Boluisce Press, the new book imprint dedicated to culture and ideas from the Journal of Music, has announced that actor Stephen Rea will launch its inaugural title, Count Me Out: Selected Writings of Filmmaker Bob Quinn.

Count Me Out is a landmark collection of essays from the iconoclastic filmmaker, photographer and writer, edited by Journal of Music editor Toner Quinn.

The book will be launched in Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop in Galway City on Saturday 15 February.

Commenting on the new title, Toner Quinn said:

This collection, dating from the 1960s to the 2020s, tells my father’s story through his own words. Although he is known as a filmmaker, writing has been key to his work, either through books written between films, or essays and articles as part of his activism. Count Me Out will be essential reading for anyone interested in ideas, film, broadcasting and public debate in Ireland.

From Poitín to Atlantean
Count Me Out traces the artist’s work and thinking over seven decades. In 1969, Bob Quinn walked out of RTÉ, published a damning critique of the broadcaster, made a controversial appearance on the Late Late Show, and took refuge in the Conamara Gaeltacht. After three years of trialing various careers, he returned to filmmaking as a result of the Gaeltacht Civil Rights Movement and founded the company Cinegael. What followed was a series of groundbreaking works that changed the course of Irish film, including the first Irish-language feature film, Poitín. 

In subsequent decades he continued to challenge convention, from the Atlantean films, which linked Conamara sean-nós singing to North Africa, to his role in the activism that led to TG4, and from his bracing analysis of RTÉ in the book Maverick to his outspoken views on the societal impact of television advertising. Combining wit, irreverence and vision, Count Me Out is an inspiring collection and available to pre-order now at journalofmusic.com/shop.

The publication of Count Me Out is generously supported by Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge – Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, Grattan Healy, Telegael, TG4, and Bill Whelan.