Irish scholar was a Renaissance man

(a slightly edited version of this piece has been published on Tuairisc.ie)

B'fhear ildánach é Diarmaid Ó Doibhlin, a fuair bás in aois a 75 bliain tí s'aige i Machaire Fíolta, Co Doire. Ba léachtóir spreagúil le Gaeilge in Ollscoil Uladh, Cúl Raithin, é. Ba scoláire é, go raibh saineolas aige ar chuid mhór gnéanna den Ghaeilge. B'fhear é a bhí ag croí-lár imeachtaí Gaeilge ina cheantar féin é. Ba staraí é. B'fhile é, go mairfidh a shaothar. Ba pheileadóir maith Gaelach é.

Rinne sé na glúnta macléinn a theagasc ar an Ollscoil, thar 30 bliain mar léachtóir. Thar aon rud eile, bhí sé ar thaobh na macléinn. Thuig sé gur daoine iad, go mbeadh fadhbanna acu, agus rinne a dhícheall cuidiú leo.

Ní ábhar teibí sa tseomra ranga aige an Ghaeilge. Bhí rang ag déanamh staidéir ar Chaoineadh Airt Uí Laoghaire. Thug sé go Muscraí iad, go ndeachaigh siad ar thuras thart ar na háiteanna mar ar tharla na heachtraí.

Leis, thug sé cead a gcinn do mhicléinn. Bhí dualgas orthu tráchtas a dhéanamh sa bhliain deireannach don chéim. Lig sé do Shéamas Mac Annaidh scríobhneoireacht cruaitheach a dhéanamh in ionad tráchtais. Cuireadh cuid den ábhar a cumadh isteach san úrscéal Cuaifeach Mo Londubh Buí.

Mar scoláire, bhí cur amach leitheadach aige ar chuid mhór gnéanna den Ghaeilge, ó ré na luath-Críostaíochta go dtí an nua-litríocht – agus beagnach chuile rud eatarthu. Bhí fhios aige go háirithe an tábhacht atá leis an Ghaeltacht, agus an t-oidhreacht beo atá ann.

Thug sé leis an chuid is fearr den oiliúint acadúil ón sean-ghlúin scoláirí a chuaigh roimhe. Bhí cur amach aige ar an Laidin, a d'fhág beachtaíocht aige agus ceangal le léann na hEorpa. Thug sé sin isteach sa dearcadh nua-aimseartha a bhí aige.

Ní rud acadúil aige an Ghaeilge, ach cuid dá shaol. Bhí sé ag croí-lár imeachtaí Gaelacha ina cheantar féin. Minic go maith, ba obair chiúin é, a leag síos bunshraith do bhorradh atá anois ann. Siar i 70idí an chéid seo caite, bhí sé ar bhunaitheoirí an South Derry Gaelic Centre. D'eagraigh sin ranganna agus cainteanna i mbailte sa cheantar. Ainneoin gur ceantar an-corraithe ag na Trioblóidí é, bhí an Centre ábalta dul chun cinn a dhéanamh ó thaobh oibre trasphobail. Theip ar an tógra faoi dheireadh, le chomh corraithe agus a bhí na blianta sin.

Ba staraí áitiúil é, a rinne taighde agus a bhí ar bhunaitheoirí an South Derry Historical Society.

B'fhile cumasach é, a chuir dhá chnuasach amach. Mairfidh a shaothar, go háirithe b'fhéidir 'Loch na Craoibhe', a bhaineann leis an dúchas aige: “Amuigh ar an oileán chraobhach sin/ Ionad foscaidh ag Gaeil, port aireachais na muintire.”

Ba pheileadóir maith é, é mar chaptaen ar míonúir Dhoire agus foireann Choláiste Phádraig, Ard Mhacha. D'imir sé tamall dá chlub féin, An Lúb. I ndiaidh dó éirí as an imirt, bhí sé ina Chathaoirleach ar Bhord Chontae ag Cumann Lúthchleas Gael.

Rugadh ar an Lúb i ndeisceart Dhoire é. Baineann sin leis an chuid de Cho Doire atá i nDeoise Ard Mhacha, mar sin fuair sé meánscolaíocht i gColáiste Phádraig, Ard Mhacha. Bhí an Ghaeilge láidir sa scoil ag an am.

Chuaigh sé ansin go Má Nuad, mar ábhar sagairt ag déanamh céime sa léann Ceilteach. Shocraigh sé gan dul leis an sagartóireacht, agus rinne MA i gColáiste na hOllscoile Baile Átha Cliath. Chaith sé sealanna ag teagasc i gColáiste Phádraig, Ard Mhacha agus Coláiste Oiliúna Naomh Muire i mBéal Feirste, sula ndeachaigh sé go hOllscoil Uladh.

Fágann sé folús i saol na Gaeilge: ach crónófar go háirithe é mar fear céile ag Theresa; athair ag Crónán, Medb, Sinéad, Éamonn, Cáitlín agus Donncha: sean-athair: agus mar cara maith ag cuid mhór daoine.

deireadh

The Irish-language Kevin McAleer

(A slightly-edited version of this piece was published in An tUltach March 17)

Bhí a sháith caifé don lá ólta ag Kevin McAleer sular bhuaileamar le céile sa chaifé ag an Lár-Ionad Ealaíne ar an Ómaigh. Mar sin, choinnigh sé greim an fhir bháite ar bhuidéal uisce – ar dóigh a mhéadaigh an dreach fuarchúiseach is gnáth bheith air. Is é an dreach céanna, in éineacht leis an bhlas tuaithe Thír Eoghan ar a chuid cainte, a fhágann gur fuirseoir aitheanta é. Is cuma cé chomh greannmhar agus a bhíonn an rud a deir sé, ní bhíonn riain den gáire ar a aghaidh ach é fuarchúiseach ar fad.

Le tamall anuas, tá sé atá ag tabhairt a chuid fuirseoireachta isteach sa Ghaeilge.

D’fhoghlaim sé méid áirithe Gaeilge agus é ar Scoil na mBráithre ar an Ómaigh sna 70idí. “Bhí dúil agam sa teanga ag an am sin ach ní raibh mé ró-tógtha leis na múinteoirí – an sean-scéal céanna – agus fuair mé marc maith ag O-Léibhéal, ansin rith mé amach as an doras chomh tapaidh agus ab fhéidir liom,” ar seisean. “Ní raibh fonn ar bith orm dhá bhliain eile a chaitheamh leis an ghealt a bhí ag múineadh Gaeilge ag an am. Thug sé tríocha bliain eile orm teacht chugam féin ina dhiaidh. Tá mé ag teacht chugam féin de réir a chéile.”

Ainneoin bheith sa rang ag an Bhrathair sin mí-cáiliúil ar an Ómaigh, bhí suim aige riamh sa Ghaeilge. Dála cuid mhór daoine, rinne sé roinnt iarrachtaí pilleadh ar ranganna – agus b’iarrachtaí in aisce iad. Ansin, cúpla bliain ó shoin, thosaigh sé arís.

“Tá sé i gceist agam an rud a dhéanamh. Tá mé trí scór bliain anois – now or never, mar a deir siad,” ar seisean – agus tagann a aghaidh chomh cóngarach do gáire agus a thig leis.

“Thosaigh mé ag freastal ar ranganna cúpla bliain ó shoin, agus ag éisteacht leis an raidió. Ansin, rinne Gabriel Rosenstock (an file – A MacC) aistriúchán Gaeilge ar an sheó a bhí agam cúpla bliain ó shoin.”

Mar sin, le cúpla bliain anuas, bíonn an seó ar shiúil aige as Gaeilge ó am go ham. Spreagann sin é.

Níl sé ina aonar ach an oiread. Tá grúpa d’fhuirseoirí Gaeilge ann, ‘Gael Gáire’, agus rinne sé cúpla seó leofasan.

Tugann an grúpa sin tacaíocht dó, ach níl sé ag brath orthu. Rinne sé a sheó aonar féin anuraidh, ina aonar, ag Féile na Bealtaine ar an Daingean i gCiarraí. “Bhí sé sin go han-mhaith,” ar seisean. “Bhí siad ag gáire – as Gaeilge. Nuair a dhéanann tú seó as Gaeilge, ní bhíonn a fhios agat cén fáth, mar tarlaíonn an rud céanna sa Bhéarla chomh maith, tá sé casta.”

Go dtí seo, is aistriúchán ar a sheó Béarla é an seó Gaeilge a dhéanann sé. “Scríobhaim an rud i mBéarla ar dtús agus déanaim aistriúchán air ina dhiaidh,” ar seisean. “Ba bhreá liom an rud a dhéanamh as Gaeilge nuair a bheidh an teanga ar mo thoil agam. B’fhearr liom bheith ag smaoineamh as Gaeilge, bheadh sé sin go hiontach, ach I’ve more work to do on that.”

Tá sé cinnte go bhfuil rudaí gur féidir a dhéanamh as Gaeilge nach féidir a dhéanamh i mBéarla “ach níl mé chomh líofa sin fós. Tá na buntáistí sin ann. Ba mhaith liom leas a bhaint as an teanga féin. Faoi láthair, bím ag streachailt leis an aistriúchán a dhéanamh. I mo shaothar féin, tá a lán imeartas focal ann i mBéarla, agus ní féidir leat an cinéal sin a asitriú. Caithfidh tú bheith ag obair sa teanga féin ón tús. Tá mé cinnte go bhfuil a lán imeartas focal ann as Gaeilge. Ba bhreá liom bheith ag deileáil leis an chinéal sin go nádúrtha sa teanga féin ón tús – sin an ‘aim’ atá agam.”

Rinne Kevin freastal ar ranganna Gaeilge ar an Ómaigh ach “anois is fearr liom bheith ag freastal ar chiorcal comhrá nó bheith ag labhairt le daoine. Nuair a buaileann tú isteach i gcaifé agus nuair a bhuaileann tú le duine – mar shampla, bhuail mé leatsa cúpla lá ó shoin agus bhí comhrá deas againn as Gaeilge – casually – is fearr liom an cinéal sin anois, do you know. Tá suim agam i gcúrsaí gramadaigh, ar ndóigh, ach tá mé sásta an cinéal sin a dhéanamh i m’aonar, sa bhaile. Nuair a bhím amuigh i ngrúpa, is fear liom bheith ag labhairt le daoine.”

Dar leis go bhfuil go leoir deiseanna aige leis an Ghaeilge a labhairt ar an dóigh neamh-fhoirmeálta sin. “Bíonn daoine ag gearán faoin teanga, an easpa suime atá ann,” ar seisean. “Ní maith liom bheith ag plé le cúrsaí polaitíochta, ach i mo shaol féin níl leithscéal ar bith. Is féidir liom an teanga a fhoghlaim, tá go leoir áiseanna ann ar líne anois, tá foclóir suimiúil ann, agus cúrsaí, is féidir leat éisteacht leis an raidió. If I haven’t mastered the language, tá an locht ormsa.”

Tá sé lena chumas Gaeilge a léiriú Mí Iúil, le seó aonair ag Oideas Gael i nGleann Cholm Cille, thart ar an 20ú. “Rinne mé cúpla cúrsa seachtaine ann, ag Oideas Gael,” ar seisean. “Tá sé go hiontach. Fuair mé ríomh-phost ó Liam Ó Cuinneagáin, an stiúrthóir, agus d’iarr sé orm – ‘Ar mhaith leat teacht arais agus seó a dhéanamh as Gaeilge i rith seachtain cultúrtha?’ - agus dúirt mé – ‘Ba bhreá liom sin’.”

Admhaíonn Kevin gur chuidigh seo leis, nó nach mbíonn sé díreach chomh dúthrachtach agus ba cheart dó a bheith. “Bím ag cleachtadh mo chuid Gaeilge, agus ansin déanaim dearmad ar an rud ar fad ar feadh cúpla mí,” ar seisean. “Nuair a chuir sé an cheist orm, spreagann sin an suim ionam. Tá mé focused ar an aistriúchán a dhéanamh ar an seó nua. So beidh thart fá leath-uair a chloig agam as Gaeilge faoi theacht an t-samhraidh, mar a deirfeá.”

Tá áthas air go mbeidh réimse leathan daoine ag freastal ar an seó, ó thaobh cúlra agus ó thaobh líofachta. Mar sin “tá sé i gceist agam seó dhá-theangach a dhéanamh, ní bheidh sé as Gaeilge completely, beidh meascán ann.”

Beidh an seó seo, as Béarla, ag Féile Dhún Éideann na hAlban sa tsamhradh – nó gur iarr an Féile céanna air teacht ann ar feadh seachtaine len é a dhéanamh. Sa tseó seo “is gúrú mé agus tháinig léargas spioradálta i mo shaol. Sin mo phearsa ar stáitse – to be clear.” Tharla gur mheasc bean an dá phearsa suas agus é ar ardán anuraidh.

Tá sé féin anois ag tabhairt faoi bhun-aistriúchán Gaeilge ar an seó nua, nó tá anois go leoir muiníne aige as a chuid Gaeilge. Is san oifig, i sean-cró taobh leis an teach s’aige amuigh faoin dtuath, atá sé ag tabhairt faoi. In am amháin, ba in oifig ar an Ómaigh a bhíodh sé ag obair. Thréig sé sin, mar go raibh air taisteal isteach, agus bhí sé ró-fhuarasta leathscéalta a chumadh leis an obair a sheachaint – nós a thréig sé.

Low-Key ending to case of Disappeared House on Tory Island

Bhí deireadh ciúin sa Chúirt Uachtarach Deardaoin seo caite le ceann de na cásanna Ardchúirte ba dhrámatúla dar bhain riamh le Dún na nGall. Díbheann an Chúirt Uachtarach achmharc ó Patrick Doohan, iar-úinéar Ostáin Thoraigh, in éadán bhreithiúnais Ardchúirte gur leag sé teach an scannánaí Neville Presho ar Oileán Thoraigh mar gur sheas an teach idir an tOstán agus radharc na farraige.

Tharraing an cás cáil domhanda ar Thoraigh.

Chuir duine nó daoine anaithnid teach Phresho trí thine Mí Eanáir 1993. Cuireadh fios ar na Gardaí, ach chuaigh sé seachtaine thart sula ndeachaigh Garda aonair go Toraigh. Thar bliain, leagadh ballaí an tí le JCB. Bhí Presho ar imirce sa Nua tSéalainn ag an am.

D'fhill Presho ar chuairt go hÉireann i samhradh 1994. Tháinig seisean, a bhean agus a gclann isteach go Toraigh ar an bhád. Chonaic sé ón mbád go raibh teach s'aige sciobtha chun siúil, carrchlós an Ostáin ina ionad. “It's gone, the house is gone,” adúirt sé arís agus arís eile. Níorbh eol do dhuine ar bith i dToraigh ar tharla, ach fear amháin a dúirt: “It would be better if you didn't ask about that.”

Ní raibh Presho riamh mar a bhí. Ní dhearna sé scannán ar bith eile. Fuair an dúlagar agus an t-ól araon greim air. Chuir sé isteach sealanna fada in oispidéil. Shíl dochtúr gur comhartha meabhair-ghalair a bhí ann nuair a d'innis sé scéal s'aige. Theip glan air a chearta a bhaint amach. Ansin, Sathairn na Cásca 2003, tharla go raibh mé ar an bhád isteach go Toraigh. Chuir fear forrán cainte orm: dar leis go raibh an cuma orm gur duine suimiúil mé. Presho a bhí ann.

B'eol dom ar bhain don teach, ó bean ar an oileán. Chuir mé Presho i dteangmháil leis an dlíodóir Michael Gillespie sna Rosa.

Thóg sé sé bhliain ar Gillespie an cás a thabhairt chun na hArdcúirte. Bhí an céad éisteacht i Leitir Ceanainn Mí Márta 2009.

Thug Presho fianaise dramatúil i nguth ciúin faoi theacht isteach go Toraigh, ag tabhairt faoi deara gur sciobadh teach s'aige chun siúil, agus an dóigh gur bhuail tinneas é. Chluinfeá biorán ag titim.

An lá dar gcionn, bhí an scéal sna cinnlíntí.

Níor tugadh breithiúnas go dtí Mí na Samhna 2009. Rialaigh an Breitheamh Roderick Murphy gur scrios Doohan an teach, agus d'ordaigh dó cúiteamh €46,000 a dhíol le Presho.

D'iarr Doohan agus comhlacht s'aige, Ostán Thoraigh achamharc chun na Cúirte Uachtaraigh. Mar choinníoll bhí air an €46,000 a thaisceadh i gcúntas speisialta banc. Dhíbheann an Chúirt achamharc na comhlachta Mí na Samhna anuraidh, agus díoladh an €46,000 le Presho.

Thug Doohan le fios go raibh sé ag leanúint le hachamharc lena ainm a ghlanadh, ach ní raibh seisean nó dlíodóir thar a cheann sa Chúirt Deardaoin seo caite. Dhíol sé Ostán Thoraigh trí bliain ó shoin, é anois ag tiomáint bus i Londain. Tá Presho ina chónaí i gCo an Dúin, an sláinte teipthe air, é i ndiaidh sé mhí a chur isteach in oispidéal.

by Anton McCabe

Tory Island house appeal dismissed

The South’s Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal by former owner of a remote Donegal island hotel against a High Court judgment that he had illegally demolished a film-maker’s house because it blocked his hotel’s sea view. Eight years ago, the High Court ruled that Patrick Doohan had used an excavator to demolish the hotel. The Court heard evidence from Co Down film-maker Neville Presho that losing his house sent him into a downward spiral of illness, and cost him his marriage and career.

The Court granted an application from Cormac O Dulachain, barrister for Presho, that the appeal be struck out as neither Doohan nor his legal representatives had attended. O Dulachain said that, from the contents of an affidavit Doohan filed “he has no intention of pursuing the appeal.”

Justice Clarke said the Court noted Doohan's non-appearance. “He not having attended to prosecute the Appeal, the appropriate action is to strike out the appeal,” the Justice said.

The Court ordered that Doohan pay the costs.

Doohan is curently working as a bus driver in London.

Minister was a link to musical heritage

(A slightly edited version of this was published in the Irish Times March 4th 2017)

Rev Bill Clarke – born October 18^th 1924, died February 12^th 2017

The Reverend Bill Clarke, who has died in his 94^th year, was a Presbyterian minister noted for pastoral care, empathy for the disadvantaged and sick, and commitment to education. During his long ministry, he served in Dundalk and then Omagh. He was noted for his healing ministry, which attracted people from a variety of backgrounds.

As an educationalist, he served as a governor of several schools in Tyrone and Louth, and as chair of the Western Education and Library Board.

Home wine-making was one of his hobbies. Visitors to his home greatly admired his vintages.

He was also a link to the small group who kept uileann pipe playing alive in the first half of the last century. His father William Clarke made one of the first commercial recordings of uileann pipe playing, in 1928. His son was proud to live to see a plaque in his honour unveiled in their native Ballybay, Co Monaghan.

Robert William Wylie Clarke was born just outside Ballybay, Co Monaghan, in October 1924, youngest of three children, two boys and a girl, to Robert William Clarke, a clock-maker and jeweller, and his wife Margaret (née Johnson).

The young Bill Clarke grew up in a house full of music. As well as being an uileann piper, Robert William Clarke played the bagpipes in a local pipe band. As a child, Bill Clarke used often listen to groups of musicians play at night in the house which was a meeting place for musicians, uileann pipers in particula. These were an eclectic bunch, including James Ennis of Dublin, father of piper and folklorist Seamus Ennis, and Brother Gildas, an uileann-piping De la Salle Brother from Kerry. Tragically, William Clarke died of tuberculosis when his younger son was nine, and the music was stilled.

The Rev Clarke was educated at Hall St National School, Ballybay: the Masonic School, Dublin: and Trinity College Dublin, where he studied English and French. After Trinity, he studied for the ministry, first at Edinburgh University, then at Assembly’s College, Belfast.  

Prior to ordination he was a Student Assistant Minister in an Edinburgh church. During that time, he spent the summer supplying the pulpit in parts of the Orkney Islands. After ordination, he was Assistant Minister in McQuiston Memorial Church in Belfast. For over 20 years he ministered to the congregations of Dundalk, Carlingford and Castlebellingham. In 1971 he moved to Tyrone, as Minister of Trinity Church, Omagh, and Gillygooley. Afterwards, he was fortunate to enjoy over quarter of a century of retirement. During much of it, he supplied the pulpit in churches in the Derry and Donegal Presbytery. However, he faced personal tragedy later in life, with the deaths of his wife and only son.

He is survived by his daughter-in-law Kathryn; grandchildren Alice, Adam and Daniel; and sister-in-law Martha. He was predeceased by his wife, Alice, and son Liam.

Irish-language version of great Portugese poet

(An edited version of this was published in 'An tUltach' February 2017)

Tá sé amuigh ar Fernando Pessoa gurb eisean file mór na Portaingéile. Tá sé soiléar go bhfuil sin fíor ó na leaganacha Gaeilge seo ar chuid dá dhánta ‘As Trunc Fernando Pessoa’, leaganacha a rinne Deirdre Brennan. Tá comhghairdeas ag dul chuici, agus chuig Coiscéim, an foilsitheoir, as seo. Tá siad ag cur saothar Eorpach ar fáil, in am mar a bhfuil saol an Bhéarla ag tabhairt droim láimhe do theangacha eile, agus ag cúlú isteach san aonteangachas.

Saol gearr a bhí ag Pessoa féin. Bhí sé ró-thugtha don ól. B’shin a thug bás dó i 1935, gan aige ach 47 bliain.

Níor foilsíodh tromlach a chuid dánta go dtí i nidiaidh a bháis. Scríobh sé go leoir dánta i bpearsanraí eile, gur chum beathaisnéisí na bhfilí sin.

Mar fhile, tá a léargas féin aige ar an saol. Tá sin le feiceáil i ‘Páiste anaithnid salach ag súgradh lasmuigh dem’ dhoras’: “Ní cheistím an mbeireann tú teachtaireacht shiombalach chugam./ Bainim sport asat toisc nár leagas súil ort cheana/ is dá mbeifeá glan ba pháiste eile thú gan amhras.” Cinnte, is fiú an file seo a léamh.

‘As Trunc Fernando Pessoa’, rogha dánta ó Fernando Pessoa. Aistrithe ag Deirdre Brennan. Coiscéim €7.50.

Campaighers accuse Council of secret deals

(An edited version of this piece was published in the Sunday World February 26th 2017)

Campaigners are accusing Fermanagh and Omagh District Council of privatising a major public facility in secret, with implications for everybody in Northern Ireland. Press and public have been excluded from Council meetings that discussed leasing out the 230 acre Necarne Estate near Irvinestown, Co Fermanagh, to a private operator.

Diane Little of the ‘Saving Necarne’ campaign, said Fermanagh and Omagh Council is setting a precedent for all Councils to sell off public assets, which were funded by ratepayers for community benefit, without consultation, or without even allowing councillors to listen to public concerns. “Why is this process not open and transparent?” Little asked. “Why did the Council choose this process and apply commercial criteria to a site which is the local area community recreation space and community heritage?  The Council made a choice in the process they chose. They could have chosen to follow their policies and be open and transparent, inclusive and empowering.” Her group has protested outside Council meetings.

The Council has refused to meet the ‘Saving Necarne’ group. Chief Executive Brendan Hegarty has told a Council meeting he will not meet ‘Saving Necarne’ until the tendering process is completed. Councillors have been instructed not to meet Saving Necarne.

The Council has refused to answer Freedom of Information requests about the leasing out. When ‘Saving Necarne’ requested the ‘Expressions of Interest’ received by the Council, it refused.

The Council proposes to charge £20,000 rent per year for Necarne. However, ‘Saving Necarne’ has estimated the Council could receive £27,000 per year in agricultural subsidies for the estate by operating it itself.

‘Saving Necarne’ is concerned by the scoring system in the Council’s Expression of Interest document to choose bidders. The highest score is 25% for amount of Rent Paid to council. There is no mention at all of community needs.

The Necarne Equestrian Centre opened on the estate in 1994, as a centre of excellence. It was designed to be particularly used by young people and those suffering disability. Fermanagh Council has spent £5million on it. A report calls it “the best facility of its kind on the island of Ireland.”  

A Council spokesperson said the Council will not meet ‘Saving Necarne’ because “as the ‘Expressions of Interests’ have been properly submitted the Council has no discretion and cannot now decide to give any consideration to any other proposals as this would clearly leave the Council at risk of potential litigation.”

It is understood that the Council is now considering one offer. This is from Dromore-based Gardrum Properties. That company’s directors are Derek Irwin Keys and Paddi Georgina Keys, both with addresses at Omagh Road, Dromore, Co Tyrone.

Little said she wished to make clear she has no personal issue with Keys. However, she said this is a wide issue about how Northern Ireland is run: “We are not just fighting about Necarne anymore we are fighting to restore appropriate process, openness, transparency and democracy.”