'PA/IPE/IR BHA/NA AGUS PA/IPE/IR BHREACA'
B'as saol an bhe/aloidis, saol nach raibh mo/ra/n athru/ air le mi/le
bliain anuas a fa/isceadh me/. Ba i/ an duais ab fhearr a d'fhe/adfadh
duine a ghealla dhuit ar feadh na bliana go ligheadh se/ ag an bpa/tru/n
thu/, pa/tru/n Cholm Cille ag a thobar, naoi no/ deich de mhi/lte taobh
thiar den Spide/al. Bhi/ me/ a liachtai/ sin uair ar an bpa/tru/n, ach ni/ raibh
me/ fo/s arianh ag an tobar, ce/ gur chuir mo mha/thair turais orm ann i
mo pha/iste dhom. Tuigim go maith ce/ an fa/th ar chuir an Dochtu/r
Bri/, Easpag Chaisil agus Imligh anseo, amach na tre/adlitreachai/ siu/d,
ceann acu, is cuimhneach liom i 1813, i nGaeilge a/lainn freisin, ar
geall le foruagrai/ o/ Rialtas Stormont inniu iad ag toirmeasc mo/rshiu/il
eici/nt. Ag toirmeasc aon pha/tru/n na/ aon turas ag aon tobar sa deoise
idir a leithe/id seo agus a leithe/id seo eile de la/ a bhi/ an t-easpag. I
saol Dionysiusach na dtoibre beannaithe ba mho/ mo spe/is-sa freisin,
go bhfo/ire Dia orainn! Ma/ gheallann Dia le/as beag eile ar mo shaol
dhom ta/ su/il agam mian mo mha/thair bhocht a chomhli/ona.
As an gcinea/l seo saoil, saol an tseansce/il, an tsean-amhra/in, an
tsean-ghna/is, na pisreoige ma/s a/il leat, a mu/nlai/odh na ce/adta glu/in
Gael. Blianta i ndiaidh dhom Cois Fharraige a fha/ga/il bhi/ me/ in
Aerfort Mhosco/ ag breathnu/ ar dhaoine ag dul ar na heitealla/in agus
ag teacht dhi/obh, chuile ghne/ feistis agus chuile ghne/ craicinn mo/ra/n.
Chua me/ fe/in soir go Kirghizia, poblacht sho/ibhe/adach i la/r na
hA/ise. Bhi/ me/ in a/iteachai/ na/r leag aon E/ireannach cois, mara raibh
duine fa/nach b'fhe/idir ar no/s Edmund O'Donovan, mac an scola/ire
Sea/n O/ Donnabha/in, a raibh dha/ che/ad Fi/ni/n aige agus e/ in a mhac
le/inn i gCola/iste na Tri/ono/ide. Ni/ i bhfad as na ha/iteachai/ seo a
raibh mise a fuair an Donnabha/nach bocht fo/d a bha/is. Ma/
chuimhnigh me/ air, is go tanai/ e/. Na/ ni/ ar Mharx na/ ar Lenin a bhi/
me/ ag cuimhniu/ ach an oiread. Na/ ar Re/abhlo/id Dheire an Fho/mhair.
Na/ fiu/ ar Dostoevski a chaith blianta in a ghe/ibheannach thoir sna
li/miste/ir seo de bharr a pha/irt sna Nollaicigh, na Decembrists, agus ar
le/igh me/ a shaothar, go ha/irid a sha/rleabhar pri/osu/in Teach na
Marbh. Ni/ fhe/adfadh gan ba/ ar leith a bheith agam leis an leabhar
sin. Chaith me/ fe/in blianta i Sibe/ir na hE/ireann, an a/it is fuaire in
E/irinn go cinnte, Currach Chill Dara.








Ar sce/alta m'o/ige a bhi/ me/ ag cuimhniu/. Ba sheo e/ an Domhan
Thoir a bhi/ iontu. Ba sheo e/ mo thuras go dti/ tobar dheire an domh-
ain, ar chois faoi chrios an scairdeitealla/in! Na capaill seo a raibh an
casu/r agus an corra/n thiar ar cheathru/ chuile cheann acu, ba iad
eachra Emir Bhokhara, an Gholden Horde iad, capaill airm Genghis
Khan. Ba iad na heachannai/ caol donn freisin iad i sce/alta m'athar
agus mo sheanathar. Agus ca/ bhfios dha/iri/re na/rbh iad? For no one
knows through what wild centuries roams back the rose.
Bhi/ me/ fe/in i n-ann na sce/alta sin a inseacht ag e/iri/ suas dhom. Ba
iad an t-a/bhar is tu/isce iad a d'fhe/ach me/ le scri/obh. Ba rud beo len
a phearsantacht fe/in chuile lu/ibinn den bho/thar agus den bho/thairi/n,
chuile sceach, chuile chnoca/n, chuile chlochar agus beagnach chuile
chloch agus is mo/r acu ata/ ann istigh ar an mbaile fearainn. Ba cuid
dha/r mairbh iad : bhi/ a/r stair follasach iontu. Ni/l bailte mo/ra sce/altach
mar seo, na/ u/rsce/altach. Cupla bliain o/ shoin bhi/ me/ ag caint i
Meireaca/ le bean nach bhfaca an baile fearainn sin ar to/igeadh muid
beirt ann le tri/ fichead bliain. Ni/ raibh garrai/ na/ cosa/n ann, carraig
sa gcladach, cnoca/n na/ fioda/n ar an sliabh, na/r chuir si/ ainm orthu
gan braiteoireacht dha/ laghad. Bhi/ an baile sin ag dul timpeall aici
in a ceann le tri/ fichead bliain. Ta/ agam fe/in freisin. Ni/ aithni/m cuid
den aos o/g anois. Ach aithni/m an chre/ agus an chloch agus ta/
cuimhne na sce/alta agam a rinne chuile orlach bacaird de chre/ agus
de chloch a shaoirsinniu/ in a gcuid doscaoilte dhi/om fe/in, de mo
phearsa fe/in, go bra/ch.
Is minic a tha/inig cathu/ orm---dha/ dtrian de shaothar an scri/bhn-
eoir is ag fuagairt cathu/ neamhghlan as a intinn e/--cathu/ go scri/obh-
fainn cuntas fada faoin gcaoi a ndeacha m'o/ige i gcion orm. faoin
toiriall tairiall dha/ bhaint den chorp u/r-a/nlactha sa reilig le fannsholas
to/inghealai/ thiar. Faoin Adhastar Bui/ nach raibh me/ i n-ann a
shamhalu/ ach in a ro/pa cho fada len a raibh de ro/pai/ i siopa Ruai/n ag
an bPo/irse Caoch i nGaillimh, a/it ar cheannaigh me/ ro/pai/ agus
eangachai/ in e/indigh le mo mhuintir. Scri/obh faoin leanna/n si/ a
mbi/odh a chrobh fada sceirdiu/il anuas an simle/ar le aint liom a
scioba leis, a sciob as a dheire agus gan i/ ach cupla seachtain ar
thalamh Mheireaca/ ag teithe uaidh. Cupla bliain o/ shoin a chonaic
me/ a leacht i Reiliig Chalvay, i mBoston: Nora Connolly, born
Ireland, died South Boston . . . .








Dha/ re/ir sin bhi/ domhan i bhfad ni/ ba ghaire dhu/inn na/ an Domhan
Thoir, domhan a bhi/ ag be/al an dorais agus minic go maith taobh
istigh de bhe/al an dorais, 'na dea-chomharsanai/' sin a gceapfadh a
la/n de mo mhuintir fe/in gurbh bhfearr mar chomharsanai/ iad na/ na
comharsanai/ ata/ agam i gCre/ na Cille. Ni/or le/igh me/ comic ariamh
na/ leabhar ar bith den chinea/l a d'fheicinn ag mo chomhaoiseachai/ i
mbaile mo/r na Gaillimhe an tra/th sin fe/in. Ach ta/ me/ cinnte gur mho/
go mo/r an borra faoi mo shamhalai/ocht na rudai/ seo ar fad a luaim
na/ le/itheoireacht mo chomhaoiseachai/ cathaireach. Is cuimhneach
liom daoine gan scoil gan foghlaim ag cur si/os, go ha/irid ar thaibhsi/
agus ar sprideannai/, ar bhealach nach sa/ro/dh ach na scri/bhneoiri/
is cumasai/, Dante no/ Shakespeare, b'fhe/idir. Ca/r chuala siad sin ach
an oiread a gcur si/os fe/in ach ag an gcinea/l ce/anna daoine? Si/lim
nach a/ibhe/il a ra/ go mba sholasai/ in a su/ile an marbh na/ an beo.
D'fhe/adfadh duine Liam O/ Flatharta a le/amh as e/adan a che/ile gan
tagairt ar bith ar e/igin don chinea/l sin saoil. Is beag ata/ agam fe/in do/
ach an oiread. Bhain me/ leas as an Leabhar Eoin i gCre/ na Cille. Is
tra/cht e/ `An Strainse/ara' i gCois Caola/ire ar bhean ar rugadh a cuid
clainne uilig marbh agus ar cuireadh sa gcladha to/rann iad. Ta/ a/it
sa gcladha to/rann a bhfuil tri/ dhuine fhichead mar sin in ainm's a
bheith curtha ann le bean amha/in a bhi/ beo agus me/ i mo scorach.
An sce/al thar sce/alta a bhfe/adfainn leas a bhaint as an mbe/aloideas
ann 'An Bo/thar go dti/ an Ghealchathair' (An Braon Broghach)
dhiu/ltaigh me/ an cathu/. Rud eile ar fad a bhi/ me/ ag iarra a dhe/anamh.
Is beag leas dha/iri/re a bhain me/ as an rud seo a dtiu/rfai/ be/aloideas
anois air. Na pearsana ar fad geall leis i mo chuid sce/alta Gaeltacht
ce/anna taithi/ acu ar an rud seo ar saol, no/ fiu/
cultu/r, a bhi/ ann, cultu/r na tuaithe ar fad go dti/ achar is lu/ na/ glu/in o
/
shoin, ach go raibh annlann na Gaeilge len a blas fe/in a chur air sa
nGealtacht.
Ba i gcomhthiono/l fuinniu/il Fuinte mar sin, local organic community,
a tha/inig ann dom, den chinea/l sin a bhfuil an-spe/is ag scri/bhneoiri/
a/irid Sasanach iontu ar lorg Eliot, Raymond Williams agus Richard
Hoggart cuir i gca/s. Ba sa gceantar sin a bhi/ mo mhuintir cho fada
siar agus bhi/ siar ann, le mi/le bliain b'fhe/idir, iad ar an gceird che/anna
a bhfuil siad fo/s, in a dtalamhaithe beaga, anois sa darna leath den
fichiu/ ce/ad. Ta/ bruscar eici/nt gaoil agam le chaon darna no/ tri/u/








teallach sa da/ phara/iste chomhtho/rainneach. Bhi/ a chuid sua/ilci/ agus
dua/ilci/ aige mar chomhthiono/l, meitheal agus comhar, oibleaga/id
comharsan la/ an ansho/, ach gleo agus brui/n agus e/ad freisin. Bhi/ an
leadai/ agus an bradai/ ann, an fear a chuimhneodh dha/ bhfaigheadh
se/ t'asal in a gharrai/ go raibh asal sa sta/bla agus Cri/ost dha/ bhreith
ann. Agus bhi/ an ceann eile ann dha/ ndeireadh an t-asal suas len a
bhe/al gurb air fe/in thar asail an domhain agus na staire a bhi/ Cri/ost
ag marcai/ocht ag dul isteach go Jerusalem, go dtioma/infeadh se/
tairni/ cruithe capaill thri/d an droim aige, ainneoin sin. Maidir le
mna/! Ta/ go leor focla agam fe/in ar mhna/. An bhairseach, an ropaire,
an sciollado/ir, an ruibhseach, an choigeallach, an raicleach, an
ra/lach, an mhagarlach, an bhodo/inseach . . . .
Comhthiono/il mar seo i/ tuath na hE/ireann, no/ ba ea go dti/ le
goirid. B'fhe/idir gurb shin e/ an fa/th arb o/n tuath na hu/rsce/alta
fiu/ntach E/ireannach, ce/s moite de ri/-bheaga/n a labhairfe me/ ar
chupla ceann acu ar ball. Ta/ dearmad de/anta gur fha/g saor ba/d cui/d
is lu/ na/ ce/ad bliain o/ shoin i mo thaobhsa ti/re, tri/ pholl i mba/d a
chuid uncaileachal le go mba/ifi/ iad:
`Mo bheannacht do na curachai/ agus mo mhallacht do na ba/id,
mo mhallacht do na curachai/ ata/ thiar ins sa Tra/ Bha/in,
mo mhallacht do mhac mo dheirfi/re mar se/ an saor e/ a rinne an ba/d,
mar d'fha/ga se/ poll chun tosaigh inti, chun deire, agus in a la/r.'
D'fhe/ach me/ leis an gcomhthiono/l dar dhual me/ fe/in a le/iriu/ i
gCre/ na Cille agus san u/rsce/al neamhfhoilsithe Athnuachan. Du/irt a
la/n, go ha/irid cuid de mo mhuintir fe/in agus de mo thaobh ti/re,
na/rbh fhi/or an le/argas. B'fhe/idir na/rbh fhi/or. Ach chi/tear dhomhsa
gurb e/ roinnt na cailli/ mar is a/il le/i fe/in e/ acu e/. Ar aon no/s ni/ hi/
fi/rinne na cumado/ireacht, na healai/ne, fi/rinne an tsaoil. Is do/igh
liom gur mar sin a d'fha/ga chuile u/dar ariamh e/. `Ar chaoi amha/in
is e/ an saol iairbhi/r is a/bhar do shaothar ealai/ne, ach ar chaoi eile
le saothar ealai/ne a chur ar fa/il ni/ mo/r an t-a/bhar as an saol iairbhi/r
a athmhu/nlu/ agus a athchruthu/'. `Ni/ fe/idir leat fiu/ntas saothar ealai/ne
a phrofa le iad a chur i gcomo/rtas na hiairbhi/re. An cinea/l re/alachais
is cuspo/ir don ealai/n, is re/alachas e/ a bhaintear in a bhloghannai/ as
imeachtai/ an tsaoil agus a snamann an t-ealai/onach na bloghannai/
sin le che/ile ar bhealach nua. Dha/ dteagadh an re/alachas sin salach








ar an iairbhi/re scriosfai/ an re/alachas! Ni/l an ealai/n na/du/rtha'.
"Aon ealai/n a ligeas len a hais gurb i/ an saol i/ ta/ si/ cho beag-
mhaitheasach leis an ealai/n ade/arfadh go bhfuil chuile sho/rt ar
fheabhas no/ chuile sho/rt ar dhonacht sa saol! `Ni/ iontas an chuma-
do/ireacht ar fad, geall leis, a ligeas len a hais gurb i/ an saol i/ a
bheith gan ord gan eagar'. Sainmhi/niu/ amha/in ata/ tugtha ar an
u/rsce/al gur `seachra/n sli/ d'aon u/im e/', mar go bhfuil `uaibhe/al idir an
beart d'aon u/im ar scri/obh u/rsce/al e/ agus an t-urchar daill faoi
dhabhach arb e/ saol seachra/nach an duine e/.' Is cuibheas go cinnte
e/ an t-u/rsce/al no/ saothar ealai/ne ar bith. `Ni/ athrai/onn an ealai/n ni/
hionann agus an saol'. Dha/ mb'ionann litri/ocht agus an saol ce/ an
fa/th a le/ifi/ i/ ? Na/rbh bhfearr agus na/r ba re/idhe a dhul amach agus i/ a
bhlaise fuar beathach as an saol? No/ le leagan eile a chur air ni/ fe/idir
firinne an tsaoil, iomla/n na fi/rinne, an fhi/rinne thur, a aistriu/ anonn
in ealai/n ar finnsce/alai/ocht i/ ar aon no/s. `Dha/ bhfe/adtai/ an ealai/n a
dhe/anamh i riocht go mbeadh si/ do-aithnithe o/n saol ni/orbh bhfiu/
an ealai/n a chur ar fa/il chor ar bith', adu/irt duine eici/nt. Is cuma ce/
ar so/rt ainm a thiu/rfar ar do mhodh scri/bhneoireacht, ro/ma/nsachas
re/alachas, re/alachas so/isialach, stream of consciousness, suimfo/nachas,
n
        isteach agus rudai/ a choinnea/il amach. Ma/ d'fhe/ach Joyce le gach
ar smaoinigh Leopold Bloom air an la/ sin i mBaile A/tha Cliath a
chur i Ulysses is cinnte nach bhfe/adfadh a dheichiu/ cuid a bheith ann.
Na/ ni/ brionglo/id oi/che amha/in ata/ i bhFinnegan's Wake. Is cosu/la i/
le mionsleachta as brionglo/idi/ tre/imhse no/ saoil a ghreamao/fai/ i
ndiaidh a che/ile agus i mullach a che/ile in albam. Le ealai/n ata/ muid
ag ple/ agus ni/ leis an saol. Ainneoin Toynbee ni/ shi/lim go bhfuil aon
pha/tru/n aithnid sa stair. Is lu/ na/ sin is le/ir e/ i saol daoine aonraic.
Ni/ bhi/onn duine ar bith na/ eachtra ar bith san u/rsce/alai/ocht di/reach
mar ta/ sa saol. Siad Sorel Stendhal agus Karamozovs Dostoevski na
pearsana is cumasai/ sa litri/ocht dar liom fe/in, ach ni/ chreidim go
raibh a leithe/idi/ beo ariamh. Ta/ go leor den duine bheo agus
d'eachtra dhi/lis an tsaoil nach bhfuil aon mhaith iontu don sce/alai/ocht
ar sce/al ar chuma eici/nt a chaithfeas a bheith inti sa deire. Caitheann
codarsnai/ agus coinbhliochta, sruth agus gaoth, a theacht le che/ile i
sce/al ar chaoi na/r mho/ide do/ibh teangmha/il go bra/ch sa saol. Le/igh
me/ beatha Threasa Lisieux agus beatha Threasa Avila. Chuir








Treasa na Spa/inne gliondar orm, ach ni/ raibh me/ i n-ann bean na
Fraince a bharrai/ocht chor ar bith. Naofacht ar fad a bhi/ inti sin,
naofacht a toirbhireadh uirthi o/ la/ a baiste agus a bhi/ amhala chuile
la/ go dti/ la/ a ba/is. Bhi/ se/ cho he/asca sin aici a bheith in a naomh, no/
si/n e/ a shi/l mse, agus na/r cheart luai/ocht ar bith a bheith ag dul di
as a ucht. Ni/ fhe/adfainn u/rsce/al ar bith a shamhalu/ len a saol. Is
furasta sin a shamhalu/ faoi Threasa Avila, faoi Cholm Cille, faoi
Chaoimhin, faoi Scoithi/n Naofa . . . .
Ta/ cinea/l u/rsce/il ann nach bhfuil inchreidthe de re/ir re/asu/in na/
loighice. Ni/ co/ir iarra ar u/rsce/al ar bith a bheith inchreidthe ach de
re/ir a chuid te/armai/ tagartha. Ghlac Euclid le roinnt soile/irsi/ no/
axioms agus rinne co/ras ce/imseata astu. Deir daoine eolach liom gur
ghlac dreamannai/ o/ shoin le malairt soile/irsi/ agus na/rbh ionann chor
ar bith na co/rais che/imseata a mhu/nlaigh siad astu. I sce/al a/irid-- a
dhalta siu/d ni/ gearrsce/al e/ huir mise i gca/s gur thosaigh tithe i
mbaile mo/r a/irid ag buala faoin a che/ile. D'fhe/ach me/ le chuile sho/rt
eile a dhe/anamh inchreidthe taobh istigh den fhra/ma sin.
An bunsmaoine i gCre/ na Cille ni/l se/ inchreidthe ach an oiread, is
e/ sin go mbeadh coirp ag caint le che/ile i reilig. Du/irt le/irmheasto/ir
eici/nt gurb sheo e/ sean-chreideamh na Gaeltacht. Ma/ se/ is sean-
chreideamh e/ nach feasach mise e/. Ach ni/or ionsaigh duine ar bith
me/ faoi choirp a chur ag caint. faoi phearsana agus saol bre/agach
a rinneadh e/. Ba sheo e/ no/ rud mar e/ adu/irt Do/nall O/ Corcara: `is
be/aloideas i/ Cre/ na Cille. Marach go bhfuil eolas againn ar mhuintir
na Gaeltacht b'fhe/idir go gcreidfeadh muid gurb iad ata/ anseo'. Ni/
be/aloideas i/ in aon bhri/ den fhocal sin ata/ agamsa. Ta/ a fhios agam
ce/ard nach nde/arfadh agus ce/ard nach nde/anfadh na daoine ata/ faoi
thra/cht agam agus si/lim gur ta/bhachtai/ go mo/r e/ sin do scri/bhneoir
na/ rud a/irid adu/irt no/ a rinne fear a/irid sa saol.
San am a raibh Cre/ na Cille o/ sheachtain go seachtain san Irish
Press bhi/ me/ la/ ar bhus i mBaile A/tha Cliath. Sa sui/ocha/n ro/m amach
bhi/ fear agus caili/n o/g ag ple/ litri/ocht na Gaeilge. Ni/ nach hiona
chuir me/ cluais orm fe/in: `I hear there will be another book soon From
Peig', adu/irt seisean: mar is iondu/il le Gaeil agus len a gcuid ban no/
a gcuid leanna/n, i mBe/aria a bhi/ a gcomhra/. `What do you think of
this stoy serialised in the Irish Press?' adu/irt an caili/n. `This 0
Cadhain fellow', adu/irt se/. `A right galoot if ever there was one. A








Joycean smutmonger'. Go dti/ la/ an lae inniu ni/l a fhios agam ce/ hi/
an caili/n. fear a bhfuil roimt mhaith ca/il air i gcu/rsai/ litri/ocht e/ an
fear. Ar aon chor bhi/ ga/illeog eile de chomhairle mo leasa faighte
agam i n-aisce. . . .
D'aonto/dh cuid de mhuintir na Gaeltacht leis sin, no/ d'aonto/idi/s
leis an gca/ine. Ta/ se/ ag lui/ le re/asu/n go mbeadh an mhuintir goilliu/-
nach, go ha/irid na blianta seo agus a seansaol sinsire ag athru/ o/ bhun
go barr. Cupla bliain o/ shoin chuir me/ eolas ar sheanfhear sa taobh o/
thua de Cho. na Gaillimhe. Si/lim go raibh se/ ar an duine deireanach
sa gceantar a raibh aon bhri/ Gaeilge aige. Ba phaiteanta agus
b'fhonnmhar uaidh i/ a labhairt. Ba mhian liom rudai/ uaidh a chur ar
spo/l agus b'fhada leis go gcloisfeadh se/ a ghlo/r fe/in, nuair a chuala se/
rudai/ a bhi/ ar an spo/l cheana. Bhi/ an ini/n ar an urla/r, ceann sraoilleach,
puisbhean gan po/sa ba chosu/il: `Oh no! I couldn't allow him! I
know he would say the wrong things! He wouldn't know how to say
the right things from the wrong things . . . .
Ta/ a fhios agam gur thug an gna/thphobal, thiar ar aon no/s, agus
seo iad mo mhuintir fe/in, an-taithneamh do Chre/ na Cille. Chean-
naigh daoine san a/it sin i/ na/r cheannaigh de leabhar ariamh ach Old
Moore's Almanac le haghaidh aontai/, no/ an Imeldist o/ na mna/ rialta
nuair nach raibh aon dul as acu. Bhi/ contu/irt ann go nde/anfadh si/
tuille be/adoidis: bhi/odh si/ dha/ le/amh sna tithe cuart agus ar an
bportach. Bhi/ si/ sa/ch gar d'intinn na ndaoine go raibh nathai/odo/iri/
ag cur rudai/ le/i nach raibh inti. An fear santach dha/ mhealla ag an
bhfear bre/agach, no/ a/bhar si/orai/ an bhe/aloidis ma/s brea/ leat. Agus
bhi/ pobal eile ann. Is mo/r an rud ag scri/bhneoir aitheantas. E/ seo a
chloistea/il ag dul thart dhom i bPa/irc an Chro/caigh la/ mo/rchluiche:
`there goes Cre/ na Cille'.
An dream na/r thaithnigh si/ leo: caomhno/iri/ an chultu/ir sa
nGaeltacht, an mhea/n aicme i/ochtarach, mu/inteoiri/ de dhu/chas na
ha/ite, an cinea/l dreama a mbi/onn caislea/in in E/irinn ag a muintir ar a
dhul go Meireaca/ do/ibh, is e/ sin le ra/ na Super-Ego-Chinsiri/ Freudach
a bhfuil se/ ag cinnt orthu a gcuid coinbhliochta mu/isiamach fe/in a
re/iteach, fearacht an phuisbhean siu/d a bhi/ ag de/anamh cinsireacht
ar a hathair.
Ni/or chuala me/ ariamh faoi aon scri/bhneoiri/ a bheith i mo








cheantar fe/in, ce/s moite de bheirt, Mi/chea/l Breathnach i bpara/iste an
Chnoic agus Eon O/ Neachtain taobh thoir sa Spide/al, Bhi/ scola/ire
Laidine i bpara/iste an Spide/il i ndeire an 17u/ ce/ad. Ni/ raibh aon
tradition liteartha sa li/miste/ar se' againne ce/s moite de na fili/
tuaithe, dream ata/ ann fo/s. Bhi/ beirt ata/ ag de/anamh amhra/in i
gco/nai/ ag gabha/il in e/indigh liom chun scoile. Chuala me/ caint ar
scola/iri/ bochta, ach ba ar Achre/idh na Gaillimhe an che/ad a/it thiar
a bhfaca me/ la/imhscri/bhinni/ o/n l9u/ ce/ad. D'fhoghlaim mo shean-
athair le Gaeilge a le/amh i scoil scairte agus i/ a scri/obh i script
barbartha a raibh leagan dhe i gCorcaigh fe/in sa gce/ad seo caite.
Ach ar e/igin a thiu/rfa/ tradition air sin. An fear is grinne a scri/obh
faoi literary tradition len a/r linn fe/in is e/ T. S. Eliot e/. Ta/ rud mar seo
ra/ite aige: an te/ nach mbeadh ann ach file traditionta ni/ bheadh ann
ach fear aithrise, ag de/anamh ar ais ari/st agus ari/st eile rudai a
rinneadh ni/os fearr roimhe sin. Ar a shon sin an file fi/or-bhunaidh
nach mbeadh faoi chomaoin dha/ laghad ag na daoine a bhi/ ann
i/ bheadh se/ i n-ann aon rud a chur i gce/ill d'aonduine.
Seo mar du/irt se/ i Re/amhra/ faoi chomhair Selected Poems of
Ezra Pound.-
Invention is wrong only because it is impossible . . . The poem
which is absolutely original is absolutely bad; it is in the bad
sense `subjective' with no relation to the world to which it
appeals. Ma/ ta/ muid ag fe/achaint ro/inn (arsa seisean) is ionann
sin agus go gcaithfe muid fe/achaint siar, arae le fios a fha/il ce/ard
ta/ le de/anamh fo/s ni/ mo/r dhu/inn eolas sa/ch barrainneach a
bheith againn ce/ard ta/ de/anta cheana agus fa/gann sin ari/st go
mbeidh orainn na prionsabail agus na da/la seasta a dhealu/
uathu seo na/rbh bhfi/or iad ach faoi ghasra eici/nt den dream a
tha/inig ro/inn . . . Is coisce ar an scri/bhneoireacht neamhriach-
tanach sin arb uirthi is minice a thugtar traditional, tradition
coimhfhiosach liteartha a bheith ann; coisceam se/ tabhairt
faoi shaothar ata/ de/anta gan fui/oll cheana . . . .
Is ionann seo agus a ra/ gurb aon aonad no/ iomla/n amhai/n i/ an
litri/ocht. Is srian e/ ar a bheith bunaidh ar mhaith le bheith bunaidh
d'aon u/im, ceann de na tre/artha is seafo/idi/ a d'fhe/adfadh baint le
scri/obh cruthai/och. Cheado/dh Elot fa/s agus ar an a/bhar sin athru/.
Mar ta/ mi/nithe ag Lucy faoi is i/ an chontu/irt ata/ ann go scoirfi/ le








oidhriocht liteartha an am ata/ imithe. B'a/il le Do/nall O/ Corcara, rud
adu/irt se/ deireanach go leor in a shaol, nach ndealo/fai/ le gna/thu/
dha/mhsoileannai/ Muimhneach an 18u/ ce/ad. Is cosu/il mar sin fe/in
gur shi/l se/ go raibh an saothar a bhi/ de/anta ag na da/mhscoileannai/
sin gan fui/oll in a ghne/ fe/in: fe/ach nach ndearna se/ fe/in aithris ar
bith orthu i nGaeilge na/ i mBe/arla . . . .
Ni/l aon tradition liteartha agamsa ach Dia idir sinn agus Cu/l
Aodha! Rinne an iomarca tradition, tradition saofa, gleann gealt
d'intinn She/amais Mhic Ghrianna freisin. An a/it is fearr i gcu/rsai/
liteartha a chruthaigh, a/it nach raibh mo/ra/n tradition ann seachas
m'a/it fe/in si/lim, ba e/ Corca Dhuibhne agus na Blascaeid e/. Ach bhi/
a dhonacht fe/in sa me/id sin freisin. B'fhearr leis na hollu/in go
n-e/ireofai/ as scri/obh na Gaeilge, ar an a/bhar go mba lo/r scri/bhinni/
an Athair Peadar a bheith ann. Ba teannach leo ari/st a ra/ na/r cho/ir
aon Ghaeilge a scri/obh i ndiaidh leabhara Thoma/is Ui/ Chrithin.
B'a/dhu/la a bhi/ na fili/, ce/ go mbeidh roinnt le ra/ agam fu/thu ar ball.
B'a/dhu/la de bhri/ nach raibh spe/is dha/ laghad ag na hollu/in sa
bhfili/ocht nua-aimsire rud a d'fha/ga i/ ar a comhairle fe/in. Idir seo
agus siu/d, ollu/in, be/aloideas, treibheachas agus eile, se/ mo bharu/il go
gcaithfear tosu/ mo/ra/n o/ spriog ari/st leis an bpro/s, fiu/ go gcaithfear
cuid mhaith neamhaird a dhe/anamh de phro/s an Athbheochain go
dti/ seo, da/ mheanmna mar phro/s ar aon chor.
An uirnii/s liteartha is fearr a fuair me/ o/ mo mhuintir an chaint,
caint thi/riu/il, caint chre/u/il, caint chraicneach a thosai/os ag damhsa
orm scaiti/, ag gol orm scaiti/, de mo bhui/ochas. Si/ an cinea/l ce/anna i/
a thug Se/amas Mhac Grianna leis. D'fhe/ach me/ leis an locht ata/ dar
liom ar an nGriannach a sheachaint. D'fhe/ach me/ le mo chuid fe/in a
spi/ona, a shlama agus a chi/ora, biseach beag a bheith i mo dhiaidh
uirthi seachas mar fuair me/ i/. Cuiri/m seachmall ar na le/irmheasto/iri/
uaireantai/. Do mo mhuintir is iondu/il leo an chreidiu/int ar fad a
thabhairt. Is ionann seo agus a she/ana gur scri/bhneoir chor ar bith
me/. Si/lim, mar shampla, na/r bheag mar chu/namh do Chre/ na Cille,
a hainm.
Te/ann daoine go dti/ mo theach i gCois fharraige agus imeasc mo
chomharsan le fiosru/ ar an la/thair arb i/ caint mo mhuintire chor ar
bith ata/ agam. Scanrai/onn na daoine sin mo mhuintir. Si/leann siad
gur daoine o/n nGobharmint iad, anuas le dole no/ seanphinsean, no/








an pinsean dall a bhaint dhi/obh. Chuir duine i mo leith i le/irmheas
nach raibh agam ach caint leathphara/iste. Ni/or mho/r do dhuine an
Ghaeilge ar fad a bheith aige le e/ sin a chuir i leith dhuine eile. Ba
rud taobh amuigh de le/irmheas liteartha e/ agus d'fhreagair me/ e/,
ach ni/or foilsi/odh mo fhreagra. Du/irt me/ go dtiocfadh dhom gan a
bheith agam ach caint leathphara/iste, ach gur chosu/il nach e/ an
leathphara/iste ceart e/, mar nach raibh ag an iomla/n acu ach caint
leathphara/iste, ma/ bhi sin fe/in ag a bhformho/r, agus ar aon chor o/
nach raibh faoin nGaeilge anois ach cupla para/iste gur mhaith an
h is i/ lomchla/r
na fi/rinne nach bhfuil caint leathphara/iste agam. Cloisim cainteannai/
nua i gco/nai/ ar an urla/r ar rugadh agus ar to/igeadh me/ air. Ach ar
bhealach eile is iomai/ para/iste ar thug me/ creach bheag liom as, as
an taobh thiar de Chonamara, as Achre/idh na Gaillimhe, as Du/iche
Sheoigeach, as li/miste/ir na Gaeltacht fre/ che/ile. Chaith me/ cion
leathbhliana no/ tuille, idir ceathair no/ cu/ig de chuairteannai/, in Inse
Gall, in Oilea/n Leos go ha/irid. Chaith me/ mi/ as a che/ile in a cha/ba/n
in e/indigh le `cea/ird' no/ tince/ara agus tho/ig me/ go leor seansce/alta
agus fiu/ dreasa ceoil uaidh, arae ba sa/rphi/obaire e/ freisin. Ag ithe
agus ag gearra ar mhuintir na hE/ireann a bhi/odh se/ le chuile chor.
`Se/ feadhainn gle/ ainealach, leora, ata/ ann an E/irinn.'
Mar ta/ a fhios ag ca/ch ta/ a la/n cainte beo in Albain nach bhfuil beo
in E/irinn anois ach a bhi/ sa nGaeilge abhus tra/th. Bainim corrfhocal
aisti. Si/lim go n-aithneoinn ce/ard is fe/idir a bhaint aisti agus nach
mbeadh in a choirce sce/in sa nGaeilge. Scri/obhaim `teine bhial na
hoi/che', leagan na/r chuala me/ ariamh in E/irinn ach a thuigfeadh
Gaeilgeoir ar an toirt. Ar a mhalairt ni/ scri/obhfainn rud a bhi/ in
E/irinn deireanach go leor: ruigim a leas (leigidh mi a leas), na/ an
tra/sta ach an oiread. Ta/ siad ro-sheargtha, ro-chosu/il le Gaeilgeoiri/
E/ireannach arb e/ `an fe/ileadh' a bheadh orthu.
Duine ar bith a scri/obh Gaeilge bhain se/ rudai/ siar as an litri/ocht.
Dar a shon nach mbainfeadh. Teagasc Cri/ostai/ a scri/obhadh i la/r an
che/id seo caite agus ar chosu/la le saothar Louvain e/ a bhi/ agam fe/in
ag an scoil. Bhi an Ghaeilge to/ru/il ariamh ar rudai/ a/rsa dothuigthe
agus ta/ fo/s, `An Mharthainn Pha/draig' mar shampla. Ma/ theastai/onn
focal uaim agus gan e/ agam ach e/ sa litri/ocht, no/ ma/s do/igh liom
gur fearr an focal ata/ agam o/n litri/ocht na/ focal o/ chanu/int eile nach








mo/ide go mbeadh a bhri/ go barrainneach agam, is as focal na
litri/ocht a bhainim leas. I gCath Mhuighe Le/ana a fuair me/ `ba/ire
baoise' : `Eoghan ar a ba/ire bai/si a coimideacht a oide ann'. Thuigfi/
e/ mar ta/ an da/ fhocal sean-bheo fo/s, ce/ nach i gcuingir a che/ile mar
sin e/ si/lim.
Ni/ dhe/anaim rud mar sin ach ar mo riachtanas. Caithfe duine an
Ghaeilge a scaga sa gcaoi go mbeidh chuile fhocal cruinn barrainne-
ach, `donner un sens plus pur aux mots de la tribu', mar du/irt
Mallarme/, bri/ ni/os glaine a thabhairt do chaint na treibhe. Bi/onn
cuid mhaith focla doile/ar don chainteoir du/chais fe/in. Ni/ mo/r don
scri/bhneoir a bheith i n-ann breathnu/ timpeall na gcoirne/il, siu/l faoi
gcuairt den fhocal. Ni/ cu/rsa don fhile amha/in e/ seo: fe/achaimse len
a dhe/anamh freisin. Ma/ ta/ dha/ fhoirm sa gcaint ach ceann acu a
bheith aosta sa litri/ocht bi/onn fonn orm tu/s a thabhairt do cheann
na litri/ocht. Is iomai/ caoi i gcanu/int ar bith le in aonacht no/ in e/indi
a ra/. Ni/ aithni/onn daoine ar cho/ir ni/ b'fhearr a fhios a bheith acu
gur focal cianaosta sa litri/ocht, focal ata/ beo i mo chuid cainte fe/in,
'ab uil a che/ile'. Scri/obhaim o/ chianaibh ce/ nach bhfuil se/ i mo chuid
cainte fe/in. Ach ta/ eolas agam air o/n litri/ocht agas is feasach dhom
go bhfuil se/ beo fo/s in a/iteachai/ eile. Bhi/ agus ta/ locht agam ar
Sce/alai/ocht na Rithe as ucht gur hathrai/odh focla agus leagain sna
sce/alta sin ata/ beo fo/s sa gcaint.
Si/ mo chanu/int fe/in mo fhriotal bunaidh scri/bhneoireacht ach ni/l
aon leisce orm caint Chonnachtach ar bith a chuala me/, no/ ata/ agam
o/ leabhar, o/ sce/al, na/ o/ amhra/n a scri/obh. Tho/ig me/ a la/n focal
Gaeilge as Be/arla na hE/ireann, na blianta a raibh me/ sa gcampa
ge/ibhinn. Bhi/ daoine as chuile cheaird d'E/rinn ann. foinse chuma-
sach don Ghaeilge bheo i/ an iris Be/aloideas. Ach ta/ a leas fe/in sna
hirisi/ le/annta uilig. Ni/ taise do na te/acsannai/ pro/is ar fad e/ o/n 17u/
ce/ad anuas agus leabhara be/aloidis Chonra na Gaeilge a chur san
a/ireamh, i dteannta irisi/ mar An Gaodhal, Irisleabhar na Gaedhilge,
irisi/ Chonra na Gaeilge, irisi/ fearacht An Stoc, Ar Aghaidh, An
tUltach, An Lo/chrann, gan tra/cht ar fhoclo/ir an Duinni/nigh, ar cho/ir
do chuile scri/bhneoir i/ a thabhairt chun leapan leis, mara bhfuil
foclo/ir a barrtha aige. Mhu/in fili/ocht an 17u/ ce/ad de/ag--ce/ nach
mbeadh duine ag su/il leis seo--rudai/ a/irid faoi sti/l dhom, leas a
bhaint as an aidiacht i leaba an ainm-fhocail mar shompla, an








santach in a/it an duine santach, no/ an santacha/n, an bre/agach, an
formadach agus mar sin. D'fhe/adfainn e/ sin a fhoghlaim, cuir i gca/s,
o/ sheanfhocla ar bhe/al na ndaoine, ach b'ansiu/d ba thu/isce a thug
me/ suntas do/.
Du/irt me/ ar ball nach mo/r don scri/bhneoir a bheith i n-ann
breathnu/ faoi gcuairt d'fhocla. Sin e/ an t-u/dar a mbi/onn drugall orm
a dhul i mbradai/l mo/ra/n, ar chanu/inti/ beo taobh amuigh de chuid
Chonnacht. Is caol cleasach na rudai focla beo. Castar focal le duine
i gcanu/int seachas a chanu/int fe/in ach a casadh leis cheana sa
litri/ocht. Ni/ i gco/nai/, na/ fiu/ go minic, arb i/ ciall na litri/ocht an
chiall bheo. Is minic an leagan ce/anna ag focla i dha/ chanu/int, ach
an chiall an-dealaithe, tuatach, tu/tach, i gConamara agus i nGleann
na Mada, no/ gala/nta i dTi/r Chonaill agus i nGaillimh.
 Dar ndo/igh ni/ mo/r a bheith di/lis don chanu/int i gcomhra/ ma/s le
Gaeltacht no/ lucht Gaeltacht ata/ do phle/. Is cu/rsa crosta iad na
focla Be/arla ata/ teagtha isteach sa gcaint. Chuala me/ scola/ire
Gaeilge ag ra/ nach bhfe/adfadh se/ rothar a ra/, bicycle deile, go
mb'fhe/idir dha/ dtaithi/odh se/ e/ agus anro/ ai/rid a chur ar ghle/asannai/
oilte a bhe/il go n-e/ireodh leis e/ a ra/, ach ar phrinciple nach nde/arfadh.
Ach dha/ ndeirinn fe/in rothar i gcomhlo/dar na ndaoine ar e/irigh me/
suas leo bheadh faiti/os orm go si/lfidi/s gur suimiu/lacht a bheadh orm.
Ach ni/ bhfaighinn ionam fe/in leagan eile ata/ acu fe/in air a ra/ ach
oiread, `baidhsilic'. Teastai/onn siceolai/ o/ dhaoine seachas an scola/ire
Gaeilge sin! Comhairim fe/in in a ionsai/ neamhdhi/reach ar an
teanga ag daoine nach ionsai/ is ru/n do/ibh go leor de na focla nua
ata/ dha/ dtabhairt isteach sa nGaeilge o/n mBe/arla litir ar an litir
mar de/arfa/, gan aird ar fhuaim na/ eile. Mar fhocla Be/arla ade/arfar
go bra/ch iad. Ni/l an Ghaeilge feasta i n-ann a cuid fe/in a dhe/anamh
den iasacht. Ni/ dhe/anfa seo ach teanga ata/ sa/ch slabhctha cheana a
shlabhca tuille. Fiu/ ni/ fhiafrai/tear ar call an focal, no/ a bhfuil a
chomhmhaith sa nGaeilge cheana. Ta/ focla sa nGaeilge le tamall
maith anois nach mo/r e/ mo ghnaoi-sa orthu `le/irmheasto/ir' cuir i
gca/s, no/ `amharclann' no/ `taibhdhearc'. Ach na focla a cuireadh in a
n-a/it le goirid, critic agus te/atar is in a bhfocla Be/arl/a a fhanfas siad
go deo sa nGaeilge is cuma ce/n re/im idirna/isiu/nta ata/ acu. Ta/ chuile
dhuine `ag forbairt' mar deir siad fe/in. Ba mho/ an chomaoin a
chuirfeadh a la/n acu ar an nGaeilge dha/ mba ag buala golf a ghabh-








faidi/s. Cuireann se/ scanra orm nuair a chloisim duine ag ra/ gur
scriobh se/ rud eici/nt le cruthu/ gur fe/idir an saol nua-aimsire a phle/ i
nGaeilge. Is fe/idir. Ach ta/ a fhios agamsa go gcuireann se/ anro/ mo/r
orm an smaoine is fa/nai/ dha/ dteagann chugam a phle/ agus go si/lim
gurb amhala do chuile scri/bhneoir e/, no/ ta/ su/il agam gurb amhala.
Ba cheart focla a la/imhsea/il cho cu/ramach le uibheachai/ a mbeadh
scolb an e/in orthu. Ma/ ta/ tada i nda/n do shaotharu/ na Gaeilge
caithfear an Ghaeilge sheargtha uilig a scru/du/ agus foclo/ir a dhe/anamh
d'fhocla agus de leagain a bheadh inghlactha in athuair. Agus
de/anfar a la/n cinea/l foclo/iri/ eile. Idir dha/ am caithfe muide sme/aracht
i/nn i gcamhaoineach an chathair
ghriobha/in seo arb i/ an scri/bhneoireacht i/, an uair fe/in is co/iriu/la
da/la a saothraithe, a/r gcuid cnuasaigh comhfhocla, a/r gcuid sto/rchisti/,
a/r gcuid o/rchisti/ a dhe/anamh, chuile dhuine againn dho/ fe/in.
Ba dheacair don Athair Peadar tada a dhe/anamh seachas mar
rinne se/. Ni/ raibh mu/nla ar bith pro/is ann o/n 19u/ ce/ad ach Cin Lae
Ui/ Shu/illeabha/in na/r foilsi/odh aon chuid dhe go dti/ 1912-1913 agus
Fealsu/nacht Aodha Ui/ Dhomhnaill na/r foilsi/odh go dti/ anura.
B'fhe/idir go ndearna An tAthair Peadar a/il ro-mho/r dha/ e/igean.
Chua se/ go dti/ cna/imh na huilleann leis agus go dti/ an smior chailleach
sa gcna/imh fe/in. Sin e/ dearmad an nua-aoso/ir, an innovator, i gco/nai/.
Bhi/ se/ ro-ghe/ar ar chuile rud ach Gaeilge bheo, ce/ gur ghlac se/ fe/in
as na sce/alta a bhi/ se/ a athnuachan le rudai/ na/r Ghaeilge bheo si/lim.
Cuireadh suas dhe mar gheall ar gur thosaigh daoine ag tuirsiu/ dha/
chuid sce/alta, dha/ chuid sti/le, dha/ chuid pa/pai/ocht freisin b'fhe/idir,
ce/ na/rbh eisean ach Henebry an Cu/istiu/n. Chua a fhriotal i gcion ar
chuile dhuine san am. Ach ansin tha/inig daoine ar an bhfo/d a raibh
rudai/ ni/ b'inspe/ise le ra/ acu, An Piarsach agus Pa/draig O/ Conaire.
O/ tha/inig Se/amas Mhac Grianna ba gheall le cogai/ creidimh na
Gearma/ine i/ an ti/r go teangach. Is iomai/ duine adu/irt gur cho/ir
glaca le canu/int na mbeirt Ghriannach in a friotal do phro/s na Gaeilge.
B'fhearr an Ghaeilge a bhi/ acu na/ ag Pa/draig O/ Conaire. B'fhe/idir
go nglacfai/, no/ i dta/naiste dho/ sin, marach gur scoir Seosamh Mhac
Grianna. Ni/ de chanu/int She/amais ata/ muid tuirsithe faoi seo,
ainneoin go bhfuil a dhi/cheall de/anta aige le go dtuirseodh, ach den
scuaidri/n fada sce/alta a d'fhe/adfadh duine a chla/ru/ in a n-aicmi/ cho
pointea/ilte baileach is chla/raigh Thompson na seansce/alta idirna/isi-








u/nta sa Motif-index of Folk Literature. B'e/igean du/inn cu/l a thabhairt
dha/ chuid sce/alta agus dha/ re/ir sin dha/ fhriotal.
Nuair a thosaigh an tAthair Peadar ag scri/obh ni/orbh bhfe/idir
a dhul siar, arae ba ar e/igin a bhi/ aon leabhar Gaeilge le fa/il. Dha/
dteangmhai/odh gur cinea/l seargtha eici/nt Gaeilge, Ce/itinneachas, no/
fiu/ rud ni/ ba dheireanai/, a ghlacfai/ le linn an Athair Peadar ba
mhoille ari/st a bheadh nua-aosacht ag teacht sa scri/bhneoireacht na/
a tha/inig. Bheadh leatroma eile ar an bhfa/s. Bheadh fonn ar an
a/bhar agus ar an sce/alai/ocht fanacht thiar i re/ na cainte agus a
bheith saofa agus neamhre/alach. Ni/ he/ amha/in nach nglacfadh
Henebry le   caint nua-aimsire ach ni/ ghlacfadh se/ le nua-aosacht ar
bith, le sce/alai/ocht na/ le inseacht na/ le a/bhar nua-aimsire taobh
amuigh den bhe/aloideas. Bhi/ De/isigh eile a bhi/ beagnach cho dona
leis ar an gcaoi seo. Caint na ndaoine mar a thuig siad i/ a scri/obh
Pa/draig O/ Conaire agus An Piarsach in a gcuid sce/alta. Smaoinigh
ar Pha/draig O/ Conaire, ar She/amas Mhac Grianna no/ ar an
gCrithineach  ag iarra Henebryachas a scri/obh!
De/arfa me/ ari/st, fiu/ ma/ ta/ deili/n de/anta agam dhe faoi seo, dha/
mbeadh aon cheo dha/iri/re le ra/ ag an Athair Peadar, no/ dha/
mb'fhe/idir aon cheo fiu/ntach a ra/ an uair sin go nglacfai/ leis  an
nGaeilge a n-inseodh se/ e/. Bhi/ lucht na Gaeilge i bhfad ni/ b'fhulannai/
le Gaeilge a che/ile an tra/th sin na/ bhi/ siad ina dhiaidh sin. Ach fiu/
in a dhiaidh si/n bhi/ Clo/dhanna Teoranta agus Connradh na Gaedhilge
ag iarra an chaint a dtugaidi/s Gaeilge na hE/ireann uirthi a chur i
gcion.
  Chuala me/ Corcai/och ag ra/ go raibh cumann le/annta eici/nt ag
beartu/ leasu/ a dhe/anamh ar shaothar an Athair Peadar, e/ a niamh-
        ghlana mar ade/arfa/, mar nach i/ caint na ndaoine, caint Mhu/scrai/, a
bhi/
go huile agus go hiomla/n aige. Ni/l a fhios agam ce/ an chiall ata/ le caint
na ndaoine anseo, na/ fiu/ le caint. Ta/ tra/cht de/anta agam ar an gcaoi
a gcaithfe scri/bhneoir roghain a dhe/anamh ar a chuid a/bhair agus e/
a cho/iriu/. Se/ a fhearacht che/anna aige e/ leis an gcaint. An rud ata/
ra/ite ag Eliot faoi fhili/ocht ta/ se/ cho fi/or ce/anna faoi phro/s:
Ni/ hi/ an chaint che/anna amach agus amach choi/chin aon
fhili/ocht leis an gcaint a labhaireas agus a chloiseas an file; ach
caithfe si/ a bheith cho dlu/th sin le caint na haimsire sin go








bhfe/adfa an le/itheoir no/ an t-e/isteoir a ra/, `sin mar a labhair-
finnse da/ bhfe/adainn fili/ocht a labhairt'.
Chua se/ ni/ b'fhaide na/ sin agus du/irt gurb ar leagan cainte an a/it
arb as e/ ba cho/ir don fhile aird a thabhairt agus ar an teallach ar
di/obh e/, agus a chaint laethu/il fe/in. Mar sin fe/in ni/ hi/ caint na
ndaoine ata/ ag aon scri/bhneoir Gaeilge, bi/odh se/ in a Ghaeilgeoir
du/chais na/ eile. Is e/abhlo/idiu/ mar ade/arfa/ a ni/os an scri/bhneoir ar an
amha/bhar arb e/ caint na ndaoine e/, no/ caint na ndaoine i dteannta a
 ndaoine freisin i/ b'fhe/idir, caint na
ndaoine agus i/ e/abhlo/idithe cho maith. Ni/ fe/idir caint na ndaoine a
fha/il ach le spo/l-thaifeada/n, no/ le deis nua-aimsire eici/nt mar sin. Sa
me/id go mbeadh aon fhi/rinne ann si/limse gurb e/ an ca/ine ba ghe/ire a
d'fhe/adfai/ a dhe/anamh ar an Athair Peadar, no/ ar She/amas Mhac
Grianna gurb i/ caint na ndaoine a scri/obh siad. Ni/or chuala me/ aon
duine dha/ ra/ sin ariamh faoi Sheosamh Mhac Grianna.
Uair ar bith a scaraim fe/in le caint mo chanu/inte fe/in is caint a
chuala me/ duine eici/nt a ra/ a scri/obhaim, no/ caint a thuigfeadh fear
Gaeltacht a mbeadh aon teannta/s aige ar na smaointe a bhi me/ ag
iarra a fhoilsiu/ le/i. I gCre/ na Cille an chaint ata/ i mbe/al an mha/istir
scoile agus a bhean agus daoine eile uaireantai/ ni/ gna/thchaint
Ghaeltacht i/, ach caint ealai/onach, caint uaislithe no/ bre/ag-uaislithe.
Sa tSraith ar La/r ni/ sce/alta Gaeltacht `An Eochair' na/ `Ce/ Acu'. Is
dea-Ghaeilge ata/ curtha agam i mbe/al na bpearsanai/ sna sce/alta sin,
ainneoin nach gcloisfea/ aon duine sa nGaeltacht ag caint di/reach ar
an gco/ir sin. Du/radh liom gurb i/ Gaeilge bhriste Bhaile A/tha Cliath
arbh i/ ba do/igh a bheith ag Aitheach Tuatha na Sta/tsheirbhi/se dha/
mbeadh Gaeilge ar bith acu, ba cho/ir dhom a chur i mbe/al J. san
"Eochair'. Ni/l aon earna/il dhu/chais Ghaeilge ann a d'fhreagro/dh sa
gca/s seo, mara ndeireadh Mu/scrai/och gurb i/ a macasamhail ata/ ag
na Connachtaigh, no/ Se/amas Mhac Grianna gurb i/ ata/ ag pobal
Ghaoth Do/ir. Is fe/idir a ra/ gur Gaeilge bhriste i/ an Ghaeilge fhogh-
lamta ar fad, ce/ gur briste cuid dhi na/ a che/ile. Agus ansin ta/
cinea/lachai/ Gaeilge bhriste ann arb iad clann suiri/ na dtri/ chanu/inti/
faoi seach iad. Ach se/ mo mheas agus le gan tra/cht chor ar bith ar
staid la/thaireach na teanga, gur rudai/ gan ta/bhacht iad seo, airi/ona
seachtarach eachtarmhu/rach sa sce/alai/ocht. Ni/ raibh aon bhaint ag








a sce/al, no/ sce/al an innill a bhi/ dha/ chlai/, agus ni/ hi/ an cinea/l Gaeil
ge
ar inis se/ e/ a bhi/ ta/bhachtach. Ni/ he/ a d'inis chor ar bith e/. Dha/
mbeadh inneall ag caint ce/ an so/rt Gaeilge a bheadh aige, fiafrai/m?
Taobh istigh den mhu/nla sin ata/ me/ ag iarra a le/iriu/ is fe/idir dath
a chur ar an gcaint, le gur le/ir ce/ an aicme e/ an cainteoir, cuma arb
as an nGaeltacht no/ nach ea dho/. Gaeilge shla/n ata/ ag Toma/s Taobh
Istigh i gCre/ na Cille ach d'aithneodh ca/ch nach ma/istir scoile e/. Ar
a laghad ar bith du/irt ce/ad duine o/ gach a/it ar fud na hE/ireann liom
go gcaithfeadh se/ go raibh aithne agam ar an Toma/s Taobh Istigh a
bhi/ in a gcuid bailti/ fearainn fe/in!
An cinea/l friotail ata/ me/ ag iarra a shaotharu/ b'fhe/idir go bhfuil
se/ buille u/tama/lach, ach ni/l se/ cho hu/tama/lach agus a bhi/. Na
sce/alta nua ata/ me/ a scri/obh anois--ta/ leabhar toirtiu/il eile ag an
bhfoilsitheoir, An tSraith dha/ To/ga/il--ni/ faoi mo cheantar du/chais
na/ faoi Ghaillimh chor ar bith iad. An sce/al Gaeltacht ata/ ann ni/
faoi aon Ghaeltacht i nGaillimh e/. Is faide an t-achar i mBaile A/tha
Cliath anois me/ na/ bhi/ me/ i mo cheantar du/chais ariamh. B'e/igean
dom eolas an-bharrainneach a chur ar an gcathalr, eolas ni/os
barrainni/ na/ ta/ ag go leor d'fhi/ormhuintir na cathaireach fe/in uirthi,
        le linn dom a bheith i mo chomhalta feidhmiu/il in O/glaigh na
hE/ireann. Is mo/ de mo dhlu/thmhuintir i mBaile A/tha Cliath na/ sa
mbaile. Ta/ go leor de mo chomharsanai/ agus as mo thaobh ti/re-in a
gco/nai/ gar go leor dhom. Is cinea/l ghetto muid b'fhe/idir. B'as an
nghetto Kafka agus Heine gan ach beirt a bhfuil eolas agam ar a
saothar a lua. Cho fada is is le/ar dom is ghettos ar fad e/ Baile A/tha
Cliath. Ni/ fhe/adfadh duine a ra/ gur comhthiono/l a bhi/ ann o/ aimsir
Joyce, tra/th a raibh an baile mo/r i bhfad ni/ ba lu/ agus ni/ ba chomh-
dhlu/ite theannta/sai/. Ba e/ a scri/obh che/ad u/rsce/alta agus u/rsce/alta
deire Bhaile A/tha Cliath de re/ir cosu/lacht. Ni/ u/rsce/al coinbhliocht
na/ gni/mh ceachtar acu sin. Is den chinea/l picaresque e/ Ulysses cinea/l
nach fada chor ar bith e/ o/ Dhiarmaid agus Gra/inne, agus ta/ an-
chosu/lacht ag Finnegan's Wake, in a cuid easpa gni/mh ar aon no/s, le
dramai/ Shaw. Si/lim go bhfuil cathair mho/r griobha/in mar Bhaile
A/tha Cliath an-cho/iriu/il don sce/alai/ocht phicaresque. Mura bhfuil
comhthiono/l ta/ comhthiono/il i mBe/al Feirste. B'fhe/idir gurb e/ an








drama an chruth liteartha is dual do na `fluid puddings', do na bailte
mo/ra scaoilte. Is iondu/il pa/isiu/n no/ mu/isiam dha/ nochtu/ go fraoch-
mhar antoisceach i dteannta plotai/ocht sa drama agus is tre/ith de
shaol na gcathaireachai/ iad sin. Is fi/or nach dramai/ mar adeirim
cuid Chekov. Ach an chuid acu sin is cuimhneach liom anois ni/ faoi
bhailte mo/ra chor ar bith iad, no/ bailte mo/ra de mhe/id Bhaile A/tha
Cliath ar aon chor. Is beag dha/iri/re a leanadh an no/s Chekovach sa
dramai/ocht. B'fhe/idir gur chinn se/ ar dhaoine. I mbruachbhailte na
gcathaireachai/ nach cathair na/ tuaith iad fe/in ata/ co/nai/ ar lucht
rachmais, dream tionscail nach mbi/onn tionscailteach, daoine
meabharach scaiti/, ach gan aon fhiosracht intleachtu/il. Ni/l
d'fheidhm ag na bruachbhailte seo ach go gcollai/tear iontu.
Deirtear faoi dhramai/ Shasana gurb e/ a n-ionad seomrai/ maireachta/la
bruachbhailte Londain, ar no/s mar deirtear faoi dhramai/ na Main-
istreach gurb i/ an chisteanach tuaithe is ionad do/ibh. B'fhe/idir go
bhfuil so/ na mbruachbhailte leata amach ar an tuaith fe/in in E/irinn
faoi seo. Sce/al cinnte gur beag a bheadh le fa/il ag macasamhail
Synge inniu. Mar sin fe/in is faoin tuaith ata/ an pobal is foistini/ agus
measaim go bhfuil an tSeamair Mhuire ag scri/bhneoir ar de phobal
foistineach mar seo e/. Ach measaim freisin nach co/ir de mo leithe/idse
arb i mBaile A/tha Cliath ata/ formho/r mo shaoil caite agam, Baile
A/tha Cliath a fha/ga/il in a pha/ipe/ar ba/n. Ta/ go leor ra/ite faoi comh-
thiono/l agam. Is iomai/ cleas, cleasa gra/nna, cuid acu, a chaithfeas
duine a chur in a shui/ le e/ fe/in a chosaint ar stocaireacht. Roimh an
Nollaig chaith fear as Ros a Mhi/l coici/s ag tabhairt ollamh orm! Ba
e/ a chri/och go ndeacha me/ ar an o/l. Se/ an chaoi is dual don scri/bhn-
eoir a bheith in a dhi/seartach arb iad ballai/ a dhi/sirt an comhthiono/l
ar di/obh e/.
  Ta/ se/ ra/ite faoi u/rsce/alta mo/ra an tsaoil a caitheadh gur thuig a
gcuid u/dar go raibh ord bunaithe ar a gcu/l, eagar ar fhe/ad se/ a
thabhairt de bhreith air gur rud maith no/ gur rud dona a bhi/ ann,
ach gur rud e/ a bhi/ ann ar aon no/s. Ni/ staid sheasta mar sin ata/
inniu ann, staid a bhfe/adfadh an scri/bhneoir glaca le/i no/ cur in a
haghaidh. Is gotha sealadach ata/ ar chuile sho/rt fiu/ marthainn an
duine fe/in. Ta/ chuile rud e/iginnte, ar bi/s, mar go mba cinniu/nach
teagmhaiseach a bheadh se/ agus gan e/ ar acmhainn an duine aonraic
tada a dhe/anamh in a thimpeall, Mar sin fe/in bi/onn caitheamh mo/r








i ndiaidh cinea/l eici/nt buaineadais ag an duine. Seo e/ faoi deara do na
hu/rsce/alaithe comhthathu/ a chur san u/rsce/al nach bhfuil sa saol. A
la/n dha/ bhfuil dha/ chuma is mar le/iriu/ e/ ar an gcaidreanh daonna, na
daoine ar sca/th a che/ile i saol malairteach guaisiu/il. Ni/l saol na
hE/ireann saor o/n imni/ sin, ach oiread. Ni/ fhe/adfadh aon scri/bhneoir
su/lacht ar bith buaineadais
ar an bpobal na/ ar an saol ar do/igh do/ibh a bheith ag tra/cht orthu.
Is di/ol suntais ar an gcaoi seo gur i reilig ata/ Cre/ na Cille. Ni/l rud ar
bith is buaine na/ reilig ach gurb e/ buaine na neamhbheatha e/.
Ma/ fhiafrai/onn duine dhi/omsa ce/ an chaoi ar thosaigh me/ ag
scri/bhneoireacht ni/ fe/idir liom a ra/ go fi/rinneach. B'fhe/idir gur de
thimpiste e/. Rinne me/ na hiarrachtai/ leanbai/ a ni/os a la/n eile nach
seadai/onn an scri/bhneoireacht ni/os faide. Ursce/al a scri/obh in aois
mo sheacht mbliana de/ag, pi/osai/ Be/arla a scri/obh sa bPoblacht agus in
a/iteachai/ eile faoi ainm chleite agus faoi ainmneachai/ bre/ige. Dre/acht
Be/arla, aithris ar an Tale of a Tub le Swift, ag fono/id faoi chinnire
a/itiu/il d'O/glaigh na hE/ireann, dre/acht ar cheisnigh na bleachtailri/ ar
tharla do/ibh an teach a chuartu/ agam go bog agus go crua me/ faoi.
Mo che/ad ghearrsce/al: maidin shamhra le mainneachan tar e/is a
theacht isteach dhom o/ dhamhsa a scri/obh me/ e/ te bruite in aon
iarracht amha/in. Ni/l a fhios agam a raibh aon o/l de/anta agam. Ma/
bhi/ is cinnte go mba poiti/n e/. Ni/ i bhfad uaim a chonaic me/ an t-a/bhar.
Faoi mhada an chomharsa bhe/al dorais e/, duine nach mbi/nn scaiti/ ro-
bhui/och dhe. Deir Cri/osto/ir Mac Aonasa go bhfuil chuile rud dha/r
scri/obh me/ o/ shoin ann. Taca an am che/anna thosaigh me/ ag aistriu/
don Ghu/m agus d'aistrigh me/ drama do Thaibhdhearc na Gaillimhe,
rud a thug litir o/ Liam O/ Briain chugam. Chuir abairt amha/in inti
cluaisi/ni/ croi/ orm : `ni/l do chomh-mhaith de scri/bhneoir i gConnachta,
a Mha/irti/n'. Bhi/ Pa/draig O/ Conaire ba/saithe ach mheas mise go
mb'iontach an scri/bhneoir e/ an Beirneach, duine a le/inn go hamplu/ch
agus a le/im fo/s. Duine eile a raibh an-to/ir agam air an tra/th sin Mi/chea/l
Breathnach, scri/bhneoir ar b'as mo phara/iste fe/in e/. Le/igh me/ go
leor freisin le Pa/draig O/ Conaire agus le Pa/draig O/g O/ Conaire agus
bhi/ me/ ag tosu/ ar mhuintir Ghrianna. Le/igh me/ Shakespeare o/ thu/s
go deire. Chum me/ drama chu/ig mhi/r ag aithris air ta/ me/ cinnte agus








drama faoi U/na Bha/n Nic Dhiarmada Rua a thug me/ don Taibh-
dhearc, agus ar mhaith an aghaidh air gur heiti/odh e/. Scri/obh me/
drama fada eile a bhi/ le le/iriu/ san a/it, marach gur imigh cuid de na
daoine a bhi/ ceaptha le bheith pa/irteach ann go Sasana. Ni/ dhearna
me/ ach iarracht amha/in eile, an ceann a leigheas ar an dramai/ocht
me/. Scri/obh me/ drama sa gcampa ge/ibhinn. Thug me/ don Mhainistir
e/ in a dhiaidh sin, moladh agus heiti/odh e/. B'fhe/idir go mbainfeadh
daoine meabhair eici/nt as mo chuid leabhar, ach ni/ thuigfidi/s go
deo ar arda/n mo chuid cainte!
Go di/reach agus an scri/bhneoireacht caite as mo cheann agam
tharla rud beag eile a thug ogach dhom in athuair. Thosaigh caili/n
ag iarra orm cu/namh a thabhairt di. Thugadh si/ pi/nneachai/ airgid
dhom corruair nuair a d'e/iri/odh an t-uisce gann amach i meirbheadas
an tsamhra. Bhi/ si/ ag dul ag an Ollscoil agus thug an t-Ollamh
Be/arla aiste dho/ibh. Ni/ aiste a scri/obh mise in a hainm fe/in ach
gearrsce/al. Bhi/ iontas ar an ollamh agus a/thas is cosu/il. D'iarr se/
uirthi an sce/al a aistriu/ go Gaeilge agus e/ athscri/obh mar dhrama
agus go le/ireofai/ sa Taibhdhearc e/. Si/lim gur le/iri/odh ach ni/l me/
dearfa. Foilsi/odh freisin in a/it eici/nt e/, ach ni/ fhaca me/ e/.
Faoi seo bhi/ m'ansho/ fe/in ormsa agus bo/thairi/ na hE/ireann ro/m
amach. Bhi/ mo shagart para/iste agus easpag na Gaillimhe i ndiaidh
me/ a bhrise as an scoil a raibh me/ ag mu/na inti. Ni/ faoi sin ata/ aon
fhaltanas agam don sagart siu/d ach fhobair dho/ me/ a ghra/iniu/ ar an
scri/bhneoireacht go deo si/lim. Gaeilgeoir brea/ a bhi/ ann ach niamh-
ghlanto/ir, purist, a sha/ro/dh Henebry fe/in. Chaith se/ a shaol ag
ceartu/ Gaeilgeoiri/ a phara/iste fe/in. Ni/l seachtain ar bith nach
dteagadh se/ isteach sa scoil agus leabhar Gaeilge eici/nt aige, mar-
ca/ilte le peann luai/ dearg, leabhar le Toma/s O/ Ma/ille, no/ Colm
O/ Gaora, no/ duine eici/nt eile, de mhuintir na Gaillimhe go ha/irid,
a bhi/ in ainm's scoth na Gaeilge a bheith aige. Chaitheadh se/ an
chuid eile den la/ ag dul thri/othu o/ dhearmad go dearmad. Dha/
scri/obhainn fe/in rud ar bith in a/it ar bith thugadh se/ isteach e/ le
sciu/ra na seanchuinneoige a thabhairt dhom ar an gco/ir che/anna.
O/ am go che/ile thosai/odh se/ ag cur strainceannai/ le/anmhar air fe/in:
`Is trua! Is trua! An Ghaeilge a bheith dha/ milliu/ mar sin! Ta/ me/
cra/iti/, cra/iti/, cra/iti/! Pian ata/ thuas i mo tho/in! Pian thuas i mo
tho/in! Piles! Piles! An raibh siad ortsa ariamh? . . . '








I mBaile A/tha Cliath bhi/ aithne agam ar chupla duine a bhi/ ag
scri/obh Gaeilge, go ha/irid Toma/s Baire/ad a bhi/odh ag tuine liom, no/
go dte/inn ag scri/obh me/ fe/in. Ni/ raibh aon obair sheasta agam agus
 tada eile a bheith
le de/anamh agam. Ach bhi/ me/ mi/sha/sta ar fad. An obair a chonaic
me/ de/anta ag daoine eile ni/ raibh goir ar bith agamsa i/ a dhe/anamh.
La/ amha/in fuair me/ seancho/ip d'irisleabhar Fraincise ar phi/nn si/lim
i siopa leabhar i sra/id Aungier i mBaile A/tha Cliath, rud a bhi/ in a
oscailt su/l domsa cho mo/r is a tharla don Naomh Po/l ar bho/thar
Damascus! Casadh aistriu/ Fraincise liom inti ar sce/al le Maxim
Gorky: la/ buana imeasc Casacai/ an Don. Gheit me/ suas den leaba a
raibh me/ si/nte uirthi dha/ le/amh. Ni/or le/igh me/ a leithe/id roimhe sin.
Tuige na/r inis duine ar bith dhom go raibh sce/alta mar seo ann?
`Bheinnse i n-ann e/ sin a scri/obh', arsa mise liom fe/in. `Sin obair a
ni/os mo mhuintir-sa ach gur malairt ainmneachai/ ata/ orthu'.
Tha/inig mar bheadh cinea/l ocrais orm, ocras ba do-fhuilingithe go -
mo/r na/ an cinea/l a bhi/odh i mo bholg scaiti/. Thosaigh Cois Fharraige
o/ bhreaclach go carraig mhaol, go caola/ire, go srutha/n, go loch, go
sliabh, go haghaidh fir, mna/ agus linbh, dha/ cruthu/ fe/in thiar ar
chu/la m'fhorai/ du/inte. Bhi/ an t-irisleabhar sin i mo pho/ca agus ba
bheag eile a bhi/ ann an la/ ar gabhadh me/.
Chaith me/ ionann's chu/ig bhliana idir tri/ no/ ceathair de phri/osu/in
ach ba sa gcampa ge/ibhinn ar Churrach Chill Dara a chaith me/ an
chuid is mo/ dhe. Ni/ mian liom mo/ra/n a ra/ faoi sin, ce/ go mbaineann
se/ le mo sce/al. Fuair me/ an oiread eolais ar an duine is dha/ mbeinn
ce/ad bliain ar an saol. Ta/ eolas ar an duine, ar an saol, riachtanach
don scri/bhneoir. Bhi/odh Hemingway, cuir i gca/s, i gco/nai/ ag iarra
tuille eolais mar sin. Ba shin e/ an fa/th a ndeacha se/ in a tharbhado/ir
agus in a fhiagai/ beithi/gh mho/ra san Aifrice. Ni/ shin e/ an fa/th a
ndeacha mise i bpri/osu/n. Ni/ shin e/ an fa/th a ndearna me/ roinnt
mhaith siu/lo/ide, na/ a raibh me/ cupla gea/bh ag obair i Sasana, na/ ag
obair ar an mo/in i bPa/irc an Fhionnuisce, na/ ag obair ar thithe ag
Cros an Araldaigh, ach gur briseadh as an obair dheire seo me/ i
ndiaidh tri/ la/! Is sna/th ar fad iad don scri/bhneoir le tochras ar
cheirtli/n a chuid a/bhair.
Rinne me/ a la/n oibre sa gcampa ge/ibhinn, ainneoin cho corrach
is bhi/ an saol. Ta/ me/ i n-ann roinnt teangachai/ a le/amh agus leas a








bhaint astu ma/ chaithim. Ni/ cheapaim gurb sheo rud ta/bhachtach
don scri/bhneoir. Len a theanga fe/in ata/ air a dhu/racht a chaitheamh.
Beidh an Be/arla aige ar aon chor. Mhu/in gearrsce/alta a le/igh me/ sa
nGearma/inis agus san Ioda/ilis rudai/ faoin ngearrsce/al dhom a bhi/
ag Chekov, no/ ag daoine eile b'fhe/idir, ach na/r le/igh me/ sa/ch grinn
iad. Is maith an rud ar aon chor gan a bheith i dtuilleamai/ an Bhe/arla,
fiu/ ma/ ta/ aistriu/ ar chuile sho/rt ar fo/namh faoin domhan ann. Le/igh
me/ an domhanai/ocht na blianta sin a raibh me/ i nge/ibheann. Ach ni/
raibh an a/it co/iriu/il do scri/bhneoireacht. Bhi/ me/ i mbun pa/ipe/ar a
bhi/ ag na ge/ibheannaigh Barbed Wire ar feadh tamaill agus scri/obh-
ainn idir Ghaeilge agus Bhe/arla ann. Rinne me/ roinnt scri/bhneoire-
acht thairis, dha/ u/rsce/al a d'imigh ar throigh gan tuairisc agus nach
mo/ra/n bris sin. Mhu/in siad dhom leis an gcinea/l comhra/ agus modh
scri/bhneoireacht a chuir me/ in a dhiaidh sin i gCre/ na Cille agus in
Athnuachan a scri/obh. Scri/obh me/ roinnt mhaith fili/ocht ach ta/ si/
sin imithe freisin. Bhi/nn ag cuma amhra/in ariamh go mo/r mo/r faoi
eachtrai/ i saol na n-a/iteachai/ a mbi/nn ag obair. Ba iad an cinea/l iad
a gcuireadh muintir na Gaeltacht suim iontu. D'aistrigh me/ sa
gcampa ge/ibhinn cuid mhaith amhra/n ar no/s an Red Flag agus an
Internationale, ceann a mbi/odh Brendan Behan ag casa an leagan
sin dhe, go dti/ la/ a bha/is. D'aistrigh me/ go leor amhra/n a raibh
suim ag na ge/ibheannaigh iontu, ar no/s The Shawl of Galway Grey,
Moonlight in Mayo, The Boys of Kilmichael, agus mar sin. Taca na
Nollag i gco/nai/ bhi/nn an-chruo/gach ag cuma ceathru/nai/ no/ da/nta le
cur ar na ca/rtai/ Nollag a ni/odh muid fe/in. Scri/obh me/ roinnt
gearrsce/alta a ndeacha cuid acu amu/ agus tuille acu ata/ gan foilsiu/.
Cuimhni/m go ha/irid ar `An mBo/thar go dti/ an Ghealchathair' a
scri/obh me/ i gcu/inne cu/lra/ideach de phroinnteach cupla la/ brea/ a
raibh na buachailli/ ar fad thi/os sa bpa/irc ag de/anamh bolg le gre/in
ba chu/itiu/ eici/nt do na boilg sheanga che/anna. Ba e/ an che/ad sce/al
ariamh e/ ar chaith me/ iomla/n mo dhu/racht leis, ce/ gur chaith me/
du/racht go leor leis `An Taoille Tuile' a scri/obh me/ sa nge/ibheann
freisin. Mhu/in `An Bo/thar go dti an Ghealchathair' dhom na/r mho/r
do dhuine du/racht as compa/s a chaitheamh le saothar. Ba shin iad
na laethantai/ dha/iri/re ar thosaigh me/ ag scri/obh. Is cuinhneach liom
an stro/bh a bhi/ me/ a chur ar m'intinn agus an fiucha a bhi/ inti agus
me/ dha/ scri/obh sin.








Ni/ a/thas ach drugall a bhi/ orm an la/ ar saoradh as an gcampa
ge/ibhinn me/. Ni/ mo/ra/n ni/ b'fhearr na/ mo chulaith Martin Henry fe/in
a bhi/ an t-e/adach coga a bhi/ i Sra/id Ui/ Chonaill, ach bhi/ mise agus
mo chuid aislingi/ uilig in a smidiri/ni/ amuigh i saol coimhthi/och ar
fad, saol nach raibh me/ i n-ann a bharrai/ocht. Ni/ scri/bhneoireacht
is mo/ a bhi/ ag cur imni/ orm go ceann cupla bliain ari/st ach sli/ bheatha
eici/nt a fha/il. Bhi/ mo leithe/idi/ faoi their: i leaba dhu/inn a bheith ag
cosaint na ti/re adeirti/ ba e/ard a d'fhe/ach muid a dhe/anamh i/ a
thabhairt isteach sa gcoga. Ghlac an Gu/m leabhar eile uaim ach ni/
rae ni/ tho/igfidi/s `An Stralnse/ara' ata/
i gCois Caola/ire na/ cupla sce/al eile. Bhi/ na scri/bhneoiri/ Gaeilge as
e/adan i n-aghaidh an Ghu/im. Du/irt me/ in a/it eile go mba gheall a
dhul as a chomhair le bheith i do choirpeach i la/thair Cu/istiu/in no/
Inquisition. An t-aon rud amha/in a scri/obh me/ nach raibh a ana/il
ghabhair aniar i mo dhiaidh ba i/ An tSraith ar La/r i/. Bhi/ an chuid ba
mho/ d'oifigigh an Ghu/im mo/r liom. Ach chuile sheans gur daoine
gnai/u/il in a gcroi/ agus in a n-anam istigh na daoine a dhaor Pasternak.
Ba i/ an bhreith che/anna sin a bhi/ Aire Oideachais a thabhairt orm
fe/in nuair adu/irt se/ faoi Chre/ na Cille nach bhfoilseodh se/ ga/irsiu/lacht
Ui/ Chadhain. Fainic nach bhfuil an Gu/m ag cur a cheann talpa
ani/os as an talamh ari/st. Ta/ na pi/nn luai/ dearg cruo/gach na laethantai/
seo ag scrios amach fili/ocht Pheadair Ui/ Dhoirni/n. Is crann smala e/
an Gu/m. Chaith mise neart ama freisin arb ag scri/obh ba cho/ir dhom
a bheith ag iarra e/ a dhi/la/thairiu/, rud a d'e/irigh linn a dhe/anamh sa
deire, ainneoin nach go hiomla/n sin. Ba mhaith liom an me/id seo a

ardre/im a bhi/ aige cheana agus is e/ a bhara sin ata/ faoi, sin deire go
bra/ch le litri/ocht na Gaeilge. Ma/ chreideann sibh gur cho/naigh na/
go gco/no/ dionno/id ar bith den eicimiu/ineachas ar an nGu/m is mo/r
de bhur gcloigeann ata/ falamh.
Ba tar e/is na gcupla bliain sin i ndiaidh me/ a shaora a scri/obh me/
Cre/ na Cille agus u/rsce/al eile Athnuachan a ghno/thaigh Duais an
Chlub Leabhar. Bhi/ muini/n agam ag tabhairt faoi Chre/ na Cille
dhom go raibh me/ i n-ann u/rsce/al ni/ b'fhearr a scri/obh na/ mar bhi/
sa nGaeilge go dti/ sin. B'ogach dhom an chomhairle a bhi/ ar chla/r
chomo/rtais an Oireachtais, gur cho/ir do na scri/bhneoiri/ a/bhair nua
agus modhannai/ nua sce/alai/ocht a tharraingt chucu. Nuair a fuair








an tOireachtas an nuai/ocht ni/ ro-ghafach le/i a bhi/ cuid acu. Chua
me/ isteach in Oifig Aistriu/cha/in an Rialtais. D'fhoghlaim me/ cuid
maith i dtaobh aistriu/cha/in ansin. Ba ar e/igin a thug me/ an eang
liom gan me/ a bheith briste de bharr cu/rsai/ scri/bhneoireacht freisin,
an colu/n seachtainiu/il a bhi/nn ag scri/obh ar feadh na mblianta don
Irish Times.
Ba taca an am ar scri/obh me/ Cre/ na Cille a chuir me/ aithne ar
Shea/n Sairse/al O/ hE/igeartaigh. Bhi/ aithne agam ar a bhean Bri/d
agus a muintir le fada roimhe sin. Bhi/ cloiste agam o/ dhaoine
ceannasach in O/glaigh na hE/ireann nuair a d'e/ireodh li/nn an ti/r a
bheith fu/inn fe/in againn go raibh P. S. O/ hE/igeartaigh, athair Shea/in,
ar na daoine a chaithfeadh muid a ghabha/il, mar gur ghuais don
re/abhlo/id cead a choise a bheith aige! Is cosu/il go raibh pri/osu/in le
bheith againne freisin! Ta/ me/ cinnte go n-e/ireoinn as an scri/bhneoire-
acht, as scri/bhneoireacht na Gaeilge ar aon chor, marach Sea/n
O/ hE/igeartaigh. Na/ ni/ bheinn istigh ar Dhuais an Bhuitle/araigh
marach e/. Ba e/ a thug sce/ala na Duaise isteach chugam sa Mater i
mBaile A/tha Cliath. Theagadh se/ isteach chugam gea/bh chuile thra/th-
no/na ag ceartu/ profai/ de scri/bhinn liom ar nua-litri/ocht na Gaeilge
agus profai/ den tSraith ar La/r, no/ ag caint anois agus ari/st ar an
mbeartu/ a bhi/ se/ a dhe/anamh faoi chomhair na haimsire seo ro/inn.
Bhi/ se/ istigh an la/ ar bha/saigh se/, ach rud ab annamh leis ba ag an do/
a tha/inig se/ isteach an la/ sin. -
Ni/ raibh ri/me/ad ar bith agam fe/in as An tSraith ar La/r le hais mar
ta/ agam as saothar fada eile a bhfuil Barbed Wire tugtha go sealadach
agam air. Is do/igh liom gurb e/ an giota scri/bhneoireacht e/ is fearr a
rinne me/. Ta/ leabhar eile An tSraith dha/ To/ga/il ag Sa/irse/al agus Dill.
Den tri/u/ `sraith' An tSraith To/igthe ta/ cupla sce/al faoin a chomhair
scri/ofa cheana fe/in. Ni/ a/ibhe/il ar bith ata/ me/ a dhe/anamh ma/
dheirim gur mo/ go fada an scri/bhneoireacht neamhfhoilsithe ata/
agam na/ an chuid fhoilsithe. Uirthi sin ta/ leabhar Be/arla a raibh
m'u/dar fe/in agam i/ a scri/obh. Ta/ go leor meanmnai/ scri/bhneoireacht
ag teacht dhom i gco/nai/, pa/ipe/ir bha/na ar mian leo a bheith in a
bpa/ipe/ir bhreaca. Ach ni/ fhaigheann aon duine le/as ar a shaol . . .
Ta/ tugtha faoi deara go scri/obhaim anois faoi a/bhair as an mBi/obla.
Is e/ an leabhar is mo/ a bhfuil eolas air e/ sa domhan agus ta/ an t-a/bhar








i gco/nai/ nua. Ach faoi seo a bhi/ me/: fear a tha/inig go dti/ me/ agus
adu/irt liom go raibh iomraill aimsire no/ anachronisms i `gCire/ib'.
Le/igh me/ leabhara staire agus mi/niu/cha/in faoi chomhair na sce/alta
seo a scri/obh. Ach thiocfadh d'iomrall a bheith iontu. O/s i/omha/in-
eachas iad ni/ raibh me/ faoi chuing coinnea/il go dlu/th leis an mBi/obla.
Chonaic me/ pintea/la in a la/n ti/reannai/. Is Ioda/laigh Muiri/ agus Iosai/
Bhotticelli. Chonaic me/ sa gCremlin i Mosco/, Muire Mha/thair
Vladimir, an t-i/ocan iomra/iteach a thug na Ru/isigh amach si/lim sa
mbrise agus na Gearma/naigh sa gCoga Deire ag bearnu/ thri/othu ag
Smolensk. Is Ru/iseach i/ an Mhuire si/n fearacht mar is Connachtaigh
ata/ ar dhoras iarthair Chluan Fearta.
Ta/ baint aige seo freisin len ar dhu/irt me/ faoi bheith ag scri/obh
dhom faoi Bhaile A/tha Cliath. Ag scri/obh faoi mhalairt tre/imhse
ata/ me/ sna sce/alta Bi/oblach. Creidim gur fusa scri/obh faoi thre/imhse
ata/ sa/ch fada siar na/ faoin nglu/in sul ar rugadh muid cuir i gca/s, in
a/r dti/r fe/in. Cuimhneo sibh uilig ar shamplai/: u/rsce/alai/ Po/lainneach
ag scri/obh faoi thu/s na Cri/ostai/ocht sa Ro/imh, no/ Walter Scott ag
cuma u/rsce/il faoi na Crosa/idi/ sa Ti/r Naofa. Is mo/ an tsrian ata/
orainn faoin a/r linn fe/in. Ta/ an domhan inniu agus b'fhe/idir an t-am
fe/in laghadaithe giorraithe ag taisteal. Is fusa do na scanna/in agus
don telefi/s le/iriu/ a dhe/anamh don tsu/il ar e/adaigh, ti/reannai/, gna/san-
nai/ cuidea/in, na/ don sce/alai/ le focla. Is eolach chuile dhuine inniu
ach an nod a fha/il. Ni/ hionann agus Dickens, Balzac no/ Tolstoy e/,
ni/ bhaineann an sce/alai/ inniu ach le dlu/th agus inneach a sce/il. Agus
ma/s eolach thu/ mar sce/alai/ tharlo/dh eachtrai/ cho hinchreidthe do do
phearsana ag Kennedy, ag Orly, no/ ag Aerfort Mhosco/, le bheith
do/ibh in Aerfort Bhaile A/tha Cliath. Ni/ ligtear do thaistealai/ thar
a che/ile ni/os mo/ d'aon aerfort a fheicea/il. Si/lim go bhfuil se/ cho
furasta ce/anna taisteal siar san aimsir.
Meabharai/onn seo dhom gur dhu/irt Cri/osto/ir Mac Aonasa faoin
tSraith ar La/r nach raibh mo shu/ile ro-mhaith. Rud is fi/or go tur.
Du/irt le/irmheasto/ir eile nach n-aithneodh se/ mo chuid daoine no/ go
labhaireann siad. Seoraithe u/rsce/alta an 19u/ agus an 18u/ ce/ad a
spreag a leithe/id sin de thuairim.
An rud is ta/bhachtai/ anois sa litri/ocht ar fad, an intinn a le/iriu/,
e nach fe/idir an camera a dhi/riu/ uirthi. Caint dhi/lis
an duine nach mo/r. Is acmhainni/ i bhfad caint chuige sin na/ ag








tabhairt seoraithe faoin a chuid e/adaigh, a ghne/ chraicinn, a theanga,
trosca/n a thi/ no/ trosca/n an arda/in, na ti/re, na/ na no/s ata/ faoi gcuairt
.
Ma/s sce/al stairiu/il e/, inseo an stair dhuit ce/ard a rinne pearsana do
sce/il agus cuideo an aigneolai/ocht, an tsi/ceolai/ocht, cuid mhaith leat
le tomhais ce/ard a thug do/ibh na rudai/ sin a dhe/anamh. Ni/ he/ an
rud ata/ ar chraiceann an duine a bhfuil an ta/bhacht ann, na/ fiu/ an
craiceann fe/in, ach an rud a bhfuil se/ ag siu/l timpeall leis istigh in a
cheann. Is mo/ ata/ a fhios againn faoi re/alta Nimhe na/ faoin a bhfuil
ar siu/l istigh faoin mblaoisc bheag sin le t'ais. Du/irt le/irmheasto/ir i
dtaobh sce/al an chapaill sa tSraith gurb as ana/il Freud a tha/inig se/.
B'fhe/idir e/, ach ni/l me/ fe/in cinnte. Le/igh me/ go leor le Freud. Is faide
m'eolas air na/ ar Chekov, cuir i gca/s .Ar chuile bhealach is taith-
neamhai/ machnamh dhuine de bharr Yung na/ de bharr Freud. Ta/ a
fhios ag ca/ch gurb iad bunchlo/nnai/ no/ architypes Yung is cionnt-
siocair le go leor den a/bhar ata/ i bhFinnegan's Wake. Ar aon chor ni/
cosu/il gurb i/ an taithneamhu/lacht an tre/ith is treise sa saol ata/ ann
anois. Ni/ bheadh Yung ar bith ann, na/ si/c-eolai/ocht an lae inniu, no/
ni/ mar ta/ a bheidi/s, d'uireasa Freud. Ta/ se/ thar e/is a dhul i gcion ni/
he/ amha/in ar litri/ocht, ach ar an ealai/n agus an eolai/ocht i gcoitinne,
antrapeolai/ocht Mhargaret Mead mar shampla. Ar e/igin ata/ duine
ag scri/obh inniu gan an ana/il Freudach a bheith ag e/iriu/ go te as a
chuid cainte. B'iontach go bhfe/adfadh bla/thannai/ cho ha/lainn fa/s
ani/os as carn aoiligh ade/arfas duine liom, as le/ann bre/ige, as bre/aga
dalba, as gu/-eolai/ocht ade/arfas duine eile. Oiread ame/n den fhi/rinne
ni/l mise a dhearbhu/ a bheith ag Freud. Du/irt duine eici/nt i dtaobh
fi/rinne na heolai/ocht gurb i/ an teoiric is inchreidthe, the most
plausible theory, i/. Ni/ mo/ide go bhfuil a dhath dha/r dhu/irt Freud
ceart, na/ fiu/ ionchosanta i gcu/rsai/ eolai/ocht, ach is iontach an leasu/,
an t-aoileach b'fhe/idir ab fhearr libh a ra/, don i/omha/ineachas i/, le
cupla glu/in anois. Ta/ a fhios agam gur mainneachtan ama agus easpa
fiosracht intleachtu/il ar lucht scri/ofa na Gaeilge nach le/ir Freud in
a/it ar bith inti. An t-iontas is mo/ a bheadh ar dhuine go bhfe/adfai/ e/
a sheachaint. Ma/ ta/ rud ar bith thar a che/ile uireasach ar chumado/ir-
eacht sa nGaeilge, si/ an aigneolai/ocht i/. Is iontach an feabhas ata/
ar an gcaoi seo i bPa/draig O/ Conaire thara's aon nua-dhe/antu/s.
Ma/ chua duine ar bith i gcion ar sce/al u/d an chapaill ba e/ Teilhard
de Chardin e/ si/lim. Ni/ i ngeall ar gur faisean e/ De Chardin faoi








la/thair ata/ me/ tar e/is e/ a le/amh. Is do/igh gur le/igh sibh an i/de ata/
tugtha air ag Jacques Maritain, an Toma/sach, a raibh suim mho/r
agam ann roimhe seo. Ma/ ta/ fi/rinne le baint as an eolai/ocht na/ as an
bhfealsu/nacht, is do/igh do Mharitain e/ a bhaint amach na/ do
Teilhard. Ni/l aon scil agam sna cu/rsai/ seo ach chi/tear dhom dha/
dteangmho/dh go mbeadh aon fhi/rinne in a chuid ple/idea/la ag De
Chardin gur thimpiste e/. Ni/ mheasaim gur spreag Maritain aon duine
ariamh, aon scri/bhneoir ar aon no/s, ni/ hionann is De Chardin. Is
fili/ocht ata/ aige, u/ire, oirearcas, drai/ocht na fili/ocht, agus ni/ fi/rinne
u/dara/sach. Is e/ Teilhard de Chardin oidhre Freud agus a mhacasa-
mhail eile.
Le/igh me/ faoi fhealsu/nacht Eiseach, no/ Existentialisme Jean Paul
Sartre agus go leor dha/ chuid scri/bhneoireacht, idir ghearrsce/alta,
u/rsce/alta agus dramai/. Thaithnigh se/ liom ach ni/or facthas dhom go
raibh se/ thri/ lasa mar bhi/ Stendhal cuir i gca/s, no/ Kafka, no/ na
Ru/isigh mo/ra. Ni/or fha/ga se/ mo/ra/n i m'intinn, mara i ngan fhios
dhom e/.
Is do/igh ma/ the/ann rud i gcion ar dhuine go bhfanann a lorg in a
intinn, uaireantai/ i ngan fhios do/, b'fhe/idir. Is di/ol faiti/s liom e/ seo,
faiti/os go ha/irid go mbeinn ag scri/obh na rudai/ ce/anna ar ais ari/st i
ngan fhios dom fe/in. Arae ma/ cheapann duine uair ar bith dha/ shaol
go mbeidh rud sa/ch maith le scri/obh is ionann sin is go ndeacha
se/ i gcion air, rud a d'fha/gfadh go bhfanfadh se/ in a intinn, i ngan
fhios do/, o/ tharla nach mbeadh se/ ag iarra e/ a scri/obh in athuair. Le e/
seo a sheachaint fe/achaim le bheith ag coinnea/il si/oreolas curtha ar
an saol agus le ilchinea/lachai/ le/itheoireacht, mar ta/ orm rudai/
seachas litri/ocht a mhu/na. Ni/ mo/ide gur fe/idir e/ a sheachaint mar
seo ach an oiread.
Ma/s fi/or rudai/ a/irid adu/radh fu/m is mar seo a d'fhan siad i ngan
fhios i m'intinn. Du/radh faoi Chre/ na Cille gur sce/al le Dostoevski a
mheabharaigh dhom i/. Ni/l me/ cinnte ar le/igh me/ sce/al sin Dostoevski
na/ gearrsce/al ar bith leis roimh Chre/ na Cille a scri/obh. Le/igh me/ an
ceann a/irid sin, nuair a cuireadh an rud seo i mo leith. Is beag
cosu/lacht dha/iri/re ata/ ag Cre/ na Cille le sce/al an Ru/isigh, an oiread
ce/anna b'fhe/idir is ata/ ag te/ama an ghra/, an gra/ tur fe/in, o/ u/rsce/al
go hu/rsce/al den me/id u/rsce/alta a bhfuil an gra/ iontu. Chloisinn mo
chomharsanai/ ag caint: `an bhfuil a fhios agaibh anois ce/ard de/arfas








Willy Beag thiar sa reilig nuair a chuirfeas siad fo/d ar Mhaidhc thiar
len a ais?' No/: `go sa/bha/la Dia sinn ma/ ta/ fe/ith bheo ar bith i
gCite Fhada thiar san uaigh gheobha an caili/n seo siar an teanga'.
Chonaic me/ an rud a mheabharaigh na cainteannai/ seo ar fad
dhom as an nua. Ta/ roinnt reiligeachai/ i gCois Fharraige agus
thiocfadh dho/ tarlu/ i gcuid acu. San am ar ligeadh as an gcampa
ge/ibhinn me/ bhi/ me/ sa mbaile an geimhre sin. Fuair bean chomharsan
liom ba/s amach ar ghearro/gai/ dubha na Nollag. Bhi/ di/le bha/isti/ ann
agus breac-shneachta thri/thi/, sa gcaoi na/rbh bhfe/idir an uaigh a
dhe/anamh go dti/ an la/ a raibh si/ dha/ cur. Chua cu/igear no/ seisear
againn dha/ de/anamh le deifriu/ le/i. Chart muid dha/ uaigh ach ni/orbh
iad na conrai/ cearta a fuair muid iontu. Cuireadh fios ar mhapa na
n-uaigheannai/ ach bhi/ an mapa cosu/il le gasu/r ag de/anamh sui-
meannai/ leis an tlu/ i luaith an teallaigh. Bhi/ se/ siar sa la/ agus ba
ghearr go mbeadh an tsochraide ar fa/il. Du/irt muid go gcartfadh
muid uaigh eile agus gurb shin e/ an me/id. Ag dul abhaile dhu/inn
du/irt duine de mo chomharsanai/: `an bhfuil a fhios agaibh ca/r fha/ga
muid tea/ltaithe sa deire i/, anuas', adu/irt se/ ar dhuine a dtiu/rfa mise
Micil Rua air. `O/'. adu/irt ceann eile, `o/ bho/ go deo nach ann a bheas
an ``grammar".'
Ma/ ta/ i nda/n's go raibh sce/al Dostoevski cuisnithe i n-a/it eici/nt i
m'intinn, b'fhe/idir gur mhu/scail rudai/ mar sin chun beatha e/. Du/radh
rudai/ eile a bhi/ gan to/in gan cheann. San am ar tha/inig Cre/ na Cille
amach an che/ad uair agus ari/st le goirid du/radh gurb as an Spoon
River Anthology a fuair me/ i/. Ni/ fhaca me/ an Spoon River Anthology
i/ a/iri/m i/ a le/amh. De bharr an rud sin a bheith athphle/ite
i gComhar le goirid tuigim anois go bhfuil tuambai/ sa duanaire sin
agus tuairisci/ faoi shaol na ndaoine ata/ fu/thu sin scri/ofa ar na tuambai/.
Du/radh freisin gurb ag aithris ar bheirt Mheireaca/nach eile a bhi/ me/,
John Dos Passos agus Thomas Woulfe. Ni/or le/igh me/ smid le
ceachtar acu ariamh. Joycean galoot a thug fear an bhus orm.
Caithfe me/ a ra/ gur thuirsigh me/ cho mo/r de chuid de na ho/rai/di/ i
Ulysses agus a dhe/anaim d'o/ra/idi/ i ndramai/ Shaw, no/ de na dre/achtai/
ada fealsu/nta i gCoga agus i Siocha/in (War and Peace) Tolstoy.
Maidi/r le retoric Finnegan's Wake ni/ mo/r e/ a le/amh go grinn agus e/
a sheadu/ le bri/ ar bith a bhaint as. Nuair a casadh `Simple Lesson' sa
tSraith ar La/r ar iriseoir a/irid i mBaile A/tha Cliath thosaigh se/ ag








me/ileach ar no/s uan caorach an la/ a gcoiscfi/ dha/ mha/thair e/. Measaim
go bhfe/adfainn saothar mar Finnegan's Wake a scri/obh. Bhainfeadh
se/ an-fhada de dhuine cupla leathanach fe/in a chur i dtoll a che/ile.
Is cumado/ireacht e/ ach ni/ shi/lim go bhfe/adfai/ scri/bhneoireacht a
thabhairt air, ach sa me/id gur leis an ngna/thaibi/tir a chuirtear ar
fa/il e/. Ach ta/ se/ fo/inteach arae seachnai/onn duine, le leas a bhaint as,
bobghaisti/ cliu/mhillte. Chuir dre/acht retoric mar sin deire go deo le
iris liteartha Ghaeilge ar a ce/ad uimhir. Ceapadh coiste i Roinn den
Rialtas le u/dar an retoric a chur le bonn, le go mbronnfai/ Suaithean-
tas na Roinne air.
Ta/ a/it eile ar casadh liom a la/n le/irmheas orm fe/in, i bpa/ipe/ir
scru/du/cha/in. Ni/or dheacair cuid an mhic le/inn dhe a scaga o/n gcuid
ba bhainne ci/che an teagaisc. Fuair me/ an leagan ceanam ce/anna
seo ar fud foireann iomla/n mac lei/nn : `ni/ dhe/anfa Ma/irti/n O/ Cadhain
scribhneoir mo/r go deo mar ta/ an iomarca i/oro/ine ann'. B'fhe/idir
gur fi/or e/ seo ach is e/ an buille nach dtuigim e/. Dha/ mba cu/rsai/
iomarbha/ a bheadh i gceist bheadh se/ cho maith dhom a ra/ go
gcreidim go bhfuil me/ marfach---du/nmharfach b'fhe/idir--i gceachtar
den da/ theanga oifigiu/il. Ach ma/s i/ an i/oro/in seo irony an Bhe/arla agus
is i/ de re/ir an Fhoclo/ra feicim e/ seo ra/ite ag Edmund Wilson faoi
Joyce: `Dubliners was French in its objectivity, its sobriety and its
irony . . .' agus e/ seo ag le/irmheasto/ir eile faoi litri/ocht na nGall-
Ghael: `a politely despairing irony, has done so much to make Irish
literature interesting. Irony is at the heart of the Irish consciousness
. . . Irony is a complexity of consciousness rich in verbal and parti-
culariy in dramatic potential'. (Sean Lucy, Irish Independent 15/2/69)
Agus ta/ ra/ite faoi E. M. Forster: `His irony often saves him.' Ni/
beag sin dhe sin.
Ta/ smaoine ro/ma/nsu/il ann agus ni/ ag an bpobal amha/in ata/ se/,
gur scri/bhneoir o/ bhroinn e/ chuile scri/bhneoir. Na/ scri/obh mara
gcaithe tu/ sin a dhe/anamh in aghaidh do chlaonta agus eile, adu/irt
Frank O'Connor. Si/ an leathmha/sa eile den chomhairle che/anna
fainic Jacques Maritain ar dhaoine a airi/os meanmna na healai/ne
iontu fe/in: ar do bha/s na/ lig do bhua chun sile/ige, adu/irt se/. Dar
ndo/igh ta/ ni/os mo/ na/ sin d'adhmad in a comhthe/acs le baint as
caint Mharitain, se/ sin, go bhfuil dualgas ar an duine an bua fe/in








nach bhfuil ann ach boga/n d'ubh amh, a oiliu/int, a thaithiu/, a fhoir-
bhi/u/. Ni/ thagann duine ar bith in a scri/bneoir o/n mbroinn mar
tha/inig Pallas Athene la/n-armtha as cloigeann Zeus. Is i/ oilithreacht
do shaoil uilig, an t-aistear is faide sa domhan mar thug fear eile air,
an si/orfheabhasu/ agus an si/orfhoirbhiu/ seo. Ta/ me/ cinnte an la/ a
n-e/ireo scri/bhneoir sa/sta len a shaothar, no/ a gcreidfe se/ nach fe/idir
nios mo/ feabhais a chur air, gurb shin e/ a la/ le/in.
Ta/ drochfhaisean ag cuid de scri/bhneoiri/ na Gaeilge--is fui/oll
e/ de ghalra an Ghu/im--an iomarca a scri/obh. Ta/ sce/al ag dul thart
go gceanglai/odh Seosamh Mhac Grianna an uair sin a chois le
sreanga/n de chois an bhoird le e/ a choinnea/il ag aistriu/, galra an
Ghu/im go di/reach! Ni/ scri/bhneoir la/n-aimsire aoncheirde ceachtar
againn. Cuireann se/ scanra orm duine a chloistea/il ag ra/ gur le
haghaidh airgid ata/ se/ ag scri/obh. To/igimse an t-airgead freisin ach
ta/ su/il agam go mbi/onn cion fir agus cion pinn de/anta agam len a
shaotharu/. De/anfa me/ lomchla/r na fi/rinne : ta/ se/ ro-e/asca an t-airgead
a shaotharu/. Saotharo/ an droch-scri/bhneoir i bhfad ni/os e/asca e/ na/
an scri/bhneoir maith. Is fusa i bhfad E/ireann a dhe/anfas an scri/bh-
neoir antla/sach sile/igeach e/ na/ an duine coinsiasach cu/ramach.
B'fhe/idir gur cuimhneach le cuid agaibh gur thug mise an tuargaint a
arbh do leabhar
a/irid tamall o/ shoin. Ni/l leisce/al ar bith le gabha/il agam faoi. Ni/
le/ifinn an leabhar beag na/ mo/r marach gur shi/l me/ gur ar mo chrann
a bhi/, ar no/s Henebry fado/, `the purity of Irish prose composition'
a chosaint. Bhi/ mo chiall fe/in agam. Chonaic me/ mo dho/thain den
Ghu/m cheana, ni/ ag ceasacht ar Dhia e/, agus fuair me/ mo dho/thain
dha/ anro/, le go mba mhaith liom leisce/al ar bith a fheicea/il dha/ thabh-
airt do/ a theacht agus muid alpu/ ari/st. Is leath teanga dho/ a leithe/id
sin a dhe/anamh rudai/ ata/ cuid a/irid de chairde na Gaeilge, mar
dho/igh dhe, a ra/.
Ce/ard ta/ le ra/ faoin gcinea/l sin scri/bhneoireacht adeirim, an
le/irmheasto/ireacht. Deirtear gurb iad na tri/ rud nach fe/idir a mhu/na
fonn, fe/ile agus fili/ocht. Ni/ fi/or ar fad nach fe/idir scri/bhneoireacht
agus le/irmheasto/ireacht a mhu/na. Ach is fi/or an me/id seo si/lim: ni/l
mo/ra/n maitheasa a bheith ag inseacht do scribhneoir na/ do le/irmhea-
sto/ir, ce/ cho maith na/ cho dona is ta/ se/ no/ go mbeidh an oiread








freacair de/anta aige ar a mheabhair fe/in is gur follasach do/ uaidh
fe/in an chomhairle. B'fhearr gan le/irmheas ar bith scaiti/, ach cead a
thabhairt do na le/itheoiri/ a roghain fe/in a dhe/anamh de re/ir sean-
cho/ras an treibheachais: tongu do dhia tongas mo thuath! Mar sin a
dhe/anfas siad ar aon chor. Mu/infe an sti/li/ocht ar cuid den teang-
eolai/ocht faoi seo i/ rudai/ a/irid, go mo/r mo/r don le/irmheasto/ir.
Foilseo si/ ce/ard du/irt daoine mar Aristotle, Benedetto Croce, Re/my
de Gourmont, Roman Jakobson, no/ Rene/ Wellek faoin scri/bh-
neoireacht. Ma/ mhaireann muid sa/ch fada, b'fhe/idir go mbeadh na
holiscoileannai/ ce/im no/ dho/ ar aghaidh o/n i/oro/in agus iad ag
inseacht dhu/inn ce/ mhe/ad uair an briathar is i milliu/n focal le
Se/amas Mhac Grianna ar ghualainn milliu/n focal liom fe/in. Ach ni/
mhu/infe an sti/li/ocht dhuit le scri/obh. Dha/ mu/ineadh ni/ bheifea/ ach
ag scri/obh pa/tru/in re/amhdhe/anta, obair ar fearr go mo/r ri/omhaire
leis na/ thusa. An chomaoin is mo/ a chuirfeas saothar sa/ru/dair ort,
ni/ inseacht ce/ mhe/ad briathar saor ata/ ai/ge e/, ach tine bheannaithe
threifideacht a dhearga dhuit.
Bhi/ su/il ag chuile dhuine againn nuair a bhaineamar amach a/r
neamhsplea/chas ar an ngalla/n so/ibhe/adach, an Gu/m, go dtiocfadh
rath eici/nt ar scri/bhneoireacht na Gaeilge. Ni/ she/anaim gur tha/inig =
Ni/orbh fhe/idir le/i a bheith ni/ ba mheasa na/ bhi/ si/ an uair sin. Ach
bi/odh muid di/reach: ni/l baol ar an oiread feabhais uirthi agus a
bheadh duine ag su/il leis. Ni/ bheadh duine ag su/il agus an saol mar
ata/ go n-aistreofai/ mo/ra/n den scri/bhneoireacht nua-aimsire Gaeilge-
Mar sin fe/in is rud do-thuigthe e/ gur mo/ a bhi/ dha/ aistriu/ amhala
aimsir Chonra na Gaeilge fado/. Den litri/ocht chruthai/och ata/ dha/
cur ar fa/il is leabhara mar An Duinni/neach no/ leabhara Dho/naill
Mhic Amhalghaidh is mo/ di/ol aird, i dteannta na leabhara le/inn ata/
dha/ sola/r ag leithe/idi/ Shea/in Ui/ Thuama, Toma/s de Bhaldraithe,
Sea/n O/ Lu/ing, Gearo/id Mhac Niocaill, an tAthalr Colm Cille, agus
cupla duine eile b'fhe/idir. Ta/ an iomarca den e/ascai/ocht ag roinnt
leis an gcaoi a bhfuil an litri/ocht chruthai/och dha/ cur ar fa/il.
        Agus leis an bhfi/li/ocht freisin si/lim. Is do/igh go dto/ighe an Trom-
dha/imh anseo boilg aithise orm as ucht e/ seo a ra/. Ni/ bheadh se/
cneasta gan e/ a ra/.
Staid bhagarach, drochthuar e/, an iomarca to/ir a bheith ar








fhili/ocht a chuma le hais an phro/is. Seo mar ta/ se/ i mionteangachai/
eile ar no/s Ga/idhlig na hAlban, a bhfuil triu/r no/ ceathar fili/ den
che/ad scoth inti freisin. B'fhe/idir gurb e/ an iomarca Maud Gonnes
ata/ ag fa/lro/id timpeall in Eirinn! Scri/obh Raymond Williams
le/irmheas ar leabhara nua fili/ocht sa New Statesman agus ba sheo
rud adu/irt se/ ann: `How socially good that so many people try to
write verse . . .' : an gcri/ochno/ me/ an abairt: `what a relief that none
of it is important'. Socially important! Is fi/or e/! Na cupla file maith
ata/ againn ni/l siad ag cuma a ndo/thain. Is fusa go fada liric dheas
neamhurcho/ideach ocht li/ne a chuma anois agus ari/st na/ aiste a
scri/obh, u/rsce/al, na/ fiu/ gearrsce/al fe/in a scri/obh. Seo i/ an e/ascai/oc
ht
agus an leisce ar ais ari/st! Cho fada is is le/ar dhomsa is mo/ go mo/r a
bhfuil d'fhili/ocht dha/ scri/obh sa nGaeilge na/ sa mBe/arla in E/irinn.
Go leor de na daoine seo a scri/obhas ocht li/ne an Sprid Naomh gach
Cinci/s ta/ siad in acmhainn leabhar a chur ar fa/il. Is cuid d'athbheo-
chan na Gaeilge freisin i/ an scri/bhneoireacht, earra a mbi/onn muid
si/orai/ ag de/anamh gaisce chu/iteach aisti. Se/ an pro/s tatha/n, coincre/ad,
clocha saoirsinne an tsaoil, agus e/ cho garbh mi/thaithneamhach leis
an saol fe/in. Si/leadh gur gaileamaisi/ocht a bhi/ ar Phatrick Kavanagh
nuair adeireadh se/ gurbh fhileata go mo/r iad na pro/s-scri/bhneoiri/,
daoine mar O'Flaherty no/ O'Connor, na/ na fili/ Gall-Ghaelach. Le
galra seo na fili/ocht a bhi/ se/ ag ple/.
Is beag ata/ fa/gtha ag an bhfili/ocht inniu. Ni/l tada fa/gtha aici sa
nGaeilge ach lirici/ gearra. Ta/ an me/id seo ra/ite ag Edmund Wilson
faoi Flaubert:
 The truth is that Flaubert is a crucial figure. He is the first great
writer, in prose, deliberately to ty to take over for the treat-
ment of ambitious subjects the delicacy, the precision, and the
intensity that have been hitherto identified with verse.
Agus ari/st:
Has not such a great modern novel as Madame Bovary for
example, at least as much in common with Virgil and Dante as
with Balzac and Dickens? Is it not comparable from the point
of view of intensity, music and perfection of the parts, with the
the best verse of any period?
Agus ta/ seo ra/ite aige faoi Dostoevski:
You cannot say that his insight is less deep, that his vision is less








noble or narrower, or that his mastery of his art is less complete
than that of the great poets of the past. You can say only that
what he achieves he achieves by somewhat different methods.
The technique of prose today seems thus to be absorbing the
technique of verse; but it is showing itself equal to the work. . . .
Ma/s fi/or nach bhfuil fanta ag an bhfili/ocht ach an liric ghearr agus
gne/ no/ dho/ eile cosu/il leis, ansin de/arfainn na/r cho/ir tada a ra/ i
bhfili/ocht ach rud nach bhfe/adfai/ a ra/ chor ar bith, no/ cho maith
ce/anna, i bpro/s. Ni/ he/ Ortega y Gasset amha/in a chaith caint mar
seo : na/rbh bhfiu/ fili/ocht a chur ar rud ar bith ar lo/r agus arbh iomla/n
e/ ra/ite i bpro/s. Ta/ an domhan pro/is ag dul timpeall faoi chulaith na
fili/ocht.
Bheadh su/il agam fo/s fe/in go bhfe/adfadh feidhm eici/nt a bheith ag
an bhfili/ocht seachas an doilfeacht seo nach do/igh liom go nde/anfa
aon fhile eile go bra/ch carra mhilis di/ mar rinne Paul Vale/ry. Ni/l e/an
r chraobh inniu len a bhfuil de cheol ag dul timpeall. Shil/finn go
bhfe/adfadh na fili/ a theacht i dti/r air. Ta/ file amha/in--ma/ cheadai/onn
sibh dhom chor ar bith an t-ainm a thabhairt air--a bhfuil pobal
agus feidhm aige, Johanny Cho/il Mhaidhc, no/ Sea/n O/ Coistealbha.
Ta/, ar an gcaoi a raibh se/ ag fili/ ariamh sa nGaeilge. Ce/ad go leith
bliain o/ shoin ba/itheadh dha/ fhear de/ag agus ochtar mna/ i Loch
Coirib. Ni/orbh e/ an ba/ ba thubaisti/ a tharla o/ shoin e/. De dhe/antas na
fi/rinne ni/ raibh ann ach fi/ormhion thubaiste le hais tubaisti/ ar feadh
an achair sin. Ta/ cuimhne ar Anach Cuain mar gheall ar go ndearna
hobail amhra/n faoi. Ni/orbh
e/ mu/isiam beag pri/obha/ideach bhuide/ili/n an phoitice/ara a bhi/ se/ a
chur i bhfios ach coirp Anach Cuain nach bhfaca se/ ariamh len a
shu/ile cinn a bheith dha/ dto/rramh.
Deirtear go bhfuil se/ chuile orlach cho deacair ar dhaoine mo
chuid caintesa a le/amh leis an bhfili/ocht se' agaibhse. Ni/ ghe/illim
orlach do mo le/itheoiri/ ach ta/ lucht le/ite agam. Anura go deireanach
adu/radh e/ seo:
Arising out of the facts of the world in which they live, there are
poets who wonder whether poety is an atavistic survival in
certain types of psychic structure which it would be as well to
dispense with as soon as possible. A mode of life which is no
more than a prolonged acting out of a progressive syndrome is








not only uncomfortable to its first victim, the poet, but confusing
to its other victims, his readers. I have had the matter put to
me, in just these terms, by a poet of course, and like many other
poets, I have wondered the same thing myself. (Buckley, Poetry
and the Sacred, 1968)
Agus ari/st: `Any poety whatever has seemed to lie under some
kind of metaphysical threat'.
Si/ baru/il Edmund Wilson freisin nach seasa fili/ocht ar bith i bhfad
eile:
It is much more likely that for some reason or other, verse as a
technique of literary expression is being abandoned by humanity
altogether--perhaps because it is more primitive, and hence a
more barbarous technique than prose. Is it possible to believe,
for example, that Eliot's hope of having verse reinstated on the
stage even verse of the new kind which he proposes--is likely
ever to be realised?
Agus ni/or leanadh sampla Eliot ar an gcaoi sin. Ach dar
ndo/igh is i/ an scri/bhneoireacht i gcoitinne ata/ i mbaol. Si/lim gur
do/igh go mo/r do Snow an ceart a bheith aige faoin da/ chultu/r na/ ag
a che/ile comhraic Leavis. Cheana fe/in ta/ an tsocheolai/ocht ag dul
i bhfoghail ar an u/rsce/al. Is fada na teangeolaithe ag tra/cht ar urlabhar
cannaithe, canned speech. Ni/ do/igh go bhfanfa i ndramai/ ach le/iriu/
ar an telefi/s. Na/ i sce/alta ach an oiread. Darna cultu/r Snow ata/ ag
teacht i gcion, u/rsce/alta eolai/ocht nach dtuighe ach na heolaithe no/
na teicneoiri/. Ni/ bheidh de leabhara dha/ le/amh ach cinn faoi
theicneolai/ocht agus ceird. Ni/ sa scri/bhneoir ach sa script-scri/bh-
neoir agus san aisteoir a bheas ta/bhacht.
D'fhiafraigh Edmund Wilson an cheist seo i 1931 :
What then is to be the future of literature? Will the poets
become more and more esoteric as the world becomes more and
more difficult for them diverging further and further from the
methods and language of popular literature as popular literature
approximates more and more closely to journalism. . . . Litera-
ture, according to Valery has become `an art which is based on
the abuse of language--that is, it is based on language as a
creator of illusions, and not on language as a means of trans-
mitting realities. Eveything which makes a language more








precise, eveything which emphasises its practical character, all
the changes which it undergoes in the interests of a more rapid
transmission and an easier diffusion, are contrary to its function
as a poetic instrument'. As language becomes more international
and more technical it will become also less capable of supplying
the symbols of literature. . . .
D'fhe/ach Beckett leis an gceist a fhreagairt in u/rsce/alta agus i
ndramai/ de chinea/il na/r scri/obhadh cheana agus anois ta/ na focla
fe/in ligthe ar la/r. Ni/l fanta ach cinea/l mi/m, leathchu/pla na healai/ne
neamhle/irithi/ sa litri/ocht. `Ni/l fa/gtha d'infhoirfeacht an duine ach
an gealla aimhreasach go bhfuil re/ so/ chugainn agus nach mbeidh
aon gha/ le smaoiniu/ an uair sin'.
Is raimhre dhorcha ari/st i/ spe/ir na Gaeilge. Ta/ rud ni/os measa na/
an t-uireasa aitheantais sa mbaile agus i gce/in ag goilliu/int ar an
scri/bhneoir. Is deacair do dhuine a dhi/cheall a dhe/anamh i dteanga
arb e/ a cosu/lacht go mbeidh si/ ba/saithe roimhe fe/in, ma/ fhaigheann se/
cupla bliain eile saoil: Fonn troda go fi/ochmhar ar a son a ghineas
an t-e/ado/chas sin ann. Ni/ go maith dho/ mar scri/bhneoir ata/ an
t-e/ado/chas na/ an troid. An rud is marfai/ faoin troid seo gur ag
caidreamh le `lucht na cu/ise', an dream is beagmhaitheasai/ in E/irinn
agus cuid acu is claoine freisin, a tharraingeos si/ e/.
Is beag ogach scri/bhneoireacht in E/irinn an lae inniu. Ta/ an ti/r
socraithe si/os sa so/ mhea/naicmeach sin ar nimh don scri/bhneoireacht
i/. An me/id dha/r ndu/chas nach bhfuil se/anta cheana againn ta/ muid
dha/ she/ana in aghaidh an lae. Ta/ an Mhainistir ag caint cho Lo/basach
ce/anna le gni/omhaire turaso/ireacht ar an nGoldsmi/th Country agus
ollghardas orthu as ucht a bheith ag de/anamh drama le Goldsmith
nach mai/fi/ fiu/ gur drama ar fo/namh e/, ni/ a/iri/m drama E/ireannach,
marach gur i dteanga ata/ se/ arb ar e/igin a bhi/ drama ar bith dha/ cuid
fe/in inti le tri/ che/ad bliain. Se/ an Metrical Dinnseanchus nua Gold-
smith Country, Yeats Country, Richard Murphy Country, John B.
Country . . .? Agus diabhal mo/ra/n thairis sin a thuigeas lucht na
Gaeilge. . . .
Ach b'fhe/idir gur mar seo a bhi/ sce/al scri/bhneoiri/ ariamh. Is den
diau/lacht an mi/sha/samh agus is fearr an sna/mh in aghaidh sruth, an
charai/ocht leis an saol, na/ an boga/s, na/ chuile sho/rt a fha/il ar sheol








na braiche. D'uireasa coinbhliocht, d'uireasa aighneas an scri/bh-
neoir in a dha/ leith leis fe/in, ni/ saothar, ni/ saothar beo ar aon no/s a
apologia sua vita. Rinneadh fili/ocht i dtrinsi/ coga, i gcampai/ ge/ibhinn,
i sluachampai/ ge/ibhinn an choga seo caite. Ba mhaith liom an
inscri/bhinn ata/ i dTeampall O/ra/in in I/ Cholmcille ar uaigh Mhargery
Kennedy Fraser, bailitheoir cheoil mhuintir Inse Gall, a chreidiu/int:
`Falbhaidh an saol ach mairidh gaol agus ceol': imeo an saol ach
mairfe gra/ agus fili/ocht . . . .
Is mea/n--medium-- nua ma/s cu/ng fe/in i/ an Ghaeilge agus is
r
bith eile. In uaigneas mo chroi/ chuala me/  cloisim i gco/nai/:
scaltarnach loin Leitreach Laoigh
agus an ceol a bhi/ ag an Dord Fiann.
Ta/ aois na Cailli/ Be/ara agam, aois Bhru/ na Bo/inne, aois na heilite
mo/ire. Ta/ dha/ mhi/le bliain den chra/in bhre/an sin arb i/ E/ire i/, ag dul
timpeall i mo chluasa, i mo bhe/al, i mo shu/ile, i mo cheann, i mo
bhrionglo/idi/. Du/irt fear mionteanga, ma/s teanga chor ar bith, Hugh
Mac Diarmid, ni/ b'fhearr e/:
The great rose of all the world is not for me
For me the little white rose of Scotland
That smells sweetly and breaks the heart.