A recent arrival on the Irish publishing scene, Bullaun Press has chosen literature in translation as its sole focus. It is the first press in Ireland to be dedicated to the artform of translation.
Founder Bridget Farrell’s background in independent publishing and languages inspired her to set up Bullaun in 2021. She wants to see the press become an advocate for translators, especially Irish and Irish-based ones. Bullaun is open to approaches from translators looking for a home for a text that they are passionate about.
Translators will also be commissioned also to work on recent books that could strike a chord with an Irish audience and beyond. As well as an enriching our reading experiences, it’s an important gesture of recognition of the cultural heritage of some of the many different language-speakers living in Ireland. We’d love to hear from you about compelling books that have not yet been translated into English.
Our first title in April 2022 was I Am Lewy, Mícheál Ó hAodha’s lively rendition of Eoghan Ó Tuairisc’s An Lomnochtán (1977) – opening up this wonderful text to a new audience. The next one to come, in October 2023, will be Without Waking Up, Deirdre McMahon’s translation of Austrian author Carolina Schutti’s 2012 novel – already translated into at least 12 other languages – Einmal muss ich über weiches Gras gelaufen sein.
The Arts Council of Ireland funds the work of Bullaun Press, for which we are hugely grateful.
The name ‘Bullaun’ comes from the Irish word for a stone that holds water at its centre. Many bullauns around the country are traditionally associated with magical, healing or holy properties.