27/05/04

Dhuais Bisto/Bisto Award

Comhghairdeas le Alan Titley a bhuaigh an Duais Eilis Dillon a bhronann Bisto ar scríbhneoir a fhoilsíonn leabhar do pháisti don chéad uair. Amach (An gúm 2003) an Teideal ar úrscéal Alan.

Scríobhneoir agus scoláire aitheanta is ea Alan Titley agus Ceann Roinn na Gaeilge, Coláiste Phádraig.

Congratulations to Alan Titley on winning the Bisto Eilis Dillon award for his children's novel in Irish, Amach (An Gúm 2003). This is the first time an Irish-language book has won this award.  

A distinguished writer and scholar, Alan Titley is Head of the Irish Department in St Patrick's College.

The following review appeared in the Irish Times, Saturday 22/05/04:

Amach by Alan Titley, illustrated by Aidan Harte is, adds Pól Ó Muirí, Irish Language Editor , a short novel in Irish about a young man who simply goes outside with his friends Gobdá and Grúng and the adventures he has on what turns out to be more than an average day in the life of a young thrill-seeker. Outside is full of surprises and not all of them pleasant - this reviewer is still reeling from a graphic explosion involving a frog and a straw. Titley - a columnist with this newspaper - is the author of novels and short stories of great imagination, academic works of important scholarship, critical essays, radio and stage plays. He is an all-rounder and it is a great pleasure to find that his foray into children's literature is every bit as enjoyable as his adult writings. A sense of devilment and exuberance are on every page of Amach and Titley's beautiful turns of phrase are a joy. On discovering a puppy our hero is taken by eyes “which are like prayers”. All credit, too, to Aidan Harte's illustrations and typography which lends itself to easy reading.