[caption id="attachment_68073" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Frank McCourt in 2007."]
Something wonderful happened in New York relating to the Irish language the other day: the launch of the "Angela's Ashes" translation, "Luaithreach Angela." "Angela's Ashes" has been translated into 25 languages already and it has taken 15 years, since its original publication, for it to be translated into the Irish language.
There was a large crowd in attendance at the Irish Consulate in New York for the book launch. I got chatting to a man and we were discussing the importance of translation and the reason that it was translated. Obviously everyone in Ireland can read English but maybe the importance of the translation into Irish is that the book is even better in Irish -- just as with the Irish National Anthem, "Amhrán na BhFiann." Not many people are aware that the Irish National Anthem was originally composed in English and later translated into Irish.
St. Patrick's resolution
I have made a decision regarding the Irish language and you have three months to prepare for it. As you may know, I go to various Irish events in New York each week and during the month of March 2012; I'm not going to speak English to anyone who can speak even a little Irish. That's right, you are all going to have to speak to me in Irish.
Everyone who went through the Irish education system has Irish, it may be just a little, you may not even realize it. I am well aware of just how awful some of the Irish language teachers back home were (and still are) and this created animosity towards the language but we can change this.
I feel that the biggest issue people have with speaking the Irish language is lack of confidence. I bet you could think of a few sentences in Irish or might even be able to hold a simple conversation, so why not use whatever Irish you have and have more confidence in yourself? Use some Irish in your emails or write your Christmas cards in Irish this year. Don't be shy or embarrassed because if you don't have the Irish language you have nothing. If you don't have respect for the Irish language well then why do you consider yourself to be Irish? The Irish language is more accessible to you now the ever before. There are classes held throughout New York area and in almost every city in the U.S. You can also become fluent in the language over the Internet.
Need assistance
I attended a conference in Ottawa at the end of last month entitled "20 years ahead: Research and Teaching Irish in North America" where we discussed the future of the Irish language here in the U.S. We are going to set up a committee who will manage the operations of the furthering of Irish language instruction and promotion. I presented a paper on "The History of the Irish language in New York City from the 20th century until today" as I am currently writing a chapter for my Ph D on this topic. I am in need of some assistance on this subject for my Ph D. I am interested in any information on the Irish language in New York. I am particularly interested in events that took place in Irish, Irish language classes through the years and photographs of Irish language gatherings and of the Irish Bookstore that was in Manhattan. Please email me at: irishlangauge@gmail. com. I would appreciate any help on this. For the cause of the Irish language. Thank you.
Tharla rud iontach i stair na Gaeilge i Nua Eabhrac an lá cheana. Seoladh an leagan Ghaeilge den leabhar "Angela's Ashes", "Luaithreach Angela". Tá "Angela's Ashes" aistrithe i 25 teangacha cheana féin agus tar éis 15 bhliain cuireadh Gaeilge air. Bhí slua mhór i láthair ag Ard-Chonsalacht na hÉireann Nua Eabhrac don ócáid. Bhíos ag labhairt le fear agus bhí muid ag plé an tabhacht a bhaineann l'aistriúchán. Ár ndóigh tá gach aon duine in Éirinn in ann an Ghaeilge a labhairt ach an tabhacht a bhaineann leis an t-aistriúcháin den leabhair ná go mb'féidir go mbeidh sé níos fearr fiú ná an leagan Béarla ar nós
'Amhrán na bhFiann'. Níl a fhios ag mórán daoine in Éirinn é seo ach cumadh Amhrán na bhFiann i mBéarla ar dtús agus ansin cuireadh Gaeilge air.
St. Patrick's resolution
Tá cinneadh déanta agamsa agus tá 3 mhí agaibh le fáil réidh dó. Téimse amach chuig ócáidí cúpla uair in aghaidh na seachtaine i Nua Eabhrac agus le linn mí na Márta 2012, nílim chun focail Béarla a labhairt le duine atá fiú beagán Gaeilge acu. Tá Gaeilge ag gach duine a ndeachaigh tríd an gcóras oideachais in Éirinn fiú muna gceapann sibh go bhfuil. Tá lán-fhios agam go raibh (agus go bhfuil fós) droch mhúinteoirí ag teagasc na Gaeilge in Éirinn agua tuigim go maith gur chruthaigh siad drochmheas ar an nGaeilge ach i mo thuairim is é an fhadhb is mó maidir leis an nGaeilge ná nach bfhfuil muinín ag daoine iontu féin í a labhairt. Tá cúpla abairt ar eolas agaibh nó d'fhéadfadh sibh comhrá bhunúsach a bheith agaibh liom so le bhur dtoil bainigí úsáid as an nGaeilge a bhfuil agaibh agus bíodh níos mó muiníne iontaibh féin. Ní gá ach roinnt Gaeilge a chuir i ríomhphoist nó cárta na Nollag a scríobh trí Ghaeilge. Ná bíodh aon náire oraibh mar muna bhfuil Gaeilge agaibh, bhfuil tada agaibh? Tá sé níos áisiúil ná riamh í a fhoghlaim don chéad uair nó snas a chuir ar an nGaeilge a bhfuil agaibh. Tá neart ranganna Gaeilge thar fud Nua Eabhrac agus i ngach cathair sna Stáit Aontaithe nach bhfuil leithscéal ar bith agaibh freastail ar rang. Freisin is féidir leis an t-idirlíon cabhrú leat líofacht a bhaint amach sa teanga.
Need assistance
D'freastail mise ar chomhdháil ag deireadh na míosa seo caite in Ottawa faoi "Fiche Bliain atá Romhainn: Taighde agus Teagasc na Gaeilge i Meiriceá Thuaidh", áit a raibheamar ag plé todhchaí na Gaeilge anseo. Tá muid le coiste a bhunú a mbeidh i gceannas ar stiúradh na Gaeilge chun dul chun cinn na teanga a chinntiú. Thug mise cur i láthair faoi "Stair na Gaeilge i Nua Eabhrac ó tús an 20ú céad go dtí an lá atá inniu". Táim i mbun caibidil a scríobh faoi don Ph D.
Tá cabhair uaim le seo, má tá aon eolas agaibh faoi nGaeilge i Nua Eabhrac. Go háirithe táim ag lorg grianghraifeanna d'ócáidí bainteach leis an nGaeilge, grianghraif den Irish Bookstore a bhíodh i Manhattan fadó nó eolas faoi ranganna a d'freastail sibh air le blianta anuas. Seol chugam iad ag irishlanguage@gmail.com Bheinn fíor-bhuíoch. Ar son na cúise. Go raibh maith agaibh.
