Gonta - léirmheas

Foilsíodh an léirmheas thíos ar Amazon.com anseo tar éis do léitheoir an leagan kindle de Gonta le hÁlex Hijmans a cheannach agus a léamh.
The review below was posted on Amazon.com here after a reader bought the kindle edition of Gonta by Alex Hijmans.

"I could not stop reading it. That has not happened with any other book I read in Irish before.
This is a far cry from the texts of Irish school days. Alex Hijmans knows how to put you in a story, to make you feel you are there riding on a bus or on a beach or feeling the pain of a friend who teaches you a hard lesson. The characters stay with you. The immersion was so complete for me that I forgot I was reading in Irish.
Buy it, read it, go where it takes you, and enjoy the journey. These stories may take place in far-off Brazil but you'll feel like they happened to you and your best friends. There is great humanity and skill in telling something so well.
Irish literature has just jumped up a level."

Seoladh Fuíoll Feá le Liam Ó Muirthile 8 Feabhra 2013 / Launch of Fuíoll Feá in the Unitarian Church 8 February 2013

[scroll down for English language version, please!]

Bhí ócáid fhíorthaitneamhach ag Cois Life san Eaglais Úintéireach, Faiche Stiabhna, BÁC 2, dé hAoine 8 Feabhra tráth ar seoladh Fuíoll Feá: Rogha Dánta / New and Selected Poems le Liam Ó Muirthile. Is é seo an chéad mhór-rogha dá shaothar filíochta a foilsíodh agus an chéad leabhar dátheangach leis ina bhfuil leaganacha Béarla dá shaothar ann. Gabriel Rosenstock - mórfhile aitheanta eile agus sáraistritheoir - a d'aistrigh formhór na ndánta ach tá roinnt leaganacha eile sa leabhar le daoine eile ar nós Paul Muldoon, Peter Sirr agus eile. 

Liam Ó Muirthile agus Gabriel Rosenstock

 Bhí idir cheol is fhilíocht ag an ócáid. Chuir an fear a' tí, Cathal Póirtéir an oíche i láthair agus choinnigh stiúir ar an mbabhtáil idir na focail fhileata agus na nótaí maise ceoil. Léirigh sé tuiscint an scoláire agus é ag cur síos ar shaothar Liam ach níorbh fhada uaidh a chuid scileanna léiriúcháin - agus leathshúil aige ar an gclog ar feadh an ama! Le tús a chur leis an oíche sheinn Peter Browne roinnt dreasanna ceoil a mhacallaigh timpeall na heaglaise go binn. Ansin léigh Liam roinnt dánta as an gcnuasach agus d'aithris Gabriel ansin an t-aistriúchán a bhí déanta aige. Ansin rinneadh uainíocht le dreasanna ceoil le scoth na n-oirfideach: Peter Browne, Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh agus Iarla Ó Lionaird. Luaigh Liam gur i stiúideo Iarla a rinneadh taifeadadh ar an dlúthdhiosca a ghabhann leis an leabhar, diosca ar a bhfuil roinnt dánta agus aistriúchán á n-aithris aige féin agus ag Gabriel.

Iarla Ó Lionaird, Peter Brown, Liam Ó Muirthile, Cathal Póirtéir, Gabriel Rosenstock, Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh

Ghabh Liam buíochas le Gabriel ní hamháin as na haistriúcháin ach as an spreagadh agus as an gcabhair agus an gcairdeas uile thar na blianta. Ghabh sé buíochas freisin leis na haistritheoirí eile a bhfuil saothar leo sa chnuasach agus leo siúd ar tiomnaíodh dánta dóibh. Thagair sé go sonrach do bheirt atá ar shlí na fírinne agus a bhraith sé uaidh ar an oíche: Michael Davitt, file eile den bhuíon INNTI agus, mar a dúirt Gabriel, 'fathach', agus an tOllamh Bob Welsh, a cailleadh le déanaí agus a bhí ar an mbeagán a thuig an dá thraidisiún teanga in Éirinn. Gach seans gur bhraith an slua 150 duine a bhí an Eaglais Úinitéireach nach rófhada uathu a bhí an bheirt seo ar an oíche. Slua ildánach ilaoiseach a bhí ann - daoine ar mór leo an fhilíocht - agus an ceol. Bhí an t-aos léinn i láthair go tiubh, ar ndóigh - chonacthas an tOll Alan Titley i láthair, mar shampla agus bhain slua ón dara bliain in Ollscoil na hÉireann, Baile Átha Cliath atá ag staidéar an Bhéarla an-taitneamh as an oíche chomh maith. Tá Cois Life buíoch den Chomhairle Ealaíon agus d'Fhoras na Gaeilge as a dtacaíocht leanúnach. Tá buíochas ar leith ag dul do Kevin Robinson san Eaglais Úinitéireach as a chúnamh uile.

Cois Life organised a very enjoyable and unusual evening in the Unitarian Chapel, St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2 on Friday 8th of February to launch Fuíoll Feá: Rogha Dánta / New and Selected Poems by Liam Ó Muirthile. This is the first major selection of Liam's work from his various collections to be published and the first bilingual book with English versions of all the poems. Gabriel Rosenstock - a renowned poet himself and master translator - produced most of the translations but some versions are by other hands such as Paul Muldoon, Peter Sirr and others. 

An file sa lár agus é ag baint taitnimh as a chlann mac, Ciarán, Iara Donncha agus Rónán: the poet centre stage joking with his sons Ciarán, Iarla, Doncha and Rónán

  It was a night of both music and poetry. Master of Ceremonies Cathal Póirtéir presented the evening's events with a depth of understanding and considerable practical skill as befits a scholar and  seasoned radio producer and handled the transitions from poetry to music seamlessly. Peter Browne's piping rang through the beautiful old building and then Liam read some poems and then Gabriel read his translations of them. The musicians were Peter Browne, Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh and the doyen of sean-nós singing, Iarla Ó Lionaird. Liam mentioned that the recordings of some of the poems and their translations on the CD which accompanies the book were made in Iarla's studio. 

Mná calma Chois Life!  An Dr Caoilfhionn Nic Pháidín, Comhstiúrtóir an tigh foilsitheoireachta, Fionnuala Cloke, Oifigeach Foilseachán agus Julianne Ní Chonchúir, Comhlairleoir Cumarsáide. Formidable ladies from Cois Life! Dr Caoilfhionn Nic Pháidín, Co-Director of the publishing house, Fionnuala Cloke, Publications Officer and Julianne Ní Chonchúir, Communications Consultant. 

 Liam thanked Gabriel not just for the translations but for comvincing him to undertake the project and said that it reflected their long friendship. He also thanked the other translators of work in the book and those to whom poems were dedicated. He mentioned two people in particular who are no longer with us: Michael Davitt, another INNTI poet, and indeed as Gabriel said 'a giant' of poetry and  Bob Welsh, former Professor of English in the University of Ulster, who died recently. Bob, said Liam, was one of the few who had a deep understanding of both the English and Irish language traditions in Ireland. The 150 or so strong audience at the event probably felt that these two were present in spirit on this special night for Irish literature. The audience was varied and represented all age groups - lovers of poetry and music. Academics were out in force - Prof. Alan Titley congratulated Liam and Gabriel afterwards and a number of second year students of English from the National University of Ireland, Dublin said they enjoyed the night also. Cois Life is - as always - grateful to the Arts Council and Foras na Gaeilge for their continued support. Also a special word of thanks to Kevin Robinson of the Unitarian Church for all his help.

BRONNTANAS BEAG! / A PRESENT FOR YOU! Liam Ó Muirthile - Rogha Dánta / Selected Poems

 Tá cóipeanna réamhfhoilsithe den leabhar Fuíoll Feá - Rogha Dánta le Liam Ó Muirthile ar díol ar líne anois ar www.coislife.ie   

Is é seo an chéad chnuasach téagartha de rogha dánta an mhórfhile seo. Is é Gabriel Rosenstock a d'aistrigh formhór na ndánta go Béarla. Tá CD leis an leabhar ar a bhfuil dánta áirithe á léamh ag an bhfile. Tá léaráidí leis an ealaíontóir Marie Foley sa leabhar.

Tá sampla PDF de chuid den ábhar as an leabhar - ábhar a roghnaigh an file é féin - togha na rogha duit! - ar fáil ach cliceáil anseo. Bronntanas beag ó Cois Life leis an Athbhliain a cheiliúradh.
 

Pre-publication (Spring 2013) copes of the bilingual publicationá cóipeanna réamhfhoilsithe den leabhar Fuíoll Feá - Rogha Dánta / Woodcuttings - New and Selected Poems by Liam Ó Muirthile are avilable now in our on-line shop at www.coislife.ie 

This is the first substantial bilingual selection of the work of this major poet and Gabriel Rosenstock is the chief translator. The publication includes a CD of Ó Muirthile reading a number of poems and artwork Marie Foley provides another reason why this is a very special publication.

A PDF containing a selection of material from the book specially chosen by the poet himself for you is available for download here. Please enjoy it as a New Year gift from Cois Life!

Tá an leabhar ar fáil mar chruachlúdach agus bhogchlúdach (€30/€20).

The book is available in both harback and softback (€30/€20).

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AUTHOR'S NOTE - Liam Ó Muirthile

Ireland, or that part of the island I call home, is a country of two languages historically, Irish and English. My life’s work has been defined by the relationship between those two languages. I am a

native speaker of English but a poet and writer in Irish, which I learned at school, in the Gaeltacht and from reading extensively. As a youngster, too, it was still possible, among my own extended family and the wider community in West Cork, to hear the Irish language through English or more properly Anglo-Irish, which is both an unnerving and exciting sensual and aural experience. It is like listening, fascinated, in stereo, to what is presented as a mono mix, with the stereo breaking through all over if our ears are attuned to listen at depth. I am still drawn to the patchwork margins where colours clash but somehow form a whole.

When a literary project began to dawn on me as a young man, the challenge of a project in the Irish language was alluring, but daunting. Why it didn’t present itself in Anglo-Irish, or in the English of Cork city, is another question, which will remain unanswered for the present. But it is probably mainly due to the prevailing cultural values of my own formative years, the hammering home in all spheres of the purity of the deep seam. A French speaker, also, I considered resolving what appeared to be unresolvable by opting for the Beckett solution and heading for Paris. I didn’t have the means to take that step, and I also felt that I would always be pulled and dragged home.

We follow threads in our lives. More than many of my contemporaries in Irish language poetry, I had resisted translation as a solution to the issues of a wider audience for a small language. This was not due to any ideological position, any idée fixe, but a sense in my inner being that the only translation that really matters for a poet is translation at depth, in the unconscious. I had a task to complete, and I would know when the time came. For any work to have the possibility, at least, of being meaningful, an integrated language must emanate from the unconscious. This may take the form of two or more or many languages, a creolised mix, but a form which in itself has a wholeness of being of its own. Somehow. How, in any sense, can language become fully alive to the poem, can the poem become fully alive in its only possible existence, without an enormous investment, a persistent attention, a constant nurturing of its presence both in our minds and in the world? We create our own language over time, where we can feel truly at home. 

I had worked, to a certain extent, with other poets in translating some poems. I am deeply grateful to them for their work, and their patience with an often reluctant participant. I had always felt uneasy about the deconstruction process.

It was a terse email from Gabriel Rosenstock which finally sprang the release mechanism. He suggested we undertake the task of translating the work. An eminent poet in Irish and a renowned
translator in his own right, a friend from college and INNTI days, I would no longer have to provide literal translations, often glossed word by word. He would translate from Irish, and I could focus on
my primary task without feeling that I was merely journeying deeper into the tangled undergrowth. This, in itself, released a huge surge of creative energy. Gabriel Rosenstock’s generosity of spirit, in
that respect, has been crucial. As another poet remarked, the only danger was that Gabriel might provide a translation for a poem as yet unwritten!

I acknowledge, of course, my original debt to the poet Seán Ó Ríordáin (1916–1970). Without his presence in my youthful landscape, none of this would have been possible. I also acknowledge the poet Michael Davitt’s (1950–2005) major contribution as a catalyst in cofounding with Gabriel Rosenstock and others the poetry journal INNTI, and as a close friend.

Liam Ó Muirthile
Lúnasa 2012

Irish book stockists - Siopadóireacht na Nollag - Christmas Shopping!

Agus sibh ag siopadóireacht um Nollaig, cuimhnigh ar na siopaí leabhar a choinníonn go dílis stoc de na leabhair a fhoilsímid agus na leabhair eile a fhoilsítear i nGaeilge agus bímis dílis dóibh siúd an tráth seo bliana agus i gcónaí. NOLLAIG SHONA, a LÉITHEOIRÍ AGUS A SHIOPAÍ!

When doing your Christmas shopping, remember the shops who loyally stock Cois Life books and books by other Irish language publishers and pay them a visit at Christmas - and throughout the year. HAPPY CHRISTMAS, READERS AND BOOKSHOPS!

[Grma le hÁIS as an liosta - thanks to ÁIS, our distributors, for the following list]

An Ceathrú Póilí

Bóthar na bhFál, Béal Feirste

An Cló Ceart

37 Great James’ Street, Derry, BT48 7DF

Bookseller Bookstore

Carlow

Crannóg Bookshop

Newcourt Shopping Centre, Cavan

The Ennis Bookshop

Abbey Street, Ennis, Co Clare

Coughlan’s Bookshop

Rossa Street, Clonakilty, Co Cork

Eason’s

Patrick Street, Cork

Liam Ruiséal

Oliver Plunkett Street, Cork

Macroom Bookshop

West Square, Macroom, Co Cork

An Siopa Gaeilge

Oideas Gael, Gleann Cholm Cille, Co Dún na nGall

Books & Charts

Dungloe, Co Donegal

Teach Thomáis

Ard na gCeapairí, Doirí Beaga, Co Dún na nGall

Eason’s Letterkenny

Lower Main Street, Letterkenny, Co Donegal

The Four Masters Bookshop

The Diamond, Donegal

The Book Centre

Main Street, Ballybofey, Co Donegal

Waterstones

Scotch Hall, Drogheda, Co. Louth

An Siopa Leabhar

Sráid Fhearchair, Baile Átha Cliath 2

Gaelchultúr,

Sráid an Chláraigh, Baile Átha Cliath 2

Eason’s

Lower O’Connell Street, Dublin 1

Hodges Figgis

Dawson Street, Dublin 2

Nimble Fingers

Stillorgan, Co Dublin

The Rathfarnham Bookshop

Rathfarnham Shopping Centre, Dublin 14

Siopa Standún

An Spidéal, Co. na Gaillimhe

Cló Iar-Chonnacht (www.cic.ie)

Indreabhán, Conamara, Co. na Gaillimhe

An Spailpín Fánach

An Spidéal, Co na Gaillimhe

Charlie Byrne Bookshop

The Cornstore, Middle Street, Galway

Eason’s

Shop Street, Galway

Kenny’s Bookshop

Liosban Estate, Tuam Road, Galway

Loughrea School & Office Supplies

Bride Street, Loughrea, Co Galway

The Village Bookshop

Main Street, Moycullen, Co Galway

An Café Liteartha

An Daingean, Co Ciarraí

Dingle Bookshop

Green Street, Dingle, Co Kerry

The Killarney Bookshop

Main Street, Killarney, Co Kerry

O’Mahony & Company

Tralee, Co Kerry

Polymath Books

Tralee, Co Kerry

Woulfe’s Bookshop

Listowel, Co Kerry

Abtree Book & Stationary Store Superquinn Shopping Centre, Newcastle Road, Lucan, Co Kildare

Barker and Jones, Book Centre

Naas

The Maynooth Bookshop

The Square, Maynooth, Co Kildare

Dubray Books

Market Cross Shopping Centre, Kilkenny

Eason’s

Portlaoise, Co Laois

Celtic Books

Rutland Street, Limerick

Eason’s

O’Connell Street, Limerick

O’Mahony & Company Ltd

O’Connell Street, Limerick

Newcastle West Bookstore

Market Yard, Newcastle West, Co Limerick

Eason’s

Ballymahon Street, Longford

Waterstones

Scotch Hall, Drogheda, Co. Louth

Mc Loughlin’s

Hopkins Road, Castlebar, Co Mayo

McLoughlin’s Bookshop

Shop Street,Westport,  Co Mayo

The Bookshop

Bridge Street,Westport,  Co Mayo

The Bookshop Navan

Trimgate Centre, Navan, Co Meath

Eason’s

The Square, Roscommon

Michael Cormickan School Supplies Ltd

Abbey Street, Roscommon

The Book Nest

Rockwood Parade, Sligo

The Bookworm

Liberty Square, Thurles, Co Tipperary

Reader’s Choice

Lower Main Street, Dungarvan, Co Waterford

The Book Centre

John Roberts Square,Waterford

The Book Centre

South Main Street,Wexford

The Gorey Bookshop

Main Street, Gorey, Co Wexford

Dubray Books

Main Street, Bray, Co Wicklow

www.cic.ie
www.kennys.ie

www.litriocht.com

www.siopa.ie
www.siopagaeilge.ie
www.tarabookco.ie
www.udar.ie

Leabhar na Bliana : 'Dúlra Oileáin Árann' : Book of the Year!!!

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Gradam Leabhar na Bliana do 'Dúlra Oileáin Árann'

Is cúis bhróid é do Chois Life a fhógairt go bhfuil Leabhar na Bliana Gradam Uí Shúilleabháin bainte amach ag Dúlra Oileáin Árann.

Oileáin Árann agus an saibhreas dúlra a bhaineann leo is ábhar don leabhar seo. Tugann Con Ó Ruairc léargas tuisceanach ar uathúlacht oidhreacht na n-oileán seo – an gheolaíocht, an aeráid, ainmhithe agus plandaí, an cladach agus an fheirmeoireacht. 

Is féidir físeán faoin leabhar a fheiceáil ach cliceáil anseo.

Ag labhairt faoin ngradam dúirt stiúrthóirí Cois Life go raibh ‘dúshlán agus pléisiúr thar na bearta ag baint le foilsiú Dúlra Oileáin Árann.’

“Seánra nua i nGaeilge é, bunábhar dúchasach ó thaobh dúlra agus teanga de, ceiliúradh ar shaibhreas Oileáin Árann, le pictiúir den scoth agus taighde na mblianta ar a chúl. Seoidleabhar dár gcuid é agus dearadh spásmhar spreagúil air ag Alan Keogh. Bronntanas Nollag do gach aois!” 

 

Seo an dara bliain as a chéile go raibh dhá leabhar ar ghearrliosta leabhar na bliana ag Cois Life. Bhí Ailfí agus an Vaimpír (a thugann léargas ar shaol Marius, vaimpír speisialta ar fearr leis rollaí fige agus cáca milis ná fuil agus feoil) le hOrna Ní Choileáin ar ghearrliosta Leabhar na Bliana do Dhaoine Óga, Gradam Réics Carló.

Cuireadh Dúlra Oileáin Árann, atá foilsithe ag Cois Life, i dtoll a chéile de thoradh na gcúrsaí agus na gcuairteanna taighde a d'eagraigh údar an leabhair ar son Institiúid Bitheolaíochta na hÉireann maidir le stair an dúlra in Oileáin Árann ó na luath-1980idí i leith.

Comhlánú ar a chéile is ea an téacs grinn géarchúiseach agus na grianghraif ghleoite a thaispeánann áilleacht agus éagsúlacht oidhreacht na n-oileán. D'fhéadfadh go leor daoine spéis a chur sa leabhar seo, pé acu cuairteoirí iad, mic léinn nó iad siúd a bhfuil spéis acu i stair an dúlra.

Tá Dúlra Oileáin Árann ar fáil le ceannach sna siopaí nó ó shuíomh idirlín Cois Life: www.coislife.ie

Foilsitheoir: Cois Life

Údar: Con Ó Ruairc

Bogchlúdach, lándaite, 204 lch

Praghas: €20

ISBN: 9781907494192

Book of the Year Award for 'Dúlra Oileáin Árann'

Cois Life is proud to announce that Dúlra Oileáin Árann has won the Gradam Uí Shúilleabháin Book of the Year Award.

This comprehensive full-colour work on the natural heritage and landscape of the Aran Islands is a first in Irish for author Con Ó Ruairc. It comprises geology, climate, flora and fauna, seashore and

Farming practices.

A short video (in Irish only) about the book can be viewed here.

Speaking about the win, Cois Life’s directors said, ‘publishing Dúlra Oileáin Árann was exciting, innovative and a great pleasure.’

‘We welcome this new genre in Irish, celebrating the  rich native resources of the Aran Islands, both in natural habitats and language, fabulous full colour photos and a wealth of scientific knowledge from the author’s extensive field-work on site. This is a real gem, beautifully designed by Alan Keogh, and a Christmas present for all ages!’

Irish-language publishers are invited each year to submit in two categories, the Gradam Uí Shúileabháin Book of the Year for Adults and Gradam Réics Carló Book of the Year for Children. The awards recognise excellence in publishing in Irish with the author of the winning title also taking a prize.

This is the second year running that Cois Life has been the only publisher shortlisted in both categories. Ailfí agus an Vaimpír (a book about the life of Marius, a very special vampire who prefers fig rolls and cakes to blood and meat) by Orna Ní Choileáin was shortlisted in the Book of the Year for Children category.

Dúlra Oileáin Árann, published by Cois Life, was researched during various field trips organised by the author on behalf of the Institute of Biology Ireland on the natural history of  the Aran Islands from the early 1980s onwards.

The discerning prose and beautiful photographs complement each other perfectly in showing the beauty and variety of the Islands. Dúlra Oileáin Árann is suitable for a variety of readers, including visitors, students or those with an interest in natural history.

Dúlra Oileáin Árann is available from shops or from Cois Life’s website: www.coislife.ie

Publisher: Cois Life

Author: Con Ó Ruairc

Paperback, full-colour, 204 pp

Price:  €20

ISBN: 9781907494192