Controversy over use of Irish in 'Super Council'

(December 2014)

Tá An Ghaeilge ina chnámh spáirne polaitiúil arís ó thuaidh. Dúirt comhairleoir ón DUP go raibh sé ‘frith-Briotanach’ agus ‘frith-Aontachtach’ nuair a vótáil Scáth-Comhairle Fear Manach agus na hÓmaí go mbeadh Béarla agus Gaeilge ar comharthaíocht agus páipéarachas an Chomhairle. Thug Sinn Féin agus an SDLP tacaíocht don mholadh. Diúltaíodh do mholadh ón DUP agus UUP (Páirtí Aontachtach Uladh) gur Béarla, Gaeilge agus Ultais a bheadh ann.

Dúirt an Comhairleoir Barry McNally ó Shinn Féin gurbh fearr le páirtí s’aige Gaeilge amháin, agus gur comhréiteach a bheadh sna comharthaí Béarla-Gaeilge. Sa daonáireamh is déanaí, dúirt suas le 20% de phobal cheantair na hÓmaí go raibh Gaeilge acu, agus 15% de phobal Fhear Manach.

Dúirt an Comhairleoir Errol Thompson ón DUP go raibh cuid mhór cinntí dá ndearna an comhairle ‘frith-Briotanach’ agus ‘frith-Aontachtach.’ “Níl tú ag tabhairt measa domsa nó do thraidisiún s’agam leis an rud ata sibh ag déanamh anseo anocht,” ar seisean.

Dúirt an Comhairleoir Chris Smyth (UUP – Páirtí Aontachtach Uladh) go raibh an comhairle ag déanamh “beag is fiú” 40% den phobal.

Dúirt Smyth le Tuairisc i ndiaidh an chruinniuithe gurbh fhearr le páirtí s’aige gur Béarla amháin a bheadh ann. Ba comhréiteach moladh s’acu. “Níl fadhb agam leis an Ghaeilge,” ar seisean. “Tá fadhb agam leis nuair a déantar arm cogaidh as.” Dar leis go raibh Sinn Féin ag baint úsáide as Gaeilge le teachtaireacht a thabhairt do dhaoine “níl fáilte romhat anseo. Chaitheamar vóta ar an bhonn – bíodh do chuid Gaeilge agat má fhaigheann muidne rud éigean anseo.”

B’ag droch-am, dar leis, a rinneadh an moladh. “Dúirt Adams an rud faoi Chapall Adhmaid na Traí,” arsa Smyth. “Agus an comhionnanas bheith mar arm.” Chuir sin deireadh le “hands across the divide.”

Toghadh an Scáth-Comhairle mar chuid d’athruithe ar comhairlí áitiúla ó thuaidh. Tugann sé ceantaracha comhairlí Fear Manach agus na hÓmaí lena gcéile.

Promoting Irish in Derry – Michaeline Donnelly

(first published in An tUltach, December 2014)

Is bean gnóthach í Michaeline Donnelly, Oifigeach Forbartha le Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin, Doire. Bhí orainn fanacht leis an agallamh a dhéanamh sa chaifé ag an Chultúrlann Uí Chanáin, nó í ag déanamh agallaimh ar Raidió na Gaeltachta – agus ansin ag eagrú seoladh ‘An Bhean Feasa’ le Alan Titley an oíche sin.

Tá an suim a chuireann sí i rudaí tógálach. Thug sí cóip de ‘An Bhean Feasa’ dom agus mé ag ól chaifé. Faoin am gur thosaigh an t-agallamh, bhí oiread sin den leabhar léite agam gur cheannaigh mé é.

Tugann an post spreagadh di. Dar léi gurb é a céad dualgas ná feiceálacht na Gaeilge sa chathair a ardú. Tá obair an-éagsúil ansin. “Comharthaí dá-theangach, turasóireacht cultúrtha a spreagadh, cuidiú leis na scoileanna, gnóthaí pobail, imeachtaí a reachtáil – is cineál obair pobail atá ann,” ar sise. Tá club óige atá ag dul “ó neart go neart.”

Déanann sin freastal ar dhéagóirí. Níl meánscoil Gaeilge ann “agus níl na scoileanna (Béarla) ag freastal ar na páistí a thagann amach as na bunscoileanna.” Níl an Ghaeilge mar ábhar ach i gcúpla ceann acu. “Tá cinéal bearna ann, agus feiceann mo dhuine go bhfuil sé orainn na bearnaí sin a líonadh,” ar sise.

Tá bród uirthi as an Chultúrlann, mar a bhfuil 400 ag freastal ar ranganna Gaeilge – ag achan léibhéal “ó lán-tosaitheoirí go léibhéal dioplóma,” chomh maith le ranganna ceoil, damhsa, sean-nós agus eile. Níl go leoir spáis ann anois. “Tá sean-eaglais agus mansa ceannaithe againn béal dorais,” ar sise. “Acadamh Ceoil Caoimhín Ó Dochartaigh a bhéas ann.”

Tá dul chun cinn maith déanta ó thaobh na Gaeilge i nDoire, ach “ní thiocfadh leat a rá go bhfuil sé chomh feiceálach agus atá in áiteann áirithe i mBéal Feirste…. Tá pobal dlúth anseo, iontach dlúth. Níl sé chomh scaipthe agus atá sé i mBéal Feirste. Tagann daoine anseo, sa Derby bíonn ciorcal comhrá againn, in Ostán na Cathrach ciorcal comhrá eile, sa Leabharlann, sa Grand Central, i gCnoc na Rós. Bíonn an-chuid imeachtaí ar siúil. Tá oifigeach forbartha thar barr againn sa Comhairle, Pól Friel.

Tá pleananna le go mbeidh a ‘Cheantar Gaeltachta’  féin ag Doire. “Tá dhá saghas sruth ann,” ar sise. “Sa ghearrthéarma, ceathrú cultúrtha, ceathrú turasóireachta, mar sin, thart ar an sráid seo (Sráid Mór Shéamais), thart ar Waterloo Street agus mar sin, mar a bhfuil an saol san oíche agus rudaí mar sin,” ar sise. “Tá go leoir ag tarlú sa cheantar sin, agus ansin tá sraith eile ann, cinéal tionscadal níos leithne tríd an cheantar ar fad – Tobar an Fhíoruisce, Taobh an Bhogaigh, an Creagán. Tá na daoine ins na ceantaracha sin iontach bródúil as an teanga, agus ba mhaith linn sin a chothú agus a chur chun cinn, agus go mbeadh a fhios ag daoine go bhfuil luach eacnamaíochta ag an teanga, agus í a úsáid i measc an phobail.”

Tá bród ar Mhichaeline mar “tagann daoine ó gach cuid den phobal anseo, ón dá phobal. Bíonn cruinniú leis an Londonderry Bands Forum b’fhéidir uair gach coicís nó mar sin.

Tá sin mar go bhfuil cuid mhór oibre trasphobail ar shiúil ó thaobh na Gaeilge. “Tá oifigeach trasphobal againn anseo, agus le linn Fleadh Ceoil na hÉireann, bhuel, b’shin nuair a chonaiceamar go raibh an-rachairt air,” ar sise. “Tháinig an Londonderry Bands Forum agus an Cultúrlann le céile, agus bhí na bannaí ceoil ag seinm le linn na Fleadha, bhí siad ag an Fhéile Pan-Ceilteach, agus bhí siad i Sligeach ag Fleadh Ceoil na hÉireann i mbliana fosta.” Tá súil tógáil ar an obair seo le féile pobail, agus Paráid Lá Fhéile Pádraig, nó an Cultúrlann ag amharc ar an dóigh “leis na teorainneacha sin a leathnú, agus leis an rud a bhrú amach.

“Tá na daoine sin iontach oscailte don Gaeilge. Bhuail mé le fear cúpla seachtain ó shoin agus é clúdaithe le tattoos. Tá seisean mar bhall den Fóram sin, agus ní thig leis fanacht go dtí go bhfuil sé ábalta Gaeilge a fhoghlaim. Tá daoine ag teacht ar an tuiscint gur leis an phobal ar fad, gur le achan duine, an Ghaeilge.

“Agus sin an fáth gur chuir muidne Pobal ar an Iúl ar an chraobh nua de Chonradh na Gaeilge ar an Ómaigh. Ba mhaith linne go bhfeicfeadh daoine gur le hachan pobal é, go mbaineann sé le hachan pobal. Ba mhaith linn an pobal ar fad a fheiceáil ag teacht le céile tríd an Gaeilge. ‘Pobal ar an Iúl’ – b’shin an sean-Gaeilge a bhí i dTír Eoghan ar phobal ag teacht le céile. Sin an príomh-aidhm atá againn. Tá na baill iontach tiomanta do rudaí Gaeilge agus iontach paiseanta.”

Tá pleananna acu. “Beimid ag iarraidh go mbeidh an Ghaeilge ag an tábla don champas nua ar an Ómaigh (mar a mbeidh na meánscoileanna uilig ag teacht le céile ar an aon suíomh amháin – A MacC),” ar sise.

Tá cleachtadh leathan ag Michaeline. Sula ndeachaigh sí go Doire, bhí sí ag obair le Pobal: ina haistritheoir ag CCEA: le tionscadal na logainmneacha in Ollscoil na Ríona: agus le Tobar Productions, comhlacht teilifíse.

Ba bhean í a bhí riamh sásta múnlaí a bhriseadh. Rinne sí rud a dhéanann fíor-bheagán Tuaisceartach, agus chuaigh ar an ollscoil i nGallimh. “Eispearas faoi leith a bhí i nGallimh, caithfidh mé a rá,” ar sise. “Chuaigh mé ann le mo chara is fearr, Sinéad, atá ina gníomhaí oll-mhór teanga. Tá mé iontach, iontach buíoch go raibh an seans agam dul go Gallimh. Tá aithne agam ar an mhéid sin Gaeilgeoirí ó cionn cionn na tire, mar gheall go raibh mé i nGallimh. D’athraigh sé go mór an cinéal peirspeictíochta a bhí agam. Tá dearcadh níos leithne againn i leith na Gaeilge ná dá mba rud é go ndeachaigh muid go Doire nó go Cuil Raithin… Bhí muid iontach bródúil gur Ultaigh sinn. Chuaigh muid chuig cúpla leachtóirí le rá nach raibh muid sásta, ceal ábhar Tuaisceartach. Bhí fhios acu cé muid – bhí muid ag seasamh an fhóid ar son na hUltaigh.”

Ainneoin Gallimh bheith ar thairseach Gaeltachta Chonamara “mhothaigh mé níos Gaelaí nuair a chuaigh mé go Béal Feirste ná mar a mhothaigh mé i nGallimh. B’fhéidir, bhí mé ar an ollscoil, agus nár mhothaigh mé mar chuid de phobal ar bith. Nuair a bhog mé go Béal Feirste, mhothaigh mé ar an toirt – seo daoine cosúil liomsa.”

Is as an Achadh Leathan, taobh amuigh den Ómaigh, di. “Nuair a bhí mé sa dara bliain (ar an mheánscoil), chuaigh mé chun na Gaeltachta i Machaire Rabhartaigh, agus thit mé i ngrá leis an áit agus leis na daoine agus leis an Ghaeilge,” ar sise. “Gael go smior mé anois, sílim. Bhí mo Mhámaí ag caint le duine cúpla lá ó shoin, agus dúirt sí mar gheall ormsa ‘She eats, sleeps and dreams Irish.’”

Bhí O-Léibhéal sa Ghaeilge ag a máthair. Bhí meirg air le blianta, ach tá sí ag déanamh dioplóma sa Ghaeilge anois – bród ar a h-iníon chomh díograiseach agus atá. Nó, ar ndóígh, baineann sliocht mháthair Michaeline le ceann de Gaeltachtaí dearmadta Chúige Uladh, Gaeltacht Shliabh Beatha. Tá cuid da muintirse, na ‘Art’ McElroys as an Chorr Liatháin i dTír Eoghan, i ndaonáireamh 1901 – agus Gaeilge ag an teaghlach ar fad.

Niall Vallely - Civil Rights leader

(first published 'Irish Times' January 3rd 2015)

Niall Vallely – born August 13^th 1942, died December 14^th 2014

Niall Vallely from Armagh City, who has died suddenly, was a significant figure in the early years of the North’s Civil Rights Movement. He was one of the most militant and uncompromising leaders of revolutionary socialist organisation People’s Democracy, the most militant and uncompromising wing of the movement. He was a fierce opponent both of the Unionist regime in Stormont and of the ‘Green Tories’ of the old Nationalist Party. In every speech, he made sure to attack them as well as Unionism.

He was part of historic events. As a leader of People’s Democracy, he was present at Burntollet Bridge in January 1969 when police failed to protect Civil Rights’ marchers from a fierce attack by Loyalists, leading to many injuries.

The first man shot dead in the ‘Troubles’ was killed after a meeting he addressed in Armagh City.  That was on August 15^th 1969. Shortly after the meeting members of the Protestant ‘B Special’ police reserve force shot dead John Gallagher, a Catholic civilian. Vallely had been on crutches at the meeting, having earlier been attacked by Loyalists.

Vallely led the Armagh Branch of People’s Democracy, the organisation’s most active, and which had support in the City. It regularly picketed meetings of the Unionist-controlled City Council. It was about economic as well as civil rights. Housing conditions in Armagh were appalling in the late 60s, with one street suffering regular typhoid outbreaks during the summer. A number of councillors were landlords: they opposed building social housing, because they wanted to keep rental income from their tenants.

Vallely was imprisoned twice in the early days of the Troubles. A reflection of his socialism was that one term was for picketing in support of strikers during the big Irish Cement strike of 1970.

Vallely avoided being caught in the internment swoop on August 9^th 1969. Minutes before soldiers arrived he was tipped off internment was underway, and fled.

People’s Democracy subsequently suffered division and decline, and Vallely moved to Newry and joined Sinn Féin. He was active at a local level. In more recent years, he helped write speeches for prominent party members. He also used his abilities to argue for policies, such as support for the police, which many Republican supporters doubted.

Vallely was involved in building links with the Protestant and Loyalist communities. His witty personality was a great advantage. As well as being a negotiator, he could take the edge out of a situation with a joke all could laugh at.

Niall Vallely was born in August 1942, second of five children to John Vallely, a primary teacher and native of Armagh: and his wife Mary (née Eaton), also a teacher and native of Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo. The family was steeped in all things Irish. John Vallely was manager of the Armagh Gaelic football team. Mary Vallely was an Irish speaker and musician.

He was educated at Blundell’s Grange Primary School; the Christian Brothers’ Grammar School in Armagh; then at Queen’s University, Belfast, where he graduated in Celtic Studies and Economics. After a brief stint in the Civil Service, he entered teaching, and taught in Banbridge till retirement.

Politics was only part of his life. He was an excellent bodhrán player, playing it in the traditional way, and a fine singer of traditional song with a love for the Gaelic poets of South Armagh.

Niall Vallely is survived by his daughter Eimear: sons Niall and Ruairí: grandchildren Saoirse, Maebh and Roisin: sisters Lorraine and Máire: and brothers Brian and Dara. He was predeceased by his wife Una.

Health Trust demolishes new £1.7million operating theatre

(an edited version of this was published in the Sunday World December 7th 2014)

The Western Health Trust has confirmed it is demolishing a £1.7million state of the art operating theatre built half-a-dozen years ago at the Erne Hospital, Enniskillen. The theatre is being demolished as part of the demolition of the whole hospital. The operating theatre was only used for four years, until the South West Acute hospital was opened. Another operating theatre that was upgraded at the same time is also being demolished.

The Sunday World asked the Western Trust to confirm if the demolition of the Erne includes this operating theatre. The reply was: “Yes, the demolition includes the operating theatre block”.

When the theatre was being built the Sperrin Lakeland Trust (predecessor of the Western Trust) had begun building the new South West Acute Hospital on the outskirts of Enniskillen. At the same time, three operating theatres 27 miles away at Tyrone County Hospital in Omagh were operating at 50% capacity. One was state of the art, having had a laminar flow ventilating system installed approximately five years early. The Sunday World has been unable to find out the cost of this: however, both installation and operating costs are high.

A notice to contractors from the Sperrin Lakeland Trust in February 2007 laid out what was expected from the operating theatre now being demolished:

“Construction of building shell to house new first floor operating theatre and associated anaesthetic, preparation, scrub and storage areas together with necessary mechanical and electrical services installations including medical gases. Contract will include the installation of all mechanical and electrical services including medical gases associated with the new accommodation, together with works necessary to link the new accommodation to the existing hospital corridor circulation system.

Contract will also include refurbishment and alteration works in the existing hospital ground floor theatre suite. Internal fit-out of the new operating theatre to be by specialist modular operating theatre provider, employed as a nominated sub-contractor.” The notice estimated the cost at £1.7million.

Former UNISON trade union secretary on the Erne site Benny Cassidy has said he is furious. He said that building the operating theatre for such a short time was “utter waste when they didn’t have any money to spend. Even at that time, there wasn’t much money about. I’m furious that there’s no accountability about money being wasted.”

The demolition of the Erne is due to be completed by May next year.

Meanwhile, the three operating theatres in the Tyrone County Hospital are still there. They are now being used at much less than 50% capacity.


Advertisement 'Notice to Contractors' from Trust for building of Operating Theatre

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Catalonia - strong movement for independence  

(An edited version of this piece was published in An tUltach, November 2014)

Tá neamhslpéachas ar na bacáin sa Chatalóin. Tá bratach na Catalóine ar foluain ó blocanna árasán chuile áit ar fud fad Barcelona, an príomh-cathair. Bhí suas le dhá mhilliún ar léirsiú, rud beag níos mó ná an ceathrú cuid de dhaonra na tire. Bhí reifreann comhairleach le bheith Mí na Samhna. Chuir Cúirt Bunreachtúil na Spáinne cosc air, beart a chothaigh fearg.

Tá féinriail ag dúiche na Catalóine ar thaobh na Spáinne den teorainn. Is é an Generalitat de Catalunya an rialtas réigiúnda, mar gurb é Convergència i Unió an páirtí is mó. Tá sin ina shaghas Fianna Fáil na Catalóine. Is leis an rialtas, rialtas a fhaigheann tacaíocht ón  Esquerra Repu blicana de Catalunya, páirtí daonlathach-sóisialach agus náisiúnach.

Tá Ariadna Jou ina h-urlabhraí idirnáisiúnta ag na Joventuts d’Esquerra Republicana (JERC), an ghluaiseacht óige. Is macléinn iar-céime i in Ollscoil Pompe Fabreu i mBarcelona. Bhuail mé léi i mbialann na hollcoile thart ar am tae, gan ach dornán macléinn fágtha ann. Bhí sí ag teacht ó léacht, ar a bealach chun na leabharlainne le píosa oibre a chríochnú – ach gan í ag brostú an agallaimh.

Tugann páirtí s’aici lán-tacaíocht don neamhspléachas.“An rud atá rialtas na Catalóine ag déanamh anois – agus is de bharr brú ón Esquerra Republicana agus páirtithe eile a thugann tacaíocht don neamhspléachas atá siad dá dhéanamh – is ag déanamh réidh don fheachtas don Reifreann Comhairleach atá siad,” ar sise. Tá siad tabhairt dúshlán Rialtais na Spáinne.

Rialaigh rialtas na Spáinne nach mbeadh cead ag oibrithe sa tseirbhís poiblí obair a dhéanamh leis an Reifreann Comhairleach a ullmhú. “Bhí ansin díomá ar rialtas na Catalóine, ní as an rud a bhainfeadh dóibhsean, ach an rud a bhainfeadh dóibh siúd a bhí ag obair san earnáil phoiblí,” ar sise. Ainneoin sin ar fad, tá sí dóchasach. “Tá an rialtas leis an rud a dhéanamh agus a mhól páirtí s’againne, agus an feachtas a thabhairt go cionn spríce ar achan rud, le gur féidir an Reifreann Comhairleach a ghairm,” ar sise.   Tá a bhfeachtais féin ag na páirtithe difriúla, agus ag Rialtas na Catalóine.

Tá níos mó ná páirtithe ann. “Ar an lámh eile, tá an tArdán Náisiúnta Catalóineach, mar a bhfuil an uile duine – múinteoirí, micléinn,” ar sise. “Tig leat bheith ag obair i siopa (mar shampla, agus clárú ann). Tá an-chuid imeachtaí ar siúil acu, a rá leis an rialtas ‘Bígí cróga, gabhaigí ar son an Chomhairliúcháin.’”

Bhí na páirtithe ar son an Reifrinn Comhairligh ag buaileadh lena gcéile chuile lá, agus mé ag labhairt le hAriadna i lár Mhí Deireadh Fómhair. “Sílim gur mhaith leis an rialtas (sa Spáinn) céim a dhéanamh ar gcúr,” ar sise. “Mar, rialtas Convergència i Unió, ní ar a leas a bheadh sé gan dul ar aghaidh leis an Reifreann Comhairleach.

“Seachtain ó shoin, bhí áthas orainn uilig, nó dhealraigh sé go mbeadh a leithéidí agus Reifreann Comhairleach. An seachtain seo, tá éiginnteacht ann, nó tá cruinniú ann agus níl fhios againn cad é tá ar shiúil acu. Níl siad chun rud ar bith a rá go poiblí go dtí an deireadh. Tá súil againn go mbeidh moladh againn.”

Tá fadhb ann leis an chlár toghthóirí, nó tá sé cúig bliain ó bhí an daonáireamh ag stát na Spáinne. “Tá daonáireamh eile de dhíth orainn, le go mbeidh liosta vótóirí againn roimh an Reifrinn,” ar sise.

Tá Ariadna anois iontach gafa anois leis an fheachtas. “Is é an sprioc mór atá romhainn ná reifreann bheith againn, agus vóta a chaitheamh. Tá dóchas orm, agus creidim go dtarlóidh an Reifreann Comhairleach. Sílim go dtarlóidh, fiú má tá orainn ár gclár toghthóirí féin a dhéanamh.

“Nuair atá dhá mhilliún duine ar an sráid ar Fhéile Náisiúnta na Catalóine, nuair atá Tionól Náisiúnta na Catalóine ann, beidh linn.”

Bíonn imeachtaí d’achan saghas ann. Is sampla beag ná go gcuirtear dath buí ar an uile rud sna bailte móra, sin dath bratach na Catalóine. “Tá sé anois ina ghluaiseacht chomh mór sin gur dóigh liomsa nach féidir stop a chur leis,” arsa Ariadna. “Sílim go mbeimid ábalta an Reifreann Comhairleach a dhéanamh, agus muna mbeimid ábalta é a dhéanamh, níl sé mar a bheadh deireadh ann, nó leanfaimid orainn ag obair, agus beidh toghchan againn.” San am céanna, ní bheadh Ariadna iomlán sásta le sin, nó “tá mé den bharúil go bhfuil an reifreann ar an rud daonlathach is fearr go dtig linn a dhéanamh. Ach tá dóigheanna malartacha againn, dóigheanna le táispeáint don chuid eile den saol, gur mhaith le pobal na Catalóine smacht bheith acu ar a dtodhchaí féin, bheith neamhspléach.”

Agus í ag súil le Reifreann “níl fhios agam an freagra deireannach a bheidh ón Spáinn. Má dheanfaimid é, níl fhios againn an rud atá siadsan ag dul a dhéanamh.” Ar ndóigh, cibé freagra a thiocfaidh ó rialtas Mhadrid tá an Reifreann Comhairleach ar an bhealach is fearr.

Mar dhuine óg, baineann Ariadna leis an ghlúin atá níos láidre ar son an eamhspléachais ná an mhuintir níos aosta – díreach mar atá ag tarlú in Albain. Dála na hAlban chomh maith, tá géarchéim ann sa ghéilleagar. Thosaigh sin sa Spáinn i 2007. “D’fhásamar suas chomh maith agus rialtas s’againn ag glacadh páirte i gcogaidh thar lear,” ar sise. Dar leis an ghlúin óg is tír faoi leith an Chatalóin. “Mhair an dream níos aosta níos faide faoi réimeas na Spáinne, agus b’fhéidir mar sin go bhfuil níos mó táithí acu ar sin,” ar sise. Ainneoin sin, tá céadatán súntasach den dream is sine i bhfabhar an neamshpléachais. “Bíonn siad ag déanamh comhghairdeas linn as obair s’againn,” ar sise.

D’fhulaing an ghlúin sin faoi dheachtóireacht Franco idir 1938 agus 1975. Ní raibh cead Catalóinís a labhairt le linn go leoir de na blianta sin, an cultúr na Catalónach i gcoitinne faoi chois. “Bíonn daoine óga níos cróga, nó ní dheacamar tri seo,” arsa Ariadna. “Tá níos mó ídéalachais ionainn.”

Bhí an Chatalóinis ina shiombal réabhlóide faoin deachtóireacht. “Nuair a bhím ag labhairt le mo mhuintir, deir siad liom go raibh cosc ar an Chatalóinís,” ar sise. “Mar shampla ní thiocfadh leo Catalóinís a labhairt ar an sráid, nó ní thiocfadh leo Catalóinís a fhoghlaim ar scoil. Bhí ranganna mídhleathacha ann. Sa bhaile agus le do chairde, labhairt tú Catalóinis. Nuair a thagadh duine éigean ó na húdaráis, bheadh orthu an teanga a bhí dá labhairt a mhalartú.”

Baineann Ariadna le glúin a rugadh ina dhiaidh sin. Chláraigh sí le JERC i 2008, í 16 agus ar an mheánscoil. Faoin am sin, bhí neart táithí aici ar bheith gníomhach ó bhí sí ina cailín óg. “Chonaic mé gur JERC an ghluaiseacht óige ba mhó a bhí ar aon dul le mo chuid smaointí,” ar sise. “Chláraigh mé mar gnáth-ball, gan cúraimí faoi leith agam.”

Tá sí préamhaithe sa Chatalóin, nó is as Girona di, cathair soir ó thuaidh ó Barcelona. B’í an Chatalóinis teanga an tí. Is de bhunadh na Catalóine í, díomaite de sheanmháthair amháin a rugadh san Ostair – ach gurb as Andalucia i ndeisceart na Spáinne dá tuismitheoirí siúd. Buntáiste atá le Girona, dar léi, ná nuair a aistríonn stráinséirí isteach ann, go mbíonn deiseanna acu le Catalóinís a fhoghlaim “le go mbeadh an uile duine ar an bhonn céanna.” Is sin an saghas tire neamhspléaigh atá de dhíth uirthi.

Kolkata woman who became part of Fermanagh

(a slightly edited version of this obituary was published in the Irish Times Saturday November 22nd 2014)

Anita Mukherjee – born January 27^th 1957, died October 23^rd 2014

Anita Mukherjee, who has died in a Belfast hospital, was a native of Kolkata, India, who became part of life in her adopted home of Enniskillen. “Somehow I feel in tune with Fermanagh,” she said. She was a charismatic community worker there for a decade and a half. At meetings, she was the person people wanted to sit beside because she was fun.

Probably her biggest achievement was establishing Women of the World in Fermanagh. It fulfils a number of roles. Social events are organised to counteract the isolation of immigrant women. These are a lifeline for those from small immigrant groups.

Fermanagh Women of the World develops understanding of immigrant cultures among the host community. Ms Mukherjee saw that work as countering racism by breaking down barriers and getting rid of preconceptions.

She energetically promoted her Bengali culture, teaching its dance and cookery. She swept into classes in a whirlwind of cheerfulness, with bangles and sari. She took those classes into schools and youth clubs. As well as being a promoter of Bengali food, she was an equally energetic promoter of healthy eating. Her workshops on equality and diversity always deepened participants’ understanding.

As well as Women of the World, she was a member of Fermanagh Women’s Network, the Northern Ireland Rural Women’s Network, Fermanagh Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP), and the Soroptimists. In the PCPS she strongly advocated proper links with the community: and, being an immigrant, contributed vital insights.

She was born Anita Chatterji in January 1957 in Kolkata, India’s third-largest city, the eldest of four children, three girls and a boy. He father was an engineer, her mother a poet. The family was educated rather than rich. She received secondary education at the Loreto House in Kolkata, one of India’s most prestigious schools, run by Irish nuns from the Loreto Order. At the school she remembered encountering Mother Teresa. She continued her education with a degree in English from the University of Calcutta. At the turn of the century she left India when her husband became general manager of an engineering firm in Fermanagh. The county quickly became home, and she contributed greatly to its life.

She is survived by her husband Tapan, son Rohan, sisters Indrani and Debjani, and brother Rinku.

Austin Lynch - a link with the past

(a slightly edited version was first published in the Irish Times Saturday, November 1st)

Austin Lynch – born September 6^th 1937, died October 14^th 2014

Austin Lynch, who has died after a period of ill-health, was chairman of Ireland’s largest remaining family-owned newspaper group, the Omagh-based North West of Ireland Printing and Publishing Company, which publishes papers in Tyrone, Donegal and Fermanagh. As first Managing Director and then Chairman for many years, he oversaw the development of three new titles, new headquarters, and the transition to new technology. Under his stewardship, the Company kept and developed its own printing press.

Lynch was an old-style employer, with a concern for the welfare of staff and a belief in treating them fairly. He was an old-style newspaperman too. For many years, he wrote editorials. He believed journalists had to learn on the job. One journalist remembers doing her job interview in the morning, then being sent to cover Strabane District Council that evening.

Lynch’s life was more than newspapers and business. He was a talented musician. The piano was his love, and he enjoyed playing jazz and classical music. He also played trumpet, trombone and clarinet. For some years he was a member of a brass band. He lent his musical expertise to amateur dramatic productions. He had a love of literature and the arts. Beyond that, he had a great curiosity about the world round him. That meant he kept in touch with what was happening in his community.

What shaped him was that the Lynch Family was steeped in the newspaper business. Early in the last century, his grandfather had established the Company’s first title, the Ulster Herald newspaper in Omagh.

Lynch was born in that town in 1937, eldest of four children to Louis D Lynch and his wife Ita (née Mullan), both natives of Omagh. Louis D Lynch, as well as being managing director of the Company, was a playwright and for a time a Nationalist member of the Northern Ireland Senate.

Lynch was educated at the Christian Brothers Primary and Grammar Schools in Omagh, then obtained an honours degree in English from UCD. He taught briefly before entering the family business. As a young man he suffered from a serious speech impediment, but showed determination in overcoming it and making his mark on the provincial press.

Austin Lynch is survived by his daughter Veranne, son Austin, sisters Anita (Currie) and Norrie (Egan), brother Gerard, and grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife Veronica.