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Páipéir Brian Friel

What is vaguely forbidden?

In this note towards Dancing at Lughnasa (1990) dated 30 May 1989, Friel asks himself whether dance might be a means of expressing as-yet unidentified taboos.

From MS 37,104/1, National Library of Ireland; copyright Brian Friel Estate, reproduced by permission.

Transcription

30 May

It’s absurd, I know, but when I every time I recall that summer in 1937, (see bottom)

Maggie ironing Fr. J.’s surplice

Mother finds it + dances

Humdrum scene: turf – feeding hens – 

correcting exercises – knitting

What is vaguely forbidden?

What is taboo?

Is dance the secret code that permits these things to be expressed?

(Christina in surplice.)

Open with humdrum domestic scene.

Then narrator talking about above – dance + dance’s code

And illustrate it.

It’s absurd, I know, but every time when I recall that summer in 1937 I the memories are there are very few memories of people talking, of conversation. But there are lucid, vivid memories of people dancing – joyous dancing – wonderfully skilled dancing – expressive dancing that disposed of language, supplanted words

 

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Don't anticipate the ending Teagmháil Chruthaitheach le Páipéir Brian Friel

Is cartlann de chartlann é an taispeántas seo; agus dála gach cartlann mhaith, níl aon bhealach ceart chun é a léamh. Lean ort ag cliceáil ar na rudaí a gcuireann tú spéis iontu, agus ná bíodh imní ort má théann tú amú rud beag ar an mbealach. Más mian leat do bhealach ar ais a aimsiú, seiceáil an t-innéacs sa roghchlár. 

Arna chur i láthair i gcomhpháirtíocht le Leabharlann Náisiúnta na hÉireann

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