Deo

Description

Review Review: Eile Magazine Issue 06 -November 2013 For as well-established as gay-themed poetry is in English-language literature, it is still but a fledgling form in the literary worlds of the Gaelic languages. While Irish has its fair share of modern gay writers - Micheal6 Conghaile and Alex Hijmans, to name two of the most recent- the same cannot be said for that of its sister language, Scottish Gaelic. That might soon change, however, with the introduction of gay writer, Mark Spencer Turner - better known to Gaelic speakers as Marcas Mac an Tuirneir. Deo (meaning 'breath') is the first poetry collection from Mac an Tuirneir, who is originally from York but studied at Aberdeen University, where he learned Gaelic. The collection is written in Scottish Gaelic with English translations on the opposite page, facilitating those whose 'Gaidhlig' ranges from rusty to non-existant. Deo explores the journeys of youth from many perspectives, taking inspiration from such places as Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Alicante, Ireland and his home city of York. The imagery in much of this poetry is strikingly beautiful and strong, taking inspiration from physical, emotional, erotic and even linguistic landscapes. In Sluagh- Ghairm (Battlecry) he plays with the concept of the gay 'closet' when addressing the topic of Gaelic in Scotland, using the word and its meaning in both Gaelic and English: Cha dhaibhsan a tha mi a' sgriobhadh, Ach do fhleasgaichean bana, diuid, Sgaraicht' eadar closaid leis an aodach Is closaid eile leis a' chac. It's not for them that I'm writing, But for the timmering, gentle lad, Stuck between one closet with the clothing And another closet with the crap. As many of his poems are powerfully descriptive, Mac an Tuirneir proves his worth with Deo, showing his beautiful mastery of the Gaelic language and of poetry in general. There is a musicality to his writing that is hard to find in modern Gaeilic literature, especially when dealing with translations and idioms. Deo is a welcome addition to the world of Gaelic poetry, as well as its new gay sub-genre. About the Author Marcas Mac an Tuairneir was born in November, 1984, in York England. He was brought up in a family steeped in the local area and of second-generation Irish heritage. He began his education at English Martyrs’ RC Primary School and All Saints’ Secondary School, York, where he found a deep love of language and literature. He travelled to Scotland in 2003 to continue his education at Kings College, University of Aberdeen, where he graduated in 2008 with an MA Hons in Gaelic and Hispanic Studies and in 2010 with an MLitt in Irish and Scottish Studies. He moved to Glasgow in 2011 where he graduated, with the support of MG Alba, with an MA in Television Fiction from Glasgow Caledonian University. Whilst studying, he worked for many years at York Theatre Royal and later was involved in Gaelic Education, working for various bodies; including East Dunbartonshire Council, the Universities of Strathclyde and the West of Scotland and Meadowburn Primary School, Bishopbriggs. This is his first collection of poetry, and was written with the support of the Gaelic Books Council and under their tutelage scheme, supervised by the Gaelic author and poet Martin MacIntyre. Many of his poems have been published in journals and periodicals, one of which was shortlisted for the Coirnéil Eoghain Uí Néill poetry competition in 2013. He is currently working on a second collection of poetry, an anthology of twenty-first century Gaelic poetry, two novels and a television drama script. He co-wrote the play Take Me if You Need Me that was performed at the Òran Mòr, Glasgow in 2011. Marcas lives in Inverness, where he is a member of Inverness Gaelic Choir. He has a great interest in poetry, drama and literature in general, music both modern and traditional and sociolinguistics and minority languages. He works as Internet and Information Officer for Bòrd na Gàidhlig. For further information, please refer to www.marcasmac.co.uk & www.facebook.com/MarcasMac