Pàdraig MacAoidh / Peter Mackay
Appeared: 25 June
Peter Mackay is a native Gaelic speaker born and brought up on the Isle of Lewis. He is a poet, broadcaster, journalist and a lecturer in Literature at the University of St Andrews. Peter has worked at the Seamus Heaney Centre for Poetry, Trinity College Dublin, at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, where he was writer in residence and as a Broadcast Journalist and News Producer for the BBC. He has a pamphlet with Clutag Press – From another island (2010) – and his first collection Gu Leòr / Galore (Acair 2015) was shortlisted for the Saltire Scottish Poetry Book of the year; his second book Nàdur De / Some Kind of was published in April 2020. He is also the co-editor, with Iain S. MacPherson, of An Leabhar Liath: 500 Years of Gaelic Love and Transgressive Verse. He lives in Edinburgh.
Rugadh agus thogadh Pàdraig MacAoidh air Eilean Leòdhais. ’S e bàrd, craoladair agus fear-naidheachd a th’ann, agus tha e na oraidiche ann an Litreachas aig Oilthigh Chill Rìmhinn, an dèidh dha a bhith ag obair aig Aonad Bhàrdachd Seamus Heaney ann am Beul Feirste agus Colaiste na Trianaide. Tha e cuideachd air a bhith na bhàrd air muinntireas aig Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, agus Fear-Naidheachd agus Riochdaire-Naidheachdan airson a’ BhBC. Tha pamflaid aige le Clutag Press – From another island (2010) – agus bha a’ chiad leabhar bàrdachd aige Gu Leòr / Galore (Acair 2015) air a’ gheàrr-liosta airson Duais Saltire Leabhar Bàrdachd Albannach na Bliadhna; chaidh an darna leabhar leis, Nàdur de, fhoillseachadh ann am Màrt 2020. Cho-dheasaich e, còmhla ri Iain S. Mac a’ Phearsain, An Leabhar Liath: 500 Years of Gaelic Love and Transgressive Verse. Tha e a’ fuireach ann an Dùn Èideann.
Appeared: 25 June
Peter Mackay is a native Gaelic speaker born and brought up on the Isle of Lewis. He is a poet, broadcaster, journalist and a lecturer in Literature at the University of St Andrews. Peter has worked at the Seamus Heaney Centre for Poetry, Trinity College Dublin, at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, where he was writer in residence and as a Broadcast Journalist and News Producer for the BBC. He has a pamphlet with Clutag Press – From another island (2010) – and his first collection Gu Leòr / Galore (Acair 2015) was shortlisted for the Saltire Scottish Poetry Book of the year; his second book Nàdur De / Some Kind of was published in April 2020. He is also the co-editor, with Iain S. MacPherson, of An Leabhar Liath: 500 Years of Gaelic Love and Transgressive Verse. He lives in Edinburgh.
Rugadh agus thogadh Pàdraig MacAoidh air Eilean Leòdhais. ’S e bàrd, craoladair agus fear-naidheachd a th’ann, agus tha e na oraidiche ann an Litreachas aig Oilthigh Chill Rìmhinn, an dèidh dha a bhith ag obair aig Aonad Bhàrdachd Seamus Heaney ann am Beul Feirste agus Colaiste na Trianaide. Tha e cuideachd air a bhith na bhàrd air muinntireas aig Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, agus Fear-Naidheachd agus Riochdaire-Naidheachdan airson a’ BhBC. Tha pamflaid aige le Clutag Press – From another island (2010) – agus bha a’ chiad leabhar bàrdachd aige Gu Leòr / Galore (Acair 2015) air a’ gheàrr-liosta airson Duais Saltire Leabhar Bàrdachd Albannach na Bliadhna; chaidh an darna leabhar leis, Nàdur de, fhoillseachadh ann am Màrt 2020. Cho-dheasaich e, còmhla ri Iain S. Mac a’ Phearsain, An Leabhar Liath: 500 Years of Gaelic Love and Transgressive Verse. Tha e a’ fuireach ann an Dùn Èideann.
Independent Bookshop Spotlight on...
No Alibis
83 Botanic Avenue
Belfast BT7 1JL
Telephone: 028 9031 9601
Email: [email protected]
No Alibis Bookstore is Northern Ireland’s only independent crime fiction bookshop. With social distancing being the order of the day, the team at No Alibis have moved their trade online and closed their physical bookstore until it’s safe to re-open. If they have it in stock, they’ll send it immediately. If they don’t, they’ll get it for you as quickly as possible. They have access to almost every book currently in print. They can also make recommendations based on books you’ve enjoyed recently. They have specialists in children’s books, poetry, popular and literary fiction from around the world, and, of course, crime fiction.
Peter Mackay says, 'No Alibis is a fantastic crime bookshop first and foremost, but it’s also one of the most supportive bookshops for poetry, local authors and live events I’ve ever been in or – when lucky – spilling out of onto the pavement on a summer’s evening. Like all the best bookshops it’s tiny, but full of heart.'
83 Botanic Avenue
Belfast BT7 1JL
Telephone: 028 9031 9601
Email: [email protected]
No Alibis Bookstore is Northern Ireland’s only independent crime fiction bookshop. With social distancing being the order of the day, the team at No Alibis have moved their trade online and closed their physical bookstore until it’s safe to re-open. If they have it in stock, they’ll send it immediately. If they don’t, they’ll get it for you as quickly as possible. They have access to almost every book currently in print. They can also make recommendations based on books you’ve enjoyed recently. They have specialists in children’s books, poetry, popular and literary fiction from around the world, and, of course, crime fiction.
Peter Mackay says, 'No Alibis is a fantastic crime bookshop first and foremost, but it’s also one of the most supportive bookshops for poetry, local authors and live events I’ve ever been in or – when lucky – spilling out of onto the pavement on a summer’s evening. Like all the best bookshops it’s tiny, but full of heart.'
Theatre Spotlight on...
An Lanntair
Kenneth Street
Stornoway HS1 2DS
An Lanntair is a hub for creativity and the Arts in the Outer Hebrides. They are a multi arts venue – at one and the same time a contemporary art gallery, a theatre, a cinema, a dance studio, a concert hall, a platform for poetry and literature, a studio – every space stretched to showcase the Arts in multiple forms. Their work stretches across a national and international platform, yet their distinctiveness lies in being ‘of the place’, rooted in who we are, and the creativity of Gaelic and the Outer Hebrides takes centre stage.
Peter says, 'I have huge affection for smaller venues, places that are the hub of an entire community, like the Byre in St Andrews or An Lanntair in Stornoway. There’s something fantastic about An Lanntair in particular, the combination of art gallery, bookshop, cinema, theatre, tourist shop, where gigantic glockenspiels could jostle up against tweed teddies and cutting-edge theatre – you never quite know who or what is going to crop up next.'
Elly Fletcher, Chief Executive, An Lanntair, says,''We are honoured and delighted to have been selected as Peter Mackay's favourite venue. Peter is a great friend of An Lanntair and has featured numerous times in our programme over the years. In 2017, he appeared at our Faclan Literature Festival with his book, a collection, An Leabhar Liath: The Light Blue Book. We, along with our audiences, have great affection for Peter and his work, and look forward very much to seeing his performance on Makar To Makar.
'We have been busy developing new and different projects and programmes online and remotely since lockdown, with a strong focus on supporting young people and our strong network of artists across the islands. Artists can engage with us now through Peer Reviews and mentoring, and through our new artist support blog activity. We have launched online dance and drama workshops for young people and moved our Art Labs online too. We have also launched a brilliant new Sketchbooks project, which will be our first exhibition when we reopen to the public. In addition, we are just about to launch our Digital Galleries! There are plenty more projects and more information on our wider work during lockdown here.'
Kenneth Street
Stornoway HS1 2DS
An Lanntair is a hub for creativity and the Arts in the Outer Hebrides. They are a multi arts venue – at one and the same time a contemporary art gallery, a theatre, a cinema, a dance studio, a concert hall, a platform for poetry and literature, a studio – every space stretched to showcase the Arts in multiple forms. Their work stretches across a national and international platform, yet their distinctiveness lies in being ‘of the place’, rooted in who we are, and the creativity of Gaelic and the Outer Hebrides takes centre stage.
Peter says, 'I have huge affection for smaller venues, places that are the hub of an entire community, like the Byre in St Andrews or An Lanntair in Stornoway. There’s something fantastic about An Lanntair in particular, the combination of art gallery, bookshop, cinema, theatre, tourist shop, where gigantic glockenspiels could jostle up against tweed teddies and cutting-edge theatre – you never quite know who or what is going to crop up next.'
Elly Fletcher, Chief Executive, An Lanntair, says,''We are honoured and delighted to have been selected as Peter Mackay's favourite venue. Peter is a great friend of An Lanntair and has featured numerous times in our programme over the years. In 2017, he appeared at our Faclan Literature Festival with his book, a collection, An Leabhar Liath: The Light Blue Book. We, along with our audiences, have great affection for Peter and his work, and look forward very much to seeing his performance on Makar To Makar.
'We have been busy developing new and different projects and programmes online and remotely since lockdown, with a strong focus on supporting young people and our strong network of artists across the islands. Artists can engage with us now through Peer Reviews and mentoring, and through our new artist support blog activity. We have launched online dance and drama workshops for young people and moved our Art Labs online too. We have also launched a brilliant new Sketchbooks project, which will be our first exhibition when we reopen to the public. In addition, we are just about to launch our Digital Galleries! There are plenty more projects and more information on our wider work during lockdown here.'
Library Spotlight on...
Western Isles Libraries
6 Kenneth Street
Stornoway
Isle of Lewis
HS1 2DP
Telephone: 01851 822744
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.cne-siar.gov.uk/library
Western Isles Libraries has 4 branch libraries, each on a different island in the Outer Hebrides; in Stornoway, Tarbert, Liniclate and Castlebay. The service also has 2 mobile libraries which travel around the isles of Lewis, Harris, North and South Uist and Benbecula to reach nurseries, care homes, individuals and communities far and wide. The mobile libraries also work with the Education Development Centre Library to deliver artefact boxes, reading groups sets, information/project boxes and fiction boxes to primary schools and visit them all regularly so that all pupils get a chance to visit regularly.
Lockdown Library
While library branches remain closed and the mobiles are still off the road, the library is still virtually open for service. E-books and e-audio books for all ages are available, along with newspapers, encyclopedias, family history resources and other online resources. New library members are always welcome, and the online membership process is quick and easy to do. Other library activities have moved online as well, with online reading groups, Saturday storytimes and regular LEGO and coding challenges happening on the library Facebook page or YouTube channel. At the moment, the library is promoting the digital Summer Reading Challenge which invites children from 4 to 11 years to join the Silly Squad and set their own reading challenge for the holidays, enjoying lots of games and activities along the way.
Find out more here.
Peter says, 'Growing up, I was addicted to the weekly visit to the old library in Stornoway, the portacabins on Keith St (the 'new' library on Cromwell St is also a very good resource), and also to the visits of the library van as it toured round the island. There was something magical about taking the couple of steps up into the library, to stand in that narrow, dust-motey space surround by row upon row of book – it was as if you were stepping off the world into a different space, a realm of stories, of words, where anything could happen. Public libraries are such a crucial space, a wonderful escape.'
Western Isles Libraries says, 'Peter’s fond memories of the mobile library visiting his school are really moving and inspiring. It shows what a lifelong impact access to books and having the opportunity to choose your very own books, can have. They open worlds. While we can still offer access to e books and resources, the physical communal spaces that libraries offer, through their branches and mobiles, are an essential part of every community and should be nurtured.'
6 Kenneth Street
Stornoway
Isle of Lewis
HS1 2DP
Telephone: 01851 822744
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.cne-siar.gov.uk/library
Western Isles Libraries has 4 branch libraries, each on a different island in the Outer Hebrides; in Stornoway, Tarbert, Liniclate and Castlebay. The service also has 2 mobile libraries which travel around the isles of Lewis, Harris, North and South Uist and Benbecula to reach nurseries, care homes, individuals and communities far and wide. The mobile libraries also work with the Education Development Centre Library to deliver artefact boxes, reading groups sets, information/project boxes and fiction boxes to primary schools and visit them all regularly so that all pupils get a chance to visit regularly.
Lockdown Library
While library branches remain closed and the mobiles are still off the road, the library is still virtually open for service. E-books and e-audio books for all ages are available, along with newspapers, encyclopedias, family history resources and other online resources. New library members are always welcome, and the online membership process is quick and easy to do. Other library activities have moved online as well, with online reading groups, Saturday storytimes and regular LEGO and coding challenges happening on the library Facebook page or YouTube channel. At the moment, the library is promoting the digital Summer Reading Challenge which invites children from 4 to 11 years to join the Silly Squad and set their own reading challenge for the holidays, enjoying lots of games and activities along the way.
Find out more here.
Peter says, 'Growing up, I was addicted to the weekly visit to the old library in Stornoway, the portacabins on Keith St (the 'new' library on Cromwell St is also a very good resource), and also to the visits of the library van as it toured round the island. There was something magical about taking the couple of steps up into the library, to stand in that narrow, dust-motey space surround by row upon row of book – it was as if you were stepping off the world into a different space, a realm of stories, of words, where anything could happen. Public libraries are such a crucial space, a wonderful escape.'
Western Isles Libraries says, 'Peter’s fond memories of the mobile library visiting his school are really moving and inspiring. It shows what a lifelong impact access to books and having the opportunity to choose your very own books, can have. They open worlds. While we can still offer access to e books and resources, the physical communal spaces that libraries offer, through their branches and mobiles, are an essential part of every community and should be nurtured.'