Happy SnaG – “Seachtain na Gaeilge” (Irish Language Week) to you.
Here in Ireland, we are in the midst of our Irish language festival week (or two weeks actually because it runs from 1st to 17th March. In Ireland, we like to turn one party week into two! 🙂 ) Anyway, Seachtain na Gaeilge has been running since 1902 in Ireland and it is one of the biggest opportunities we have to celebrate our beautiful and poetic Irish language and also our culture. So, I thought I’d dedicate the Newsletter this week to exploring the question “Who are we? and write it “as Gaeilge” (in Irish).
Bain sult as 🙂 (Enjoy it)
Croí na Teanga – It’s You
Bhí an-suim agam sa Ghaeilge, ó bhí mé an-óg. Bhí sí (an Ghaeilge) i gconaí i mo chroí agus bhí mé an-bhrodúil aisti. Táim fós brodúil aisti. Is í mo theanga dhúchais, mo chultúr agus mar sin tá ceangailt láidir agam léi. Tá cuid de m’fhéiniúlacht Eireannach ceangailte léi. Tá sí i mo chnámha agus m’fhuil agus measaim féin gur teanga álainn, láidir, fileata í. Is cuma má tá an Ghaeilge agat nó muna bhfuil, an rud is tábhachtaí ná go bhuil tú in ann an teanga a mhothú. Tá sé easca an teanga a mhothú, mar is leatsa í – mar Éireannach.
The Heart of the Language – It’s You
I’ve had a huge interest in Irish since I was young. The language was always in my heart and I was always proud of it. I am still proud of it. It’s my national language and heritage and as a result I feel a strong connection to it. Part of my Irish identity is tied to it. It’s in my bones and my blood and I think it’s a beautiful, strong and poetic language. And whether you speak it fluently or not doesn’t matter because what matters most is what you feel about it and a language is something that you can feel – because it’s part of who you are – as an Irish person.
Ar an ábhair sin, bhí mé ag smaoineamh ar an gceist …Cé muid féin, mar Eireannaigh? Measaim gur ceist mhaith í sin, mar tá neart sa cheist agus táimid in ann neart a mhothú. Ceanglaíonn neart daoine dá ndúchais.
As a result of this, I was thinking about the question…who are we – as Irish people? I think this is a good question because there is strength in this question and you can feel strength. Strength connects people to their roots.
Cé muid féin – mar Eireannaigh?
Mar sin, cuirfidh mé an cheist ort athuair …Cé muid fein, mar Éireannaigh? Seo é m’ fhreagra, ón an áit Éireannach ionaim féin óna dtagann neart agus bród.
Who are we – as Irish people?
So, I’ll put the question to you again … who are we, as Irish people? …Here is my answer from the strong, proud Irish place within me.
Is cine fíor-chruthaitheach muid le tallainn sa cheol, scríbhneoireacht, filíocht, ealaíon, scannánaíocht agus damhsa. Tagaimid ón dúlra agus ón talamh. Tá spiorad Ceilteach againn le nascanna leis na draoithe, an miotaseolaíocht agus leis an draíocht. Is Laochra muid, le spiorad troda reibliúnach. Is eachtránaithe, taiscéalaithe, agus fiontraithe muid. Oibrímid go crua agus táimid cliste. Taistlíomar ar fud an domhain ag déanamh nascanna agus ag fágáil ár dtionchar. Is naoimh agus scoláirí muid. Is scéalaithe agus nascóirí muid. Táimid an-tógtha leis an spórt. Táimid réidh mar dhaoine agus tá clú orainn as ucht ár bhfáilteachas agus ár gcroíthe móra. Tá meangadh gáire inár súile againn agus acmhainn mhaith grinn againn. Tá fios maith againn ar chonas an chraic a bheith againn agus taitneamh a bhaint as an saol.
We are a hugely creative race with talent in music, writing, poetry, arts, film making and dancing. We are of nature and of the land. We have celtic spirits with links to druids, mythology and magic. We are Warriors and have rebel fighting spirits. We are adventurers, explorers and entrepreneurs. We are hard working and intelligent. We have travelled and made connections and an impact all over the world. We are saints and scholars. We are story tellers and connectors. We are sports-mad. We have a lovely softness to us and are known for our warmth, welcome, heart and hospitality. We have a twinkle in our eye and a wonderful sense of humour. We know how to enjoy life and have the craic.
We are Irish and we are proud.
Is Éireannaigh muid agus táimid bródúil as.
Enjoy and celebrate your Irishness this Seachtain na Gaeilge.
Bain taithneamh as agus déan bhúr Éireannachas a cheiliúradh Seachtain na Gaeilge seo.
Is leatsa í, mar sin, usáid í.
She’s yours, (the Irish language) so use her.
Be the Best You Can Be
Bí chomh iontach is atá ar do chumas
Nadine
P.S Meas mór ag dul amach go Aoife Ní Dhonnchadha don cabhair le mo chuid Gaeilge agus an aistriúcháin. Go raibh míle maith agat Aoife.
P.S The greatest respect is going out to Aoife Ní Dhonnchadha for her help with my Irish and the translation. Literally, a thousand thanks to you Aoife.
Here’s a link to a short 20 second promotional video for SnaG with the wonderful Chris Hadfield, Astronaut and Ambassador for Irish Tourism using our language 🙂