Folklore story inspires Joanna's new book
Cloughjordan playwright Joanna Ryan-Purcell has launched her book, ‘Children of Lir: The Journey Through The Curse’.
Joanna originally wrote this story as a play, which was performed in 2017. “Since then,” she explained, “I have been diving deeply into the meaning of the story, the understanding of the myth and the meanings behind the symbols within the myth.
“When I began to look deeper into the Children of Lir story, I saw a story of transformation, reaching the pits of darkness before the light comes in to rescue. There were many questions for me at the beginning and I challenged the traditional myth and our traditional understanding of the myth.
“The first thing I challenged was the Christian ending and how women are viewed in a patriarchal and Christian society. I bring through it the hopeful revival of our pagan roots but show through the metaphor and symbolism how disconnected we have become from land, from nature, from Mother Earth.
“I also bring the journey of mental through in the story. I myself have gone on my own journey of darkness but I was lucky enough to have come out the other side. I am interested in the notion of catharsis, which means the process of release. This is something our ancestors used through their bardic storytelling.
“I have made this story a cathartic experience by bringing the reader right into the centre of the darkness of the human mind and human emotion. Once at the depths of the darkness, the light comes in, the characters are rescued and then they go on their journey of transformation.
“This story reveals the darkness, it takes off any kind of sugar-coated mask or taboo that hides it, but the point of the story is that you need to go through the darkness to reach the light, otherwise we are living in a state of denial and we can’t move forward if we stay in that state.
“This story is a release, giving those dark emotions permission to rise to the surface, letting them go and then allowing the light to come in. Then we can move on with our lives!”
There are six characters in this story. The first character to open the story is Aedh. Aedh is the eldest son of Lir. Aedh challenges what is happening in our world right now and challenges our perspective on it. This story is told through prose poetry, metaphor and symbolism.
The characters that follow are Aoife, Fionnuala and Lir. Their stories are intertwined, bringing the reader through the darkness; mentally, emotionally and spiritually. The light comes in and they simultaneously go on their journey of transformation and self-acceptance.
The last two characters are Conn and Fiachra. Conn and Fiachra are twins and Fionnuala’s youngest brothers. Their stories are told together, as if they are the same person but have been split in two. Their story is as if someone has lost a part of themselves and go on the journey of trying to find that part. This is written through a series of abstract poetry all strung together to form a very abstract journey through the subconscious that will allow the reader to form their own understanding of and their own personal connection to it.
The book is illustrated with Joanna's own paintings. She worked with a graphic designer Deirdre Gleeson, who manipulated and layered Joanna's paintings to create something very unique.
The book is for sale at Eason in Nenagh and in Sheela Na Gig bookshop in Cloughjordan. It is also for sale online at childrenoflir.ie.
READINGS IN NENAGH
Joanna will be doing a number of dramatic readings of this book in Nenagh Heritage Centre on October 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th at 11am each morning.
“This reading is one hour long,” Joanna said. “This dramatic reading is performed in the traditional style of the Bardic storytellers – no set, no props, no sound equipment – just me, my Celtic cloak and my dramatic telling of this new adaptation of the Children of Lir.”
There are only six places available per reading so booking is essential. To book, call Joanna on 0879588073 or email joanna@childrenoflir.ie. The readings are free of charge but the books will be for sale at each reading.