift me a pop-up book of fairy-tales every year, which always generated great excitement. My maternal grandmother used to read the pop-ups with me, and I cherish that time I had with her.

Dog ears or bookmarks?

A bit of both. I don’t always have a bookmark to hand and sometimes use a Christmas or birthday card. I always have to shake out a book before passing it on!

A quote you can say by heart?

‘Ní dual do neach a thigh ná a threabh a thréigean’ (‘Fill Arís’, Seán Ó Ríordáin in: Brosna, Sáirséal agus Dill, 1964).

This line means ‘it is not natural for anyone to abandon his house or his tribe’, and encompasses the whole mentality of returning to your ‘dúchas’ or heritage. I’m a big fan of Ó Ríordáin’s poetry. Two of his poems were on the Leaving Cert course when I did it, and I also researched and wrote my final-year project on his poetry when studying at the University of Limerick.

Do you lend without expecting a book returned?

I think it’s a positive thing to send a book you’ve enjoyed out into the world, and to share it with friends, regardless of whether they give it back.

Best book someone gave you?

My Aunty May was in her seventies when her memoir was published — The Old House on the Hill (M. McCann, Minerva Press, 1996), a moving and lyrical account of her childhood growing up on the family farm in West Cork. Her talent and tenacity have been great sources of inspiration for me.

A book you return to?

This is a bit nerdy, but I love browsing dictionaries: Ó Dónaill, Dinneen, de Bhaldraithe, McKenna. The Concise English Irish Dictionary (Pádraig Ó Mianáin, Foras na Gaeilge) is a special one for me, as I worked on it for a time as a translator almost twenty years ago, but now consult it as a user, especially when writing early drafts of stories.

A book that taught you something important

Ó Bhéal an Bhab (Roibéard Ó Cathasaigh, Bó Almqvist, Cló Iar-Chonnacht). This book taught me so much about the incredible range of the late Bab Feiritéar’s repertoire in the oral tradition, as well as showcasing the richness of her language and the depth of her knowledge regarding storytelling and lore. I was lucky enough to interview Bab as part of my post-graduate studies while at University College Cork, and treasure the memories I have of time spent with her in Dún Chaoin.

One of your own books you would save?

I would save Geansaithe Móra (LeabhairCOMHAR), my flash fiction collection. It is my first book, so it will always have a special place in my heart. I will be eternally grateful to the readers who engaged so deeply with the book, and made contact to tell me how various stories had touched them.