According to a 2021 report, more than a million people are using Duolingo to learn Irish and Irish is Duolingo’s 16th most popular language. Was it lockdown that gave people time to fulfil the well-worn mantra of “I’d really love to learn Irish again!” and make people want to re-engage with our identity and explore or re-explore our native language?
Whatever the reason, there has been a huge surge of interest in Irish. Cine4, the initiative formed through partnership between TG4, IFB and BAI, has brought Irish language films such as An Cailín Ciúin, Arracht, Rosie agus Frank to national and international audiences.
The recent documentary Aisling Trí Néallaibh – Clouded Reveries explores the world of bilingual poet & novelist, Doireann Ní Ghríofa. Ní Ghríofa is perhaps best known for A Ghost in The Throat, exploring her relationship with Eibhlín Dubh Ní Chonaill and her lament for her husband, Caoineadh Airt Uí Laoghaire.
On screen, subtitling makes Irish language work accessible to all. However, you can’t subtitle a book! Where do you begin if you want to re-engage with Irish language literature?
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When appointed Laureate na nÓg in 2020, I set as my mission the lifting of the invisibility cloak hiding children’s literature as Gaeilge. Let’s also pull the invisibility cloak away from Irish-language books for adults. Looking back over the books published in 2022, there’s something here for everyone.
If you are returning to the language after many years, or if your children are learning Irish in school, children’s books as Gaeilge can be a good place to start. The language is less challenging, and the illustrations will either support the story or tell their own.
For the very young, Muireann Ní Chíobháin & Róisín Hahessy’s Eoinín agus a Chairde and Eoinín ag dul a Chodladh (Futa Fata) are the latest in the series of beautifully illustrated, interactive board books about an adorable little lamb, Eoinín. A must for any toddler’s Letter to Santa.
If you want noise on Christmas morning (and Christmas isn’t Christmas without batteries), Tatyana Feeney & Risteard Mac Liam’s leabhar fuaime (sound book), Mo Chéad Rainn Ghaeilge (My Irish Books) offers press button verses from Micilín Muc, Dilín Ó Deamhas and other rhymes you may recognise from your childhood. After a few days, adults may dream of disabling the batteries, but children will love these rannta and, before too long, you’ll be singing along too.
The range and quality of Irish language picture books is stunning although the reading-age varies according to the fluency of the reader.
An Slipéar Gloine by Fearghas Mac Lochlainn & Paddy Donnelly (Futa Fata) is a magical verse retelling of the Cinderella story. Exquisitely illustrated, it has already bagged the coveted Gradam Reics Carló, Irish language Children’s Book of the Year award.
Míp agus Blípín by Máire Zepf & Paddy Donnelly (Futa Fata) continues the adventures of little robot Míp, sent to Mars to search for aliens. Míp is worried that her new companion, Blípín (a gift from earth) might be better, younger, and more interesting than the now well-worn Míp. (We all know how that feels ... but it works out well in the end.)
In Sadhbh Devlin & Brian Fitzgerald’s Amuigh Faoin Spéir (Futa Fata), we can sympathise with little Rua who wants to spend Saturday morning curled up on the couch with the remote control. However, Mamaí has a different plan and Rua is dragged out into the fresh air for adventures. Story and illustration blend beautifully in a celebration of love and nature.
Belfast publisher An tSnáthaid Mhór has another picture book worth adding to the Christmas list.
Malachy Doyle & Andrew Whitson’s Muireann agus na Deilfeanna is the sixth in the series of beautifully illustrated stories about a brave little girl whose adventures carry her from light failure in the lighthouse to a storm at sea to (in this case) a relationship with the dolphins.
Another brave little girl is the hero of the Ríta series by Máire Zepf & Mr Ando (An tSnáthaid Mhór). Ríta always has big ideas and children of all ages will love Leabhar Smaointe Móra Ríta, a fun-filled activity book based on her big ideas.
Rossa Ó Snodaigh and Wayne O’Connor’s Cé a Chuirfeadh Sceon ar Leon? (Coiscéim) challenges the bravery of the king of the jungle asking Who would terrify a lion? The responses range from a cacophony of a zebra choir unable to harmonise (yes, as Gaeilge) to a nightmare about being abducted by gargoyles. The language is complex and challenging but the rhyme, rhythm and Daire Ó Briain’s narration (using a QR code) are clever and entertaining.
For the 8- to 12-year-old (or older, depending on fluency), there are three books well worth adding to Santa’s list.
Jacqueline de Brún’s Cloch na Gréine (Leabhar Breac) follows the adventures of Seán and Éimear as they try to solve mysteries involving bees and a secret stone that has gone missing.
Áine Uí Fhoghlú's Fóir Orm (Cló IarChonnacht) is a Robinson Crusoe style adventure where a young boy finds himself cast away on an abandoned island.
As well as being great storytellers, De Brún & Uí Fhoghlú have an excellent grasp of one of the major challenges for writers in Irish. For those reading Irish as a second language, there is frequently a disparity between chronological age and reading age. Both writers manage to navigate this challenge, so the books span a relatively wide age group.
Thierry Robberecht’s Faoi Cheilt, translated from French by Aifric Mac Aodha (An Gúm) tells the story of Elsa, who is ashamed of the standards in the nearby refugee camp. Elsa would like to help her new friend, Bachir, but what can a fourteen-year-old do? A great read for young adults.
Older teens will enjoy Celia de Fréine’s An Dara Rogha (Leabhar COMHAR) where Emma and Zara live in BioSphere 9 and have their lives mapped out from the age of 17. Do they have to accept their fate? Is there an alternative?
For the adult teenager, college students will enjoy Ógie Ó Céilleachair’s Árasán (Cló IarChonnacht) where we meet a group of somewhat stereotypical (but nevertheless, entertaining) group of college students thrown together in Teach na Gaeilge.
For adults who wants to get back into reading as Gaeilge, any of these young adult books (or even the 8/10+ books) would be the perfect place to start.
Also, for the adult learner, Pól Ó Muirí's An Loch (LeabhairCOMHAR) intersperses the tale of a couple whose peaceful life is shaken somewhat by illness with tales about the wildlife in the area. Short sentences and a glossary make this easily accessible.
For the fluent adult reader, 2022 has been a bumper year for Irish language publishing. Two collections of short stories particularly appealed to me.
Seán Ó Muireagáin’s Bádh B’fhéidir (Éabhlóid) offers a mix of science fiction and dystopian stories while Colm Ó Snodaigh’s Cnaipí (Coiscéim) tells of lost love, shame and self-loathing. Two very different approaches to storytelling but both equally powerful. Ó Muireagáin frequently looks outwards into space, into the future while Ó Snodaigh digs deep into the heart and soul of the characters.
For poetry lovers, my absolute favourite is Ailbhe Ní Ghearbhuigh’s recently published Tonn Teaspaigh agus Dánta Eile (Éabhóid). I particularly love her explorations of motherhood where she is now on a new frequency and there is no going back.
Many Irish language poets are moving towards bilingual collections. Celia de Fréine’s Léaslíne A Lorg/In Search of a Horizon (Arlen House) and Ceaití Ní Bheildiúin’s Selected Poems Lig don nGiorria Suí / Let the Hare Sit (Dedalus Press) with translations by Paddy Bushe explore a range of themes and are both well worth a read.
My top two in novels are translations from French – Na Ríthe Beaga by Delphine de Vigan, translated by Máirín Nic Con Iomaire (Barzaz) and Siúrmo by Jean-Claude Izzo, translated by Bernadette Nic an tSaoir (Leabhar Breac). Siúrmo is the story of an ex-policeman drawn into a missing person investigation while in Na Ríthe Beaga, a mother exploits her children online for the sake of celebrity status.
Worth reading too is Dave Duggan’s Ór agus Mil (Cló IarChonnacht) which explores the lives and struggles of two young Derry hairdressers.
There’s a strong selection of non-fiction books on offer as Gaeilge this year.
Pádraig Ó Siochfhradha’s Cath Fionntrá (Leabhar Breac), originally published in 1911, tells of the Battle of Ventry between king of the world, Dáire Donn and Fionn Mac Cumhaill and the Fianna. This highly readable edition has been adapted for the modern reader.
Dhá Leagan Déag, Léargais Nua ar an Sean-Nós (Cló IarChonnacht), edited by Philip Fogarty, Tiber Falzett and Lillis Ó Laoire, is the perfect gift for anyone with an interest in traditional sean-nós singing. Sean-nós is explored and analysed from every angle in a series of highly readable essays from a range of academics.
In Ceallach, Cín Lae Fíréin (Leabhar Breac), Diarmuid Johnson follows the journey of Ceallach, a monk who left Ireland with St Columbanus in 591. The rich, poetic language draws us beautifully into Ceallach’s world.
Finally, what better way to spend Christmas than reading about Christmas past. Author and publisher, Mícheál Ó Congaile grew up in the small island community of Inis Treabhair in west Conamara where there were less than twenty children in the local school. His Nollaig Oileánach (Cló IarChonnacht) provides a wonderful insight into island life, especially at Christmas.
An excellent selection of books. Don’t put if off for another year.
Ceannaigh leabhar Gaeilge. Bí ag Léamh.
Áine Ní Ghlinn, poet and children’s writer, is the author of 36 books and is Laureate na nÓg 2020–2023. Her most recent books include Daidí na Nollag and Ag Buzzail Sa Ghairdín (Áine Ní Ghlinn & Mr Ando, An tSnáthaid Mhór)
