Unique Irish language celebration marks launch of Mayo literary festival
The 2026 Mayo Wild Atlantic Words Festival has kicked off at the dome - located beside the Bridge St. premises, Collectors Lane, Castlebar - with the launch of Clocha ar mo Phaidrín by Máirtín G. Ó Maicín.
Clocha ar mo Phaidrín celebrates 30 years of the Beo Go Deo column in The Connaught Telegraph.
It also includes articles written for other publications over the years, including the Western Star and Comhnasc.
The book is published by Mayo Books Press in conjunction with Coiste Dúiche Mhaigh Eo of Conradh na Gaeilge.
It covers a large spectrum of life dealing with such topics as history, folklore, current affairs locally, nationally and internationally, nature and the arts.
The author takes us on a journey of life and leaves us with a feeling of hope and positivity.
The articles come from the heart and leave the reader feeling good about themselves.
Máirtín’s easy and relaxed style of writing will entice the young and the old, those líofa sa Ghaeilge and those of the cúpla focal, those wishing to learn the language and those that just like a good read.
This is Máirtín’s third book as Gaeilge and it follows on the heels of ‘Lán Dóchais is Grá’ which was published by Coiscéim in 2014.
The Beo go Deo column is the longest running column as Gaeilge by the same author in any local newspaper in the country.
The launch was performed by retired Mayo MEP and TD Jim Higgins.
Stiofán Ó Morán also spoke at the event.
The festival continues tonight (Wednesday) with the launch at 7 p.m. of Those Who Listen: Anthology of the Bog, edited by Alice Kinsella.
This is followed, at 8 p.m., by a presentation, entitled Living with Swallows, by Chris and Linda Huxley.