Did you know that there are 32 Irish words for ‘Field’?

Celebrate Seachtain na Gaeilge 2021 as Laois Arts Office, in partnership with Laois Library Service and Dunamaise Arts Centre, are delighted to present a free virtual conversation between acclaimed Irish writer and documentary maker Manchán Magan and RTÉ radio producer Clíodhna Ní Anluain on Tuesday 9th March at 7.30pm.

The interview, which takes place via Zoom, can be booked through dunamaise.ie and discusses Manchán Magan’s bestselling book, Thirty Two Words For Field which meditates on the Irish language and the nuances of a way of life that is disappearing with them. The interview will be conducted in both Irish and English and the event will be hosted by Muireann Ní Chonaill, Laois Arts Officer.

The Irish language has indeed thirty-two words for field, among them: Geamhar - a field of corn-grass. Tuar - a field for cattle at night. Reidhlean - a field for games or dancing. Cathairin - a field with a fairy-dwelling in it. The richness of a language closely tied to the natural landscape offered our ancestors a more magical way of seeing the world. Before we cast old words aside, let us consider the sublime beauty and profound oddness of the ancient tongue that has been spoken on this island for almost 3,000 years.

Manchán Magan has written books on his travels in Africa, India and South America and two novels. He writes occasionally for The Irish Times, reports on travel for various radio programmes and has presented dozens of documentaries on issues of world culture for TG4, RTÉ & Travel Channel. His latest book has received high acclamations the world over and is about to be printed for the 6th time since its launch in September 2020.  

Clíodhna Ní Anluain is a radio producer and book editor with RTÉ. She has recently been appointed Curator of Leaves Festival of Writing and Music 2021. For her current RTÉ Radio 1 SPOKEN STORIES Independence series, she commissioned 12 new stories from prominent writers, from a consideration of what Independence could mean today, a hundred years after Ireland's War of Independence.  

Tickets for the conversation between Manchán Magan and Clíodhna Ní Anluain on Tuesday 9th March at 7.30pm are free but pre-booking is strongly recommended via www.dunamaise.ie or Tel: 057 8663355.

As Gaeilge

I ngeall le Seachtain na Gaeilge 2021 is cúis áthais comhrá idir Manchán Magan, údar an leabhair shárdhíloa ‘Thirty-Two Words for Field’ agus Clíodhna Ní Anluain a bheith á chur i láthair ag Sheirbhís Ealáion Chondae Laoise, i gcomhar leis an Seirbhís Leabharlainne agus Ionad Ealaíon Dunamaise. 

Tá tríocha dó bealaí sa Ghaeilge leis an bhfocal ‘gort’ nó ‘páirc’ a rá. Ina measc tá geamhar, ina bhfásann arbhar; reidhlean ina n-imrítear cluichí agus ina mbíonn damhsaí ar siúl; nó cathairin, áit ina mbíonn na síoga ina gcónaí.  

Thairisceann saibhreas teanga, fuite fúite sa tírdhreach nádúrtha an saol a fheiceáil ar bhealach níos draíochtúla.  Ach focail óna chéile, lig dúinn samoineamh ar na háilleachtaí agus ar na gcorraithe a bhaineann lenar dteanga ársa, atá á labhairt ar an oiléan seo le nach mór trí mhíle bliain.  

Ina leabhar Thirty-Two Words for Field déanann Manchán Magan machnamh ar na focail seo – agus ar na mion-difríochtaí a bhaineann le slí beatha agus módh maireachtála atá ag imeacht leo.  

Is léiritheoir agus eagarthóir raidió agus leabhar í Clíodhna Ní Anlauin le RTÉ. Faoi láthair tá a sraith SPOKEN STORIES Independence á craoladh ar RTÉ Raidió 1, sraith ina ndearna sí coimisiún ar 12 nua-scéalta ó údaír iomráiteacha ar théama an neamhspleachais, céad bliain táréis Cogadh an Neamhspléachais in Éirinn. Is í an coimeadaí ar Leaves Festival of Writing and Music 2021. 

Is scríbhneoir agus déantóir clár-fáisnéise é Manchán Magan. Tá leabhair foilsithe aige ar a chuid taistil san Aifric, san Ind agis i Méirceá Theas. Tá dhá úrscéil scríofa aige leis. Bíonn sé ag scríobh don Irish Times, agus ina thuairsceoir ar chláracha raidió. Tá mórán cláracha fáisnéise curtha i láthair aige ar TG4, RTÉ & Travel Channel. 

Beidh Thirty-Two Words for Field ar siúl Dé Máirt 9 Márta ag 7.30 iarnóin. Comhrá dhá-theangach a bheidh ann. Cead isteach saor in aisce. Tá gá le háit a chur in áirithe roimh réidh.  

Breis eolais: 

Dáta & Am Dé Máirt 9 Márta ag 7.30 iarnóin. Beidh Muireann Ní Chonaill, Oifigeach Ealaíne mar bean an tí don ócáid. Ticéid a chur in áirithe áfach www.dunamaise.ie / 057 8663355.