Peig Sayers, together with Tomás Ó Chriomhthain (The Islandman) and Robert J. Flaherty (Man of Aran) is one of the three towering figures that became celebrated by the late Gaelic Revival. Peig's recollections were never written down but dictated to others, and in the process often edited or shortened. As a result they often became the object of satire--such as Flann O'Brien's The Poor Mouth--or the cause of unhappy memories for students confronted with the school book version of her recollections.
It was only after Pádraig Ó Héalaí and Bo Almqvist's authentic edition of her stories was published in 2008 by New Island, that her contribution to Irish literary history and culture enjoyed a better assessment and her tales found a new audience worldwide. In part two of this Peig Sayers revival, Pádraig Ó Héalaí has used remastered recordings of Peig made in 1952 by the Irish Folklore Commission to produce an accurate, lively and illuminating representation of Peig's unique style of oral storytelling.
These remastered recordings will be available in CD format along with the book. Ó Héalaí has edited these transcripts and translated them into English, and there is no doubt will they add to giving Peig her deserved and appropriate place in Irish culture.
