Padraic O Conaire is one of Ireland’s best known yet least understood writers.  The drunken dreamer, the merry prankster, generous to a fault, selfish in the extreme – such is the myth that surrounds O Conaire.  Filmmaker Johnny White delves behind the contradictions and hyperbole to find the truth behind the revolutionary socialist, nationalist, social critic and writer – but can we ever know the real Padraic O Conaire?

Connemara-born Mairtin O Cadhain was the most acclaimed author of 20th century prose in Irish.  He is best known for his major novel Cre na Cille (the film adaptation of which also screens at this year’s festival).  With terrific use of archival footage from Connemara and Dublin in the 40s and 50s, Ri an Fhocail profiles a giant among Irish writers whose work continues to demand attention and recognition.