Ómós Áite - Growing our Approach to Place-based Learning

Michael Cronin: ‘The necessity of Irish for climate action’

Michael Cronin is a Trinity College professor and Irish academic specialising in translation studies, culture, travel literature, and the Irish language. He is the author of Irish and Ecology / An Ghaeilge agus an Éiceolaíocht. In this short video he discusses why he considers the Irish Language a necessary part of Ireland’s climate response.

Conversation in Irish with English subtitles

Liam Mac Cóil: ‘Irish as an ecological language’

Liam Mac Cóil is an Irish language novelist, a critic, and an essayist. In this video he explains how the unique grammar and syntax of Irish helps speakers perceive the world differently.

Conversation in Irish with English subtitles

Athfhoghlaim na Teanga
Re-engaging with the Language

Impleacht amháin a bhí ag an gcailliúint teanga ná cailliúint an naisc leis an dúlra agus leis an gceantar dúchais féin. Chomh maith leis sin, airíonn roinnt daoine náire, doicheall agus easnamh i leith na teanga. Cuireann sé sin isteach orthu agus ní ghlacann siad páirt iomlán i saol na teanga agus gach a thairgeann sí dúinn. Tá bunús casta bainteach leis an tráma seo, agus léirítear é i slite éagsúla. Go minic ní thuigimid doimhneacht an tráma seo. An chéad chéim chun leigheas a fháil air seo ná a admháil gur fíor-thráma atá ann.

Is féidir leigheas atá nasctha go domhain leis an traidisiún dúchais a lorg ar an tráma sin. Cur chuige amháin ná cian-éisteacht leis an tráma sin i gcomhthéacs grúpa treoraithe. Cur chuige eile ná a bheith stuama i do chorp agus sa nádúr, agus dearcadh éiceolaíoch a bheith agat ar an domhan. Más féidir ceangal a chruthú arís linn féin, lena chéile, leis an nádúr agus lenár gceantar dúchais, is céim thábhachtach é sin chun an náire a athrú ó bhun agus an tráma a athrú go dtí flúirse. Is féidir nasc a dhéanamh leis an dúchas ionainn féin trínár súile agus ár gcluasa a oscailt do na logainmneacha agus an béaloideas thart timpeall orainn.

An chéad chéim eile ná fiosracht a chothú faoin teanga, agus an saibhreas atá inti, chomh maith leis an buancheangal atá aici leis an saol dúchais. Is féidir inspioráid a fháil faoi seo ó leabhair Mhanchán Magan.

Caithfimid scaoileadh le coincheap na Gaeilge foirfe. Síleann roinnt Éireannaigh gur chóir dúinn a bheith go hiomlán líofa sa Ghaeilge toisc go bhfuil staidéar déanta againn uirthi ar scoil, ach tá luach faoi leith ag baint leis an nGaeilge bhriste. Tugann sí bealach isteach dúinn ar shaibhreas na teanga.

Cur chuige a d’úsáideamar sa togra seo ná áiteanna a chur ar fáil inar féidir le grúpaí an Ghaeilge, an Béarla agus meascán den dá theanga a labhairt. Cruthaíonn sé seo dátheangachas nua; is é sin cur chuige maith go leor, ina gcuirtear fáilte roimh gach leibhéal líofachta. Is sampla é an seimineár gréasáin Fuascailt na Samhlaíochta den chur chuige seo. Tá sé in am dúinn an dátheangachas a normalú agus an Ghaeilge a thabhairt isteach sa chomhrá go nádúrtha. Ba chóir go mbeadh an Ghaeilge sofheicthe agus cuimsitheach, agus go bhfáilteodh muintir na teanga an tsaoirse a tugadh mar eiseamláir sa seimineár gréasáin.

The impact of the loss of Irish has been a loss of connection to nature and place. Moreover, many experience a sense of shame, resentment and a sense that something is missing around the language which gets in the way of fully embracing it and all that it offers. This trauma has complex origins and can manifest in many different ways and often we don’t even realise the depth of it. Acknowledging that there is legitimate trauma is the first step in healing it.

Facilitated group sharing process with deep listening can allow healing of trauma linked to the native tradition. Approaches grounded in the body and nature can also help as can an ecological world-view. Reconnecting to self, each other, nature and place are all part of a process of transforming shame and trauma to abundance. Opening our eyes and ears to the placenames and folklore around us help link to what is native in ourselves.

The next step can be to foster a curiosity about the language, its richness and deep connection to the Irish indigenous experience. Manchán Magan‘s books are an inspirational resource.

We need to let go of perfectionism in relation to Irish. Many Irish people feel that because we spent all of our school years studying Irish that we should be fluent, but imperfect Irish can be hugely valuable, allowing us to access the richness of the language.

An approach we used in this project was to facilitate spaces where groups could speak Irish, English and a combination of the two, creating a new bilingualism; a good enough approach where all levels of fluency are embraced. The webinar recording Liberating the Imagination is an example of this approach. It’s time to normalise bilingualism and to bring Irish into conversation naturally. It needs to be visible, inclusive and embrace the kind of freedom the webinar modelled.

Logainmneacha agus Béaloideas
Placenames and Folklore

Is féidir an ceangal áitiúil a mbíonn ag daoine a threisiú go héasca agus go héifeachtach trí fhiosrú a dhéanamh ar bhunús logainmneacha áitiúla. Spreagann sé muid chun aire a thabhairt dár n-áit dúchais agus chun an áit sin a chosaint níos fearr.

San am atá thart, bhíodh ainm ag beagnach gach gné den tírdhreach, ainm a chaomhnaigh stair, cúlra agus spiorad na háite. Tá cuimse eolais áitiúil le fáil trí na logainmneacha sin. Go minic, is i gcuimhne sheandaoine an phobail a mbíonn an t-eolas seo. Trí chomhráite leo, is féidir saibhreas agus tuiscint a chothú idir na glúnta.

Tá castacht le fáil i roinnt logainmneacha chomh maith, a chuimsíonn stair, tíreolaíocht agus polaitíocht na háite. Uaireanta cailltear brí na háite i logainm Béarla atá caomhnaithe sa leagan Gaeilge – mar shampla Nassau St i mBaile Átha Cliath. Leagan Gaeilge air seo ná Sráid Thobar Phádraig. Scriosann an t-ainm Béarla stair na háite a bhí san ainm Gaeilge. Má tá an t-ainm stairiúil Gaeilge ar eolas againn, is féidir linn tuiscint shaibhir a fháil ar stair na háite.

Cailleadh agus ceileadh an-chuid eolais nuair a aistríodh logainmneacha na tíre de réir na foghraíochta ag an tSuirbhéireacht Ordanáis idir 1824-46. Is aistear i dtreo na tuisceana é nuair a fhaighimid amach fíorbhrí na logainmneacha sin arís. Mar shampla, tugtar Clohanes ar áit i gCo. an Chláir, ach is Na Clocháin an fíorlogainm atá air. Is iad sin na clocha thar uisce reatha a d’úsáid daoine chun an bainne a thabhairt ó thaobh amháin go dtí an taobh eile. Tá eolas i bhfolach sa logainm faoi scéal an cheantair agus an tslí inar chaith daoine a saol san áit sin.

Slí iontach chun logainmneacha a fhiosrú ná tríd an gclár Heritage Keepers a seoladh ag Burrenbeo Trust. Is clár saor in aisce é seo do scoileanna, grúpaí óige nó pobail áitiúla. Spreagann sé iad chun timpeallacht thógtha, timpeallacht nádúrtha agus oidhreacht chultúrtha a n-áit dúchais a iniúchadh, agus chun plean gníomhaíochta a chur le chéile chun an áit sin a fheabhsú.

Exploring the origin of placenames is a simple and very effective way to deepen our connection with the place where we live, encouraging us to care more about our locality and protect it.

Historically, practically every landscape feature had a name that held its history and uniqueness and brought it to life. We can access a wealth of knowledge through those placenames. Often this knowledge is held in the memories of the older members of the community and the conversations with them can bring a richness, texture and understanding between generations.

There is also complexity in many place names incorporating history, geography and politics. Sometimes the Irish version of a place name opens up meaning which was lost in the unrelated English version – for example Nassau St in Dublin, whose Irish rendition is Tobar Phádraigh/Patrick’s Well. The English name erases the history of the place contained in the original name. Exploring its original name opens up a wealth of historical understanding.

Rediscovering the origins of place names, many of them lost or obscured in the phonetic translation by the Ordnance Survey of 1824 – 46, is a voyage of rediscovery and understanding of where we are and who we are. For example Clohanes / Na Clocháin in County Clare which refers to stepping stones across running water which was used to haul pails of milk. The story of the place and how humans have interacted with it is hidden in its name.

A great way to explore placenames is through the Heritage Keepers programme launched by the Burrenbeo Trust. It’s a free programme for schools, youth groups or communities that will enable them to explore the built, natural, and cultural heritage of their local place and then plan an action or actions to enhance their place.

Is féidir eolas a fháil ar an suíomh gréasáin Logainm.ie trí léarscáileanna agus acmhainní ón gcartlann atá nasctha leis na logainmneacha. Tá cuid den suíomh gréasáin dírithe ar acmhainní taighde, mar shampla, léarscáileanna stairiúla, gluais d’ainmneacha coitianta a bhíonn mar chuid de logainmneacha go minic, agus go leor eile.

Mar shampla, má fhéachann tú sa chuid den suíomh Téamaí faoi thrácht, tá iontráil ag tagairt don áit Carrickhawna i gCo. Shligigh, feicfidh tú an t-eolas seo a leanas faoi shanasaíocht an ainm Samhain:

‘Ag teannadh dúinn le deireadh ráithe an fhómhair, is gearr uainn Samhain “haloween”, an fhéile Ghaelach óna n-ainmnítear, Mí na Samhna. Níl Samhain chomh coitianta sin ar chor ar bith in ainmneacha na mbailte fearainn, ach is díol spéise sampla amháin, Carrickhawna/Carraig Shamhna i Sligeach’. Breacadh nóta sa bhliain 1838 in Ainmleabhar Paróiste na Suirbhéireachta Ordanáis ina luaitear maidir leis an ionad seo (cnoc): “A little before November the old men used to assemble here to settle their little affairs for the ensuing half year”. Tá cosúlacht idir sin agus seanghnás na nGael anallód aonach a thionól ar thaobh cnoic, faoi mar a thuairiscítear in Discourse on the mere Irish of Ireland, ó dheireadh an séú céad déag nó tús an seachtú céad déag.’ Tugann an téacs seo cur síos dúinn ar nós seo na sléibhte! Chomh maith leis seo, tá léarscáileanna de Charraig Shamhna le fáil.

Don díograiseoir, is féidir a bheith mar bhall den Chumann le Béaloideas Éireann ag bealoideas.ie. Bíonn comhdhálacha rialta acu a fhiosraíonn saincheisteanna logainmneacha.

The website Logainm.ie provides information directly through maps and archival records. It has a dedicated resources section where we can access historical maps, a glossary section on common words in Irish placenames plus lots more.

For example, in commenting on the name Carrickhawna (‘the rock of Halloween’) in Co Sligo, Logainm.ie provides the following elaboration on the etymology of Halloween in its Featured Themes section:

‘Moving toward the end of September we approach the Gaelic festival of Samhain “haloween” from which the Irish name for November is derived, Mí na Samhna “the month of haloween”. Samhain is not particularly common in townland names, but one particularly interesting name is Carrickhawna/Carraig Shamhna “(the) rock of Halloween” in Sligo . A note in the Ordnance Survey Parish Name Book from 1838 concerning this location (a hill) observed that: “A little before November the old men used to assemble here to settle their little affairs for the ensuing half year”. This is reminiscent of the native Irish custom of holding assemblies on hillsides recounted in a late sixteenth or early seventeenth century Discourse on the mere Irish of Ireland.’ The text goes on to recount fascinating commentary on the practice of holding meetings of all kinds on hillsides! The material is also accompanied by maps of Carrickhawna.

For the true enthusiast there is Béaloideas.ie a membership organisation that hosts regular conferences to explore issues to do with place names.

Is féidir cóid QR a úsáid go héifeachtach chun nasc a dhéanamh idir ceantar faoi leith agus na logainmneacha agus an béaloideas a bhaineann leis an gceantar sin. Is féidir daoine a mhealladh chun tuiscint agus ómós a fháil ar an gceantar trí shiúlóidí a úsáideann cóid QR.

 

QR codes can be effectively used to link information on place names and folklore to a location. A walking trail with QR codes along the way can really engage people in understanding and appreciating the uniqueness of a place.

Féilte

Festivals

Tá na féilte dúchasacha bunaithe ar nádúr gach séasúir – ciúnas an gheimhridh, múscailt an earraigh, bláthú an tsamhraidh agus baint an fhómhair. Is slí iontach iad na féilte chun teagmháil iontaofa a dhéanamh le rithim nádúrtha na bliana agus chun freagra a thabhairt ar an dúshlán a thugtar dúinn a bheith ar aon spiorad leis an domhan.

Tá an féilire Ceilteach ar a laghad 3,000 bliain d’aois. Déanann sé nasc idir imeacht na haimsire agus séasúir an domhain nádúrtha, a bhfuil rialaithe ag an ngaol atá acu leis an ngrian agus an ghealach. Rianaíonn an féilire na hocht bhféile agus séasúir a tharlaíonn le linn na bliana: na ceithre fhéile talmhaíochta – Samhain, Imbolc, Bealtaine agus Lúnasa; chomh maith leis sin, grianstadanna an gheimhridh agus an tsamhraidh, agus cónochtaí an earraigh agus an fhómhair.

Ceiliúrtar gach féile talmhaíochta mar shaoire náisiúnta na laethanta seo. Cuireadh Imbolc, féile Bríde ag tús mhí Feabhra, leis na saoirí sin le déanaí. Nuair a cheiliúraimid na féilte nádúrtha seo, is féidir linn athcheangal pearsanta a dhéanamh le feasacht dúchais an domhain, agus tagaimid chun tuiscint gur neach beo é.

Tá dáimh dhomhain ag Dolores Whelan leis seo. Tá féilire síoraí Ceilteach deartha aici, agus cuireann an féilire machnaimh éagsúla ar fáil le himeacht na bliana.

 

Native festivals are based on the call of each passing season – the stillness of Winter, the awakening of Spring, the flowering of Summer and the harvesting of Autumn – and they are a great opportunity to engage with the natural rhythms of the year, a call to live more in tune with the earth.

The Celtic calendar is at least 3,000 years old linking the passage of time with the changing seasons of the natural world as they are governed by their relationship with the sun and moon. The calendar marks the eight festivals and seasons of the year: the four agricultural festivals of Samhain, Imbolc, Bealtaine and Lughnasa, together with the Winter and Summer solstices and Spring and Autumn equinoxes.

The four agricultural festivals are all now marked as national holidays following the addition of Imbolc, Bridget’s festival, at the beginning of February. Celebrating these earth-based festivals helps us to reconnect with a more indigenous awareness of the earth as a living being.

One person who resonates with this more deeply than most is Dolores Whelan. Her Perpetual Celtic Calendar provides meditations to accompany the unfolding of the year.

Is féidir le pobail dhifriúla, idir bheag agus mhór, na féilte Ceilteacha a cheiliúradh, agus ní gá go mbeadh siad costasach. Tagaimid le chéile ag amanna faoi leith mar seo, agus braithimid mar chuid de roth mór an tsaoil. Agus tá an teacht le chéile seo níos tábhachtaí ná é a dhéanamh ‘i gceart’.

Níl gach gnás stairiúil oiriúnach don lá atá inniu ann ar ndóigh. Mar shampla tá traidisiún ann ina raibh lánúin nuaphósta ag léim thar thine chnámh chun torthúlacht a fheabhsú. Ach is féidir deasghnáth a athrú agus an nasc stairiúil a choinneáil, mar shampla is féidir cuspóirí a scríobh ar phíosa páipéir agus iad a dhó sa tine chun iad a scaoileadh saor. Is féidir traidisiúin nua a chruthú chomh maith, chun cur le saibhreas agus éagsúlacht an cheiliúrtha. B’fhéidir go mbeadh smaointe ag daoine ó chúltúir eile atá ina gcónaí sa phobal áitiúil. Is féidir cabhrú leo muintearas a aimsiú le hÉirinn.

Téigh i ngleic leis an gceangal idir tráth na bliana agus an dúlra, agus an ceangal atá againn féin leis an dúlra. Cén tábhacht a bhí leis an bhféile san am atá caite, agus cén tábhacht atá leis sa lá atá inniu ann? Conas is féidir le traidisiúin nua na rudaí atá de dhíth orainn a chur in iúl – cosúil le léiriú ar dhóchas nó ar bhuíochas.

Is ceangal saibhir é bia traidisiúnta na bhféilte leis an am atá thart agus le tréimhse sin na bliana. Bhí na traidisiúin bunaithe ar na rudaí a bhí ar fáil nó a bhí flúirseach nó a bhí gann. Gné eile ná cén barr nó acmhainn a bhí le baint nó le caomhnú – cosúil le cístí torthaí agus cáiseanna don Nollaig. Cén saghas traidisiúin bia nua ar féidir a chruthú leis na hacmhainní atá ar fáil anois? An féidir é a chothú i slite cruthaitheacha trí oidis a roinnt nó blaiseadh bia a eagrú?

 

The traditions for these celebrations vary across the country and researching them can be a community exercise that connects us with our past and our elders – ask your grandparents or neighbours what they remember. Collecting those stories can be a fascinating window into your locality and history. This can be represented in children’s artwork that forms part of the celebration.

Not all of the historical practices are appropriate for modern times – there is a tradition of newlyweds jumping over a bonfire at Bealtaine to increase fertility – but they can be modified to maintain the connection with the past – writing intentions on paper and burning them in a fire to release them for example. New traditions can also evolve or be created, adding to the richness and diversity of the celebrations. What can people from other cultures in your community contribute? Help them feel a sense of belonging.

Explore what the time of the year means to the natural world and our place in it. What did the festival mark in the past and what does it mark now? How can the new traditions fulfill the needs that the old traditions did – like expressions of hope or gratitude.

Traditional foods for the festivals are also a rich source of connection with the past and the time of year. Traditions were based on what was available, abundant, scarce or had to be saved or preserved – like fruit cakes and cheeses for Christmas. What new food traditions can be created with what is available? Can this be fostered in creative ways with recipe sharing or food tastings?