About
Island Voices 2025
'The Chronicles of Identity'
CS Lewis – An Irish and Ulster-Scots Writer
'The Road to Nairnia'
With Antain Mac Lochlainn
Thursday 23 October 2025, 1pm
Green Room, Guildhall
This talk will place C.S. Lewis in the context of Irish literature – 'the Irish school' with which he wanted to be identified. The speaker will explore the challenges of translating the Narnia novels into Irish, particularly those relating to the imaginary world that Lewis created. As the speaker will explain, even translating the book titles is not a straightforward matter (Nairnia). No knowledge of Irish is necessary to enjoy the talk; the discussion will be of interest to all who enjoy storytelling, wordplay and solving puzzles. This is one of a series of three lectures to mark the 75th anniversary of the publication of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
About the speaker:
Antain Mac Lochlainn
Antain Mac Lochlainn is an Irish language writer and translator, born and raised in Coleraine but now living in Dublin. He has translated two novels in the Narnia series: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and The Horse and his Boy (An Leon, an Bandraoi agus an Prios Éadaigh and An Capall agus Ghiolla, an Gúm (2014 & 2019). He is currently working on a translation of Prince Caspian, scheduled for publication in 2026. His most recent books include a novel for teenagers, Éanna Corr (Leabhar Breac 2024), and an Irish translation of the French language novel Petit Pays by Gaël Faye, published by Barzaz under the title Tír Bheag (2024).
Booking Essential
Admission Free. Lunch from 12:30pm before each talk.
To book your place contact: languages@derrystrabane.com or call T: 028 71 376 579
Full programme: www.derrystrabane.com/islandvoices
