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Niall de Búrca
Scealaí - Storyteller
 Niall
de Búrca is one of Irelands finest traditional storytellers
featuring in theatre, radio and television. At home he has featured
at festivals all over the country including Féile Earragail,
the Cúirt International Festival of Literature, the Kilkenny
Arts Festival and the CS Lewis at Belfast City Hall. Abroad he
has performed in countries as diverse as Finland, Italy and Argentina.
Niall also spent many years living in New Zealand. His experiences
as a young emigrant have had a major influence on his work and
performance style. Recognized for the diversity of his stories
and with an ability to reach all ages; Niall is a familiar figure
to many Irish children. In 2002 he received the Medal Of Excellence
from Heidleberg school district in Germany for his work with young
authors. Another important aspect of his work is the interpretation
of museum and art gallery exhibitions. These include performances
on the life and works of Max Ernst, kinetic sculptor Len Lye and
Johann Gutenberg. In 2001 Niall produced the first storytelling
series for the National Museum of Country Life at Castlebar, County
Mayo. He performs there regularly and is at present working on
a new collection of tales inspired by the museums exhibits.
In 2004 Niall produced Blackwater Storystream, a peace and reconciliation
initiative using storytelling to link together fifty schools in
the border counties of Armagh, Monaghan and Tyrone. . In 2005
he directed "Tale Tellers". This cd project featured
teenagers from throughout Ireland relating traditional and original
tales and rhymes. It was launched at the Mansion House in Dublin
last September.
At present Niall is Ireland's participant in an EU initiative
to promote linguistic diversity through storytelling. In the Summer
of 2006 he will join colleagues from seven other nations in a
tour that will celebrate the great tales of Europe through multilingual
performances in Prague, Budapest Dublin and Copenhagen.
Níor bhris focal maith fiacal riamh.....A good word never
broke a tooth.
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