Irish Roots and Radical Hope with Manchán Magan and Shirley Anne McMillan

Dwight Dunston brings listeners into a reflective discussion with two Irish writers, Manchán Magan and Shirley Anne McMillan, as they explore Ireland's divided history, cultural resilience, and visions for a more harmonious future.

Manchán Magan, a writer and documentarian from the Republic of Ireland, speaks about his family’s legacy of preserving the Irish language and culture. “We were isolated,” he says, reflecting on Ireland’s history of being on “the very edge of Europe.” He describes how colonial forces tried to erase Irish culture and language and how his ancestors fought to keep them alive. Now, he feels called to reconnect Irish people to this heritage and the land, bridging the ancient and modern worlds in his work: “For me, world-building is trying to manifest little glimpses… of living in a more harmonious way.” Manchan’s LinkTree.

Shirley Anne McMillan, a children’s author and the Seamus Heaney Writing Fellow at Queen’s University, Belfast, shares her experience of growing up in a Protestant community in Northern Ireland. She recalls her father’s life as a soldier in the British army, a role that brought complexity and danger into their home life. “I knew he checked his car for bombs every morning,” she reveals, underscoring the tension and risk her family faced. Now, Shirley strives to help young people make sense of these complex histories through her writing, creating stories that offer understanding and resilience: “I want them to feel that they can do something good… you can always add to the goodness.”

As Manchán and Shirley explore their different experiences growing up in Ireland, they find common ground in their hopes for a peaceful future that honors Ireland's cultural roots and builds a more connected, ecologically balanced society. Their conversations with Dwight reflect visions of Ireland where historical wounds are acknowledged, and diverse identities and histories are woven into a shared, harmonious future.

Guest Introductions:

• Manchán Magan
  • Irish author, documentarian, and host of The Almanac of Ireland podcast, Manchán is known for books like Thirty-Two Words for Field and Listen to the Land Speak

The transcript for this episode is available on https://pendlehillseed.buzzsprout.com/

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The Seed is a project of Pendle Hill, a Quaker center open to all for Spirit-led learning, retreat, and community. We’re located in Wallingford, Pennsylvania, on the traditional territory of the Lenni-Lenape people.

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