The complexities of modern life, and the conflict between career and family, form the backdrop to An tIriseoir, the new thriller from Gaoth Dobhair native Michelle Nic Phaidín.
The story opens with the protagonist, Bríd, leaving Gweedore and her family behind her to embark on a career as a journalist in Dublin.
Dedicated and capable, she finds solace in throwing herself into her work to the exclusion of all else, and as she draws on the damaging experiences from her own past she begins to achieve success.
But when she is sent back to Gweedore on a story, that past comes back to haunt her, and she needs to decide which is more important – her reputation or her son.
Nic Pháidín was born in Glasgow but raised as a native Irish speaker in Gweedore.
She also lived in Dublin for a number of years, during which time she studied journalism in Dublin Institute of Technology. Nic Pháidín began her career in journalism writing for Irish-language newspapers Foinse and Lá. Over the years, she has worked for the Irish Daily Mirror and the Star on Sunday and done freelance work for The Irish Times, the Irish Independent and the Irish Examiner.
She has recently began working across different media, and has worked in radio and television. She presented Éagóir on TG4 from 2011 to 2014.
An tIriseoir is her first novel, but she is no stranger to writing fiction, and her story ‘Súile Éisc’ was awarded second place in the short story category at Oireachtas na Gaeilge 2015.
Her experience undoubtedly adds to the realism of the story, as the central character navigates her life as a journalist. In his review of the book, Robert McMillen of The Irish News commended the narrative and dialogue for their natural feel, as well as Nic Pháidín’s skill in successfully bringing to life credible twenty-first century Irish speakers.
Reviewers have also been quick to point out that An tIriseoir is impressive as a feminist work, as it features female characters who are more than capable of handling life without a man at their side. In An tIriseoir, it’s the women who save themselves.
As well as writing the story, Nic Pháidín herself has recorded an audio version of An tIriseoir, which is available for free download from the publisher’s website, www.coislife.ie.
Nic Phaidín has been widely praised for this story of modern-day Ireland and, above all, the written and audio formats of An tIriseoir give pride of place to contemporary Donegal Irish.
An tIriseoir is published by Cois Life. Printed book, e-book and audiobook formats are available from www.coislife.ie.
* An tIriseoir will be launched this Saturday at 1pm in An Cultúrlann, Falls Road, Belfast. Another well-known West Donegal journalist Áine Ní Bhreasláin from Radio na Gaeltachta will launch the book.
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