Paul Muldoon: Laoithe is Liricí / A Life in Lyrics

Alan Gilsenan is an award-winning Irish writer, filmmaker, and theatre director. His diverse and eclectic body of film work extends across documentaries, feature films, and experimental work.

His latest film The Days of Trees—a reflection on trauma and memory—recently won the George Morrison Feature Documentary Award at the 2024 Irish Film & Television Awards. He has recently completed a new feature documentary, a meditation on the dark legacy of the Irish “Troubles” and the possible future of a united Ireland, called The Irish Question.

As well as in his native Ireland, Gilsenan has made films in places as diverse as Japan, Paraguay, the USA, Greece, and Brazil. Other recent films include the film poem Ghosts of Baggotonia, a feature documentary about radical politician Noël Browne—The Seven Ages of Noël Browne, and An Buachaill Gealgháireach/The Laughing Boy (which won the Audience Prize at the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival).

Alan Gilsenan has also served on the Irish Film Board (now Screen Ireland) (2000—2008); as Chairman of the Irish Film Institute (2002—2007); as Chairman of Film-Makers Ireland—now Screen Producers Ireland—(1995—1998); and as a board member of the International Dance Festival Ireland (2001—2007). From 2009—2014, Gilsenan served on the Board of Ireland’s state broadcaster RTÉ. He is currently the Chairperson of Fighting Words, a national creative writing center for young people.