From Kitchen Table to the Underworld: The Poetry of Ailbhe N铆 Ghearbhuigh
In the Studio enters the creative world of award-winning Irish-language poet Ailbhe N铆 Ghearbhuigh as she composes a new poem
In the Studio enters the creative world of award-winning Irish-language poet Ailbhe N铆 Ghearbhuigh as she composes a new poem. We follow its journey from first draft to first public reading.
Ailbhe writes exclusively in Irish. She is deeply rooted in the language鈥檚 literary tradition yet unmistakably modern in outlook and has become one of the most distinctive literary voices of her generation.
Working from the early-morning quiet of her kitchen table in Cork, the documentary centres on a new triptych inspired by her nine-year-old daughter鈥檚 fascination with Greek mythology. Ailbhe takes Dualtagh Herr behind the scenes of her new work, reflecting on childhood imagination, motherhood, and the creative process.
Ailbhe鈥檚 poetry has travelled widely beyond Ireland in translation, reaching readers in English, French, Spanish, German, Greek, Macedonian, Czech, and Galician.
Much of that international reach has come through English translations by her husband, the acclaimed poet Billy Ramsell. In this programme, we also hear from him as he translates Ailbhe鈥檚 new poem into English. He offers a unique perspective on how poetry migrates and evolves between languages, illuminating the creative possibilities and challenges of translation.
Through a mix of intimate audio diaries recorded during the writing process and conversations captured during a visit to Cork, we follow the poem鈥檚 evolution from draft to finished work and ultimately to its debut at the Franco-Irish Literary Festival in Dublin.
The result is a rare insight into how a poem comes into being and reaches its audience.
Produced and Presented by Dualtagh Herr
On radio
More episodes
Previous
Next
Broadcasts
- Tue 30 Jun 2026 03:32GMT91福利社 World Service
- Tue 30 Jun 2026 12:32GMT91福利社 World Service except Australasia, East and Southern Africa, News Internet & West and Central Africa
- Tue 30 Jun 2026 17:32GMT91福利社 World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Tue 30 Jun 2026 21:32GMT91福利社 World Service except East and Southern Africa, Europe and the Middle East & West and Central Africa
- Tue 30 Jun 2026 22:32GMT91福利社 World Service Europe and the Middle East
- Sun 5 Jul 2026 18:32GMT91福利社 World Service Online, Americas and the Caribbean, UK DAB/Freeview, News Internet & Europe and the Middle East only