No sooner than I arrived in Donegal and made a start on two large paintings than Seamas and I came down with Covid 19. Apparently the current wave has been mopping up many of the people who had thus far avoided the horrible virus. I never gave up wearing my mask in shops but I still caught it. Darn! So I have spent most of the last two weeks sleeping and lying in bed trying to do very little, in the hope that my immune system will bounce back and my energy levels will return to normal.
I am also feeling faintly stupid but very delighted because I only just realised that Claire Keegan’s novella “Foster”, is the basis for the film “The Quiet Girl”. My oil painting “The Traditional House, Gola” has been used for the cover of the reprint of “Foster”. Actually, never mind the covid, I nearly fell over when I made the connection.
I must have seen these adverts on TG4 (the Irish language chanel) because I thought of this film by it’s Irish language title “An Cailín Ciúin” – as just about all the dialogue is in Irish. I didn’t realise that it was the same story as “Foster”.
It’s story about a nine-year-old girl, Cáit, who is sent to spend the summer with her aunt Eibhlín (Carrie Crowley) and her husband Seán, who live in the Rinn Gaeltacht, County Waterford. The film is directed and written by Colm Bairéad , based on Claire Keegan’s story “Foster”. It has won a whole pile of International awards, rave reviews and has been breaking box office records in Ireland and UK. I am really excited and greatly honoured to be connected, even in a tenuous way, to such an amazing project!
I am now going back to bed, in the hope that I haven’t over done it.
More about the film
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_Cail%C3%ADn_Ci%C3%BAin
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/may/11/the-quiet-girl-review-beauty-and-pain-in-rural-ireland
https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Foster-Audiobook/057137350X
Congratulations on having your painting on the cover of Foster, the book! Did you know about it beforehand?
Yes, I knew about the book cover but I didn’t appreciate its full significance!
Take care of yourself. Read trashy books. Feel better soon.
Thank you, Ellen. I have watching trashy boxsets on my tablet. I am feeling more normal but still need to lie down every now and then.
Sorry to hear about the covid…..but CONGRATULATIONS re the book cover. It’s so beautiful.
Continue to take good care and painting of course:)
Thank you, Janet. I am not sure I am up to finishing the large painting just yet. I am playing around with coloured pencils right now. I can pick them up and put them down again, as And when I have the energy for them.
How wonderful! Congrats on the cover. I am so sorry you are sick and hope you feel better soon.
Thank you Cindy, the covid is a bind. I don’t want to catch it again, if I can help it.
Your house painting is perfect for the novel cover! I also just got over Covid after having avoided it for what – 2 years? It hit me hard and I’m still trying (after nearly 2 months) to regain my energy and strength. I’m thinking of you Emma and hope you and hubby are well very soon.
Sorry about the covid but Congratulations for the book cover. That is fabulous!
Thank you Leueen – covid is a drag but every cloud etc.
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