#Muiris Ó Súilleabháin

[stairnaheireann]

#OTD in 1904 – Birth of writer, Muiris Ó Suilleabhain, on the Great Blasket Island, Co Kerry. Best known for his book, ‘Twenty Years A-Growing’.

“I am a boy who was born and bred in the Great Blasket, a truly small Gaelic island which lies north-west of the coast of Kerry, where the storm of the sky and the wild sea beat without ceasing from end to end of the year and from generation to generation against the wrinkled rocks which stand above the waves that was in and out of the coves where the seals make their homes.” On the 28th of April…

[mainsapplications]

Peig sayers gravesite

I began to feel sorry for Peig, with her arranged marriage, her sorrows, her hardships, the children who died without the joys of childhood, the reproaches for her grief and mourning, and the bodies falling out of coffins. Their works in Irish have been translated into English and other languages. These include Peig or Machnamh Seanamhná ( An Old Woman’s Reflections) by Peig Sayers (1939), An tOileánach ( The Islandman) by Tomás Ó Criomhthain (1929), and Fiche Blian ag Fás ( Twenty Years a-Growing) by Muiris Ó Súilleabháin (1933). In this climate, a number of books were written in the early 20th century by islanders, recording island traditions and way of life. The islanders were the subject of many anthropological and linguistic studies in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by writers and linguists including Robin Flower, George Derwent Thomson and Kenneth H Jackson. Young infants were buried without coffins or grave markers in unconsecrated ground (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2021) I am typical of my generation when I say I still resent having to read through Peig, and it helped to create many long-lasting negative images of how the Irish language was taught at schools in the 1960s.īut my schoolboy experiences of the Kerry Gaeltacht in Ballinskelligs have left me with a life-long affection for this part of Ireland, and a visit to the Blasket Islands seemed inevitable during last week’s visit to the Dingle Peninsula. Their books continue to be read, and most Irish people are still familiar with the names of Peig Sayers (1873-1958), not matter how negative their memories are of her book, and Muiris Ó Súilleabháin and Tomás Ó Criomhthain. It has been deserted since 1954, but remains a part of Irish literature and cultural identity because of the disproportionate number of islanders whose books were part of the school curriculum for generations of Irish schoolchildren. The Great Blasket Island is one of the most remote parts of the Gaeltacht or Irish-speaking area of Co Kerry. These books together also show where all the ideas came from in the Poor Mouth which satirises this style of literature.The Blasket Islands in summer sunshine … an invitation to a Mediterranean experience – but only in summer (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2021) It well worth a read particularly if it is read along with The Islandman, Twenty Years a Growing and the Western Island. It shows what people did to make a living, entertainment, customs of birth, death, marriage, religion and much more. Peig's autobiography gives a fantastic insight into the lives of ordinary people in rural Ireland in the late 19th and early 20th century, in this case Na Blascaodaí - the Blascket Islands. Despite being an Irish learner, however, I decided to read it in English just in case and to save my Irish reading for more contemporary reading material! You can see why - it is exceptionally rural and old-fashioned and religion is present all through the text which many people felt associated Irish with all things backward looking and damaged the language.Ĭoming at it as someone from Scotland who didn't have to answer interpretation questions on it and who has a suitably positive and modern view of Irish and Scottish Gaelic (which I speak) I was able to take a more open-minded view on Peig. Generations of school children in Ireland had to read through Peig Sayer's autobiography as a set text in Irish language classes and many therefore hold a negative view of the book as I myself do with Shakespeare and other works of literature I had to study at school.

[corkcitylibraries]

Book Review: Mark Boyle’s The Way Home - Tales from a life without technology

by Catherine Kane

“It was 11pm when I checked my email for the last time and turned off my phone for what I hoped would be forever”               Mark Boyle

This book is the fourth by Donegal native Mark Boyle, the well-known activist and writer also known as ‘The Moneyless Man’. Originally trained in economics and business, Boyle has become known for his criticism of a money-focused economic system and his work setting up the community-orientated Freeconomy Community (among others) which encourage the exchange of skills and bartering rather than money for goods and services.

Published in 2019, this latest work by Boyle is unusual in the fact that he wrote the book using a pencil and paper rather than on a computer. But as the reader sees, this fact is not entirely surprising given the topic! In his previous works Boyle spoke about his experiments and thoughts around transitioning to a lifestyle eschewing money, etc. This book details his decision to further move away from the modern lifestyle and comforts we all know in order to embrace a lifestyle without modern technology. He discusses his mental and physical grapples with that choice and the impact it has on his life from both a practical and social point of view. In the wake of the shock of the Covid-19 pandemic worldwide and the impact it has had on our daily lives, many people are now questioning how we are living. This has led to many seeking to return to a simpler lifestyle- turning away from the high-tech and high-stress life of the modern world. The first lockdown even saw a resurgence of interest among many Irish people for gardening, growing their own food etc. that has continued with gardening producers now regularly selling out. Rather than writing a standard ‘how-to’ guide for those looking to transition to an off-the-grid or low-impact lifestyle, Boyle instead has penned a memoir of his endeavours into this journey on his smallholding in the West of Ireland. This sees him make the further and somewhat radical decision to live without electricity, running water, gas, the internet or even a mobile phone! Growing his own food, fetching his own water and living more in tune with the natural cycle of the seasons, etc. instead .Very much reminiscent of the philosophy of living in the moment and returning to basics.

Rather than presenting a romantic vision of this choice, the book gives the reader a glimpse into the reality of living a life outside the modern conveniences while taking us away from the ‘hair-shirt-wearing smelly hippie’ idea one might imagine at first.

Instead, we see a man living in a manner similar to the lifestyle of many Irish people less than 100 to 150 years ago. The book also details Boyle’s thoughts on modern life and does not shy away from expressing his opinion on modern societal issues and tipping points, at times touching on difficult and uncomfortable topics, perhaps encouraging us to think about the state of the world and how we live in the 21st century. An interesting point of note in the book is Boyle’s references to the lifestyle and memory of the inhabitants of the Great Blasket Island off the coast of Kerry during his musings. The home of infamous Irish language authors such as Peig Sayers, Tomas Ó Criomhthain, and Muiris Ó Súilleabháin. Is Boyle’s own lifestyle echoing back to those days in some ways with his lack of electricity and methods of self-reliance? In all, The Way Home is a thought-provoking and interesting glimpse into the thoughts and motivations of a man going against the tide of modern life, while remaining part of his community in modern Ireland. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bq7u3aKEnL4 (A short RTÉ report on the writer’s lifestyle) Available on Borrowbox

[briosca-sa-speir]

Books as Gaeilge ☕

An Hobad / The Hobbit

Eachtraí Eilíse i dTír na nIontas / Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

Cogadh na Reann / The War of the Worlds

An Prionsa Beag / The Little Prince

Oileán an Órchiste / Treasure Island

Folcadán Airciméidéis / OBERIU (the Russian collection of short stories by Kharms & Vvedensky)

An Banbh Beag / 10 Short Stories About the Little Pig and the Big Bad Wolf

Fiche Blian ag Fás / Muiris Ó Súilleabháin’s biography

Peig: A Scéal Féin / Peig Sayers’ autobiography

Our Fada / A Fada Homograph Dictionary

[anamsaorreads]

Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag

I am a terrible booklr-er and haven't been very active. I had a fairly busy weekend last week, and felt like I had to take a few 'mental health days' away from the Internet (and from my camera, so sorry this post is so naked!). I also got signed up for a mad hike in the Canadian Rockies in FOUR WEEKS and I'm the most unfit person, living in the flattest part of the country, so I've been trying to increase my fitness as much as I can!

Anyway, I thought I'd do a bit more of a fun post this week and join in on this Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag. Nobody has tagged me but I'm joining in anyway! 

1. Best book you’ve read so far in 2017:

The Wonder by Emma Donoghue. I was reluctant to read this because I didn't think it could live up to Room, which I read last year, but it does not disappoint. Beautifully written, intelligent, and heartbreaking!

2. Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2017:

I've only read three sequels so far this year. Two were Narnia books, and one was the fourth in a long-running series (and I skipped the preceding two...), so I guess the best one I've read so far would be The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis, purely for the vibrancy, variety and magical imagery of the Lone Islands off the coast of Narnia. Totally enchanting!

3. New release you haven’t read yet, but want to:

House of Names by Colm Tóibín. I read, was slightly personally disturbed by, and then fell in love with, Brooklyn last year so another Tóibín sounds good. House of Names is a retelling of the story of Agamemnon and his family in the aftermath of his calling for the sacrifice of his daughter, and the Trojan War. I don't think I've read any retellings of Ancient Greek Myths/Literature - this seems like a pretty dramatic place to start!

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year:

I never really keep up with up coming releases, but Jean (@jeansthoughts) from Jeanbookishthoughts on YouTube has mentioned American War by Omar El Akkad a few times recently (here's her 2017 Anticipated Book Releases | July-December Video, where she talks about it more eloquently than I can). It is a dystopian/speculative future novel set in the 2070s - 2090s around the time of the 2nd American Civil War. I've been looking for more dystopian/spec-fic and after watching Season 1 of The Man In The High Castle (I need to read that too), this sounds great!

5. Biggest disappointment:

Hmm, I don't think I've been too disappointed by any book as a whole yet this year, but there were elements of, or certain stories in, Ted Chiang's Stories of Your Life and Others that disappointed me. I loved "Story of Your Life," but some stories felt too similar to others in the collection, and "Seventy-Two Letters" just did not work for me, and it had me end the book on a sour note (I didn't read them in order).

6. Biggest surprise:

Probably The Wonder, again, for the same reasons as above.

7. Favourite new author (Debut or new to you):

If I had to pick, probably Mark Twain (I know, he probably shouldn't be a "new" author to me at my age but hey... oh well)

8. Newest fictional crush:

Can't say I have one. I don't really go in for books that focus on the romantic attractiveness of characters in the eyes of the reader. I guess my most recent one would be Rochester from Jane Eyre, or maybe, I don't know, Patroclus, from The Iliad haha ;) but they’re from years ago!

9. Newest favourite character:

Lib Wright from The Wonder: Strong, smart, compassionate, rebellious. She's probably too perfect, but I don't care, she's great!

10. Book that made you cry:

Again, The Wonder. Sustained, stressful, ugly tears.

11. Book that made you happy:

A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking. Confused, amazed and happy!

12. Favourite book to film adaptation you saw this year:

I don't think I've watched an adaptation this year, not one that I had also read the book it's based on anyway.

13. Favourite review you’ve written this year:

I really like my 2017 So Far: Irish Authors (and More) post, partly because I got to gush over Emma Donoghue, and partly because it's about Irish books, and Ireland is great! I also love that my 2017 So Far: The Two Stephens post has resulted in some pretty great recommendations for future non-fiction reads!

14. Most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year (or received):

Again (sorry!) The Wonder. Both the hardback and paperback editions look great but I love the paperback. It has lovely gold foiling and colourful imagery, and I really appreciate the solitary use of the Cló Gaelach (old Irish writing) 'd' in the title.

15. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?

I don't have anything I necessarily need to read before the end of the year, but I would quite like to read I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou; it's been sitting on my bookshelf for years. I would also love to finally finish The Iliad and Fiche Blian ag Fás (Twenty Years A-Growing) by Muiris Ó Súilleabháin.

I tag: Anyone who wants to do this too!

Now, it's Saturday, so I'm gonna get some gin or wine --- I mean, er, go on a practice-hike!

(Links are NOT affiliate links btw, just trying to be helpful.)

[stairnaheireann]

#OTD in 1950 – Muiris Ó Súilleabháin, writer, drowns while swimming off Co Galway.

#OTD in 1950 – Muiris Ó Súilleabháin, writer, drowns while swimming off Co Galway.

“I am a boy who was born and bred in the Great Blasket, a truly small Gaelic island which lies north-west of the coast of Kerry, where the storm of the sky and the wild sea beat without ceasing from end to end of the year and from generation to generation against the wrinkled rocks which stand above the waves that was in and out of the coves where the seals make their homes.” On the 28th of April…

[stairnaheireann]

#OTD in 1904 – Birth of writer, Muiris Ó Suilleabhain, on the Great Blasket Island, Co Kerry. Best known for his book, ‘Twenty Years A-Growing’.

#OTD in 1904 – Birth of writer, Muiris Ó Suilleabhain, on the Great Blasket Island, Co Kerry. Best known for his book, ‘Twenty Years A-Growing’.

“I am a boy who was born and bred in the Great Blasket, a truly small Gaelic island which lies north-west of the coast of Kerry, where the storm of the sky and the wild sea beat without ceasing from end to end of the year and from generation to generation against the wrinkled rocks which stand above the waves that was in and out of the coves where the seals make their homes.” On the 28th of April…

[stairnaheireann]

#OTD in 1950 – Muiris Ó Súilleabháin, writer, drowns while swimming off Co Galway.

#OTD in 1950 – Muiris Ó Súilleabháin, writer, drowns while swimming off Co Galway.

“I am a boy who was born and bred in the Great Blasket, a truly small Gaelic island which lies north-west of the coast of Kerry, where the storm of the sky and the wild sea beat without ceasing from end to end of the year and from generation to generation against the wrinkled rocks which stand above the waves that was in and out of the coves where the seals make their homes.” On the 28th of April…

[stairnaheireann]

#OTD in 1904 – Birth of writer, Muiris Ó Suilleabhain, on the Great Blasket Island, Co Kerry. Best known for his book, ‘Twenty Years A-Growing’.

#OTD in 1904 – Birth of writer, Muiris Ó Suilleabhain, on the Great Blasket Island, Co Kerry. Best known for his book, ‘Twenty Years A-Growing’.

“I am a boy who was born and bred in the Great Blasket, a truly small Gaelic island which lies north-west of the coast of Kerry, where the storm of the sky and the wild sea beat without ceasing from end to end of the year and from generation to generation against the wrinkled rocks which stand above the waves that was in and out of the coves where the seals make their homes.” On the 28th of April…

[stairnaheireann]

#OTD in 1904 – Birth of writer, Muiris Ó Suilleabhain, on the Great Blasket Island, Co Kerry. Best known for his book, ‘Twenty Years A-Growing’.

#OTD in 1904 – Birth of writer, Muiris Ó Suilleabhain, on the Great Blasket Island, Co Kerry. Best known for his book, ‘Twenty Years A-Growing’.

“I am a boy who was born and bred in the Great Blasket, a truly small Gaelic island which lies north-west of the coast of Kerry, where the storm of the sky and the wild sea beat without ceasing from end to end of the year and from generation to generation against the wrinkled rocks which stand above the waves that was in and out of the coves where the seals make their homes.”

On the 28th of April…

[stairnaheireann]

#OTD in 1950 – Muiris Ó Súilleabháin, writer, drowns while swimming off Co Galway.

#OTD in 1950 – Muiris Ó Súilleabháin, writer, drowns while swimming off Co Galway.

“I am a boy who was born and bred in the Great Blasket, a truly small Gaelic island which lies north-west of the coast of Kerry, where the storm of the sky and the wild sea beat without ceasing from end to end of the year and from generation to generation against the wrinkled rocks which stand above the waves that was in and out of the coves where the seals make their homes.”

On the 28th of April…

[stairnaheireann]

#OTD in 1950 – Muiris Ó Súilleabháin, writer, drowns while swimming off Co Galway.

#OTD in 1950 – Muiris Ó Súilleabháin, writer, drowns while swimming off Co Galway.

“I am a boy who was born and bred in the Great Blasket, a truly small Gaelic island which lies north-west of the coast of Kerry, where the storm of the sky and the wild sea beat without ceasing from end to end of the year and from generation to generation against the wrinkled rocks which stand above the waves that was in and out of the coves where the seals make their homes.”

On the 28th of April…

[stairnaheireann]

#OTD in 1904 – Birth of writer, Muiris Ó Suilleabhain, on the Great Blasket Island, Co Kerry. Best known for his book, ‘Twenty Years A-Growing’.

#OTD in 1904 – Birth of writer, Muiris Ó Suilleabhain, on the Great Blasket Island, Co Kerry. Best known for his book, ‘Twenty Years A-Growing’.

“I am a boy who was born and bred in the Great Blasket, a truly small Gaelic island which lies north-west of the coast of Kerry, where the storm of the sky and the wild sea beat without ceasing from end to end of the year and from generation to generation against the wrinkled rocks which stand above the waves that was in and out of the coves where the seals make their homes.”

On the 28th of April…

[stairnaheireann]

#OTD in 1904 – Birth of writer, Muiris Ó Suilleabhain, on the Great Blasket Island, Co Kerry. Best known for his book, 'Twenty Years A-Growing'.

#OTD in 1904 – Birth of writer, Muiris Ó Suilleabhain, on the Great Blasket Island, Co Kerry. Best known for his book, ‘Twenty Years A-Growing’.

“I am a boy who was born and bred in the Great Blasket, a truly small Gaelic island which lies north-west of the coast of Kerry, where the storm of the sky and the wild sea beat without ceasing from end to end of the year and from generation to generation against the wrinkled rocks which stand above the waves that was in and out of the coves where the seals make their homes.”

On the 28th of April…

[stairnaheireann]

#OTD in 1904 – Birth of writer, Muiris Ó Suilleabhain, on the Great Blasket Island, Co Kerry. Best known for his book, ‘Twenty Years A-Growing’.

#OTD in 1904 – Birth of writer, Muiris Ó Suilleabhain, on the Great Blasket Island, Co Kerry. Best known for his book, ‘Twenty Years A-Growing’.

“I am a boy who was born and bred in the Great Blasket, a truly small Gaelic island which lies north-west of the coast of Kerry, where the storm of the sky and the wild sea beat without ceasing from end to end of the year and from generation to generation against the wrinkled rocks which stand above the waves that was in and out of the coves where the seals make their homes.” On the 28th of April…

[stairnaheireann]

#OTD in 1950 – Muiris Ó Súilleabháin, writer, drowns while swimming off Co Galway.

#OTD in 1950 – Muiris Ó Súilleabháin, writer, drowns while swimming off Co Galway.

“I am a boy who was born and bred in the Great Blasket, a truly small Gaelic island which lies north-west of the coast of Kerry, where the storm of the sky and the wild sea beat without ceasing from end to end of the year and from generation to generation against the wrinkled rocks which stand above the waves that was in and out of the coves where the seals make their homes.” On the 28th of April…