‘The unifying dynamic in this compendium is the shared perspective of the world
as viewed from my neighbourhood’
– Cónal Creedon, Spaghetti Bowl
[ About Spaghetti Bowl ]
The inspiration for each individual piece is very much a stand-alone exploration, [with some translated into Chinese and German]. Yet the unifying dynamic in this compendium is Creedon’s global perspective as viewed from what he calls the ‘Spaghetti Bowl of Streets’ in downtown Cork City, Ireland – where his family has lived and traded for generations.
When examined in its entirety, this diverse and eclectic collection of essays come together – as a single cohesive body of work that resonates far beyond the inner-city streets of his native Cork.
[ My Review ]
Spaghetti Bowl by Cónal Creedon was released August 15th with Irishtown Press, with its official launch being held at Murphy’s Brewery (Heineken Ireland) in Cork City this Thursday September 19th (see below for more details).
Cork will always be known as a city of characters and right now there is one man who strolls the streets of the city, always observing, always making connections and always with a friendly word to brighten someone’s day. This man is novelist, playwright and documentary film maker, Cónal Creedon. I have crossed virtual paths with Cónal over the years but it is really only in the past twelve months that I have had the opportunity to chat to him and to discover for myself why he really is so very much loved by everyone who meets him.
Every city needs a person who will document its people and its past and in Cork, we are very honoured to have Cónal Creedon take on that role. Cónal was born in 1961 to a large family on Devonshire Street right in the heart of Cork city. He also operated a laundrette there in the 1980s. For the best part of 100 years his family have traded on Devonshire Street, but the inner city retail and cultural scene is very different from what it was in the last century. Many Corkonians moved to the suburbs over the years with much of its original character now gone, but through the eyes of Cónal Creedon, I have learned to see my city differently. He has taught me to acknowledge the changes and to be aware that underneath it all, Cork is, and always will be, a city of rebels and rogues. We are a very proud people with a great ability to laugh at ourselves and to see the humour even during the darkest of times.
When assembling this collection, Cónal refers to these essays (many commissioned pieces) as ‘like time capsules – they stand testament to moments of another era.’ He writes about recent world events and he brings his readers local observations and snippets of life in Cork city from years gone by. With a poignancy and a strong sense of nostalgia, his poetic turn of phrase and warm wit bring alive a whole cast of characters, who would otherwise surely be forgotten.
Cónal’s writing crosses borders, geographically, culturally and socially. In recognition of his extraordinary writing Cónal will be receiving the Leonardo da Vinci World Award of Arts in Quebec later in October.
‘This year the World Cultural Council (WCC) will celebrate its 39th Award Ceremony hosted by McGill University at its historic downtown campus in the city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, on Wednesday, October 23, 2024‘
Cónal has received numerous accolades over the years from both the media and multiple institutions. From Shanghai to Berlin, from Cork to Chicago, and many more places in between, Cónal’s work has been acknowledged as been extremely creative and very expressive.
Through the essays of Spaghetti Bowl, Cónal peels back the layers of Cork city’s history and culture with insights from different periods of his life. He captures its essence, while simultaneously providing a vivid portrait, as he immerses the reader into his Cork, his hometown. It’s clear that Cónal Creedon is a proud Corkonian and much of his writing is very much a love letter to his city but it is also a beautifully compiled anthology of essays that, as the jury members of the World Cultural Council stated ‘reveals a fascinating insight into the universal nature of the human condition, and constitutes a significant contribution to the artistic legacy of creative expression.’
Spaghetti Bowl is a literary and lyrical treasure, a selection of evocative and charming stories delivered with the unique voice of this master storyteller, the legend that is Cónal Creedon.
[ Bio ]
Cónal Creedon is an award winning novelist, playwright and documentary filmmaker from Cork, Ireland. You can read all about Cónal at https://www.conalcreedon.com/
X ~ @ConalCreedon
