Tomhas na Teanga

July/August 2008

Tharla go raibh comhdháil idirnáisiúnta na Gaeilge againn i gCathair Nua-Eabhraic, idir 16 is 18 Bealtaine. It happened that there was an international Irish language conference in New York, between the 16^th and 18^th of May. Bhí an-spraoi againn. We had a lot of fun. Bhí mórán daoine i láthair as Éirinn, as Ceanada agus as na Stáit Aontaithe. There were a lot of people present from Ireland, Canada and the US. Bhí ionadaithe ann ó roinnt mhór eagraíochtaí a bhaineann leis an teanga, agus labhair mórán daoine os comhair an tslua, ag roinnt eolais faoi na rudaí a dhéanann siad. There were representatives there from a great many organizations which have to do with the language, and many people spoke before the crowd, sharing information abut the things that they do. Rinne mé féin amhlaidh ar son Chumann Carad na Gaeilge. I myself did thusly on behalf of the Philo-Celtic Society.

Tugadh formhór na léachtaí Dé Sathairn, ag an óstlann Affinia. Most of the lectures were given Saturday, at the Affinia hotel. An oíche roimhe sin, bhí fáilte oifigiúil in oifigí chonsalacht na hÉireann i Nua-Eabhrac. The night before that, there was an official welcome in the offices of the Irish consulate in NY. Is Gaeilgeoir den scoth é an Leas-ardchonsal Breandán Ó Caollaí, agus tá Gaeilge ag daoine eile ag an gconsalacht. The vice-high-consul, BOC, is a great Irish speaker, and there are other Irish speakers at the consulate. Bhí ceol agus comhrá iontach againn. We had music and wonderful conversation. Bhuail mé le daoine nach bhfaca mé riamh roimhe sin ach ar a raibh aithne agam le fada ar an idirlíon. I met people whom I had never seen before that, but who I knew for a long time on the internet.

Is iomaí rud atá ar siúl ag na heagraíochtaí éagsúla seo. These various organizations have many things going on. Tá ranganna ar fáil le múinteoir in Éirinn beo ar an idirlíon. There are classes available with a live teacher in Ireland on the internet. Tá cúrsaí Gaeilge ar fáil sna hollscoileanna anseo i Meiriceá. There are Irish language courses available in the universities here in America. Bíonn grúpaí ag eagrú deireadh seachtaine agus laethanta Gaeilge. Groups are regularly organizing Irish language weekends and days. Tá físchraoltaí ann, go háirithe ar www.youtube.com. There are videocasts, especially on youtube. Tá podchraoltaí ann, fiú ó Raidió na Gaeltachta. There are podcasts, even from RnaG. Tá cabhair ar fáil más mian le daoine a bpáistí a thógáil le Gaeilge. Help is available if people want to raise their children with Irish. Agus i bhfad níos mó! And lots more!

Ceist a bhí ann nuair a cuireadh an comhdháil seo le chéile: an bhfuil gá le scátheagras chun na heagraíochtaí uile seo a choimeád i dteagmháil lena chéile agus chun cabhair a thabhairt dóibh go léir? It was a question when this conference was put together: do we have a need for an umbrella organization to keep all these organizations in contact with each other and to provide help to all of them? Bhí beagán plé ann ar an ábhar seo, ag an gcomhdháil agus ina dhiaidh. There was a little discussion on this subject, at the conference and afterwards. Ach níl sé socraithe go fóill. But it isn’t settled yet.

Dé Domhnaigh, bhí ceardlann ar mhúineadh na Gaeilge le múinteoir Éireannach, Éamonn Ó Dónaill, ag an Irish Arts Center. Sunday, there was a workshop on teaching Irish by teacher from Ireland, EOD, at… Agus bhí deis ag cúpla againn caint a dhéanamh le craoltóirí ó Raidió na Gaeilge agus BBC Uladh, agus bhíomar ar an raidió in Éirinn. And some of us had a chance to speak with broadcasters from RnaG and BBCU, and we were on the radio in Ireland. Bhí scéalta ann sna nuachtáin faoin deireadh seachtaine seo, freisin, agus ar an idirlíon. There were stories in the newspapers about this weekend, too, and on the internet. Scríobh mé féin ceann do Lá Nua. I myself wrote one for LN. Fís Ghaeilge Mheiriceá Thuaidh an teidil a tugadh ar an ócáid seo. (A Vision for Irish In North America) is the title which was given to this occasion. Má dhéantar cuardach ar google.com, is féidir mórán a fháil faoi. If you look for that with google, you can find a lot about it.

Rud eile a tharla le déanaí, sin go bhfuil a fhios agam go bhfoilseofar m’úrscéal, Cogadh Dearg, go luath (le cúnamh Dé). Another thing that happened lately, that is that I know that my novel (Red War) will be published soon (God willing). Is féidir go mbeidh sé ar fáil sula léann tú an t-alt seo. It’s possible it will be available before you read this article. Sílim go bhfuil sé go maith. I think that it is good. Rinne mé mórán oibre air, sin rud cinnte! I did a lot of work on it, that’s for sure! Is scéal é atá bunaithe ar shaol mo shinsir, William H. Keane, a bhí san arm i Meiriceá, sa chogadh cathartha. It is a story which is based on the life of my ancestor WHK, who was in the army in America, in the Civil War. Ba as Contae an Chláir é. He was from County Clare. Tá súil agam go mbeidh deis ag gach Meiriceánach le Gaeilge é a léamh, agus tá súil agam go mbeidh suim ag na hÉireannaigh i scéal atá bunaithe ar an stair Mheiriceánach. I hope that every American with Irish will get a chance to read it, and I hope that the Irish will be interested in a story based on American history. Agus cá bhfios nach mbeidh sé ar fáil as Béarla lá éigin, freisin? And who knows if it won’t be available in English some day, too?

Go raibh samhradh maith agaibh! Have a good summer!