Agallaimh le Scríbhneoirí na Gaeilge/Interviews with Irish Language Writers

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le/with Julie Breathnach-Banwait

Eibhlís Carcione

Is í Eibhlís Carcione aoi na míosa seo in Agallaimh le Scríbhneoirí na Gaeilge/Interviews with Irish Language writers. Is scríbhneoir dátheangach í Eibhlis, as Condae Chorcaigh. Tá trí chnuasach filíochta léi foilsithe ag Coiscéim i mBaile Átha Cliath agus dha úrscéal léi curtha i gcló i mbéarla chomh maith.

Eibhlís is an award-winning bilingual poet and children’s author from Cork, Ireland. Her three poetry collections in Irish to date are:

Tonn Chlíodhna: Cliodhna’s Wave (2015),

Eala Oíche: Night Swan (2019),

Bean Róin: Seal Woman (2023)

All three collections are published by Coiscéim.

Eibhlís has twice been a winner of Duais Fhoras na Gaeilge, (www.forasnagaeilge.ie) at Listowel Writer’s Week. In 2022, she won first prize in Féile Raifteirí and Comórtas Filíochta, Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiach, Belfast. She was awarded an Arts Council Literature Bursary in 2021. Tonn Chlíodhna, or ‘Clíodhna’s Wave,’ is a fascinating legend from Irish mythology. Clíodhna is a mythical Queen of the Banshees and Goddess of love and beauty. The story goes that Clíodhna left Tír Tairngire (The Land of Promise), to be with her mortal lover, Ciabhán. Whilst waiting for him on the seashore, the Sea Deity, King of the Otherworld and man of magical abilities, Manannán Mac Lir – conjured a wave which swept her away. This wave is of significance in Glandore Bay, County Cork, Ireland, where it is believed that every ninth wave in a sequence is the strongest and is called ‘Clíodhna’s Wave.’

Eibhlís’ debut children’s novel Welcome to Dead Town Raven McKay was published by Everything With Words in 2023 followed by Black Gables in 2024. Both of these are in English. Her debut novel delves into the supernatural and ghostly realms, as it is set in a town where the living and the dead are living side by side. It also explores themes of courage and self-discovery as the protagonist, Raven McKay, navigates loss and finds her place in this magical world. The story of Black Gables is set in the world’s scariest school. It showcases themes of myths and magic, as well as friendship and connection, as the characters unravel the mysteries of Black Gable.

On inspiration:

I have always loved poems and stories. Childhood memories, family, grief, the beauty of nature, climate change and war are my main themes. I write to make sense of life and to shape my memories and feelings. I have a lyrical style of writing.


On who influences her:

Máire Mhac an tSaoi, Pádraic ó Conaire and Seán Ó Ríordáin inspired me to write in Irish when I studied their work in school. I’m also inspired by all the contemporary writers in Irish. I read widely in English and some of my favourite poets are Louise Glück, Paula Meehan, Robert Frost and Michael Longley. Philip Pullman, Alan Garner, Joan Aiken and CS Lewis have inspired me to write for children.

A piece of writing that she feels strongly about:

The Pandemic was a terrible time. It affected everyone and changed everything. My daughter was 13 at the time and she inspired this poem.

M’Iníon ag dul ar scoil le linn na Paindéime (Fómhar 2020)

Cloisim an geata,
tú thar n-ais,
úlla dearga ar
an gcrann fia-úill,
an spideog ag faire ort
ón bhinn.
Téann tú ar scoil gach lá,
masc ort:
Bíonn orm a bheith an-chúramach a Mhaim,
an chathair athruithe
sceon i súile na ndaoine,
faoileáin is madraí rua
ar na sráideanna,
fear i gcóta saighdiúra
ag siúl timpeall
le masc apacailipsis.
I do dhomhan féin
gach tráthnóna
ag tarraingt leat
is i mbun ealaíne.
Lá eile caite agat
sa seomra ranga,
scartha ó do chairde
gal ar na fuinneoga.
Inniu d’imlínigh tú d’ainm
le do mhéar
ar ghloine an bhus.
M’iníon chróga ag dul ar scoil.

My daughter going to school in a time of Pandemic (Autumn 2020)

I hear the gate
as you return,
red apples
on the crab-apple tree,
a robin watches you
from its perch.
You venture off to school
Each day, fully masked:
I must be careful, Mam,
the city is changed,
terror in the eyes of people,
seagulls and foxes
on every street,
a man in a soldier’s coat
moving about
in his apocalyptic mask.
You make a world
each afternoon,
drawing your pictures,
embracing art.
Another day endured
In that classroom
far from friends
behind misted windows.
Today you outlined
your name with fingers
on the window of a bus.
My warrior daughter of the Pandemic.

Translated by Thomas McCarthy

Advice for other writers:

Enjoy writing. Read Widely. Keep notebooks and write your thoughts. Write from the heart. Rejection is a part of writing. Take your time. It can take a while for the magic to happen. It’s worth waiting for. Keep improving your craft and some day someone will notice your work.


Particular themes she is drawn to:

I always return to childhood. It’s a bottomless well of memory. I have also written about Aleppo, Ukraine and Gaza. I continue to write about Gaza and war. Injustice, violence and bloodshed are inescapable themes. I also draw from folklore and mythology for a different insight into themes of love, family and creativity. Climate change is another theme in my work. I have written about wildfires and wildlife during the Pandemic. I have also written about Chernobyl and Fukushima.


Upcoming projects:

I have translated the poetry of Palestinian poet Marwan Makhoul to Irish. IMRAM have invited Marwan to Belfast later this year. I am looking forward to reading my translations alongside the other translators Louis De Paor and Áine Ní Fhoghlú. I am working on my fourth poetry collection in Irish and on a new children’s novel.

Eibhlís’ poetry books are available from http://www.coiscéim.ie and at various outlets online and more about Eibhlís can be seen at http://www.eibhliscarcione.com

Julie Breathnach-Banwait

Julie has been a regular contributor to Tinteán for many years and has recently joined the Editorial Collective. She is an Australian based Irish language poet and writer. To date she has published four collections of poetry. Dánta Póca and Ar thóir gach ní are Irish language poetry books published through Coiscéim (Dublin). Bobtail Books (Australia) have recently released two bilingual books of hers: Cnámha Scoilte/Split Bones – a bilingual book of prose poetry and Ó Chréanna Eile/From Other Earths – a bilingual book of poetry, co-authored with the Australian Irish language poet and writer Colin Ryan. Both are available at http://www.bobtailbooks.com.au. Her next collection – hypnagogia/hiopnagóige is imminent with Pierian Springs Press.