Bhí aoi speisialta againn i WAS in onóir na Féile Pádraig agus Seachtain na Gaeilge ar an 16ú Márta 2013. Bhíomar ag iarraidh an sárfhile dhá-theangach, Doireann Ní Ghríofa a mhealladh anseo ón chéad uair a chonaiceamar í ag léamh ag Féile Litríóchta Bheanntraí anuraidh agus d’éiríómar faoi dheireadh!
We had a special guest in WAS to celebrate the St.Patrick Festival, as it’s now become, and Irish Language Week, in bilingual poet, Doireann Ní Ghríofa. We’ve been trying to get her here since we first heard her read at the Bantry Literary Festival last year and we finally succeeded!
Agus bhí áthas orainn, ar gach duine, gur tháinig sí. Léigh Doireann rogha dá cuid filíochta as Gaeilge agus i mBéarla, go mórmhór as a leabhar nua, “Dúlasair” (Coiscéim) agus as a bailiúchán Béarla, atá ar gearrliosta an Venture Award of Poetry 2013, “Ouroboros”. Dánta cumasacha, mothálacha, grinnslítheacha atánn siad, éirimiúil ach lán d’atrua is croí. Agus léite go sciamhach – le réamhráite pearsanta greannmhara, siumiúla rompu. Thar barr.
And we were glad that she had come. Doireann read a selection of her poems in both Irish and English, mainly from her latest collection of poems in Irish, “Dúlasair” (Coiscéim) and from a small collection which has been shortlisted for the 2013 Venture Potery Award in London, called, “Ouroboros”. The poems are powerful, sensitive and penetrating, intelligent, yet full of compassion and heart. Reading beautifully, she prefaced her poems with introductions that were personal, funny and interesting. Wonderful.
Chomh maith le sin, bhí amhráin Ghaeilge nuachumtha ag Paul Ó Colmáin, i dteannta le Tim Abbott, réamhbhreathnú a cd nua atá le teacht go luath. An-oíche ar fad. Arís!
To leaven the mix, we had a sneak preview of the new album of original Irish-language songs by Paul Ó Colmáin, with Tim Abbott.
A steady stream of talent entertained us in the now-traditionl open-mic second half, with poems from Fiona Frisby, Isobel Baldwin, India Barthomolew and Michael Ray and songs from LJ Devlin, Murchadh Ó Colmáin, Kate and Fergal, Breeda Murphy, Sandra Plescher and Lou Martin. A great night. Once again!
Thank you to all who came and especially those who performed.