The Irish Itinerary Podcast
The Irish Itinerary Podcast is an audio podcast brought to you by EFACIS, the European Federation of Associations and Centres of Irish Studies. As an innovative addition to our longstanding Irish Itinerary circuit which organises live events all across Europe, this series will bring together some of the best contemporary Irish authors and artists in conversation with leading Irish Studies scholars from across Europe. This exciting new project is designed in the spirit of open access and inclusivity, and made possible by the generous support of Culture Ireland, the Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Irish College, Leuven.
The Irish Itinerary Podcast
45. Gavin McCrea in conversation with Helen Cullen (16 November 2023)
In his conversation with Helen Cullen, Gavin McCrea discusses Irishness and how writing has been important in the process of going away from and coming to terms with Ireland. McCrea also talks about creating a voice for women without a voice in his novels Mrs Engels (2015) and The Sisters Mao (2021); about how he starts writing from the materiality of his characters’ world, not only in historical fiction, but also in his memoir Cells (2022); about exploring the relationship with his mother in his earlier novels and in his memoir; and about ”looking outwards” as a writer from a small island. He also reads from his three books.