Dáimh le hAlbain?: Depictions of Scotland in Twentieth-Century Irish-Language Prose

Caoimhe Nic Lochlainn

FULL TEXT

ABSTRACT (en)

This article examines depictions of Scotland in twentieth-century Irishlanguage prose across a range of genres: fiction, (auto)biography, travel writing, translations, and children’s literature. References to Ireland’s closest neighbour are diverse: Séamus Ó Grianna’s oeuvre frequently referred to Scotland as a place of hard labour; “Beirt Shiubhlóirí” wrote a travelogue in the 1930s of their hiking trip around Scotland; there are unexpected references to the Isle of Skye in Tomás Mac Aodh Bhuí’s translation of Enid Blyton’s The Secret Mountain, which is set in Africa; while the prolific Cathal Ó Sándair had his famous detective, Réics Carló, finally visit Scotland in the 1980s. This essay examines to what extent these texts and authors depict an affinity with the language and culture of Scotland, and how this affinity is portrayed and, in some cases, contended. Where available, editorial advice and attitudes to these depictions of Scotland are also considered, as well as contemporary reviews of the texts.

KEYWORDS (en)

Séamus Ó Grianna, Cathal Ó Sándair, Scottish Gaelic, Irish language, biography, travel writing, teen fiction

DOI

https://doi.org/10.14712/2571452X.2023.65.5

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