Donegal County Library Services, in conjunction with Libraries NI in Derry and Tyrone, have just launched the Irish Language community reading project “Léigh agus Pléigh 1916” (Read and Discuss).
Individuals, reading groups and Irish language speakers are invited to take part in the project which is commencing in April with the first book ‘Seachtar na Cásca’ by Irish language author Aindrias Ó Cathasaigh.
The scheme is also supported by Irish Language Development Officers in Tyrone, Derry and Donegal.
Speaking at the joint launch in Letterkenny Central Library, Maura Craig from Libraries NI stated that she was delighted to be promoting this co-operative project between the library services and the community across the three counties in the northwest.
“Given the growth of Irish-medium education and Irish language communities in Tyrone and Derry, and given the natural affinity of these communities with the Donegal Gaeltacht where the language is still spoken as a native language, Libraries NI is delighted to seek to promote greater connections between these communities through this Irish language reading project” stated Maura.
Although the project is aimed at readers over 16 years of age, Maura welcomed two young pupils from Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh in Strabane, Co. Tyrone to the event, both of whom read extracts from the first book ‘Seachtar na Cásca’, a combined biography of the lives of the seven signatories of the Proclamation in 1916.
The materials that will be read as part of this project will all be connected with the history of the island of Ireland and its people in the year of 1916. Some of it will relate to the Easter Rising of 1916 and key participants in that. Some of it will relate to the ongoing First World War during that period. Some of it will relate to the ordinary lives of the people at that time.
Given that the reading material will include historical writings, novels and significant extracts, the scheme is aimed at those people who have either fairly fluent Irish, or who have a medium level of Irish. Those who had reasonably good Irish in their school days, and who’d like to re-engage with the language, are also welcome to register with the reading scheme.
Seán Ó Daimhín, Irish Language Development Officer with Donegal County Council, talked about the importance of reading in the Irish language.
“Speaking a language gives it life. And many of our citizens, young and old, are now speaking the language on a daily basis. But reading a language gives it depth, increases your grasp of the language, widens your knowledge, and enriches your life in a deeper way. As a person who learnt Irish in later life myself, I am very aware of how reading Irish language books really strengthened that learning process. I am delighted that the library services are encouraging Irish language speakers across all three counties here in the north-west, and perhaps wider afield, to get involved in this scheme”.
Individual readers and reading groups, are invited to read one title in Irish each month. At the end of the month, there will be an event held in a selected library in one of the three counties involved, which will involve a short talk by a guest speaker, a discussion group on the material read, and a short social event afterwards involving conversation, music, singing and informal networking between Irish speakers from the region.
Readers who don’t already possess the relevant books can access them in one of three ways.
Firstly, some of them, including the first title, are available for purchase online at Irish language book websites such as www.udar.ie, www.litriocht.com, www.cic.ie, and www.cnagsiopa.com.
Secondly, some of the titles may be available in local libraries, and this source should be checked. This will also make library staff aware that there is a demand for reading material in Irish or thirdly, a limited number of the books are available on loan from Donegal County Council Irish Language Office.
Any individuals or groups who wish to take part in this reading project should register online at www.donegalcoco.ie or email Sean O’Daimhin at sdaimhin@donegalcoco.ie or call 074 91 72496.
Léigh agus Pléigh 1916
Tá Seirbhísí Leabharlainne Chontae Dhún na nGall, i gcomhar le Leabharlanna TÉ i nDoire agus i dTír Eoghain, i ndiaidh togra léitheoireachta pobail a sheoladh dar teideal ‘Léigh agus Pléigh 1916’, agus táthar ag iarraidh ar dhaoine aonaracha, clubanna leabhar, agus ar ghrúpaí Gaeilge páirt a ghlacadh sa togra a bheas ag toiseacht i mí Aibreáin leis an chéad leabhar ‘Seachtar na Cásca’, a scríobh an t-údar Aindrias Ó Cathasaigh. Tá tacaíocht á tabhairt don scéim ag Oifigigh Forbartha Gaeilge i dTír Eoghain, i nDoire agus i nDún na nGall. Is féidir sonraí maidir le clárú don togra a fháil ag bun an phreas-ráitis seo.
Agus í ag caint ag an chomh-sheoladh i Lárleabharlann Leitir Ceanainn an tseachtain seo caite, dúirt Maura Craig ó Leabharlanna TÉ go bhfuil lúcháir uirthi tacú leis an togra comhoibritheach seo idir na seirbhísí leabharlainne agus i measc an phobail sna trí chontae san iarthuaisceart.
“De bharr an fás atá tagtha ar an ghaelscolaíocht agus ar phobail Ghaeilge i dTír Eoghain agus i nDoire, agus ós rud é go bhfuil dáimh nádúrtha ag na pobail seo le Gaeltacht Thír Chonaill, mar a labhraítear an teanga mar theanga dhúchais an phobail go fóill, tá lúcháir ar Leabharlanna TÉ nascanna a chothú idir na pobail seo tríd an togra léitheoireachta seo’ arsa Maura.
Cé go bhfuil an togra dírithe ar dhaoine atá os cionn 16 bliana d’aois, d’fháiltigh Maura roimh bheirt dhaltaí óga ó Ghaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh ar an tSrath Bán, Co. Thír Eoghain, chuig an ócáid. Léigh an bheirt acu sleachta as an chéad leabhar ‘Seachtar na Cásca’, leabhar ina dtugtar cuntas gairid ar shaol agus ar shaothar an tseachtair a shínigh Forógra na Poblachta in 1916. An t-ábhar ar fad a léifear mar chuid den togra seo beidh baint aige le stair agus scéal na hÉireann agus na ndaoine sa bhliain 1916. Bainfidh cuid de leis an Éirí Amach in 1916 agus na príomh-rannpháirtithe a bhí ann. Bainfidh cuid de leis an Chéad Chogadh Domhanda a bhí ag leanstan ag an am. Bainfidh cuid de le saol na ngnáthdhaoine ag an am sin chomh maith.
Ós rud é gur scríbhinní stairiúla, úrscéalta agus sleachta suntasacha a bheas san ábhar léitheoireachta, tá an scéim dírithe orthu siúd a bhfuil Gaeilge réasúnta líofa acu, nó a bhfuil a gcuid Gaeilge go measartha maith. Má bhí Gaeilge measartha maith agat ar scoil, agus dá mba mhaith leat pilleadh ar an teanga arís, tá fáilte romhat clárú leis an togra léitheoireachta.
Labhair Seán Ó Daimhín, Oifigeach Forbartha Gaeilge le Comhairle Contae Dhún na nGall, faoin tábhacht a bhaineann leis an léitheoireacht sa Ghaeilge. ‘Beatha teanga í a labhairt, agus tá cuid mhór saoránach, idir óg agus aosta, ag caint Gaeilge go laethúil anois. Ach buanú agus doimhniú teanga í a léamh, bíonn tuiscint níos fearr agat ar an teanga, faigheann tú léargas úr ar chúrsaí an tsaoil, agus déantar do shaol a shaibhriú. Mar dhuine mé féin a d’fhoghlaim an Ghaeilge níos moille i mo shaol, tuigim go han-mhaith an dóigh ar chuidigh leabhair Ghaeilge go mór leis an phróiseas foghlamtha. Tá lúcháir orm go bhfuil na seirbhísí leabharlainne ag spreagadh cainteoirí Gaeilge ar fud na dtrí chontae anseo san iarthuaisceart, agus b’fhéidir níos faide anonn, le páirt a ghlacadh sa scéim seo’.
Go bunúsach, is é atá i gceist go dtugtar cuireadh do dhaoine aonaracha, nó do chlubanna leabhar, leabhar amháin a léamh i nGaeilge gach mí. Ag deireadh na míosa beidh ócáid ar siúl i leabharlann amháin i gceann amháin de na trí chontae atá páirteach, agus bí aoichainteoir, díospóireacht tábla agus ócáid shóisialta ina dhiaidh, ina mbeidh comhrá, ceol, amhránaíocht agus comhluadar idir chainteoirí Gaeilge ón réigiún.
Mura bhfuil an leabhar agat cheana féin, is féidir leat é a fháil ar chúpla dóigh.
Ar dtús, tá cuid acu, an chéad leabhar ina measc, ar fáil le ceannach ar líne ar an idirlíon, ar shuíomhanna ar nós www.udar.ie, www.litriocht.com, www.cic.ie, agus www.cnagsiopa.com.
Chomh maith leis sin, is féidir go bhfuil cuid de na leabhar ar fáil i leabharlanna áitiúla, agus ba chóir duit seiceáil ansin.
Nó, sa bhreis air sin, tá líon áirithe leabhar ar fáil ó Oifig Forbartha Gaeilge Chomhairle Contae Dhún na nGall, agus is féidir dul i dteagmháil leis an oifig sin ag na sonraí teagmhála ar an fhoirm chláraithe.
Aon duine nó aon ghrúpa atá ag iarraidh a bheith páirteach sa togra léitheoireachta seo, ba chóir an Fhoirm Chláraithe ag an nasc thíos a líonadh isteach, agus í a sheoladh ar ais chuig an seoladh poist nó chuig sdaimhin@donegalcoco.ie.
