Tomhas na Teanga

Nov/Dec 2007

Ar an aonú lá déag den aonú mí déag, ar a haon déag a chlog, sa bhliain 1918, síneadh an conradh sosa cogaidh, agus b’shin deireadh an chéad chogadh domhanda. On the eleventh day of the eleventh month, at 11:00, in the year 1918, the Armistice agreement was singed, and that was the end of the first world war. Ó shin i leith, bímid ag comóradh an lae sin, agus ag tabhairt measa agus buíochais dár gcrannlaochra. Ever since then, we commemorate that day, and we give respect and thanks to our veterans. Thugtaí Lá an Sosa Cogaidh ar an lá le blianta. For years, the day was called Armistice Day. Ansin, in 1954, aistríodh an t-ainm go Lá na nÁrsa. Then, in 1954, the name was changed to Veterans Day.

Nuair a síníodh an conradh sosa cogaidh sin in 1918, cheap roinnt daoine nach mbeadh cogadh mar sin ann riamh arís. When that armistice agreement was signed in 1918, some people thought there wouldn’t ever be a war like that againn Ach tá a fhios againn gur cuireadh síolta an dara cogadh domhanda ar an lá céanna sin, agus is léir nach mbeidh deireadh leis an gcogaíocht sa saol seo, roimh theacht ar ais ár dTiarna. But we know that the seeds of the second world war were sown on that same day, and it is clear that there will not be an end to warfare in this world, before the return of our Lord. Mar a dúirt Sé féin. As he himself said.

Tá sé tábhachtach dúinn meas a thabhairt dóibh siúd a sheas sa bhearna bhaoil ar ár son, pé cogadh nó bagairt a bhí ann ag an am. It is important for us to show respect to those who have stood in the breach for our sake, whatever war or threat existed at the time. Dar ndóigh, tá scéalta suimiúla agus stair thábhachtach ann a bhaineann le gach cogadh agus gach aois. Of course, there are interesting stories and important history having to do with every war in every age. Rinne Ken Burns sraith chlár teilifíse nua i mbliana faoin dara cogadh domhanda. KB made a new TV series this year about WWII. Agus tharla teitheadh na n-iarlaí cothrom na bliana seo 400 bliain ó shin. And the flight of the earls happened 400 years ago this year. Ach ar chúis éigin, bím féin ag díriú m’airde ar an Chéad Chogadh Domhanda le déanaí. But for some reason, I myself keep turning my attention WWI lately.

Is iomaí Éireannach a chaith seal san arm Sasanach i rith an chogaidh sin, agus is iomaí Éireannach a fuair bás in áiteanna mar Tripoli na Tuirce agus an Somme san Fhrainc. It’s many an Irishman who spent a period in the British army during that war, and its many an Irishman who died in places like Tripoli in Turkey and the Somme in France. Mar gheall ar Éirí Amach 1916 agus cúrsaí ina dhiaidh, tá sé conspóideach agus deacair fós don Éireannach díriú ar an stair sin. Because of the 1916 rebellion and events following it, it’s still controversial and difficult for an Irish person to focus on that history. Cogadh na gCarad a bhí ann sna fichidí mar gheall ar easaontas eile. The War of the Friends happened in the 20s because of another division. Chonaic mé an scannán The Wind That Shakes the Barley le déanaí. I saw the movie…lately. Scéal an-bhrónach i gcónaí atá ann. It’s still a very sad story. Níl an scannán sin foirfe, ach sílim go ndearna siad jab maith, agus thaispeáin siad tuiscint an dá thaobh sa chogadh cathartha. The movie is not perfect, but I think they did a good job, and they show the understanding of the two sides in the civil war.

Chun scéal na saighdiúirí Éireannacha a bhí in arm Shasana sa Chogadh Mór a thuiscint, molaim leabhar dar teidil The Canal Bridge, le Tom Phelan. To understand the Irish soldiers who were in the British army during the Great War, I recommend a book entitled…by… Scéal an-bhrónach atá ann, ach leabhar an-mhaith. It is a very sad story in it, but a very good book. Níor thuig carachtair an scéil seo réabhlóidithe 1916 mar laochra, agus tá dearcadh an-difriúil acu ná mar a chloistear i gcoitinne. The characters of the story didn’t understand the revolutionaries of 1916 as heroes, and they have a very different outlook than is generally heard. Tugann an leabhar seo tuiscint an-mhaith ar an gcogadh uafásach sin. This book provides a very good understanding of that terrible war.

Tá mórán eolais ag Roinn an Taoisigh faoin hÉireannaigh sa Chéad Chogadh Domhanda ag http://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/irish/index.asp?docID=2535. The Department of the Taoiseach has a lot of information about the Irish in WWI at…

Mar atá, táim ag léamh leabhair eile faoin gcogadh céanna, as Gearmáinis. As it happens, I’m reading another book about the same war, in German. Im Westen nichts Neues (Diabhal Scéal san Iarthar), le Erich Maria Remarque. All Quiet on the Western Front, by… Eagrán 1929 a fuair mé ar lascaine le déanaí is ea é. It’s an edition from 1929 that I got at a discount recently. An leabhar is cáiliúla faoin gcogadh sin atá ann, is dócha. It’s probably the most famous book about that war. An-bhrónach, freisin, dar ndóigh. Also very sad, of course. Ach leabhar iontach. But a great book.

Guímis go mbeidh síocháin ar an Talamh, agus nach mbeidh gá le cogadh ar bith eile, agus go dtiocfaidh Íosa Críost ar ais go luath. Let us pray that there will be peace on the Earth, and that Jesus Christ will come back soon. Idir an dá linn, bímis buíoch dóibh a sheasann sa bhearna bhaoil dúinn gach lá. In the meantime, let’s be grateful to those who man the breach for us every day. Go raibh maith agaibh a rinne agus a dhéanann. Thanks to you who did and do. Agus Nollag shona do gach éinne! And Merry Christmas to everybody!