About the Author

Garry Bannister works as an Irish language teacher and has lectured at St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra. He developed a great love for Irish from his teacher, the late Harry Lush. He studied Irish and Russian at Trinity College Dublin, after which he went to Moscow State University where he received an MA in Russian language and literature. He has a large number of publications in modern Irish including The English–Irish Learner’s Dictionary and Teasáras na Gaeilge. Bannister’s main interest is early twentieth century modern Irish literature and he has collaborated over the past twenty years with Dr David Sowby on various translation projects.

David Sowby is a retired medical doctor whose passionate interest in the Irish language has been a lifetime study. He was born in the United Kingdom but educated in Dublin, and had the privilege of learning Irish from the inspirational Harry Lush. After living abroad for over forty years he returned to live in Dublin, where he resumed his study of Irish, translating Cúirt an Mheán Oíche and subsequently An tOileánach.