WRITER PROFILE

Theo Dorgan interviews the multi talented Dermot Bolger well known for his novels, 'The Journey Home', his plays, 'In High Germany', his poetry, 'Taking My Letters Back and finally, as the maverick publisher of Dublin's famed Raven Press.

Reacting strongly against the traditional hierarchies of Irish public life. Bolger has produced unsettling and striking work that combines gritty description with lyrical intensity. From the 1980s onwards Bolger has emerged as one of the most powerful voices of Irish writing in the international arena.

In this interview Bolger moves swiftly to counter Theo's suggestion that his writing is in the 'social realism' mould. "There is a two hundred year old vampire in my last book, dreams are an important part of my novels, I like to see myself as belonging to the great tradition of writers like Bram Stoker, Brinsley Sheridan, Le Fanu".

In this interview Bolger throws light on all the various activities he has involved himself in. He was raised in the Dublin working class area of Finglas, where at the age of seventeen he started up The Raven Press to publish writers he felt were being ignored.

He went on to publish writers like Roddy Doyle, Fintan O'Toole, Pat McCabe, Peter Sheridan, and Francis Stuart. "I found there was a vacuum, there was a body of writers voices that were not being heard, it started as a very small enterprise with a fund of thirty pounds".

Asked by Theo how he copes with all the different writing mediums he's involved with Bolger responds that "It is the poet within me that informs all of the other writing whether it be theatre or the novels".

On writing novels "It's like trying to climb very large cliffs and then throwing myself off and wait to see what happens. Writing to me is like drowning and you will hold on to any driftwood that will help you to the shore".

On theatre "The attraction of theatre is you get sacked every six weeks and its over, when its up and running your hearts in your mouth, you're bleeding terrified".


Biographical Details

Dermot Bolger was born in Finglas, North Dublin, in 1959. He founded and edited the Raven Arts Press, Dublin, from 1979 to 1992.

His novels are 'Night Shift', (Kerry, Brandon Books - 1982); 'The Woman's Daughter', (Dublin, Raven Arts Press - 1987, revised and enlarged editon by Penguin, London - 1991); 'The Journey Home' (London, Viking - 1990); 'Emily's Shoes', (Viking - 1992); 'A Second Life' (London, Penguin - 1994); 'Father's Music' (London, Flamingo - 1997); 'Temptations' (Flamingo - 2000); and 'The Valparaiso Voyage' (Flamingo - 2001).

His plays are 'The Lament for Arthur Cleary', (Dublin, The Project Theatre - 1989); 'Blinded by the Light', (Dublin, The Abbey Theatre, Peacock stage - 1990); 'In High Germany' (Dublin, The Gate Theatre - 1990); 'The Holy Ground' (The Gate Theatre - 1990); 'One Last White Horse' (The Peacock - 1991) 'Greatest Hits, One Act Plays' (New Island Books - 1997); 'April Bright / Blinded by the Light' (Dublin, The Peacock Stage, and London, Nick Hern Books - 1997); and 'The Passion of Jerome', (The Peacock - 1999; Methuen, London - 1999).

His poetry collections include 'The Habit of Flesh' - 1980; 'Finglas Lillies' - 1981; 'No Waiting America' - 1982; all published by Raven Arts Press; 'Internal Exiles', (Dublin, Dolmen - 1986;) 'Leinster Street Ghosts' (Raven Arts Press - 1989); and 'Taking My Letters Back, New and Selected Poems' (Dublin, New Island Books - 1998).

He has edited numerous books, including the seminal 'A Bright Wave / An Tonn Gheal' (Raven Arts Press - 1989); 'Invisible Dublin' (Raven Arts Press - (1985); 'Ireland In Exile' (New Island Books - 1993); 'Letters from The New Island' (Raven Arts Press - 1995); 'Finbar's Hotel' (New Island Books - 1997); its sequel, 'Ladies Night at Finbar's Hotel' (Picador - 1999); and 'The Picador Book of Contemporary Irish Fiction' (Picador - 1993).

He has also written several film scripts. His numerous awards include the Samuel Beckett Award - 1990, Memorial Award - 1996; and The Stuart Parker BBC Award - 1990.

He is a member of Aosdána, and lives in Dublin.


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Running Time: 30mins
Year Made: 1999
Price: €20 - PAL (European), €30 - NTSC (US) plus P&P