Angela’s Ashes as Gaeilge at last

BLOCKBUSTER Angela’s Ashes went as Gaeilge yesterday — its umpteenth edition, but the first in the native tongue.

Luaithreach Angela, a limited edition, was launched by Minister for the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Jimmy Deenihan at the Frank McCourt Museum in Hartstonge Street.

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 there had not been an Irish version.

Dominic Taylor, the project editor for the book, said: “The publication in the Irish language is a tribute to Frank McCourt’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 an Irish edition of such a famous book may encourage more people to read books in Irish.

The publication and launch of the book took place yesterday in association with The Frank McCourt Museum. The museum, dedicated to Frank’s memory, is located in Leamy’s School, where Frank received his early education.

The launch took place 15 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 November 15.

*www.frankmccourtmuseum.com