Acair are thrilled to announce a successful night at the Gaelic Literature Awards 2024, held in Cottiers Theatre in Glasgow last night.
A total of five Acair titles were shortlisted for the awards.
Tìgear an Iomagain, which was translated by Morag Stewart, won the award for Best Children’s Book. Tìgear an Iomagain was published in November of last year as part of the Bookbug series which Acair publish in partnership with the Scottish Book Trust. This enchanting story is full of mindfulness actions that anyone can take to feel calm. Tìgear an Iomagain is a gorgeously illustrated book that’s a joy to read aloud and will help children relax and speak about what might be feeding their anxiety.
Morag was unable to attend the awards ceremony but said: “Gaelic books for children are a special category and Tîgear an Iomagain was in wonderful company on the shortlist. It was a huge pleasure for me to translate this lovely book for Acair. The illustrations are beautiful and the story is about a topic that is increasingly important to children in today’s world.”
Gach Seòrsa Caraid, translated by Dolina Macleod and Na Còig Mathain, translated by Alasdair Campbell, were also shortlisted for the Award for Best Book for Children/Young People.
Two Acair titles were shortlisted for The Donald Meek Award for Best Non-fiction Book; Somhairle MacGill-Eain: Na Bhriathran Fhèin by Mairi Sine Campbell, Jo Macdonald agus Ishbel Maclean and Women of the Hebrides | Ban-eileanaich Innse Gall by Joni Buchanan.
Although Somhairle MacGill-Eain wrote the poetry for which he is internationally renowned in Gaelic, there is no book written in Gaelic which would introduce the man and his work to Gaelic readers, until now. This book, entirely in Gaelic, addresses that deficit.
The book contains a short biography of his late daughter Catriona and contents list of family songs performed by her on the accompanying CD. Somhairle MacGill-Eain Na Bhriathran Fhèin is also fully illustrated with black and white photos, including family photographs dating from late 1920s to the 1990s, landscapes and significant places in Raasay, Skye, Plockton, Edinburgh, Egypt, and professional photographs of Somhairle MacGill-Eain at various events from the 1970s to 1990s.
With a wealth of detail and intensive research, Joni tells the story of island women in Women of the Hebrides | Ban-eileanaich Innse Gall – their quick wit and political determination, hands that were deft with the loom and with the gutting knife, strong backs for croft work, endurance through times of tragedy and compassion and fortitude on the frontlines of war and disease.
The women in these pages travel the world, wage war against injustice and nurture their cultural heritage, all the time with two languages on their tongue, a light in their eye and undimmable spirit and humour.
It was Joni Buchanan who won the prestigious Domhnall Meek Award for Best Non-fiction Book for her work on Women of the Hebrides | Ban-eileanaich Innse Gall.
Collecting her award, Joni said: “This award, like the book itself, is a celebration of the island women it represents. It was a huge privilege to be given the opportunity to tell these women’s stories and I’m delighted that other people recognise the importance of this book in filling a long-term void in Gaelic and island literature.”
Angus Morrison, Manager at Acair said: “It is a huge honour for Acair to have had any title shortlisted, but to have had five is wonderful! We wouldn’t have any of these books were it not for the authors who create these pieces of writing and indeed the support we receive from other organisations – namely The Gaelic Books Council, Bòrd na Gàidhlig and Creative Scotland.”
“We’d like to extend our thanks to The Gaelic Books Council for recognising these wonderful books and the authors involved in them. It is so important that Gaelic literature be acknowledged and celebrated in the same way as English literature and we are seeing an increasing market for bilingual books.”
All of the books named above can be bought on our website – www.acairbooks.com