I am at my happiest when I meet another Gaeilgeoir (Irish speaker) in New York. We are in the best city in world, New York, speaking the best language in the world, Irish Gaelic. The Irish language community in New York is growing on a monthly basis, something that excites me to no end! A few months back, I met a guy and I knew immediately that we would become great friends and that we would be a great help to one another. Anyone who has worked with the Irish language knows that encouragement is needed every so often to keep oneself motivated and optimistic — and it is a lot easier addressing challenges if there is someone around who understands exactly what you're going through and can offer a bit of support when needed.
Dónall Ó Héalaí hails from Indreabhan, Galway and was, of course, raised through Irish. The Irish language is a big part of Dónall's life and he also has a real passion for acting. He began acting in his local youth club when he was a teenager. I have seen Dónall act on the Irish Television station (TG4) on programs such as '"Aifric, Seacht, Corp agus Anam." I always advised my students to watch this television station to help improve their Irish. Visit www.tg4.ie Dónall has also gained experience on the stage of the well-established Irish language theater, An Taibhdhearc, situated in the center of Galway City. He is now ready to take on the stages of New York City and it is here that he is now based. Dónall realizes just how difficult it is to get a break in New York, especially when he saw "the long line of actors that stretched right around the block waiting for auditions for a play that will go on stage soon," but he won't let this challenge get in his way as he searches for his dream in the Big Apple.
Dónall is interested in promoting and teaching the Irish language in New York. Even more fascinating is his desire to connect the language with acting here. According to Dónall, the language can be promoted in a classroom setting through drama. I would be delighted to support Dónall in any way I can and I know he'll get his big break.
I am delighted that Dónall will become part of the Irish language community and that he will be available to help me with classes as my Ph.D workload increases as I am in the middle of my Ph.D writing. As the Irish proverbs says "ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine," which translates as "people live in each other's shadows" meaning that "we all depend on one another."
Welcome Dónall, I'm sure the luck of the Irish will pay off.
Ceann de na rudaí is mó a chuirean gliondar i mo chroíse ná nuair a bhuailim le Gaeilgeoir i Nua Eabhrac. Tá muid sa chathair is fearr ar domhain, Nua Eabhrac, ag labhairt an teanga is fearr ar domhain, An Ghaeilge. Tá líon na Gaeilgeoirí ag méadú i Nua Eabhrac gach aon bhliain, rud a chuireann áthas an domhain orm. Cúpla mí ó shin, tháinig mé ar fear agus bhí a fhios agam láithreach go mbeadh sé inacara maith agam agus go mbeadh muid in an obair agus cabhrú lena chéile. Tuigeann aon duine a mbíonn ag plé leis an nGaeilge go mbíonn spreagadh de dhíth uaireanta agus go bhfuil sé i bhfad níos easca dúshlán a bhaint amach má tá duine eile ann a thuigeann do chás agus a thabharfaidh tacaíocht dhuit nuair is gá.
Is as Indreabhán i gCois Fharraige Dónall Ó Héalaí agus ba í an Ghaeilge, ar ndóigh, a theanga ag fás aníos. Tá an-suim aige sa Ghaeilge agus í go smior aige agus an-dúil aige san aistoireacht chomh maith.
Thosaigh sé ag aisteoireacht leis an gclub óige áitiúil nuair a bhí sé ina dhéagóir. Tá Dónall feicthe agam ag aisteoireacht i neart cláracha ar Theilifís na Gaeilge (TG4) agus is fiú go mór breathnú orthu, inameasc 'Aifric, Seacht, Corp agus Anam'. Comhairle a thugam do mo dhaltaí maidir le feabhas a chuir ar a gcuid Gaeilge ná breathnú ar TG4 gach aon seachtain. www.tg4.ie
Tá taithí freisin ag Dónall ar aisteoiracht ar stáitse sa Taibhdhearc, amharclann Gaelach suite i lár Chathair na Gaillimhe. Tá sé i gceist ag Dónall anois stáitsí Nua Eabhrac a bhaint amach agus is ann atá sé lonnaite. Thug Dónall le fios nach bhfuil sé éasca deis aisteoireachtaa fháil san Úll Mór. D'inis sé dhom go bhfaca sé "scuaine a shín timpeall an choirnéil ag fanacht ar éisteachtaí do dhráma atá le cur ar an stáitse go luath" ach ní ligfidh sé do sin cur as dó agus é ag torraíocht a bhrionglóid anseo san Úll Mór mar creideann sé "nár chaill fear an mhisnigh riamh é."
Ba bhreá le Dónall tosú ar ranganna Gaeilge a mhúineadh agus níos suimiúla fós tá súil aige ceangal a dhéanamh idir an teanga agus an aisteoireacht i Nua Eabhrac. Dar leis is féidir an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn sa rang trí mheán na drámaíochta. Táimse fíor-shásta tacaíocht a thabhairt do Dhónall aon caoi is féidir. Tá lán-fhios agam go n-éireoidh thar barr leis agus táim fíor shásta go mbeidh Dónall arfáil chun cabhrú liomsa le mo chuid rangann nuair is gá mar go bhfuilim i mbun mo chuid scríobhnóireacht Ph D agus ualach mór oibre orm. Mar a dheireann an tseanfhocal, "ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine". Fáilte agus go n-éirí go geal leat a Dhónaill.
