Leabharliosta Nua - New Book Recommendations

CONNACHTA:

de Bhaldraithe, Tomás (editor/eagarthóir): Seanchas Thomáis Laighléis. An Clóchomhar, Baile Átha Cliath 1981. (This is a substantial collection of folklore from Mionlach. Mostly remembrances and local history. The dialect is reasonably similar to Connemara Irish, but there are also differences: note that Mionlach Irish is, as far as I know, the only dialect where the word gúm - as in An Gúm - is naturally used in its original meaning 'plan, scheme'./Díolaim shuaithinseach shubstaintiúil bhéaloidis ó Mhionlach atá sa leabhar seo. Cuimhní cinn agus stair áitiúil is mó atá ann. Tá an chanúint sách cosúil le Gaeilge Chonamara, ach tá difríochtaí ann chomh maith: thar aon rud eile is í Gaeilge Mhionlaigh an t-aon chanúint, go bhfios dom, a bhaineas úsáid as an bhfocal úd gúm 'scéim, plean' - cf. An Gúm - go nádúrtha.)

Mag Ruaidhrí, Mícheál: Le Linn m'Óige. Coiscéim, Baile Átha Cliath 2001. (This is a Gaeltacht autobiography by a Mayoman who knew Patrick Pearse. The language is Northern Mayo Irish; mostly well edited, but the editors have left some adjectives unchanged from the old orthography - it is not a big problem, but sometimes confusing. However, this book is only about one hundred pages and should be easy enough to read if you are serious about learning good Irish./Seo dírbheathaisnéis le fear as Contae Mhaigh Eo a raibh aithne aige ar an bPiarsach féin. Gaeilge ó Thuaisceart Mhaigh Eo atá ann, agus cé go bhfuil eagarthóireacht mhaith déanta ar an gcuid is mó den leabhar, fágadh cúpla aidiacht sa seanlitriú - ní mórfhadhb atá ann cé go gcuirfeadh sé traidhfilín beag trí chéile thú. Ina dhiaidh sin féin níl ach tuairim is céad leathanach sa leabhar seo agus is furasta é a chríochnú don té atá i ndáiríribh ag iarraidh Gaeilge mhaith a fhoghlaim.)

Ó Cadhain, Máirtín: Caithfear Éisteacht! Comhar Teoranta, Baile Átha Cliath 1999. (It is obvious that Ó Cadhain's work should be read, reread, and studied even for the sake of his good Irish, although he is admittedly difficult enough to read, being a stickler for the mot juste. This book is a collection of his essays and journalism in Comhar, and includes Do na Fíréin./Is soiléir go mba chóir saothar Mháirtín a léamh, a athléamh agus a mhionstaidéar de ghrá na dea-Ghaeilge féin, cé gur scríbhneoir é nach raibh ag iarraidh obair an léitheora a éascú riamh, chomh tábhachtach is a fuair sé an focal ceart a aimsiú. Is éard atá sa leabhar seo ná na haltanna agus an t-ábhar eile a d'fhoilsigh sé ar an iris úd Comhar, ina measc sin Do na Fíréin.)

Ó Conaire, Pádhraic Óg: Éan Cuideáin. Oifig an tSoláthair, Baile Átha Cliath 1970. (This novel is about a Canadian French woman moving to Connemara with her Irish husband. Pádhraic Óg Ó Conaire was a sentimental novelist in the vein of Séamus Ó Grianna, but I rather like this book. As language goes, it is obviously vintage native Irish./Is é is ábhar don úrscéal seo ná bean óg de lucht labhartha na Fraincise i gCeanada agus í ag aistriú go Conamara in éineacht lena fear céile. Deirtear gur scríbhneoir rómhaoithneach a bhí i bPádhraic Óg, cosúil le Séamus Ó Grianna i gCúige Uladh, ach ina dhiaidh sin féin níl mórán locht agam ar an leabhar áirithe seo. Ní féidir mórán locht a dhéanamh ar an nGaeilge bhreá ach an oiread.)

Ó Conaire, Pádhraic Óg: Fuine Gréine. Sáirséal agus Dill, Baile Átha Cliath 1968. (Short stories about everyday life in the Gaeltacht. Linguistically superb, of course./Gearrscéalta faoin ngnáthshaol sa Ghaeltacht atá anseo - i nGaeilge den chéad scoth, ar ndóigh.)

Ó Conghaile, Mícheál: Seachrán Jeaic Sheáin Johnny. Cló Iar-Chonnacht, Indreabhán 2002. (This is a somewhat disturbing short novel about an old man's infatuation with a young girl. The book has a dreamlike atmosphere and we never quite find out whether the old man is really experiencing all this. Linguistically, the book is quite good - beautiful Irish, but not too difficult./Chuirfeadh an leabhar seo as don chorrdhuine, nó is éard is ábhar dó ná seanfhear a bheith ag titim i ngrá, nó ag éirí tógtha, le cailín óg. Atmaisféar neamhréadúil nó brionglóidiúil atá ann agus ní léir don scríbhneoir cé acu fíorthaithí nó aislingíocht amháin atá ar siúl ag an bhfear. Maidir leis an teanga, tá an leabhar thar barr - dea-Ghaeilge atá ann ach níl an teanga ródheacair.)

Ó Duinnshléibhe, Tomás: Taidhgín. Cló Iar-Chonnacht, Indreabhán 1995. (Old material reprinted. A novel in very beautiful Northern Connemara Irish./Seanábhar athphriontáilte atá ann: úrscéal i ndea-Ghaeilge Thuaisceart Chonamara.)

Ó Finneadha, Cóil Learaí: Tórramh an Bhardail agus Scéalta Eile. An Gúm, Baile Átha Cliath 1995. (A book of short stories in Connemara Irish. Very beautiful language, at times lots of fun./Gearrscéalta i nGaeilge Chonamara atá ann. Tá an teanga go hálainn, agus is minic a bhainfeadh na scéalta gáire asat.)

Ó Gaora, Colm: Mise. An Gúm, Baile Átha Cliath 2008. (This looks like a traditional Gaeltacht autobiography, but the author was a Gaelic League organizer and a Frongoch prisoner, so this book is interesting for those who want to know more about Ireland's struggle for freedom. The language is beautiful Ros Muc Irish./Go bunúsach is dírbheathaisnéis Gaeltachta den tseanchineál atá anseo. Ní mór a thabhairt faoi deara, áfach, gur chaith an t-údar seal ag timireacht do luath-Chonradh na Gaeilge agus seal eile i bpríosún Frongoch. Mar sin, aon duine ar suim leis cath saoirse na hÉireann caithfidh sé an leabhar seo a léamh.) 

Ó hEithir, Breandán: Lig Sinn i gCathú. Sáirséal Ó Marcaigh, Baile Átha Cliath 1982. (This one hardly needs an introduction: Easter 1949 in Galway, or Baile an Chaisil, as seen through the eyes of a wayward young student. The language is expressive and natural./Is ar éigean a chaithfeas mé an ceann seo a chur in aithne d'aon duine de lucht labhartha na Gaeilge: is éard atá i gceist ann ná Cáisc na bliana 1949 i nGaillimh, nó i mBaile an Chaisil mar a thugtar ar an gcathair sa leabhar, agus mac léinn óg atá ar seachrán ina shaol atá i bpríomhcharachtar an leabhair. Tá caint bhreá bhríomhar sa leabhar ó thús go deireadh.)

Ó hEithir, Breandán: Sionnach ar mo Dhuán. Sáirséal Ó Marcaigh, Baile Átha Cliath 1988. (The other novel by Breandán - the novel all have heard of is Lig Sinn i gCathú, of course. What you can expect - native Aran Islands Irish as well as savagely humorous social criticism./Seo an t-úrscéal eile a tháinig ó pheann Bhreandáin - is é Lig Sinn i gCathú an t-úrscéal ar chuala gach duine le Gaeilge iomrá air. Tá an leabhar seo ag cur thar maoil le criticeoireacht shóisialta agus greann ropánta, agus an t-iomlán sin scríofa i nGaeilge dhúchasach Oileáin Árann.) 

Ó Munghaile, Tomás: Ó Bharr Thrámh go Baile Ghib. Coiscéim, Baile Átha Cliath 2008. (This is a collection of memories elicited from a Mayoman who went to live in Baile Ghib, Meath. The language is Northern Mayo Irish, that beautiful compromise between Ulster and Connacht Irish. Easy enough, and interesting from the social history point of view./Is éard atá sa leabhar seo ná cuimhní cinn ó fhear ó Mhaigh Eo a chaith a shaol i mBaile Ghib, Contae na Mí. Is í an chanúint atá aige ná Gaeilge Thuaisceart Mhaigh Eo. Canúint dheas álainn í ar féidir a rá go bhfuil sí idir eatarthu idir Gaeilge Chonnacht agus Gaeilge Uladh.)

Ó Ráighne, Mícheál: Bóithrín na hAille Báine. Cló Iar-Chonnacht, Indreabhán 1993. (This book is both great fun and at times touching. A village comedy that moves very fast. You won't be disappointed./Is féidir an-sult a bhaint as an leabhar greannmhar seo ach san am chéanna is léir go bhfuil bá chomhdhaonnach ag an údar lena chuid carachtar. Cóiméide tuaithe atá ann agus na himeachtaí ag dul ar aghaidh go tiubh teirimeach. Ní bhainfidh an leabhar mealladh asat.)

Ó Ruadháin, Seán: Pádhraic Mháire Bhán. An Gúm, Baile Átha Cliath 1994. (This is a description of a fatherless boy's life in Northern Mayo in a vivid and beautiful language. If you only want to read one single book in Irish, do read this one. The language is rich and vigorous Mayo Irish./Is éard atá sa leabhar seo ná cur síos ar shaol dilleachta i dTuaisceart Mhaigh Eo i dteanga álainn bhríomhar. Má tá tú meáite gan ach aon leabhar amháin a léamh i nGaeilge, is fearr duit an leabhar seo a roghnú. Is í canúint Mhaigh Eo atá á cleachtadh ag an scríbhneoir agus í saibhir láidir aige.)

AN MHUMHAIN:

Breatnach, Nioclás: Ar Bóthar Dom. Coláiste na Rinne, Rinn Ó gCuanach 1998. (This is a rich and demanding book of folklore from Gaeltacht na Rinne in Waterford. Includes a vocabulary list./Díolaim shaibhir béaloidis atá sa leabhar seo, agus í scríofa i nGaeilge na Rinne. Is féidir go bhfaighidh tú an leabhar réasúnta deacair ach tá liosta focal ann ar a laghad.)

Mhic Gearailt, Caitlín P: Nach aon saol mar a thagann sé. Coiscéim, Baile Átha Cliath 1992. (A traditional Gaeltacht autobiography in Munster Irish. Easy enough./Dírbheathaisnéis thraidisiúnta Gaeltachta i nGaeilge na Mumhan atá sa leabhar seo, agus í sách soléite dar liom féin.)

Ó Caoimh, Séamas: An Sléibhteánach. An Sagart, Maigh Nuad 1989. (A traditional Gaeltacht autobiography in Tipperary Irish, which was a dialect quite similar to Ring of Waterford Irish. Quite readable, especially if you are familiar with Waterford Irish./Dírbheathaisnéis Gaeilge den ghnáthchineál atá ann. Is í an chanúint atá ann ná Gaeilge Thiobraid Árann agus í sách cosúil le Gaeilge na Rinne. Má tá tú i dtaithí na canúina níl an leabhar seo doléite agat ar aon nós.)

Ó Céileachair, Dónall Bán: Scéal mo Bheatha. Coiste Litríochta Mhúscraí, Baile Mhic Íre 2008. (Another traditional Gaeltacht autobiography in a very idiomatic, beautiful and peculiar Cork Irish. Comes with a vocabulary. This one might be somewhat difficult, but is quite worth the effort./Dírbheathaisnéis thraidisiúnta eile ón nGaeltacht atá anseo. Is í an teanga atá ann ná Gaeilge Chontae Chorcaí. Beidh an liosta focal go mór ag teastáil uait. Is dócha go bhfuil an ceann seo réasúnta deacair, ach más amhlaidh féin, rachaidh sé go mór chun leasa duit, cosúil le purgóid láidir an dochtúra.)

Ó Criomhthain, Tomás: An tOileánach. Helicon Teoranta, Baile Átha Cliath. (One of the indispensable Blasket classics./Is éard atá sa leabhar seo ná ceann de na clasaicigh Bhlascaodacha nach féidir leat droichead ná dearmad a dhéanamh díobh.)

Ó Fiannúsa, Pádraig: Ghaibh a Leithéid an tSlí Tráth. Cló Chois Móire, Port Láirge 2008. (This is rather scary stuff. The book is obviously folklore-inspired prose, and some of the chapters are bloodcurdling and macabre stuff. Of course, horror stories are common in Irish folklore, but this one stands out. The language is Waterford Irish, and the style is rich in allitterative runs./Ábhar sách scanrúil atá anseo. Prós atá ann go bunúsach a fuair spreagadh ón mbéaloideas, agus anseo agus ansiúd tá rudaí adhfhuafra ann a reofadh an fhuil ionat. Ar ndóigh níl easpa scéalta scanrúla i mbéaloideas na Gaeilge ach tá an leabhar seo as an ngnáth. Tá an leabhar scríofa i nGaeilge Chúige Phort Láirge, agus an stíl saibhir i nathanna macallacha.)

Ó Liatháin, Annraoi: Luaithreach an Bhua. Sáirséal agus Dill, Baile Átha Cliath 1969. (I am not sure how native a speaker Annraoi was, but he had frequent contact with native speakers in Waterford, so his Irish shows influence from what our generation thinks of as the Spanish football dialect of Irish. This novel is about the Irish civil war, Cogadh na gCarad./Níl mé cinnte an féidir a rá gur cainteoir dúchais i gciall cheart an fhocail a bhí in Annraoi, ach tá a fhios agam go mbíodh dlúthchaidreamh aige le cainteoirí dúchais i gContae Phort Láirge, agus dá réir sin thig leat tionchar ón gcineál Gaeilge a aithint a shamhlódh daoine dár nglúin féin le sacar na Spáinne. Is é Cogadh Cathartha na hÉireann - Cogadh na gCarad - is ábhar don úrscéal seo.)

Ó Liatháin, Annraoi: Nead na gCreabhar. Sáirséal agus Dill, Baile Átha Cliath 1977. (A spy thriller in Irish, partly a parody, partly not. All the clichés of the genre are recycled in a humorous way./Scéinséir spiaireachta i nGaeilge atá anseo, idir shúgradh agus dáiríre. Baineann an scríbhneoir athúsáid chliste ghreannmhar as clichéanna an tseánra.) 

Ó Sé, Maidhc Dainín: Tae le Tae. Coiscéim, Baile Átha Cliath 1990. (Among the best written by Maidhc Dainín, a novel from bygone days in the Gaeltacht. The language is sometimes untidy and Anglicism-ridden, but much of the book is lively and idiomatic Irish, and you do wisely to pick up the idiomatic expressions and learn them./Tá an t-úrscéal seo ar na leabhair is fearr dár tháinig ó pheann Mhaidhc Dainín, agus is é seansaol na Gaeltachta is ábhar dó. Bíonn an teanga róthorrach le Béarlachas in áiteanna, ach san am céanna tá teilgeanacha deasa dúchasacha cainte ann, agus ní rachaidh sé ach chun leasa duit na teilgeanacha sin a fhoghlaim agus do chuid féin a dhéanamh díobh.)

Sayers, Peig: Machnamh Seanmhná. An Gúm, Baile Átha Cliath 1992. (Peig's better book. This includes some stuff that my lordship vouchsafes to find quite interesting, such as Peig's meeting with a native Irish speaker from Mexico. It is a lighter read for a learner than her autobiography. Having read this, you might find that one easier to tackle./Is é seo an ceann is fearr den dá leabhar a breacadh síos ó chaint Pheig. Tá rudaí spéisiúla anseo cosúil leis an gcaibidil faoin nGaeilgeoir dúchais ó Mheicsiceo a casadh ar Pheig. Tá an leabhar seo níos soléite ná a dírbheathaisnéis, agus is dócha gur fearr duit an ceann seo a chríochnú roimh an gceann eile.)

Sayers, Peig (edited by Máire Ní Mhainnín and Liam P. Ó Murchú/Máire Ní Mhainnín agus Liam P. Ó Murchú a chuir in eagar): Peig - A Scéal Féin. An Sagart, an Daingean 1998. (This is my favourite edition of Peig's autobiography, although I am obviously familiar with the Educational Company edition too - that one omits some parts that were only available in Bryan McMahon's English translation before the Ní Mhainnín - Ó Murchú edition was published. Suffice it to say that Peig has been unnecessarily reviled, and that there is some stuff here that it interesting enough, say, for the social historian. I don't personally find Peig particularly insufferable./Seo an t-eagrán de dhírbheathaisnéis Pheig is fearr liom. Ar ndóigh nuair a bhí mé i m'fhoghlaimeoir óg léigh mé an leagan a d'fhoilsigh an Comhlacht Oideachais chomh maith, ach ní mór a thuiscint go bhfuil sleachtanna áirithe ar lár sa cheann sin - ní fhéadfá iad a léamh ach as Béarla san aistriúchán a rinne Brian Mac Mathúna roimh fhoilsiú an eagráin le Máire Ní Mhainnín agus Liam P. Ó Murchú. Is é mo thuairim ar Pheig ná nach bhfuil gá ar bith leis na hionsaithe a dhéantar uirthi i gcónaí. Tá ábhar suimiúil anseo, abair, don staraí shóisialta. Tríd is tríd níl mé féin barúlach go bhfuil Peig chomh dofhulaingthe is a deirtear.) 

Ua Maoileoin, Pádraig: Ár Leithéidí Arís. Clódhanna Teoranta, Baile Átha Cliath 1978. (A play, articles, essays, songs by a very original and humorous Blaskets writer./Scríbhneoir greannmhar bunúil de phór an Bhlascaoid a bhí i bPádraig. Gheobhaidh tú ábhar ilghnéitheach leis sa díolaim seo, idir phrós, filíocht agus dráma.)

Ua Maoileoin, Pádraig: De Réir Uimhreacha. Muintir an Dúna, Baile Átha Cliath 1969. (An autobiographical novel about the life and work of the Gardaí in the Saorstát years. Interesting, and written in a fluent and easy language - of course, it's very much the Blaskets dialect./Úrscéal dírbheathaisnéisiúil é seo faoi shaol agus obair na nGardaí i mblianta an tSaorstáit. Leabhar spéisiúil atá ann, agus maidir leis an teanga, is í an cineál Gaeilge a d'fhoghlaim muid go léir ó chlasaicigh an Bhlascaoid, nó bhí a bhaint féin ag an Maoileonach leis an oileán sin.)

ULAIDH:

Mac Cumhaill, Fionn (actually/fíorainm Mánas Mac Cumhaill): Gura Slán le m'Óige. Oifig an tSoláthair, Baile Átha Cliath 1974. (A traditional Gaeltacht novel by a traditional Gaeltacht writer. Readable, due to the standard-friendly edition. Recognizably Ulster Irish though./Úrscéal traidisiúnta Gaeltachta le scríbhneoir traidisiúnta Gaeltachta atá ann. Eagrán réasúnta soléite é, toisc go bhfuil sé sách cóngarach don Chaighdeán, ach is furasta canúint an tuaiscirt a aithint.)

Mac Cumhaill, Fionn (actually/fíorainm Mánas Mac Cumhaill): Na Rosa go Brách. An Gúm, Baile Átha Cliath 1997. (This is again a novel about traditional life in Donegal. Worth reading mostly due to its pure, beautiful Gaeltacht Irish.)

Mac Gabhann, Micí: Rotha Mór an tSaoil. Cló Iar-Chonnacht, Indreabhán 1997. (One of the most readable Gaeltacht autobiographies. The odyssey of a Donegal man taking part in the Klondike gold rush. In Donegal Irish, but edited in a standard-friendly way.)

Mac Grianna, Seosamh: Dá mBíodh Ruball ar an Éan. An Gúm, Baile Átha Cliath 1992. (It is a great loss that the writer could not finish the book, because the part of it he did finish includes a lot of astute, satirical observations of contemporary life and society. His Irish is also superb, no worse than his brother's. The edition is caighdeán-friendly, but the language is rather demanding, which is why it was among the first books I read in Ulster Irish.)

Mac Grianna, Seosamh: Mo Bhealach Féin. An Gúm, Baile Átha Cliath 1997. (Seosamh Mac Grianna's last finished work. Rambling and ranting though it is, it includes several quotable quotes, including the well-known beginning: Deir siad go bhfuil an fhírinne searbh, ach, creid mise, ní searbh atá sí ach garbh, agus sin é an fáth a seachantar í. The language is obviously glorious Ulster Irish, but the edition is Caighdeán-friendly.)

Mac Meanman, Seán Bán: Cnuasach Céad Conlach. Coiscéim, Baile Átha Cliath 1989. (Seán Bán Mac Meanman was a writer of Central Donegal Irish. These texts are mostly folklore but there is also a chapter about Gaeltacht life before the Great Hunger, which also mentions the Molly Maguires or Clann Mhailí Nig Uidhir in America.)

McGlinchey, Charles: An Fear Deireanach den tSloinneadh. Arlen House, Baile Átha Cliath 2002. (One of the few books available in Inishowen Irish. Not too difficult if you have a reasonable command of Donegal dialect in written form.)

Ní Dheoraí, Áine (eag.): Na Cruacha - Scéalta agus Seanchas. An Clóchomhar (now an imprint of Cló Iar-Chonnacht), Indreabhán, Conamara 2009. (This is an invaluable folklore collection from Bluestacks Mountains in Donegal. The language is well edited, but the dialect still shows, although I'd prefer her to have used the dative forms of feminine verbal nouns ending in -ach, because to leave that -ach unchanged after ag or a feels a little less than natural - I'd rather see ag bogadaigh than ag bogadach.)

Ó Baoighill, Pádraig (editor): Ó Cadhain i dTír Chonaill. Coiscéim/Gael-Linn,Baile Átha Cliath 2007. (A rich, comprehensive and well-edited collection of Donegal folklore, especially recommeded for learners.)

Ó Baoighill, Pádraig: Óglach na Rosann. Coiscéim, Baile Átha Cliath 1994. (The biography of a local Irish Volunteer from Donegal, in Ulster Irish. Sometimes there are Anglicisms which I don't quite approve of, but the book is well enough written and I picked up a lot of good Irish reading it.)

Ó Baoill, Aindrias: Cnuasach na Finne. Coiscéim, Baile Átha Cliath 1993. (A collection of Central Donegal Irish writings by a traditional Gaeltacht countryside writer. Much of this books is short texts which make excellent reading for a learner, but there are also two longer stories, at least one of them amounting to a short novel. While spelling is standardized, dialectal traits can become a problem for the inexperienced.)

Ó Baoill, Aindrias: Fiach Fánach. Coiscéim, Baile Átha Cliath 1992. (More stuff from Aindrias Ó Baoill. These are his essays from An tUltach, and they mostly comment on Gaeltacht life and language. Sometimes even funny, but always good for the learner. Among the first books I ever read in Irish.)

Ó Baoill, Dónall P.: Amach as Ucht na Sliabh - Imleabhar a 1. Donegal Democrat, Béal Átha Seanaigh 1992 (A comprehensive collection of folktales from Donegal. It would need some more editing, but even the misprints tell a lot about the dialect. I read the book at a relatively early stage of my Ulster dialect enthusiast period and learnt a lot from it.)

Ó Baoill, Dónall P.: Amach as Ucht na Sliabh - Imleabhar a 2. Donegal Democrat, Béal Átha Seanaigh 1996. (This is a companion volume - much of it is shorter folklore items, such as songs, poems, prayers and proverbs.)

Ó Cuinn, Cosslett, Aodh Ó Canainn & Seosamh Watson: Scian a Caitheadh le Toinn. Coiscéim, Baile Átha Cliath 1990. (A collection of folklore from now-defunct Gaeltachtaí east of Donegal. This is especially for Ulster dialect enthusiasts.)

Ó Dónaill, Niall: Seanchas na Féinne. An Gúm, Baile Átha Cliath 1998. (A classic retelling of the Fiannaíocht cycle by Niall Ó Dónaill, also known for the standard Irish-English dictionary. The language is somewhat archaic and rich in literary words, and the book includes a vocabulary list. It is not easy, but if you are Irish and want to know your country's mythology, you should take the trouble of reading this book, and reading it thoroughly.)

Ó Gallchóir, Tomás: Séimidh agus scéalta eile. Coiscéim, Baile Átha Cliath 1996. (I seem to recall that some killjoy of a literary reviewer didn't find this book funny enough. I beg to differ. I found the book quite amusing, partly because of the enjoyable Ulster dialect. This book could actually be an easy entrance for those who want to delve in Ulster Irish literature. It is not too thick or heavy, and it is quite beautiful and entertaining Irish./Is cuimhin liom go raibh léirmheastóir éigin míshásta leis an leabhar seo, agus é barúlach nach raibh sé sách greannmhar. Ní aontaím féin faoi sin. Bhí mé sna trithí gáire ag an leabhar, ach ar ndóigh is féidir gurb í Gaeilge Uladh ba mhó ba chúis leis sin. Le fírinne sílim go mbeadh an leabhar seo oiriúnach mar bhealach isteach dóibh siúd ar maith leo aithne cheart a chur ar scríbhneoirí Chúige Uladh agus ar a gcanúint siúd. Níl an leabhar róthrom ná róramhar, agus tá an teanga chomh hálainn agus atá sí sultmhar.)

Ó Grianna, Séamus: Cora Cinniúna 1-2. An Gúm, Baile Átha Cliath 1993. (This is the book that turned me into a writer in Irish. Before I read it, I was only a learner of the language. Afterward, I had a firm grip of the language. It took me some months in 1996 to read my way through these short stories, noting the new words, forms, and sayings, but it was worth it. Follow my example./Seo an leabhar a rinne scríbhneoir Gaeilge díom. Ní raibh ionam ach foghlaimeoir roimhe sin. Thóg sé na míonna fada orm, thiar sa bhliain 1996, na gearrscéalta seo a mhionléamh, agus mé ag cur sonrú i ngach focal nua, i ngach foirm nua, agus i ngach teilgean cainte nua, ach má thóg féin bhain mé súp, sult agus tairbhe as gach soicind. Leanaigí mo shampla!)

Ó Grianna, Séamus: Tairngreacht Mhiseoige. An Gúm, Baile Átha Cliath 1995. (A typical novel by Séamus Ó Grianna, with all his favourite themes. As usual, you might not like his sort of sentimentality, although I have come to enjoy it very much. The language, obviously, is beautiful, the pure old Irish of Rann na Feirste./Úrscéal tipiciúil den chineál a shamhlófá le Séamus Ó Grianna, idir stíl agus ábhar. Mar is gnách, is féidir nach dtaitníonn a mhaoithneachas leat, ach mar sin féin caithfidh mé a rá go bhfuil mé féin an-tugtha dá chuid scríbhneoireachta. Is í an teanga an tsean-ghlanGhaeilge ó Rann na Feirste, ar ndóigh.)

Ua Cnáimhsí, Pádraig: Idir an Dá Ghaoth. Sáirseál Ó Marcaigh, Baile Átha Cliath 1997. (This book is local history from Gaoth Dobhair area in Donegal. The language is dialectal enough, but relatively accessibly edited. If you are afraid of Ulster Irish, start by reading this book./Stair áitiúil ó Ghaoth Dobhair, Tír Chonaill atá sa leabhar seo. Tá canúint an chontae le haithint go soiléir ar an leabhar, ach níl an teanga ródhifriúil leis an gCaighdeán. Má chuireann Gaeilge Uladh eagla ort, is é an leabhar seo leigheas an ghalair sin.)