Frank McCourt's Book Angela Ashes to be published in Irish

Monday October 03, 2011

The Limerick Writers' Centre, a non profit organisation established to nurture and support writers, are launching a unique edition of Angela’s Ashes – the book by Frank McCourt, that put the city on the literary map. Luaithreach Angela is a limited edition, Irish translation of the author’s Pulitzer Prize winning book. It will be launched by the Minister for the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Jimmy Deenihan TD, at the Frank McCourt Museum, Hartstonge Street, Limerick, at 4pm on Monday Oct 10th. The translation was commissioned by The Limerick Writers’ Centre, from writer and translator Padraic Breathnach. The multi award-winning book has been published in numerous languages but, until now, there had not been an Irish version.

Speaking about Luaithreach Angela, Dominic Taylor, the project editor for the book, explained the reason behind publishing this new version; “The publication in the Irish language is a tribute to Frank Mc Court’s Irish roots. On the occasion of Frank’s untimely passing in 2009, the Limerick Writers’ Centre made a decision to honour our famous author in a significant way and after much deliberation, we decided that it would be appropriate for us to publish an Irish edition of Angela’s Ashes, the book that put Limerick on the literary map.” The Limerick Writers’ Centre also expressed the hope that an Irish edition of such a famous book may encourage more people to read books in Irish.The publication and launch of the book takes place in association with The Frank McCourt Museum. This museum is dedicated to Frank’s memory is located in Leamy’s School, where Frank received his early education, as featured in his memoir. The launch takes place fifteen years after the publication of the original book in New York, in 1996. The Irish publication will also be launched at the Irish Consulate in New York, on 15th November.For further information, contact: Pat Carroll (Touch Communications) pat@touchcommunications.ie