Conversation with Film Maker Bob Quinn

Dhein Bob Quinn an chéad scannáin-fada as Gaeilge, Poitín, 45 blian ó shin. This veteran filmmaker, writer, photographer and Aosdána member, has been a distinctive, sometimes controversial voice in the Irish arts world for six decades.

The Museum of Modern Art in New York holds some of his films in its collection.

Tá cónaí ar Bhob Quinn i gConamara ó 1970. Is scannánóir, scríbhneoir agus grianghrafadóir é.
Chuaigh sé ag obair do RTÉ in 1961, shiúl sé amach as RTÉ in 1969. Bhunaigh sé féin Seosamh Ó Cuaig and Tony Christofides, nach maireann, an comhlacht scannán agus físe, Cinegael in 1973. Rinne sé drámaíocht, faisnéis, agus scannáin trialacha don BBC, Channel 4, SBS, UTV, agus craoltóirí eile. Don teilifís rinne sé cláir do RTÉ ar nós Pobal in London (1987); Pobal in Boston (1990); agus Pobal in Deutschland (1992); Last Days of the Gaeltacht le Desmond Fennell (1981); It must be done right – Dónal McCann (1999); Graceville – Muintir Chonamara i Minnesota, TG4 (1997); Splanc Dheireadh na Gaeltachta, TG4 (2000); Damhsa an Deoraí – Scéal an Galtymore i Londain, TG4 (2002); ConTempo Goes West, TG4 (2006).
Toghadh é ina bhall d’Aosdána in 1985 – an chéad scannánóir a thuill an onóir sin.

Bob Quinn made the first feature film in Irish Poitín, 45 years ago. Veteran filmmaker, writer,
photographer, Aosdána member, a distinctive, sometimes controversial voice in the Irish film and
broadcasting world for six decades.

The Museum of Modern Art in New York holds two of his films in its collection. His written works
include a fictional memoir Smokey Hollow (1991), Maverick: a dissident view of broadcasting (2001), The Atlantean Irish (2005), The Accompanist (2006), Darwin on the Shannon (2020) and The Specific Gravity of Water (2022).

Accepting a Doctor of Arts at the University of Galway last year, Bob Quinn quoted advice given to
him years ago by writer, Francis Stuart: ‘Cherish your ignorance. It is the only unique thing you
possess’. His written works include a fictional memoir Smokey Hollow (1991), Maverick: a dissident view of broadcasting (2001), The Atlantean Irish (2005), The Accompanist (2006) and Darwin on the Shannon (2020).