[caption id="attachment_67399" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Elaine and her father, Colm Brennan. "]
I used to hate when I would get asked the question in school (either by a teacher or fellow pupil) "So what does your father do?" I secretly wanted to lie and say that he worked in a bank -- or any type of office for that matter -- but it would be clear as soon as anyone visited our house in Dublin that I wasn't telling the truth about his profession.
It was difficult to explain to people that my Dad was in fact an artist, as some thought that "an artist" wasn't really a "proper" job and that my Dad probably sat at home doing nothing. But take it from me that my Dad worked and still works as hard as any man down on Wall Street, or any doctor or a member of the NYPD. My Dad, Colm Brennan, has a bronze foundry in Dublin where they make sculpture, large figures, awards and memorials.
I suppose I never truly understood just how special my father was when I was growing up, as children are often embarrassed by their parents. Our house has always been filed with magnificent art: pictures on the walls, large bronze sculptures in the garden. My parents had many artistic friends who would often visit and still do to this day. Any friend of mine who visits the house is always taken aback by the art and, in particular, by my father's studio. From this I began to realise just how special my father really is and how unique it is to have such a talented parent.
I am well aware of how amazing my Dad is and I am so proud of him and all he has achieved in life. Dad can be quiet and shy at times but he is by far the most intelligent person I know. We have always gotten on remarkably well from when I was a young girl, a teenager and even now as adults. He advises me on all aspects of life: my work, my life in New York, my doctorate and even my love life.
He is a fantastic husband to my mum Sally, and I can only hope that I, too, will be as happy in love as they are even after 40 plus years of marriage. My father told me the other day about how proud he is of me living in New York doing what I love, teaching Irish. Dad exposed me to the Irish language from a very young age. He made sure that my brother Cóilín and I attended Irish medium primary (elementary) and secondary (high) schools and always promoted all things Irish in our home: the language, the history, the culture, the sport, literature and music. It is because of my father that I have devoted my life to the teaching and the promotion of the Irish language.
Dad supports me and gives me advice when needed. He calls me every day when I'm away from Ireland. He is simply amazing. I am absolutely delighted that Dad is having an art exhibition in New York this fall.
My Dad, Colm Brennan and his business partner Leo Higgins are celebrating 25 years of their Bronze foundry 'CAST' here in Manhattan. Make sure and come by the Irish Arts Center to see the bronze sculpture. The exhibition, "From the Crucible" will run until December 18, 2011. The official opening will be held on Tuesday, October 25, at 6:30 p.m. at the Irish Arts Center, 553 West 51st St., NYC. (between 10th and 11th Aves.).
All are welcome and I look forward to seeing you there where you will get to meet my father, the role model in my life. Thank you Dad for all you have done for me, and for the opportunities and support you have always given me. You simply are one in a million.
Is cuimhin liom agus mé ar scoil go mbeadh sórt náire orm nuair a chuireadh duine (páiste nó múinteoir) an ceist orm "Céard a dhéanann do Dhaidí?" Theastaigh uaim bréag a insint agus a rá go n-oibríonn sé i mbanc nó in oifig éicint ach bheadh sé soilér dá dtagfadh duine ar cuairt chuig ár dteach nach hé sin an tslí beatha a bhí aige.
Bhí sé sórt deacair miniú do dhaoine gur ealaíontóir é m'athair, cheap siad nach fíor phost é, go mbeadh sé ina shuí sa bhaile gan faic ar siúl aige ach glac uaimse é go n-oibrigh agus n-oibríonn m'athair fós níos crua ná duine ar bith thíos ar Shráid Wall, dochtúr nó ball den NYPD. Tá teilgcheárta cré umha aige i mBaile Átha Cliath áit a dhéanann siad dealbh agus figiúr móra, duaiseanna agus leacht.
Níor thuig mé gur duine faoi leith é m'athair agus mé óg, is dócha go mbíonn náire ar pháiste roimh a thuismitheoirí cibé slí beatha atá acu. Agus mé ag fás aníos i mBaile Átha Cliath, bhí ár dteach lán le ealaín, pictiúrí, dealbh sa ghairdín agus bheadh ealaíontóirí inár dteach go minic. Aon duine a thagadh ar cuairt chuig ár dteachsan, bheadh siad chomh tógtha l'ealaín m'athair agus lena stiúideo. Mhínigh siad dom gur raibh an t-ádh orm athair den tsaghas seo a bheith agam agus dia ar ndiaidh thuigeas go raibh an ceart acu. Táim chomh brodúil as m'athair, Colm Brennan. Is laoch agus inspioráid é dhom. Uaireanta bíonn sé sórt ciúin, cúthalach ach is é an duine is clistí atá aithne agam air. Réitigh muid chomh maith sin agus mé i mo chailín óg, i mo dhéagóir agus anois mar dhuine fásta. Tugann sé comhairle dhom maidir le gach gné de mo shaol; m'obair, mo shaol i Nua Eabhrac, mo dhoctúireacht, mo shaol ghrá agus araile.
Is fear céile iontach é do mo Mhamaí Sally agus ba bhreá liom dá mbeadh mise in ann a bheith chomh sona pósta le mo thuisitheoirí amach anseo. Dúirt m'athair liom tamaillín ó shin go bhfuil sé chomh brodúil asam ag cónaí i Nua Eabhrac ag múineadh Gaeilge ag baint amach mo Ph D.
Chuir Daid an Ghaeilge ar fáil dhom ó aois an-óg. D'fhreastal méféin agus mo dheatháir Cóilín ar bunscoil agus meánscoil lánghaelach agus cuireadh gach rud gaelach chun cinn inár dteachsan: an teanga, an stair, an cultúr, an spórt, an litríocht agus ceol. Is mar gheall ar m'athair a ndeachaigh mé le múinteoireacht Ghaeilge agus go bhfuil mé chomh tógtha le dul chun cinn na teanga.
Tugann sé tacaíocht agus comhairle dhom aon uair atá sé uaim agus cuireann sé glaoch orm gach lá agus mé as baile.
Tá áthas an domhain orm go mbeidh taispeántas ealaíne ag m'athair i Nua Eabhrac an Fómhar seo. Tá m'athair Colm Brennan agus a páirtí gnó Leo Higgins ag ceiliúreadh 25 bliain den teilgcheárta 'CAST' leis an taispeántas seo. Bí cinnte cuairt a tabhairt ar an Irish Arts Center chun na dealbh a fheiceáil. Beidh an taispeántas 'From the Crucible' ar siúl go dtí 18 de mhí na Nollag. Beidh an oscailt oifigiúl ar siúl ar Dé Máirt, 25 Deireadh Fómhar ag 6.30pm ag an Irish Arts Center, 553 W 51st Street. Lán fáilte roimh chách.
Ag tnúth le sibh a fheiceáil ar an 25ú agus beidh sibh in ann buaileadh le m'athair, an ról i mo shaol Colm Brennan. Míle buíoch as ucht gach rud a dhein tú dom Daid, na deiseanna a thug tú dom agus an tacaíocht a thugann tú dom i mo shaol ar fad. Ní bheidh do leithéad arís ann.
