Monday, December 23, 2013

Na Deich Leabhar Gaeilge is Fearr ... / The Ten Best Books in Irish ...

In eagrán na Nollag den iris liteartha Comhar tá liosta de 'Na Deich Leabhar Gaeilge is Fearr a Foilsíodh ó Chasadh na Mílaoise'. Tá luacháir orainn a rá gur chruthaigh Cois Life go hiontach maith sa 'phobalbhreith' seo. Seo a leanas an príomhliosta:











10. Scéal Ghearóid Iarla, Máire Mhac an tSaoi (Leabhar Breac, 2013)
9.  Úlla, Seán Mac Mathúna (Cois Life, 2005)
8.  Leabhar Mór na nAmhrán, Micheál Ó Conghaile, Lochlainn Ó Tuairisg agus Peadar Ó Ceannabháin (eag.) (Cló Iar-Chonnacht, 2013)
7.  An tAthair Pádraig Ó Duinnín - Bleachtaire, Biddy Jenkinson (Coiséim, 2008)
6.  An Tionscadal, Tomás Mac Síomóin (Coiscéim, 2007)
5.  An Fear nach nDéanann Gáire, Micheál Ó Conghaile (Cló Iar-Chonnacht, 2003)
4.  An Fuíoll Feá: Rogha Dánta, Liam Ó Muirthile (Cois Life, 2013)
3.  Fontenoy, Liam Mac Cóil (Leabhar Breac, 2005)
2.  An Cléireach, Darach Ó Scolaí (Leabhar Breac, 2002)
1.  Trén bhFearann Breac, Máirín Nic Eoin (Cois Life, 2005)
San iris féin tá cur síos le léirmheastóir aitheanta ar gach leabhar atá ar an liosta agus tugaimid anseo thíos sleachta as a ndúradh faoi na leabhair s'againne. Molaimid daoibh an iris féin a cheannach leis an tuairiscí ar fad a léamh ina n-iomláine - agus na scéalta eile a bhíonn ar Comhar gan amhras. www.iriscomhar.com


(Seán Mac Mathúna)

'Ní bhíonn amhras riamh ar léitheoir Úlla gur fíorlitríocht, scríbhneoireacht cheart nach féidir a mhúineadh ná a fhoghlaim, atá sna scéala. Má chuir an t-údar saothar air féin ag tabhairt an amhábhair chun críche, níl aon rian den róshoathrú le feiceáil.'
Ian Ó Caoimh





(Liam Ó Muirthile)

'Is túisce ionraiceas ná áilleacht den gcuid is mó i bhfilíocht Uí Mhuirthile agus é ag iomrascáil lena mhothú stobarnálta féin nó le gnéithe contrártha den saol lasmuigh:  bás cairde agus gaol, caidreamh teaghlaigh agus uaigneas i ndiaidh an alltair.' 

Louis de Paor



(Máirín Nic Eoin)

'Ní cúis iontais ata ann gur bhain Trén bhFearann Breac an chéad áit amach ar an liosta seo Comhar mar is leabhar léannta agus sofaisticiúil é ach is leabhar ábhartha soléite chomh maith é. Is leabhar é seo nach foláir d'aon duine a bhíonn ag plé le cultúr, le litríocht, le pleanáil teanga nó le todhchaí na Gaeilge a léamh agus a mheas ...  Cois Life a d'fhoilsigh an leabhar, comhlacht foilsitheoireachta a bhfuil cion tairbhe faoi leith déanta acu do léann na Gaeilge ó bunaíodh é sa bhliain 1995 ...  Ceann d'ilbhuanna an leabhair seo is ea an shoileire a nochtar tuairimí coimpléascúla agus teoiricí casta ann. Ta friotal agus teanga shofaisticiúil ann, ach iad nádúrtha agus dúchasach san am céanna, ionas gur féidir é a léamh agus a thuiscint go soiléir gan mórán stró.'

Brian Ó Conchubhair



Ní hamháin sin, vótáladh An Fuíoll Feá sa chéad áit ar an gCnuasach Filíochta is Fearr (Mórchnuasach) agus vótáladh Gonta le hAlex Hijmans i measc na ndeich gnuasach gearrscéalta i nGaeilge is fearr ó thús na mílaoise - bhí sé sa séú háit.




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The December edition of the Irish language literary magazine Comhar has a list of 'Na Deich Leabhar Gaeilge is Fearr a Foilsíodh ó Chasadh na Mílaoise' ('The Ten Best Irish Language Books Since the Start of the Millenium'). We're delighted to say that Cois Life's authors did themselves proud in the poll. Here is the countdown:




10. Scéal Ghearóid Iarla, Máire Mhac an tSaoi (Leabhar Breac, 2013)
9.  Úlla, Seán Mac Mathúna (Cois Life, 2005)
8.  Leabhar Mór na nAmhrán, Micheál Ó Conghaile, Lochlainn Ó Tuairisg agus Peadar Ó Ceannabháin (eag.) (Cló Iar-Chonnacht, 2013)
7.  An tAthair Pádraig Ó Duinnín - Bleachtaire, Biddy Jenkinson (Coiséim, 2008)
6.  An Tionscadal, Tomás Mac Síomóin (Coiscéim, 2007)
5.  An Fear nach nDéanann Gáire, Micheál Ó Conghaile (Cló Iar-Chonnacht, 2003)
4.  An Fuíoll Feá: Rogha Dánta, Liam Ó Muirthile (Cois Life, 2013)
3.  Fontenoy, Liam Mac Cóil (Leabhar Breac, 2005)
2.  An Cléireach, Darach Ó Scolaí (Leabhar Breac, 2002)
1.  Trén bhFearann Breac, Máirín Nic Eoin (Cois Life, 2005)

The magazine itself features a short piece about each of the books by a well-known reviewer and below we give a little taste of what was said about the Cois Life title. Better still, go buy the magazine itself, of course, and read the full descriptions - and all the other interesting material which appears in Comhar of course. www.iriscomhar.com




Úlla (Seán Mac Mathúna)
'The reader of Úlla is never in any doubt but that these stories are true literature, real writing that can't be taught of learned. If the author was at pains to mould the raw materials of the stories to perfection, there's no trace of effort or striving discernable.'
Ian Ó Caoimh

An Fuíoll Feá: Rogha Dánta / Wood Cuttings: New and Selected Poems (Liam Ó Muirthile with translations by Gabriel Rosenstock)
'For the most part integrity is more important than outward beauty in Ó Muirthile's poetry as he struggles with his own stubbon feelings or with conflicted aspects of the external world: the deaths of friends and relations, family relationships and a yearning for the distant, the unattainable.' 
Louis de Paor
Trén bhFearann Breac (Máirín Nic Eoin)
'That Trén bhFearann Breac has topped this poll which Comhar organized shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone; it's a learned, sophisticated book but it's also eminently readable. Anyone involved in the culture, literature, language planning or the future of the Irish language should read this book and consider what it says  ...
Cois Life are the publishers, a company that has done more than its share of good for Irish letters since its establishment in 1995 ...
One of the book's many gifts is how effortlessly it expresses complex opinions and involved theories. The language and style are sophisticated, yes, but also natural and rooted in the tradition of the language, so that one can read and understand clearly without any undue difficulty.'
Brian Ó Conchubhair

Not only that, but An Fuíoll Feá: Rogha Dántá / Wood Cuttings: Selected Poems was voted the best book of collected poetry overall and Gonta by Alex Hijmans was named in the top ten collections (it came sixth) of short stories in Irish since the start of the millenium.

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Fómhar / Autumn - Liam Ó Muirthile aistr./trans. Gabriel Rosenstock - An Fuíoll Feá / Wood Cuttings (Cois Life, 2013)

Mar chuid d'Fhéile Leabhar Bhaile Átha Cliath 2013, rinneadh ceiliúradh Dé Sathairn 16 Samhain ar An Fuíoll Feá: Rogha Dánta / Wood Cuttings: New and Selected Poems (tuilleadh eolais anseo) le Liam Ó Muirthile, aistrithe ag Gabriel Rosenstock. Sa taifead seo ón gceiliúradh, léann Liam an dán 'Fómhar' as an gcnuasach agus ina dhiaidh sin léann Gabriel Rosenstock an t-aistriúchán a rinne sé ar an dán agus míníonn sé an cur chuige aistriúcháin a tharraing sé chuige chun plé leis an dán áirithe seo.
Ar an lá, sheinn Iarla Ó Muirthile dreasanna ceoil den scoth mar anlann leis an bhféasta focal.
Leis an leabhar bogcrua (agus CD fuaime ina theannta) a cheannach, brúigh anseo. Is féidir ríomhleabhar ilfhormáid (gan aon fhuaimraon) a cheannach ag na naisc chomh maith.
www.coislife.ie.

As part of the 2013 Dublin Book Festival 2013, on Saturday the 16th of November there was a celebration of An Fuíoll Feá: Rogha Dánta / Wood Cuttings: New and Selected Poems (more information here) by Liam Ó Muirthile, translated by Gabriel Rosenstock, . In this recording from the event, Liam reads first the original poem 'Fómhar' ('Autumn') in the Irish language and then Gabriel speaks about his approach to translating this particular poem before reading the translation itself.
On the day, Iarla Ó Muirthile provided musical interludes which related to some of the poems - a third language, in a sense.  
To buy the hardback or softback book (with free audio CD) click here. The book can also be purchased in various ebook formats (without any sound recordings) at the links.
www.coislife.ie

Leabhar Laethanta - Donla uí Bhraonáin (Cois Life, 2013)


San fhíseán gairid seo, tugann Donla uí Bhraonáin léargas ar a bhfuil in Leabhar Laethanta (Cois Life, 2013).
Leabhar Laethanta (in eagar ag Donla uí Bhraonáin)
Leabhar a thugann spás ar leith do gach lá den bhliain (365 lá) agus a sholáthraíonn míreanna gearra eolais faoi ghnéithe éagsúla de stair agus de shaíocht na hÉireann in aghaidh gach lae. Fágtar spás beag bán in aghaidh gach lae inar féidir leis an léitheoir a c(h)uid nótaí/meabhrán féin a scríobh.
ISBN: 978-1-907494-30-7; Foilsithe: 2013; Leathanaigh: 148; 12.00
Ceannaigh anseo.

In this short video Donla uí Bhraonáin explains what the reader will find in Leabhar Laethanta (Cois Life, 2013).
Leabhar Laethanta (edited by Donla uí Bhraonáin)
A book which sets aside space for each of the 365 days of the year and provides the reader with nuggets of information about aspects of Irish culture and history associated with each day. Blank space is left on each day to allow the reader make his or her own notes. 
Important Note: the book is in Irish ONLY - it is not a bilingual book.
ISBN: 978-1-907494-30-7; Published: 2013; Pages: 148: 12.00
Buy here.

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Olivia Golden - saothar maisithe léi le feiceáil in IMMA / Olivia Golden's Illustrations exhibited in IMMA

Léaráid le Olivia Golden as An Dragan Feasa 

Déanann Cois Life comhghairdeas le Olivia Golden a roghnaíodh i measc na n-ealaíontóirí  le haghaidh Pictiúr -  taispeántas de shaothair ealaíne le leabhair do pháistí a mhaisiú atá ar siúl ó 14 Samhain 2013 go dtí 12 Eanáir 2014 i Músaem Nua-Ealaíne na hÉireann, Cill Mhaighneann (IMMA). Tá saothar de chuid Olivia as an leabhar An Dragan Feasa a scríobh Rhiannon Watson ar taispeáint mar chuid de Pictiúr. Is féidir tuilleadh a léamh faoi léaráidí Olivia i gcomhair an leabhair seo anseo agus is féidir an leabhar a cheannach anseo. Is í Laureate na nÓg, Niamh Sharkey a thiomsaigh an taispeántas  agus tá sé tar éis bheith ar chamchuairt Eorpach cheana féin, i Vín na hOstaire, i mBologna san Iodáil, sa Bhruiséil agus i Leuven na Beilge - le cúnamh ó Chultúr Éireann. Murar leor sin, thug an taispeántas bogshodar beag in Éirinn chomh maith - ag stopadh i mBaile Bhlainséir agus i nGaillimh sular thug aghaidh ar an ardchathair - turas a rinneadh le cúnamh ón gComhairle Ealaíon. An té an bhíonn siúlach, bíonn sé (nó sí) siúlach, pictiúrach! 

Ba iad na maisitheoirí leabhar a ghlac páirt ná: Lily Bernard, Adrienne Geoghegan, Anita Jeram, Donough O’Malley, Alan Clarke, Olivia Golden, Chris Judge, Niamh Sharkey, Michael Emberley, Chris Haughton, P.J. Lynch, Steve Simpson, Tatiana Feeney, Paul Howard, Oisin McGann, Kevin Waldron, Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick, Oliver Jeffers, Mary Murphy, Olwyn Whelan agus Andrew Whitson.


"Pictiúr Goes to Europe"

Cois Life congratulates illustrator Olivia Golden on her continued success. Pictiúr, an exhibition of work by leading Irish children’s book illustrators - including some of Olivia's amazing work from An Dragan Feasa (which can be bought here) - opens in IMMA, the Irish Museum of Modern Art, Kilmainham from the 14th of November to 12th of January. 

Pictiúr, curated by Laureate na nÓg, Niamh Sharkey, is supported by the Arts Council’s Touring and Dissemination Scheme.and is the largest single exhibition of Irish children’s book illustration ever assembled. 

The video above from Laureate na nÓg's youtube channel tells the story of the exhibition's European tour (supported by Culture Ireland) to the Festival of Young Readers, Palais Auersperg, Vienna, Austria, the Bologna Children’s Book Fair in Italy, the European Parliament in Brussels and the Leuven Institute for Ireland in Europe. As always, where children's literature is concerned, CBI - Children's Books Ireland, are working away in the background. 

Participating artists are: Lily Bernard, Adrienne Geoghegan, Anita Jeram, Donough O’Malley, Alan Clarke, Olivia Golden, Chris Judge, Niamh Sharkey, Michael Emberley, Chris Haughton, P.J. Lynch, Steve Simpson, Tatiana Feeney, Paul Howard, Oisin McGann, Kevin Waldron, Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick, Oliver Jeffers, Mary Murphy, Olwyn Whelan and Andrew Whitson.



Monday, October 7, 2013

Splancanna - Félire 2014 saor in aisce - Free 2014 calendar!

Margadh Speisialta! Special Offer! (English language version below)
Féilire 2014 saor in aisce - Free 2014 calendar.


Mar mhargadh speisialta do cheannaitheoirí Splancanna ó Shaol Eile, an leabhar iontach, álainn, nua le hAlex Hijmans, gheobhaidh siad cóip d'fhéilire álainn 2014 bunaithe ar na grianghraif atá i gcorp an leabhair. 

Le níos mó eolais a fháil faoin leabhar agus leis an leabhar a ordú ní gá ach cliceáil anseo. Beidh an margadh seo ar fáil sna siopaí leabhar go ceann tamaill chomh maith, ach ná fág ródhéanach é ....
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As a special treat for those who buy a copy of Splancanna ó Shaol Eile, the wondrous and beautiful new book from Alex Hijmans, each copy comes with a free 2014 calendar featuring photographs from the book. 

To find out more about the book and to order your copy, just click here. This offer is also available in bookshops for a limited time but don't leave it too late ....






Saturday, August 31, 2013

Diarmuid Ó Gráinne (1950-2013) RIP


Diarmuid Ó Gráinne (1950-2013) RIP
[version in English is below] 

Bualadh aos liteartha na hÉireann go dona an tseachtain seo. Ní hamháin gur cailleadh príomhfhile Bhéarla na hÉireann, Seamus Heaney, ach cailleadh beirt údar Gaeilge chomh maith: Maidhc Dainín Ó Sé agus Diarmuid Ó Gráinne. Bhí go leor sna meáin Bhéarla faoin bhfathach filíochta atá ar lár, agus roinnt mhaith faoi Mhaidhc Dainín chomh maith ach ba mhaith le Cois Life ár gcloch bheag féin a chur ar charn Dhiarmuid Uí Ghráinne anseo.


(le caoinchead Coiscéim)
Cainteoir dúchais Gaeilge as Aill an Phréacháin sna Forbacha i gContae na Gaillimhe ba ea Diarmuid Ó Gráinne. I 1950 a rugadh é. D'fhreastail sé ar Choláiste Éinde sa Ghaillimh (1963-68) agus ar Choláiste Phádraig, Droim Conrach (1968-70) áit ar bhuaigh sé Duais Uí Mhaolónaigh sa stair. Is le linn dó bheith ina mhac léinn ansin a spreag Séamus Ó Mórdha, Ollamh le Gaeilge sa Choláiste, i mbun pinn é. Ina dhiaidh sin d'fhreastail Ó Gráinne ar Ollscoil na hÉireann, Baile Átha Cliath (1976-79) le staidéar a dhéanamh ar an stair, ar an bpolaitíocht agus ar an mBéarla. 

I measc a chuid leabhar bhí An Dá Mháirtín (Comhar, 1990), saothar léirmheastóireachta ar ghearrscéalta Uí Chadhain. Léirigh an saothar seo an spéis a bhí aige sa tsíceolaíocht. An bhliain dar gcionn foilsíodh úrscéal leis An Tramp (An Clóchomhar 1991), saothar a raibh duairceas áirithe ag roinnt leis. Is mar seo a chuir critic amháin síos ar ábhar an leabhair:
Fear óg is ea an traimp a fhágann Cois Fharraige i lár na 1970í agus a dhéanann aistear trí bliana trí Shasana, trín Fhrainc agus trín Ghearmáin. Tá bliain caite aige ag múineadh i mBaile Átha Cliath, ach is ag sclábhaíocht ar láithreáin tógála, mar oibrí in ospidéal, i bhfíonghort agus i monarcha a chaitheann sé na blianta corraitheacha seo. Mar gheall ar a óige, mar gheall ar an teacht aniar atá sa scéalaí, agus an stíl bheoga lán mionphictiúir agus cuntais ar na carachtair a chastar air, is mó is cosúil le seánra an “scannán bóthair” é ná le seánra dírbheathaisnéis na féintrua. ...
An bhliain chéanna nó an bhliain roimhe bhí na leabhair seo againn ó úrscéalaithe nua eile - The South le Colm Tóibín, Cowboys and Indians le Joseph O’Connor, Surrogate City le Hugo Hamilton, chomh maith leis an úrscéal mór Amongst Women ón scríbhneoir bunaithe John McGahern. An imirce mar théama iontu ar fad, téama nár síleadh a bheadh tráthúil arís blianta beaga ó shin. [Éilís Ní Anluain, The Irish Times 23 Lúnasa 2011] 

Úrscéalta dírbheathaisnéisiúla eile ar shlí a bhí in Cloch Scoiltí (Coiscéim, 2002) agus An Drochshúil (Coiscéim, 2009) agus ní rófhada ón seánra céanna a bhí an t-aistriúchán a rinne sé ar  L'Étranger le hAlbert Camus a foilsíodh faoin teideal An Strainséara (Coiscéim, 2012). Níorbh ionann an scéal i gcás Muintir na Coille (Coiscéim, 2011) áfach - bhí achar ealaíonta idir Ó Gráinne agus príomhcharachtar an leabhair - toisc gur bean a bhí inti, b'fhéidir. Mheas Darach Ó Scolaí faoin úrscéal seo gurb é 'an t-úrscéal is fearr a suitear i gConamara é o aimsir an Chadhanaigh i leith.' 


Bhí an-spéis ag Ó Gráinne riamh sa dírbheathaisnéis mar shéanra scríbhneoireachta agus chuir sé eagar ar dhá leabhar i nóchaidí an chéid seo d'imigh tharainn bunaithe ar ábhar a bhailigh sé ó bheirt sa Ghaeltacht: A Scéal Féin: Máire Phatch Mhóir Uí Churraoin (Coiscéim, 1995) agus Peait Phádraig Tom Ó Conghaile: A Scéal Féin (Coiscéim, 1997). Ar bhealach d'fhéadfaí a áiteamh gur fhaoina dtionchar siúd a thug sé faoin tsraith trí imleabhar Ó Rinn go Sáil 1-3 (Coiscéim, 2010, 2012, 2013), dialanna dírbheathaisnéisiúla ina meascadh cur síos ar shaol na tuaithe agus na feirmeoireachta agus a chuid smaointe polaitíochta agus intleachtúla féin.  

Sa chnuasach filíochta Spéir Thoirní (Coiscéim, 1993) chruthaigh sé pictiúr den seansaol don léitheoir agus rianaigh sé a shinsear siar ina áit dhúchais féin. Ba gheall le caoineadh é an leabhar seo, caoineadh ar stair phearsanta an duine, ar an stair áitiúil, ar an óige, agus ar chuimhní an duine ar gach dá dtugann sé grá dó. Ar na cnuasaigh filíochta eile a d'fhoilsigh sé bhí: Spealadh an Drúchta (Coiscéim, 1995) agus Coill Chríon na bhForbacha (Coiscéim, 2001)

Bhí an caitheamh i ndiaidh an ama atá thart ina shaintréith dá chuid scríbhneoireachta. Nuair a foilsíodh a chnuasach gearrscéalta Céard a Dhéanfas Tú Anois (Coiscéim, 1997) thiomnaigh sé do Mháire Mhac an tSaoi é ar an mbonn gurb í a t-aon duine in Éirinn a thuigfeadh é. Cruachás an ealaíontóra agus é an sracadh leis an saol ab ea an téama láir sa chnuasach.

Anuas orthusan ar fad bhí roinnt mhaith leabhar faisnéise, ina measc: Doirse Éalaithe (Coiscéim, 2004), cur síos ar na húdair ba mhó a chuaigh i bhfeidhm air; Fágann Marbh Láthair (Coiscéim, 2006), faoi dhúnmhaithe cáiliúla; An Dorn Iata (Coiscéim, 2007), leabhar faisnéise ar stair na dornálaíochta i gcoitinne agus in Éirinn go háirithe; Cúba agus Castró (Coiscéim, 2009), leabhar faisnéise agus staire. Leabhar eile a léirigh a shainspéis sa pholaitíocht ba ea an t-aistriúchán go Gaeilge a rinne sé ar bhunleabhar Caroline Seaward Karl Marx (Coiscéim 1993). Ar na foilseacháin ba spéisiúla sa réimse seo, b'fhéidir, bhí an dá leabhar a raibh baint aige leo sna nóchaidí luatha: An Cultur agus an Duine (1993) a chuir sé ina eagar le Dáithí Ó hÓgáin, agus An Fhealsúnacht agus an tSíceolaíocht (1992) a chuir Ciarán Ó Coigligh in eagar bunaithe ar shraith léachtaí ilúdair a d'eagraigh Ó Gráinne. Bhí an dá leabhar sin bunaithe ar ócáidí a reáchtáladh thar ceann Chraobh na hÉigse de Chonradh na Gaeilge. Coiscéim a d'fhoilsigh.

Le tamall de bhlianta anuas bhí Ó Gráinne ag feirmeoireacht i gCo. Ros Comáin fad a lean sé ag scríobh. D'fhoilsigh Coiscéim úrscéal eile leis i mí Iúil 2013, Aois na nIontas.  

Diarmuid Ó Gráinne (1950-2013) - Requiescat in Pace

Diarmuid Ó Grainne, born in 1950  was a native Irish speaker from the Aill an Phréacháin in Na Forbacha, Co. Galway. He attended Coláiste Éinde in Galway (1963-68) and St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra (1968-70) where he won Duais Uí Mhaolónaigh in history. During his time as a student there he was encourages by Séamus Ó Mórdha, Professor of Irish in the college, to start writing. Later Ó Gráinne  attended the National University of Ireland, Dublin (1976-79) and studied history, politics and English.

Among his books were An Dá Mháirtín (Comhar, 1990), a work of criticism on the short stories of Máirtín Ó Cadhain. This work showed Ó Gráinne’s belief in the importance of psychological insight in criticim. A novel was published the following year An Tramp (An Clóchomhar, 1991), a dark, haunted work. One critic described it in the following terms:


An Tramp [‘the tramp’] is a young man who leaves Cois Fharraige in the mid-1970s and travels through England, France and Germany. He has spent a year teaching in Dublin and here we find him spending some turbulent years slaving away on construction sites, as a hospital porter, as a labourer in a vineyard and in various factories. Because of his youth, because of the resilience of the narrator, and the vibrant style, full of carefully wrought images and accounts of the characters encountered, the novel resembles a ‘road movie’ rather than one of those self-pitying autobiographies…

In the same year that An Tramp was published we also had these books from other (then-)emerging novelists - The South by Colm Tóibín, Cowboys and Indians by Joseph O'Connor, Hugo Hamilton’s Surrogate City, as well as a great novel from the venerable John McGahern  Amongst Women. All of these exploring the theme of emigration, a theme no one envisaged would ever become relevant again.[translated from: Éilís Ní Anluain, The Irish Times, 23 August 2011]
  
Other novels by Ó Grainne which were in part autobiographical were Cloch Scoiltí (Coiscéim, 2002) and An Drochshúil (Coiscéim, 2002) and not very far away in terms of genre was Ó Gráinne’s translation of L' Étranger by Albert Camus, published under the title An Strainséara (Coiscéim, 2012). Muintir na Coille (Coiscéim, 2011), however, though also in the autobiographical novel genre, differed in that it displayed an interesting detachment, a greater artistic distance between Ó Grainne and the main character – helped, possibly, by the fact that it was a woman. Darach Ó Scolaí considered Muintir na Coille 'the finest novel set in Connemara since Ó Cadhain'. 
Ó Gráinne was deeply interested in autobiography as a genre and edited two books in the 1990s based on material he collected from individuals in the Gaeltacht:  A Scéal Féin: Máire Phatch Mhóir Uí Churraoin (Coiscéim, 1995) and Peait Phádraig Tom Ó Conghaile: A Scéal Féin (Coiscéim, 1997). It could be argued that these were the inspiration for the three volumes Ó Rinn go Sáil 1-3 (Coiscéim, 2010, 2012, 2013), a series of autobiographical diaries which blended country and farming life with Ó Gráinne’s political and intellectual ideas.

In the poetry collection Spéir Thoirní (Coiscéim, 1993) Ó Gráinne summoned up a picture of past times and traced his ancestry back in his native place. The book was an elegy to individual personal history, to local history, to lost youth, to the memory of everything Ó Grainne held fond.  Among his other poetry collections were: Spealadh an Drúchta (Coiscéim, 1995) and Coill Chríon na bhForbacha (Coiscéim, 2001)

The search for times past or remembrance of lost time was a hallmark of Ó Gráinne’s writing. When he published the collection of short stories Céard a Dhéanfas Tú Anois (Coiscéim, 1997) in which the challenge and struggle of the artist was the central theme, he dedicated the books to Máire Mhac an tSaoi stating that she was the only person in Ireland who would understand it. 

Along with these various publications were informational books, including Doirse Éalaithe (Coiscéim, 2004), in which Ó Grainne discussed the writers by whom he had been influenced; Fágann Marbh Láthair (Coiscéim, 2006), about famous murders; An Dorn Iata (Coiscéim, 2007), which documented the history of boxing both in Ireland and internationally; and a history of Cúba agus Castró (Coiscéim, 2009). Another work which illustrated his deep interest in politics was his translation of  Caroline Seaward’s Karl Marx (Coiscéim 1993). Perhaps the most interesting of these documentary-style books were the two books with which Ó Gráinne was involved in the early 1990s and which explored aspects of cultural identity at the level of the the individual and society: An Cultur agus an Duine (1993) which he edited with Professor Dáithí Ó hÓgáin, and An Fhealsúnacht agus an tSíceolaíocht (1992) which  Ciarán Ó Coigligh edited and which was based on a series of lecture organized by Ó Grainne. Both these works derived from events organised on behalf of  Chraobh na hÉigse of Conradh na Gaeilge and were published by Coiscéim. 

In recent years Ó Gráinne had been farming in Co. Roscommon while continuing to write. Coiscéim published another novel in July 2013, Aois na nIontas. Diarmuid Ó Gráinne passed away 28 Lúnasa 2013.



Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Léirmheas ar Séadna - Review of Séadna

SÉADNA
Liam Mac Mathúna (eag./ed.), Peadar Ua Laoghaire


ISBN: 978-907494-18-5 (bog/paperback) / ISBN: 978-907494-23-9 (crua/hardback)
Foilsithe/Published: 2011





Tá léirmheas ar an eagrán nua le Liam Mac Mathúna den mhórchlasaic liteartha na Gaeilge ó cheannródaí an phróis nua-aimseartha, an tAthair Peadar Ua Laoghaire ar An Timire. Ainmníodh an leabhar seo ar ghearrliosta Ghradam Uí Shúilleabháin 2011. Is féidir an léirmheas a léamh ach cliceáil anseo.

A review of Liam Mac Mathúna's edition of a classic of Irish literature from the pioneer of modern prose, An tAthair Peadar Ua Laoghaire has been published in An Timire. The book was nominated on the shortlist for Irish language Book of the Year (Gradam Uí Shúilleabháin ) in 2011. The review is in Irish but an English-language translation can be read by clicking here (select 'English' in the top right-hand corner if necessary).

Monday, August 12, 2013

Léirmheas ar An Fuíoll Feá: Rogha Dánta / Wood cutting: Selected Poems ar The Galway Review

Tá léirmheas scríofa ag an bhfile agus an critic, Micheál Ó hAodha ar An Fuíoll Feá: Rogha Dánta / Wood Cuttings: Selected Poems le Liam Ó Muirthile ar The Galway Review. Is féidir é a leamh ach brúigh anseo. [Ar fáíl i mBéarla amháin.] Sa léirmheas, léiríonn Ó hAodha tuiscint an-doimhin ar an gcomhthéacs ina ndeachaigh Ó Muirthile - agus na filí eile de chuid INNTI i mbun pinn:

'...in essence, they wanted to make poetry and the Irish language relevant at a period of great social and cultural change and make people reflect anew on what it means to be human and to be questioning – what it means to be alive! Few would say that they did not succeed well in this task. As evident from Ó Muirthile’s An Fuíoll Feá (New and Selected Poems), 555 pages long, this was no easy task. Not only did they have to invent a “new” language or form of expression – one which reflected a new, urban environment that incorporated a diverse range of energies and milieus – but they had to do this in a minority language (which few people could read and even fewer could write), a tongue unloosed from its rural hinges, disorientated, and indeed traumatized by the shame associated with the battering it took under colonialism. In essence this generation of Irish poets and Ó Muirthile was in their vanguard, had to vault barriers so insurmountable (both practical and philosophic) before they got to creating their poetry at all, that the immensity of their efforts has yet to be fully realized.' 
Is féidir an leabhar a cheannach anseo le clúdach cruabog agus tá CD leis an dá shaghas.

The poet and critic MicheálÓ hAodha has published a written a review [in English]  of  An Fuíoll Feá: Rogha Dánta / Wood Cuttings: Selected Poems by Liam Ó Muirthile in The Galway Review. The full review of this magnum opus from Ó Muirthile, whom he describes as 'one of the foremost European post-war poets in any language' can be read at the link here. In the review, Ó hAodha displays a depth of knowledge of the context of the work of Ó Muirthile and indeed the other INNTI poets:

'...in essence, they wanted to make poetry and the Irish language relevant at a period of great social and cultural change and make people reflect anew on what it means to be human and to be questioning – what it means to be alive! Few would say that they did not succeed well in this task. As evident from Ó Muirthile’s An Fuíoll Feá (New and Selected Poems), 555 pages long, this was no easy task. Not only did they have to invent a “new” language or form of expression – one which reflected a new, urban environment that incorporated a diverse range of energies and milieus – but they had to do this in a minority language (which few people could read and even fewer could write), a tongue unloosed from its rural hinges, disorientated, and indeed traumatized by the shame associated with the battering it took under colonialism. In essence this generation of Irish poets and Ó Muirthile was in their vanguard, had to vault barriers so insurmountable (both practical and philosophic) before they got to creating their poetry at all, that the immensity of their efforts has yet to be fully realized.'
The book is available in hardback and paperback and both come with an audio CD.





Thursday, July 25, 2013

Léitheoireacht an tSamhraidh! - Summer Reading!

Léitheoireacht an tSamhraidh - Cois Life cois trá!


Agus séasúr an tSamhraidh tosaithe i gceart anois, tá sé tráthúil féachaint ar na sárleabhair atá ar fáil mar léitheoireacht éadrom.

Is féidir Buaic le Dermot Somers a thabhairt síos chun na trá leat agus coinneoidh leac oighir agus sneachta Everest breá fionnuar tú fad a bheidh an t-úrscéal seo á léamh agat. Tuilleadh sonraí anseo.


Má tá tú ag díriú ar an gcósta agus más spéis leat dúshlán na bleachtaireachta, ní shárófar Sceon na Mara le Liam Ó Muirthile mar ábhar léitheoireachta atá préamhaithe san fhíorshaol. Téir in achrann i líon na mistéire anseo...




Is é atá in Dún an Airgid le hÉilís Ní Dhuibhne scéal bleachtaireachta sna bruachbhailte nua-aoiseacha agus léiríonn modh inste an údair na buanna plotála agus castachtaí ar fad a rug sí léi óna taithí ag scríobh cláracha i sobaldrámaí don teilifís. Is féidir tús a chur le do chuairt ar Dhún an Airgid anseo.


Má tá tú buartha faoi 'ualach an léinn' (nó 'liúntas bagáiste Ryanair' mar is fearr aithne air) cuimhnigh gur féidir na leaganacha ríomhleabhair a cheannach ach an oiread ar do kindle, iPad nó do rogha gléas eile.



Summer Reading - bring Cois Life on holiday with you!

With the holiday season under way right now is a good time to look at the super books Cois Life has made available for holiday reading.

If the beach gets too hot, Dermot Somer's novel Buaic will cool you down with all the ice and snow on Everest. More details here.


If you're headed for the coast and like the challenge of a whodunnit, Sceon na Mara by Liam Ó Muirthile can't be beaten for reality-based fiction. Follow this link and you just might get entangled in the nets of mystery .....


Dún an Airgid by Éilís Ní Dhuibhne is a detective story set in the new suburbs and the way it's told uses all the plot twists which the author learned from her time writing episodes of TV soap operas. To begin your visit to Dún an Airgid follow this link.

And remember, if you're worried about 'the heavy burden of learning' (aka your Ryanair baggage allowance), you can always opt to buy the e-book version of these books on your kindle, iPad or other mobile device.

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Agallamh le Liam Ó Muirthile ar Southword


"I  gcás na filíochta, is sainchuid den saothar féin guth an fhile, maidir le rithim, canúint, luí na bhfocal sa líne agus leis na línte, ceol, urlabhra,  – gach gné den dán, an feisteas iomlán i ndáiríre. Gníomh éisteachta chomh maith le gníomh scríbhneoireachta is ea líne filíochta." - Liam Ó Muirthile

Sin cuid den smaointeoireacht a nocht an file agus é faoi agallamh ghéarchúiseach ag Ailbhe Ní Ghearbhuigh faoina chnuasach dátheangach An Fuíoll Feá: Rogha Dánta in eagrán 24 de Southword. Is féidir an t-agallamh ar fad ach cliceáil anseo.



"In the case of poetry, the poet's voice is an integral part of the work, rhythm, dialect, how the words ie in the line and with the lines, music, speech, - every aspect of the poem, the whole apparel, really. A line of poetry is an act of listening as well as an act of writing." - Liam Ó Muirthile

Just some of the ideas which the poet discusses in an insightful interview about his bilingual collection An Fuíoll Feá/Wood Cuttings: New and Selected Poems. The interview is conducted by Ailbhe Ní Ghearbhuigh in Southword (edition 24). The entire interview can be read here (interview transcription in Irish only). 


Monday, June 3, 2013

Splancanna ó Shaol Eile (2013) (réamhradharc) le Alex Hijmans - Preview of Alex Hijmans new book of reportage from Brazil


[English translations below]
Céad grianghraf. Céad aiste ghearr. Cur síos i bhfís agus i bhfocail ar thír aduain, anaithnid… atá i lár an aonaigh.
Tá aird an tsaoil mhóir ar an mBrasaíl agus beidh go ceann roinnt mhaith blianta: 2014 – Corn an Domhain sa Sacar i dtír na Brasaíle, 2016 – Na Cluichí Oilimpeacha i gcathair Rio de Janeiro. Go heacnamaíoch agus go polaitiúil, tá ról níos tábhachtaí ná riamh ag fathach Mheiriceá Theas ar an stáitse idirnáisiúnta.
Seo cuireadh duit aithne a chur ar an mBrasaíl – aithne cheart, aithne a sheachnaíonn an cliché. Sa leabhar seo, tugann Alex Hijmans, atá ina chomhfhreagraí idirnáisiúnta sa tír ó 2007, léaspairtí ar an mBrasaíl nach bhfeictear sna cártaí poist.
Seo inár ndiaidh roinnt sleachta as an leabhar a fhoilseofar níos déanaí in 2013 - agus tá aistriúcháin gharbha Béarla leis na reamhshleachta seo i gcás go bhfuil a leithéid uait. Tá ná téacsanna a ghabhann leis na grianghraif níos faide ná na sleachta anseo, ar ndóigh.

One hundred photographs. One hundred short essays. A faraway country in words and pictures, unknown ... but in the right at the heart of the world market.
All eyes are on Brazil at the moment and will be for the near future: 2014 – the World Cup in Brazil, 2016 – the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Economically and politically Brazil is now more important than ever before on the international stage as the giant of South America.
Here’s your invitation to get to know Brazil – to really get to know it, to avoid the clichés. In this book Alex Hijmans, a foreign correspondent in the country since 2007, shows you insights into Brazil that aren’t found on the postcards.
Here are some extracts from the book to be published later in 2013 - with totally exclusive English translations of the previewed extracts.* The texts accompanying the photographs in the publication are longer than those presented here, of course.

 NÍ CÁRTA POST É SEO - THIS IS NOT A POSTCARD
Tá meirg ar an bpictiúr seo, agus féasóg ar an scéal a insítear
ann. Ach tá gá leis.

Páistí ag imirt sacair, mar íomhá den Bhrasaíl? Seanchaite! Gan trácht ar thránna! Agus tá an sliabh sa chúlra – Pão de Açúcar (Sliabh Charn an tSiúcra) – ar na hionaid turasóireachta is iomráití ar domhan – inchurtha le Buckingham Palace, Niagara Falls nó an Taj Mahal. Agus seo iad – na páistí, an trá agus Pão de Açúcar – san aon ghrianghraf amháin.

Is ea, is cárta poist é seo. An t-aon cheann amháin sa leabhar. Sin an fáth a bhfuil sé ag an tús. Séard is fearr a léireoidh nach cártaí poist atá sna grianghraif eile sa saothar seo ná cárta poist ceart a thaispeáint i dtosach.

Ach, ag an am céanna, ní cárta poist é seo – níl aon bhréaga á n-insint ann. Ní aisteoirí atá fostaithe ag Bord Fáilte na Brasaíle iad na himreoirí óga sacair; fíordhaoine iad agus fíorchluiche ar bun acu – fiú mura bhfuil ach leathfhoireann acu ann...

This picture is a cliché. As is the story it tells. And yet it needs to be here.

Children playing soccer - an image of Brazil? Hackneyed! Not to mention the beaches. And the mountain in the background Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf Mountain) is one of the most famous tourist sights in the world - along with Buckingham Palace, Niagra Falls or the Taj Mahal. And here they all are - the children, the beach and Sugarloaf Mountian all in one photograph.

Yes, it's a postcard, alright. The only one in this book. That's why it's at the start. The best way to show that the rest of the book isn't a collection of postcards is to show one at the beginning.

But in another way, this isn't a postcard - it's doesn't tell any lies. The young football players aren't employes by some Brazilian Bord Fáilte; they're real people, playing a real game - even if they only have half a team...

 
Chuir Jamopoty (ar dheis) agus a fear céile Taquari a bhfeisteas traidisiúnta orthu nóiméad sular ghlac mé an grianghraf seo. Ní ligeann siad d’aon duine a bpictiúr a thógáil agus a ngnáthéadaí – jíons agus T-léine – orthu.

Polaitíocht.

Níl rud ar bith in Olivença, parrthas surfála i ndeisceart stát Bahia, a thabharfadh le fios don chuairteoir go bhfuil coimhlint ghránna ar siúl ann. Níl poill philéar sna fuinneoga, níl graifítí gríosaitheach ar na ballaí. Ach fiafraigh de dhuine ar bith faoin bplean atá ag rialtas na Brasaíle tearmann a chruthú do threibh bhundúchasach áitiúil, agus ní bheidh srian leis an ngoimh...

Jamopoty (on the right) and her husband Taquari donned their traditional costume moments before I took this photograph. They don't allow anyone take their photo when they're wearing their ordinary clothes - jeans and T-shirt.

Politics.


There is nothing at all in Olivença, a surfer's paradise in the south of the State of Bahia that would give the visitor to believe that a nasty struggle was under way. There are no bullet holes in the windows, no incendiary graffiti on the walls. But ask anyone about the Brazilian government's plan to create a sanctuary for the local tribe native to the area and the anger bubbles straight to the surface
...


CODARSNACHT - CONTRAST
Ní duine mé a labhraíonn leis féin os ard. Ach nuair a shiúil mé síos fána an chnoic ar a bhfuil seanchathair São Luís tógtha, i dtreo abhainn an Anil, d’éalaigh na focail seo amach ó mo bhéal do mo lom-ainneoin: ‘Ô meu Brasil ...’

‘Ochón, a Bhrasaíl mo chroí’ an t-aistriúchán is fearr a ritheann liom...

I'm not someone who often speaks to himself out loud. But when I walked down towards the river Anil, down the hill on which the old city of São Luís is built I simply couldn't stop the following words slipping out of my mouth: ‘Ô meu Brasil ...’

‘Ochón, a Bhrasaíl mo chroí’ or 'O my poor Brazil' is a rough translation...


 SPÁSÁRTHACH NIEMEYER - NIEMEYER'S SPACESHIP
Nuair a bhí an leabhar seo á chríochnú agam, d’imigh an fear a chruthaigh an foirgneamh sa ghrianghraf thuas ar shlí na fírinne, ag aois a 104 bliain. Lean sé air ag obair go dtí go gairid roimh a bhás. Bhí Oscar Niemeyer, a rugadh i gcathair Rio de Janeiro sa bhliain 1907, i measc na n-ailtirí is aitheanta ar domhan.

Is furasta a thuiscint cén fáth. Ba é a d’fhág an chuma ar Brasília a thugann ar chuairteoir a cheapadh go bhfuil sé tar éis tuirlingt ar phlainéad eile. Cén t-iontas mar sin gur spásárthach, níos mó ná rud ar bith eile, a mheabhródh an Iarsmalann Náisiúnta – sa ghrianghraf thall – do dhuine? Dhear Niemeyer an foirgneamh seo caoga bliain tar éis dó tithe an rialtais a dhearadh, agus is léir nár tháinig aon mheath ar a chuid scileanna sa leathchéad bliain sin ach a mhalairt! 

When I was almost finished writing this book, the man who created the building pictured above passed away - aged 104 years of age. He had continued working up until shortly before his death. Oscar Niemeyer, born in Rio de Janeiro in 1907 was one of the most famous architects in the world.

And not without cause. It was he who was responsible for making the visitor to Brazil think that perhaps they had landed on another planet. Small wonder then that that the National Museum should resemble nothing so much as a spaceship! Niemeyer designed this building some fifty years after he designed the national parliament building and it's obvious that his creativity hadn't declined in the intervening half a century; quite the opposite... 

NÓTA FAOI NA hAISTRIÚCHÁIN / NOTE ON THESE TRANSLATIONS
* The translations are rough versions of the original Irish language texts, purely for illustration/pre-publicity purposes - they will not appear in the final printed book.




Thursday, March 21, 2013

Gonta - léirmheas

Foilsíodh an léirmheas thíos ar Amazon.com anseo tar éis do léitheoir an leagan kindle de Gonta le hÁlex Hijmans a cheannach agus a léamh.
The review below was posted on Amazon.com here after a reader bought the kindle edition of Gonta by Alex Hijmans.

"I could not stop reading it. That has not happened with any other book I read in Irish before.
This is a far cry from the texts of Irish school days. Alex Hijmans knows how to put you in a story, to make you feel you are there riding on a bus or on a beach or feeling the pain of a friend who teaches you a hard lesson. The characters stay with you. The immersion was so complete for me that I forgot I was reading in Irish.
Buy it, read it, go where it takes you, and enjoy the journey. These stories may take place in far-off Brazil but you'll feel like they happened to you and your best friends. There is great humanity and skill in telling something so well.
Irish literature has just jumped up a level."

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Seoladh Fuíoll Feá le Liam Ó Muirthile 8 Feabhra 2013 / Launch of Fuíoll Feá in the Unitarian Church 8 February 2013

[scroll down for English language version, please!]

Bhí ócáid fhíorthaitneamhach ag Cois Life san Eaglais Úintéireach, Faiche Stiabhna, BÁC 2, dé hAoine 8 Feabhra tráth ar seoladh Fuíoll Feá: Rogha Dánta / New and Selected Poems le Liam Ó Muirthile. Is é seo an chéad mhór-rogha dá shaothar filíochta a foilsíodh agus an chéad leabhar dátheangach leis ina bhfuil leaganacha Béarla dá shaothar ann. Gabriel Rosenstock - mórfhile aitheanta eile agus sáraistritheoir - a d'aistrigh formhór na ndánta ach tá roinnt leaganacha eile sa leabhar le daoine eile ar nós Paul Muldoon, Peter Sirr agus eile. 
Liam Ó Muirthile agus Gabriel Rosenstock
 Bhí idir cheol is fhilíocht ag an ócáid. Chuir an fear a' tí, Cathal Póirtéir an oíche i láthair agus choinnigh stiúir ar an mbabhtáil idir na focail fhileata agus na nótaí maise ceoil. Léirigh sé tuiscint an scoláire agus é ag cur síos ar shaothar Liam ach níorbh fhada uaidh a chuid scileanna léiriúcháin - agus leathshúil aige ar an gclog ar feadh an ama! Le tús a chur leis an oíche sheinn Peter Browne roinnt dreasanna ceoil a mhacallaigh timpeall na heaglaise go binn. Ansin léigh Liam roinnt dánta as an gcnuasach agus d'aithris Gabriel ansin an t-aistriúchán a bhí déanta aige. Ansin rinneadh uainíocht le dreasanna ceoil le scoth na n-oirfideach: Peter Browne, Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh agus Iarla Ó Lionaird. Luaigh Liam gur i stiúideo Iarla a rinneadh taifeadadh ar an dlúthdhiosca a ghabhann leis an leabhar, diosca ar a bhfuil roinnt dánta agus aistriúchán á n-aithris aige féin agus ag Gabriel.
Iarla Ó Lionaird, Peter Brown, Liam Ó Muirthile, Cathal Póirtéir, Gabriel Rosenstock, Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh
Ghabh Liam buíochas le Gabriel ní hamháin as na haistriúcháin ach as an spreagadh agus as an gcabhair agus an gcairdeas uile thar na blianta. Ghabh sé buíochas freisin leis na haistritheoirí eile a bhfuil saothar leo sa chnuasach agus leo siúd ar tiomnaíodh dánta dóibh. Thagair sé go sonrach do bheirt atá ar shlí na fírinne agus a bhraith sé uaidh ar an oíche: Michael Davitt, file eile den bhuíon INNTI agus, mar a dúirt Gabriel, 'fathach', agus an tOllamh Bob Welsh, a cailleadh le déanaí agus a bhí ar an mbeagán a thuig an dá thraidisiún teanga in Éirinn. Gach seans gur bhraith an slua 150 duine a bhí an Eaglais Úinitéireach nach rófhada uathu a bhí an bheirt seo ar an oíche. Slua ildánach ilaoiseach a bhí ann - daoine ar mór leo an fhilíocht - agus an ceol. Bhí an t-aos léinn i láthair go tiubh, ar ndóigh - chonacthas an tOll Alan Titley i láthair, mar shampla agus bhain slua ón dara bliain in Ollscoil na hÉireann, Baile Átha Cliath atá ag staidéar an Bhéarla an-taitneamh as an oíche chomh maith. Tá Cois Life buíoch den Chomhairle Ealaíon agus d'Fhoras na Gaeilge as a dtacaíocht leanúnach. Tá buíochas ar leith ag dul do Kevin Robinson san Eaglais Úinitéireach as a chúnamh uile.

Cois Life organised a very enjoyable and unusual evening in the Unitarian Chapel, St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2 on Friday 8th of February to launch Fuíoll Feá: Rogha Dánta / New and Selected Poems by Liam Ó Muirthile. This is the first major selection of Liam's work from his various collections to be published and the first bilingual book with English versions of all the poems. Gabriel Rosenstock - a renowned poet himself and master translator - produced most of the translations but some versions are by other hands such as Paul Muldoon, Peter Sirr and others. 

An file sa lár agus é ag baint taitnimh as a chlann mac, Ciarán, Iara Donncha agus Rónán: the poet centre stage joking with his sons Ciarán, Iarla, Doncha and Rónán
  It was a night of both music and poetry. Master of Ceremonies Cathal Póirtéir presented the evening's events with a depth of understanding and considerable practical skill as befits a scholar and  seasoned radio producer and handled the transitions from poetry to music seamlessly. Peter Browne's piping rang through the beautiful old building and then Liam read some poems and then Gabriel read his translations of them. The musicians were Peter Browne, Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh and the doyen of sean-nós singing, Iarla Ó Lionaird. Liam mentioned that the recordings of some of the poems and their translations on the CD which accompanies the book were made in Iarla's studio. 

Mná calma Chois Life!  An Dr Caoilfhionn Nic Pháidín, Comhstiúrtóir an tigh foilsitheoireachta, Fionnuala Cloke, Oifigeach Foilseachán agus Julianne Ní Chonchúir, Comhlairleoir Cumarsáide. Formidable ladies from Cois Life! Dr Caoilfhionn Nic Pháidín, Co-Director of the publishing house, Fionnuala Cloke, Publications Officer and Julianne Ní Chonchúir, Communications Consultant. 
 Liam thanked Gabriel not just for the translations but for comvincing him to undertake the project and said that it reflected their long friendship. He also thanked the other translators of work in the book and those to whom poems were dedicated. He mentioned two people in particular who are no longer with us: Michael Davitt, another INNTI poet, and indeed as Gabriel said 'a giant' of poetry and  Bob Welsh, former Professor of English in the University of Ulster, who died recently. Bob, said Liam, was one of the few who had a deep understanding of both the English and Irish language traditions in Ireland. The 150 or so strong audience at the event probably felt that these two were present in spirit on this special night for Irish literature. The audience was varied and represented all age groups - lovers of poetry and music. Academics were out in force - Prof. Alan Titley congratulated Liam and Gabriel afterwards and a number of second year students of English from the National University of Ireland, Dublin said they enjoyed the night also. Cois Life is - as always - grateful to the Arts Council and Foras na Gaeilge for their continued support. Also a special word of thanks to Kevin Robinson of the Unitarian Church for all his help.



Sunday, January 6, 2013

BRONNTANAS BEAG! / A PRESENT FOR YOU! Liam Ó Muirthile - Rogha Dánta / Selected Poems



 Tá cóipeanna réamhfhoilsithe den leabhar Fuíoll Feá - Rogha Dánta le Liam Ó Muirthile ar díol ar líne anois ar www.coislife.ie   

Is é seo an chéad chnuasach téagartha de rogha dánta an mhórfhile seo. Is é Gabriel Rosenstock a d'aistrigh formhór na ndánta go Béarla. Tá CD leis an leabhar ar a bhfuil dánta áirithe á léamh ag an bhfile. Tá léaráidí leis an ealaíontóir Marie Foley sa leabhar.

Tá sampla PDF de chuid den ábhar as an leabhar - ábhar a roghnaigh an file é féin - togha na rogha duit! - ar fáil ach cliceáil anseo. Bronntanas beag ó Cois Life leis an Athbhliain a cheiliúradh.
 
Pre-publication (Spring 2013) copes of the bilingual publicationá cóipeanna réamhfhoilsithe den leabhar Fuíoll Feá - Rogha Dánta / Woodcuttings - New and Selected Poems by Liam Ó Muirthile are avilable now in our on-line shop at www.coislife.ie 

This is the first substantial bilingual selection of the work of this major poet and Gabriel Rosenstock is the chief translator. The publication includes a CD of Ó Muirthile reading a number of poems and artwork Marie Foley provides another reason why this is a very special publication.

A PDF containing a selection of material from the book specially chosen by the poet himself for you is available for download here. Please enjoy it as a New Year gift from Cois Life!

Tá an leabhar ar fáil mar chruachlúdach agus bhogchlúdach (€30/€20).
The book is available in both harback and softback (€30/€20).

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AUTHOR'S NOTE - Liam Ó Muirthile

Ireland, or that part of the island I call home, is a country of two languages historically, Irish and English. My life’s work has been defined by the relationship between those two languages. I am a
native speaker of English but a poet and writer in Irish, which I learned at school, in the Gaeltacht and from reading extensively. As a youngster, too, it was still possible, among my own extended family and the wider community in West Cork, to hear the Irish language through English or more properly Anglo-Irish, which is both an unnerving and exciting sensual and aural experience. It is like listening, fascinated, in stereo, to what is presented as a mono mix, with the stereo breaking through all over if our ears are attuned to listen at depth. I am still drawn to the patchwork margins where colours clash but somehow form a whole.

When a literary project began to dawn on me as a young man, the challenge of a project in the Irish language was alluring, but daunting. Why it didn’t present itself in Anglo-Irish, or in the English of Cork city, is another question, which will remain unanswered for the present. But it is probably mainly due to the prevailing cultural values of my own formative years, the hammering home in all spheres of the purity of the deep seam. A French speaker, also, I considered resolving what appeared to be unresolvable by opting for the Beckett solution and heading for Paris. I didn’t have the means to take that step, and I also felt that I would always be pulled and dragged home.

We follow threads in our lives. More than many of my contemporaries in Irish language poetry, I had resisted translation as a solution to the issues of a wider audience for a small language. This was not due to any ideological position, any idée fixe, but a sense in my inner being that the only translation that really matters for a poet is translation at depth, in the unconscious. I had a task to complete, and I would know when the time came. For any work to have the possibility, at least, of being meaningful, an integrated language must emanate from the unconscious. This may take the form of two or more or many languages, a creolised mix, but a form which in itself has a wholeness of being of its own. Somehow. How, in any sense, can language become fully alive to the poem, can the poem become fully alive in its only possible existence, without an enormous investment, a persistent attention, a constant nurturing of its presence both in our minds and in the world? We create our own language over time, where we can feel truly at home. 

I had worked, to a certain extent, with other poets in translating some poems. I am deeply grateful to them for their work, and their patience with an often reluctant participant. I had always felt uneasy about the deconstruction process.

It was a terse email from Gabriel Rosenstock which finally sprang the release mechanism. He suggested we undertake the task of translating the work. An eminent poet in Irish and a renowned
translator in his own right, a friend from college and INNTI days, I would no longer have to provide literal translations, often glossed word by word. He would translate from Irish, and I could focus on
my primary task without feeling that I was merely journeying deeper into the tangled undergrowth. This, in itself, released a huge surge of creative energy. Gabriel Rosenstock’s generosity of spirit, in
that respect, has been crucial. As another poet remarked, the only danger was that Gabriel might provide a translation for a poem as yet unwritten!

I acknowledge, of course, my original debt to the poet Seán Ó Ríordáin (1916–1970). Without his presence in my youthful landscape, none of this would have been possible. I also acknowledge the poet Michael Davitt’s (1950–2005) major contribution as a catalyst in cofounding with Gabriel Rosenstock and others the poetry journal INNTI, and as a close friend.

Liam Ó Muirthile
Lúnasa 2012