Summer Reading: Léitheoireacht an tSamhraidh

Tá mé ag léamh leabhar iontach faoi láthair (I am reading a great book at the moment).

Tá sé scríofa as Bearla, ach tá smearadh Gaeilge ann freisin.

(It is written in English (Béarla) but there is a sprinkling of Irish in there as well).

Teidil (title): Beidh tú Alright by Joe McHugh. It’s about his Irish language journey (aistear teanga). Joe became Minister for the Gaeltacht in 2014, which meant he had a ministerial responsibility for the Irish Language. His command of Irish was poor at the time, so his appointment was controversial! People who cared about the language chanted: Aire gan teanga, Aire gan clue. (A minister without the language is a minister without a clue).

But Joe took the bull by the horns and set out to become fluent (líofa) as Gaeilge. The book is all about the ups and downs of his language journey and is a delightful read for anyone with the slightest interest in the Irish Language.

He begins each chapter with a seanfhocal (old saying) or an interesting phrase,

such as:

• Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine (We live in each other’s shadows)
• Is fearr lúbadh ná briseadh (Better to bend than break)
• Ní bhíonn saoi gan locht (Nobody is perfect)
• Níl aon tinteán mar do thinteán féin (There is no place like home) Seachnaíonn súil ní nach bhfeiceann (The eye avoids what it doesn’t see)

He also includes a short list of interesting words/phrases at the end of each chapter, to encourage you to extend your vocabulary!

Here are a few of my favourites:

• Draíochtúil – magical
• Náire – shame
• Tiocfaidh mo lá (pronounced chucky) – My day will come
• Smugairle rón – jellyfish (literally, snot of the seal)
• Ordóg suas – thumbs up
• Tóg go bog é – take it easy

His final chapter is called, Seven steps to Speaking Gaeilge Fluently.

For that alone it’s worth a read!

Ceannaigh é, leigh é agus bain sult as - buy it, read it, enjoy it!

Go dtí an chéad am eile – until next time,

Terri

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