Alan Titley keeps the ancient Irish language alive

Funerary rites are important in Ireland. The old-fashioned wake at home with drinking and singing has pretty much died out in the big cities. but in villages the old ways prevail. For example, in some parts of County Clare, relatives still dig the graves for the deceased.

AlanTitley is no authority on death, but he is an expert in Irish literature, including that written in the ancient Irish language. In fact he writes his plays and novels in Irish. This year he translated for the world perhaps the most famous Irish language novel, certainly the funniest, by Máirtín Ó Cadhain. It is all about death.

The startling thing about The Dirty Dust is that all the characters are dead and buried. But they carry on endless, funny and bitter conversations with each other.

Michael met Alan Titley at Glasnevin Cemetery, appropriately enough.