Eoin of Bitesize Irish caught up with Ciara Ní É about Gaeilge, creativity, self-expression and more. The conversation goes deep into self-identify. They discuss whether there’s an inherent beauty in the Irish language, plus how Ciara adds to the richness of her Gaeilge. Ciara Ní É does much writing bilingually between English and Irish, and therefore has intricate knowledge of the interplays between self-expression in both languages.
Ciara talks about REIC, the multilingual cultural event she set up. This is one session:
They discuss Aerach.Aiteach.Gaelach, which you can find on YouTube.
Included is a clip from Amhrán Dharlughdach, a beautiful collobaration between Ciara Ní É Aoife Ní Mhórdha:
Is file í Ciara Ní É a bhfuil a cuid fiíochta léite aici i Nua-Eabhrac, i Londain, sa Bhruiséil, sa tSualainn, agus sa bhaile in Éirinn. Foilsíodh saothar dá cuid in irisí éagsúla; Aneas, Icarus agus Comhar ina measc. Is ambasadóir í le hÁras Scríbhneoirí na hÉireann. Chomhbhunaitheoir an chomharghrúpa Aerach.Aiteach.Gaelach í. Tá a céad chnuasach filíochta idir lámha aici faoi láthair.
Ciara Ní É is Irish Writers Centre ambassador and was Dublin City University’s (DCU) Writer in Residence 2020. Ciara is the founder of REIC (R.E.I.C.), a monthly multilingual spoken word and open mic night that features poetry, music, storytelling and rap. She has performed internationally in New York, London, Brussels, Sweden, and across Ireland. Her work has been published in a variety of journals including Icarus Aneas, and Comhar. She was chosen for Poetry Ireland’s ‘Introductions’ series 2017. She is a cofounder of arts collective Aerach.Aiteach.Gaelach, and her first project with the group was selected for The Abbey Theatre’s 5×5 2020. The video for ‘Phenomenal Woman’, a 2018 commission about the Ladies Gaelic Football Association was viewed over 300,000 times, and brought her work to wider attention. Other commissions include RTÉ TV, BBC Radio, TG4, and The Irish Writers Centre. Her first poetry collection is forthcoming.
Keep up to date with Ciara’s latest projects on her web site.