Challenge of translation to be focus of Douglas Hyde Conference

THE ART of translating poems and prose from Irish will be discussed at the the 21st annual Douglas Hyde Conference, which takes place at the Abbeyfield Hotel in Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon, next weekend.

Beginning on Friday, its theme is Lost in Translation - Amú in Aistriúchán.

Conference director, RTÉ journalist and broadcaster Cathal Mac Coille, said: "Translation is essential, impossible, and great fun, often at the same time. The challenge of conveying both meaning and feeling accurately can even arise between two speakers of the same language."

He said Douglas Hyde showed flair for it with "his vivid translations of stories in Irish in Beside the Fire(1890), and of songs in Irish in Amhráin Grá Chúige Chonnachta/Love Songs of Connacht(1893).

"The subject of the conference, therefore, makes it a particularly appropriate event to hold in his memory."

Among the participants will be poets Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill, Tomás Mac Síomóin, Medbh McGuckian and Gabriel Rosenstock and traditional musicians Steve Cooney and Laoise Kelly.

Speakers will include Pádhraic Ó Ciardha of TG4, Mairéad Ní Nuadháin of RTÉ and Pól Ó Muirí of The Irish Times, as well as academics Prof Michael Cronin and Dr Niall Brady.

On Friday evening Mr Mac Coille will introduce recorded presentations from President Mary McAleese, Nobel laureate Seamus Heaney and singer/songwriter Paul Brady.

In her presentation, President McAleese reads and talks about Máirtín Ó Direáin's poem of loss and grief, Dignit an bhroin.

Seamus Heaney reads An t'Éan Beag, a ninth-century poem which he has translated twice.

Paul Brady chose Teanga Eile, a poem by Gearóid MacLochlainn where the Irish language is personified as someone fighting for life. Previews and information are available at  www.roscommonarts.com/hyde

For further information call 09066-37259/85.