A celebration event of books and writers, with Éilís Ní Dhuibhne as special guest

Éabhlóid, Gaoth Dobhair publishing house, will host a special literary event on Saturday, 6 December at 6pm, in Teach Jack, in Gaoth Dobhair.

The event, titled “An Bláth Bán" will celebrate new Irish-language literature and the writers who published new books with the company this year.

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“We decided to call the event An Bláth Bán because every new book is a sign of hope of the talent we currently have in Irish-language literature. We published nine books this year, from a Treasury of Coastal Terms to a biography of the life of Seán Ó hEochaidh, and from poetry to novels—books we are incredibly proud of, and the highest number we have ever published in a single year,” says Eoghan Mac Giolla Bhríde of Éabhlóid.

“To celebrate this, and to honour the writers and artists who wrote, designed, and created these books, we invited the Laureate for Irish Fiction, the writer Éilís Ní Dhuibhne, to join us on the night. We are delighted and honoured that she has accepted the invitation to come to Gaoth Dobhair and be in our company. The event gives us an opportunity to discuss some of the questions Éilís has raised as Laureate for Fiction and to enjoy a very special evening in Teach Jack.”

Éilís Ní Dhuibhne is a prolific writer, in both Irish and English. During her three years as Laureate she hopes to meet writers and readers across the country and explore with them the question “What are the qualities of a good story?”. Using this question as a focal point Éabhlóid will host a panel discussion featuring the writers and artists they have worked with and are inviting the local community to attend. No doubt it will be a lively discussion with such wide ranging voices on the panel that will include local writers Róise Ní Bhaoill, Máire Dinny Wren, and Cormac Mac Giolla Easpaig, as well as visiting writers Pádraig Ó Tiarnaigh, Seán Ó Muireagáin, Aileen Crossley, and Brían Mac a’ Bhaird. For those attending it will also be a great opportunity to get a signed copy of the latest books from the writers.

The celebrated Rann na Feirste writer Róise Ní Bhaoill recently launched her new poetry collection Dordéan, which has already received positive reviews. Dordéan won the Oireachtas prize for best poetry collection at Oireachtas na Samhna in Belfast recently. A new translation by Róise Ní Bhaoill will also be presented at this event for the first time: Mo Chroí Gránúill, a collection of poems she translated from Farsi. This book is a selection of poems by the young Persian poet Mohsen Hosseinkhani from Iran, rooted in the tradition of Persian poetry but containing universal themes that speak to everyone.

There is sure to be great interest in the new book by Cormac Mac Giolla Easpaig Fá Bhruach an Chladaigh. This book is a collection of vocabulary, idioms, and terminology relating to the sea, full of expressions gathered along the Donegal coast from fishermen from Teileann to Inis Eoghain and beyond. It is the most comprehensive collection of coastal terminology from Donegal published to date, a valuable treasure that preserves an important aspect of its heritage.

The well-known local writer Máire Dinny Wren will also be present. This is her fourth book published by Éabhlóid, a collection of haiku titled I Muinín na nDúl. The haiku form comes from Japan and follows a very strict structure: three lines in each poem with a very precise meter. Alan Titley has high praise for Máire’s new work in The Irish Times: “If the form seems simple and sparse, each poem is rich in language and cultural depth, demanding attention and inspiring reflection.”

Dr. Pádraig Ó Tiarnaigh will also attend. He wrote Cloch in Áit an Charnáin, which tells the story of the life and work of Donegal folklore collector, Seán Ó hEochaidh. Ó hEochaidh gathered more folklore than any other collector in Ireland, and yet remarkably, there has been little detailed analysis of his legacy published until now.

According to The Irish Times, Cloch in Áit an Charnáin is “a scholarly yet readable work that gives Seán Ó hEochaidh his due, celebrates his folklore collection, and is an exemplar of the kind of book that should be studied and written about other folklore collectors.”

If you prefer a good thriller, there is a new novel by Seán Ó Muireagáin titled Sí that will keep you on the edge of your seat. His new novel is set in the familiar area of Cnoc Fola in Gaoth Dobhair, but what unfolds is anything but familiar—a place of dark secrets and strange events.

The Monaghan writer Brían Mac a’ Bhaird will also visit Gaoth Dobhair to share his new short-story collection An Cleasaí Dubh. These stories are set in a world that blends the ordinary with the uncanny, a world where the magic of imagination meets the everyday life of the countryside.

For younger readers, the fine-art printmaker Aileen Crossley will be present to showcase her stunning book An Áit a nEitlíonn na Madaí Crainn (“Where the Tree Dog Fly”). The Irish Examiner called it simply “a joy to read”. The story is written as a kind of love letter from nature to an anxious child.

Each illustration is made entirely by hand using fine-art lithographic prints earning it a coveted nomination for Best Illustration at this year’s Irish Design Awards.
The “An Bláth Bán” event will take place at 6pm, Saturday, 6 December, in Teach Jack, and everyone is welcome to attend. Local musicians will perform on the night, and there will be refreshments and great company.

All the new books are for sale at eabhloid.com and in the country’s best bookshops. In the northwest, they are available in Teach Thomáis, Siopa na Crannóige, Siopa Mhicí in Derrybeg, and at Donegal Airport. Further information available from: Linda Keating – 087 8305835 / eolas@eabhloid.com

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An Bláth Bán
Ócáid Cheiliúrtha Leabhar agus Scríbhneoirí, ag a mbeidh Éilís Ní Dhuibhne, Laureate don Fhicsean Éireannach, ina haoi speisialta. Teach Jack, Gaoth Dobhair – 6:00pm, 6ú Nollaig

Beidh ócáid speisialta liteartha ag Éabhlóid, an comhlacht foilsitheoireachta as Gaoth Dobhair, ar an tSatharn an 6ú Nollaig, i dTeach Jack ar an Ghlaisigh. Dhéanfaidh an ócáid, dar teideal “An Bláth Bán”, ceiliúradh ar an bhláthú atá ag teacht ar litríocht úr na Gaeilge agus ar na scríbhneoirí a d’fhoilsigh leabhair úra leis an chomhlacht i mbliana.

“Shocraigh muid An Bláth Bán a thabhairt ar an imeacht mar go bhfuil achan leabhar úr mar chomhartha dóchais den tallann iontach atá againn i litríocht na Gaeilge faoi láthair. D’fhoilsigh muid naoi leabhar galánta i mbliana, ó Thaisce Téarmaíochta Farraige go beathaisnéis ar shaol Sheán Uí Eochaidh, agus ó fhilíocht go húrscéal, leabharthaí a bhfuil muid iontach bródúil astu, agus is sin an méid is mó leabharthaí a d’fhoilsigh muid in aon bhliain amháin go dtí seo,” a deir Eoghan Mac Giolla Bhríde, Stiúrthóir Éabhlóid.

“Leis sin, agus leis na scríbhneoirí agus na healaíontóirí a scríobh, a dhear agus a chruthaigh na leabharthaí sin a cheiliúradh, thug muid cuireadh don Laureate don Fhicsean Éireannach, an scríbhneoir Éilís Ní Dhuibhne, a bheith linn ar an oíche. Tá muid iontach sásta gur ghlac sí go fonnmhar leis an chuireadh a theacht go Gaoth Dobhair le bheith inár gcuideachta. Is mór an onóir againn go mbeidh sí linn. Tugann an ócáid deis dúinn cuid de na ceisteanna a d’ardaigh Éilís mar an Laureate don Fhicsean a phlé agus ócáid iontach speisialta a bheith againn i dTeach Jack. Beidh na scríbhneoirí uilig ann lena gcuid leabharthaí a chur i láthair agus a shíniú. Beidh seans bualadh leis na húdair agus leis na healaíontóirí agus beidh painéal plé ann chomh maith le comhrá a bheith againn faoi ‘Caidé na tréithe a bhíonn ag scéal maith?’ - ceist a chur an Laureate, Éilís Ní Dhuibhne, ar scríbhneoirí na tíre.”

Is scríbhneoir bisiúil í Éilís Ní Dhuibhne, i nGaeilge agus i mBéarla. Deir sí gur mhaith léi a trí bliana mar Laureate a úsáid le casadh le scríbhneoirí agus le léitheoirí ar fud na tíre. Gealltar go mbeidh plé suimiúil ag an ócáid seo leis an éagsúlacht atá ar an phainéal, ar a mbeidh na scríbhneoirí Róise Ní Bhaoill, Máire Dinny Wren, agus Cormac Mac Giolla Easpaig as an cheantar seo le háireamh, chomh maith leis na scríbhneoirí Pádraig Ó Tiarnaigh, Seán Ó Muireagáin, Aileen Crossley agus Brían Mac a’ Bhaird a thiocfas chugainn ar cuairt.

Sheol an sárscríbhneoir as Rann na Feirste, Róise Ní Bhaoill, a bailiúchán úr filíochta Dordéan le déanaí agus tá léirmheasanna maithe faighte ag an bhailiúchán seo cheana féin. Bhuaigh Dordéan an duais Oireachtais don chnuasach filíochta is fearr ag Oireachtas na Samhna i mBéal Feiste le gairid. Cuirfear aistriúchán úr le Róise Ní Bhaoill i láthair fosta ag an imeacht seo den chéad uair: Mo Chroí Gránúill, bailiúchán filíochta a d’aistrigh Róise ón Fhairsis. Is rogha de dhánta ón fhile óg Peirseach, Mohsen Hosseinkhani, as an Iaráin, atá sa leabhar, bailiúchán atá fréamhaithe in oidhreacht filíochta na Fairsise, ach a bhfuil téamaí uilíocha ann agus a labhraíonn le gach duine.

Is cinnte go mbeidh suim ar leith sa leabhar úr le Cormac Mac Giolla Easpaig as Baile an Droichid, Fá Bhruach an Chladaigh. Is stór focal, cora cainte agus téarmaíochtaí a bhaineann leis an fharraige atá sa leabhar seo. Leabhar atá lán le nathanna a bailíodh fá chósta Dhún na nGall ó fhaisnéiseoirí ó Theileann go hInis Eoghain agus níos faide thart an cósta. Is é an bailiúchán is cuimsithí de théarmaí cósta Dhún na nGall go dtí seo. Taisce luachmhar a chaomhnaíonn gné thábhachtach dár n-oidhreacht.

Beidh an scríbhneoir cáiliúil áitiúil, Máire Dinny Wren, i láthair chomh maith. Is é seo an ceathrú leabhar le Máire a d’fhoilsigh Éabhlóid, bailiúchán Haikuanna dar teideal I Muinín na nDúl. Ón tSeapáin a thagann foirm an Haiku agus leanann sé foirm an-dian: trí líne a bhíonn i ngach dán agus meadaracht an-bheacht leo. Tá moladh mór tugtha ag Alan Titley san Irish Times do shaothar úr Mháire: “Má tá simplíocht agus loime ag baint leis an bhfoirm, tá saibhreas teanga agus saíocht chultúrtha i ngach uile dhán a éilíonn aird agus a spreagann machnamh.”

Beidh an Dr Pádraig Ó Tiarnaigh i láthair fosta, a scríobh an leabhar Cloch in Áit an Charnáin, a insíonn scéal shaol agus shaothar an bhailitheora béaloidis as Dún na nGall, Seán Ó hEochaidh. Is é Seán Ó hEochaidh an bailitheoir béaloidis is mó a bhailigh ábhar in Éirinn riamh, agus iontach go leor, is beag an anailís mhion atá déanta ar a oidhreacht go dtí seo. De réir an Irish Times is “Saothar léannta eolgaiseach inléite é a thugann a cheart do Sheán Ó hEochaidh, do chruinniú an bhéaloidis agus ar eiseamláir é den chineál leabhair ar chóir a thaighdeadh is a scríobh mar gheall ar chuid de na bailitheoirí eile.”

Más scéal maith scéinséir is fearr leat, tá leabhar úr le Seán Uí Mhuireagáin dar teideal Sí a choinneoidh ar chorr do shuíocháin thú. Tá úrscéal úr Uí Mhuireagáin suite i gceantar Chnoc Fola i nGaoth Dobhair, áit a aithníonn muid uilig, ach is rud eile ar fad atá ar siúl sa scéal, áit ina gcoinnítear rúin dhorcha agus a dtarlaíonn imeachtaí aisteacha ann.

Beidh an scríbhneoir as Muineachán, Brían Mac a’ Bhaird, ag tabhairt cuairte ar Ghaoth Dobhair chomh maith, lena bhailiúchán úr gearrscéalta, An Cleasaí Dubh, a roinnt linn. Is scéalta iad seo atá suite i saol atá idir an coitianta agus an corr – saol ina mbuaileann draíocht na samhlaíochta le gnáthshaol na tuaithe.

Do léitheoirí óga, beidh an priontálaí ealaíne, Aileen Crossley, i láthair lena leabhar speisialta An Áit a nEitlíonn na Madaí Crainn a chur inár láthair. San Irish Examiner dúradh go simplí gur “Mór an pléisiúr é an leabhar seo a léamh” agus is cineál de litir ghrá ón dúlra chuig páiste imníoch atá sa leabhar. Is priontaí lithagrafacha iad na pictiúirí uilig sa leabhar, agus tá sé ainmnithe don mhaisiúchán is fearr ag na Irish Design Awards i mbliana.

Beidh an ócáid “An Bláth Bán” ar siúl ón 6in, Dé Sathairn an 6ú Nollaig, i dTeach Jack agus tá fáilte roimh gach duine a theacht. Beidh ceoltóirí áitiúla ann le cur leis an oíche, chomh maith le sólaistí agus scoith an chomhluadair.

Tá na leabhair úra uilig ar díol ag eabhloid.com agus sna siopaí leabhar is fearr sa tír. San iarthuaisceart, tá na leabhair ar fáil i dTeach Thomáis, i Siopa na Crannóige, Siopa Mhicí i nDoire Beaga agus in Aerfort Dhún na nGall.
Tuilleadh eolais le fáil ó: Linda Keating ag 087 8305835 / eolas@eabhloid.com