New Gaeilge bookclub launches online & in Cloughjordan with books, grammar & discussion

An exciting new Gaeilge bookclub for adult learners, Léigh Linn: Club Leabhar do Fhoghlaimeoirí Fásta, is launching this autumn, offering both online sessions and in-person meetings in Cloughjordan in North Tipperary. Unlike a typical bookclub, members will receive vocabulary lists and tips on grammar, dialect, and certain phrases ahead of each meeting.

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During the meetings, there will be time for vocabulary and grammar questions as well as discussion about the book, with all selections suitable for readers with intermediate Irish or higher. The club is a collaboration between Sheelagh na Gig bookshop in Cloughjordan and author/editor Anne Marie Nugent, with support from Clár na Leabhar Gaeilge from Foras na Gaeilge.

Liz O’Shea of Sheelagh na Gig explains that people love exploring the Gaeilge section of the bookshop and that children’s books in Irish are regular sellers. Many people with limited Gaeilge want to give their children the gift of the Irish language, but outside fluent and native speakers, adults can sometimes feel hesitant about reading Irish books aimed at them.

“As an improver myself, I understand that—reading can be a challenge because you’re not just reading: you’re also learning as you go. But it’s a great way to collect lots of vocabulary, build an intuitive understanding of grammar, and develop a natural speaking style,” she says.

Upcoming Book Selections

The club’s first book, chosen for October, is the Irish Book Award winner Geansaithe Móire by Gearóidín Nic Carthaigh, a collection of flash fiction featuring short, smart, beautifully structured stories in Munster canúint.

In November, members will explore a modern take on a classic Irish novel with the graphic novel version of An Béal Bocht by Myles na gCopaleen, illustrated by John McCloskey.

In December, the club will read the new novel by Anne Marie Nugent, An Seol atá Fút, and in January, members will read Bodléar by Darach Ó Scolaí, winner at the 2024 Oireachtas. Ó Scolaí’s novel tells the story of a nineteenth-century west-of-Ireland poet influenced by French ideas, and has already been praised as a lightly comic, imaginative modern classic.

Booking and Participation

When participants purchase their book for each month’s club, they will also receive a ticket to their selected meeting. A limited number of tickets are available for those who already own the book, and each meeting is capped at 20 people to ensure everyone has a chance to take part and have their say.

Members can choose between attending in person in Cloughjordan or joining online via Zoom. In October, the online meeting will take place on Wednesday, October 8, at 7.30 pm, while the Cloughjordan session will meet on Monday, October 13, at 11 am in the Thomas MacDonagh Museum.

Full details and tickets are available on the Sheelagh na Gig bookshop website.

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