In this guest edition of Radio Myles, Maebh Murphy presents a compilation of voices and atmospheres, scholarly ideas and craic agus ceol from the 8th International Flann O'Brien conference in Strabane.Credits:Recording, editing, mixing and transcription by Maebh Murphy (Cheasty)Additional mixing and mastering by David Murphy This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit radiomyles.substack.com
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9. Oisín Ó Nualláin: Eccentric state builders
In this episode of Radio Myles Toby welcomes Oisín, the nephew of the celebrated Irish writer Brian Ó Nualláin, also known as Flann O'Brien and Myles na gCopaleen. Oisín shares personal reflections and anecdotes about his father, Micheál Ó Nualláin and his uncle, Brian, detailing family dynamics and the intellectual and creative environment he grew up in. We learn about Brian Ó Nualláin's role as a craftsman and paternal figure and the importance of the history and environment of Counties Tyrone and Armagh, now in Northern Ireland, for the family's mindset.Oisín also reflects on his father's extensive inventions and contributions to education, art, and politics in Ireland and concludes with a discussion of concept of the entire family's role as 'ex-centros' or 'eccentric state builders' who felt a duty to contribute to the Irish state's strength and development by attacking the centre from the periphery. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit radiomyles.substack.com
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8. Paul Fagan: Under the skin of Flann O'Brien
Paul and Toby explore human and nonhuman worlds in An Béal Bocht, the politics of Flann O'Brien's comedy, the history of the International Flann O'Brien Society and Paul's interest in hoaxes. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit radiomyles.substack.com
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7. Frank McNally: Myles and the Irish Times
Toby interviews Frank McNally, writer of An Irish Diary for the Irish Times, about Brian O’Nolan as a journalistic influence, and as a man. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit radiomyles.substack.com
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6. Julieta Abella: When Jorge Luis Borges encountered Flann O'Brien
In this episode Toby speaks to Julieta Abella, an Argentinian scholar working on Irish modernism who can explain the seemingly strange transatlantic connection between Flann O’Brien and Jorge Luis Borges, and much more besides. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit radiomyles.substack.com
Poised somewhere between the pub and peer review, this podcast will entertain, intrigue and perhaps change your perspective on the writer known variously as Flann O'Brien, Myles na gCopaleen and Brian O'Nolan. Featuring special guests, archival sounds and interesting theories about this fascinating figure. Made with the support of Birkbeck College, University of London.
Ident and artwork by Will de Villiers: https://www.instagram.com/willdevilliersillustration/ radiomyles.substack.com
Ireland