The Story of Irish by Pól Ó Frighil

The Story of Irish Scéal na Gaeilge

1809_DCC_StoryOfIrish_ENG.indd 1

06/12/2013 15:35

1809_DCC_StoryOfIrish_ENG.indd 2

06/12/2013 15:35

Story of Irish

Contents 1. Origins

2. Decline

3. Revival

4. Growth and Development

5. The Irish language in Derry today

6. A New Story

1809_DCC_StoryOfIrish_ENG.indd 3

06/12/2013 15:35

1809_DCC_StoryOfIrish_ENG.indd 4

06/12/2013 15:35

Story of Irish

1. Origins Irish, or Gaelic, is one of the oldest languages in the world. It is a Celtic language which belongs to a family of languages which includes Scottish Gaelic, Welsh, Manx, Breton and Cornish. It is still spoken today throughout the island of Ireland, including here in Derry. The name 'Derry' comes from the Irish word Doire which means 'oak-grove'.

The Celtic language which we now know as Irish came to Ireland before 300BC. The oldest recorded form of written Irish was called Ogham (or the Celtic Tree Alphabet) and dates back to the 4th century. Each letter in the Ogham alphabet was represented by the name of a tree: ‘b’ = beith (birch), ‘f’ = fearn (alder),‘s’ = sail (willow), ‘d’ = dair (oak)

1809_DCC_StoryOfIrish_ENG.indd 5

06/12/2013 15:35

Origins

When Christianity was established in the 5th century, the Irish monks began to use the Roman alphabet to write poems and stories in beautifully illustrated Latin and Gaelic manuscripts. The oldest surviving Irish manuscript is a copy of the Psalms known as the Cathach (the Battler) written by Colmcille, the patron saint of Derry. According to legend, St Colmcille founded a monastery on the hill of Derry on the banks of the river Foyle in 546 AD. Colmcille wrote this verse in Gaelic to illustrate his love for Derry: Is air a charaim Doire Ar a réidhe ar a ghlaine Is ar iomad na n-aingeal fionn Ar gach duille de dhoirí Dhoire

It is for this I love Derry for its perfection, its purity and its multitude of bright angels from one end to the other

Christianity introduced new words to the Irish language. Latin was the language of the Church at the time of Colmcille. The Irish words cill (church) and teampall (temple) come from Latin. These words are still found in some of our local placenames: e.g. Kilfennan (Cill Fhionnáin – St Finan’s Church), and Templemore (Teampall Mór – The Great Church). The period between the 5th and the 9th century became known as the Golden Age of Irish because this is when the Gaelic literary tradition flourished. Ireland became known as the ‘land of saints and scholars’. In the 6th century Colmcille introduced Christianity to Scotland and by the 9th century Gaelic had spread to Scotland and to the Isle of Man. The languages of Scottish Gaelic and Manx evolved from the Irish language and all three are so closely related that they are called ‘sister languages’.

1809_DCC_StoryOfIrish_ENG.indd 6

06/12/2013 15:35

SSttoorryy O of Irish

Colmcille defends the Poets Gaelic society was in awe of poets. Poetry was revered in the literary tradition of Ireland and the poets were believed to have great powers. But during the time of Colmcille, the nobles thought that the poets had become too arrogant and the High Kings banished them from Ireland. But Colmcille, himself a poet, spoke out strongly in defence of the poets at the Convention of Droim Ceat near Limavady and they were allowed to stay.

Colmcille Stained Glass Window - Guildhall, Derry 7

1809_DCC_StoryOfIrish_ENG.indd 7

06/12/2013 15:35

Origins

In the 9th century the Vikings invaded Ireland and Norse words began to appear in the Irish language: bróg (shoe), fuinneog (window) and seol (sail). Some Irish personal names come from Norse: the surname Mac Amhlaoibh (McAuley) comes from the Norse name Olaf, and Mac Oitir (McCotter) comes from the common Viking name Otar. The Irish always took delight in new names and made them their own. Such was the case with the name Magnus, from which the Irish made Mánas: this is a name which still features in the local placename, Slaughtmanus (Sleacht Mhánasa = Manas’ Monument). In the 12th century, Normans settled in Ireland and French words began to enter the language: the Irish word for ‘room’ seomra comes from the French word chambre and the Irish word garsún meaning ‘boy’ comes from the Old French word ‘garçon’.

Up until the 15th century Gaelic was firmly established as the main language of the island of Ireland. But all of this was about to change…

1809_DCC_StoryOfIrish_ENG.indd 8

06/12/2013 15:35

Story of Irish

The Learned Families In Gaelic society in the Middle Ages certain learned families were entrusted with keeping the traditional arts of poetry, law, music and medicine and they passed their professions from generation to generation. The Cassidys and the McAlea were skilled physicians; the Dalys, the Higgins, the O'Gneeve (Agnews) and the Wards were renowned poets, and the Kellys were renowned storytellers who preserved the folklore and history of Ireland. In Derry the Ó Brolcháin family, anglicised as Bradley, were particularly notable as Flaitheartach Ó Brolcháin, became the successor to Colmcille and is said to have built the first walls around the city of Derry in 1162AD!

1809_DCC_StoryOfIrish_ENG.indd 9

06/12/2013 15:35

1809_DCC_StoryOfIrish_ENG.indd 10

06/12/2013 15:35

Story of Irish

2. Decline From the 15th to the 17th century, the Gaelic-speaking ruling classes in Ireland were gradually replaced by English-speaking planters from Scotland and England. In 1607 the Gaelic Lords fled Ireland when their opposition to the English conquest failed: this became known as the Flight of the Earls. Gaelic order in Ireland ended and English became the language of law and administration. This marked the beginning of a major language shift in Ireland from Irish to English. Names were increasingly anglicised, for example, names like Mac Ruairí became Rogers and Ó Duibhne became Peoples and placenames changed too: An Mhagh became known as Eglinton, Clóidigh became Claudy and Doire became Derry. In 1695 a series of laws called the Penal Laws were introduced which outlawed the Irish language and suppressed Gaelic culture. English became essential for social mobility. Irish speakers began to encourage their children to speak

English rather than Gaelic because Irish was stigmatised as the language of the poor. A new dialect of English called Hiberno-English which was heavily influenced by Gaelic became widespread in Ireland. When the Great Famine struck in 1845, it dealt a crushing blow to the language. Many of the poorest people, most of whom were Irish speakers, died of starvation or emigrated to places like England, America and Canada.

1809_DCC_StoryOfIrish_ENG.indd 11

06/12/2013 15:35

decline

Slaughtmanus but in the city of Derry and in the surrounding area, the language was in decline. The last native Irish speaker from Derry, Eilís Ní Chleircín, who came from Ballinascreen, died in 1935.

Family emigrates from Port of Derry

Some Irish-speaking communities did survive, mainly on the west coast of Ireland, where Irish speaking areas called the Gaeltacht remain to the present day. According to the historian John O'Donovan who came to Derry in the 1830s, the culture of Gaelic storytelling was still alive in rural areas like Learmount and

In the years after the Famine many people from Gaeltacht areas of Donegal settled in Derry. This connection with Donegal can be seen in the surnames of the Derry area; Gallagher, Boyle, Doherty, McGinley, and Friel. Many other Irish speakers emigrated and the influence of Irish can be found in the many different dialects and distinctive vocabularies of English around the world. The New York slang ‘dig it’ comes from the Irish word tuig meaning ‘to understand’, the Cockney word ‘smashin’ comes from is maith sin meaning ‘that's good’, and the commonly-used ‘ta-rah’ heard in Liverpool and Manchester comes from the Irish tabhair aire meaning 'take care'.

1809_DCC_StoryOfIrish_ENG.indd 12

06/12/2013 15:35

Story of Irish

Common Gaelic Surnames in Derry Mac Giolla Chomhghaill = Coyle Follower of St Comgall Ó Dochartaigh = Doherty Descendant of Dochartach Mag Fhionnlaoch = McGinley Son of the Fair Hero Mac Lochlainn = McLaughlin Son of Lochlann Ó Frighil = Friel Man of Valour Mac Gabhann = McGowan Son of the Blacksmith Ó Gallchóir = Gallagher Descendant of the Foreign Helper Ó hUiginn = Higgins Descendant of the Viking

1809_DCC_StoryOfIrish_ENG.indd 13

06/12/2013 15:35

decline

Placenames of Derry The Irish language still echoes through most of our placenames. ‘Tamnaherin’ Tamhnach Uí Earáin (O'Haran's field) for example tells that the Heron family once inhabited the townland; the ‘Bogside’ Taobh an Bhogaigh remembers the old path of the river Foyle in ancient times; ‘Shantallow’ Seantalamh (Old Ground) informs us of the fact that people have lived in that part of the city for thousands of years; and the name ‘Ness’ comes from Baile an Easa (townland of the waterfall). Some smaller placenames in Derry that are not featured on any map are still alive in every day speech: An Eabar ‘Nyabber’ (the boggy place), Garra Bán (fallow garden) and ‘Carraig Bhríde’ (Brigid’s Rock). Other local examples include Cnoc an Iolair (Eagle's hill), Toigh na n-Uan (house of the lambs) and Sú na Cloiche Báine (Swallowhole of the white rock) near Park village.

All of our placenames tell a story… Baile Dhúdhoire (Ballougry) place of the dark oakwood Tearmann Bacach (Termonbacca) the sanctuary of the beggars Ard na Sí (Ardnashee) the fairy mound Baile na Saileog (Ballynashallog) place of the willow wood Cois Caoine (Coshquin) beside the gentle river An Glaiseach (Glassagh) place of many streams Lios Leathan (Lislane) the wide fort Sliabh Mór (Slievemore) the great hill

1809_DCC_StoryOfIrish_ENG.indd 14

06/12/2013 15:35

Story of Irish

Teampall Mór (Templemore) the great temple

Eanach (Enagh) a marsh

Seantalamh (Shantallow) old ground

Míodún (Maydown) broad meadow

Baile na gCailleach (Galliagh) townland of the nuns

Ailt Uí Dhoibhleacháin (Altnagelvin) a steep little glen in the territory of the Ó Doibhleacháin family

Cnoc an Chairn (Carnhill) place of the grave mound Baile Mhic Rabhartaigh (Ballymagroarty) townland of the Magroarty family Baile an Tobair (Springtown) place of the wells

Gob na Scáile (Gobnascale) a point of land that casts a shadow, or perhaps point of the 'ghost' Préachán (Prehen) a place of crows Droim na hUamha (Drumahoe) ridge of the underground cave

An Creagán (Creggan) the rocky place Tulaigh Álainn (Tullyally) beautiful hill Tobar an Fhíoruisce (Brandywell) Corrach an Iarainn (Currynierin) the freshwater well marsh of the bog iron

1809_DCC_StoryOfIrish_ENG.indd 15

06/12/2013 15:35

Origins

1809_DCC_StoryOfIrish_ENG.indd 16

06/12/2013 15:35

Story of Irish

3. Revival In the aftermath of the famine, the Irish language continued to decline outside of isolated rural areas. The 1851 census of Ireland showed the Irish-speaking population at 23% and by 1891 this had dropped to 14.5%. In the late 19th century, many people began to take a renewed interest in the Irish language and made efforts to celebrate and preserve the language: this became known as the Gaelic Revival. In 1893 Conradh na Gaeilge (The Gaelic League) was formed with the aim of encouraging the use of Irish in everyday life. Many of the most enthusiastic supporters of the Gaelic Revival were people from Protestant backgrounds. Branches of the league were established all over the island of Ireland. In Derry there were five branches of the Gaelic League. In the early years, the Derry Gaelic League used St. Columbâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Minor Hall and

Protestants and Catholics alike attended the events: Irish language classes, music classes, dance classes and lectures. There were 84 meetings alone in 1900! In 1912, Dr Douglas Hyde, the president of the Gaelic League, visited Derry and a huge crowd of people from all backgrounds turned out to welcome him.

1809_DCC_StoryOfIrish_ENG.indd 17

06/12/2013 15:35

Revival

Following a brief lull in the 1920s and 1930s, a new generation of young Irish language enthusiasts emerged in the 1940s and 1950s to form Craobh Sheáin Uí Dhubhláin (known as the Craobh) which had more than a hundred members. By 1946 there were 182 branches of the Gaelic League in the North of Ireland. During this time local schools actively promoted the language and many of the schools' students became keen learners and great advocates of the language. The Craobh invited Éamon De Valera to the city in July 1951 to open Gaelic Week: a week-long celebration of the Irish language and Gaelic culture. Thousands came out onto the streets of Derry to meet him as he made his journey through the city and the event remains a vivid one in folk memory.

Derry has produced its share of notable Irish language scholars: Richard Best Richard Best was born on 17 January 1872 in Bishop Street in Derry. He was a scholar of Irish and Celtic studies who gained recognition during the revival period, even though he is mostly forgotten today in his birthplace. He was the son of Henry Best, an excise officer who worked in Paisley in Scotland. Richard was educated at Foyle College, and went to work in Dublin as a civil servant. He was responsible for founding Scoil Ard-Léinn na Gaeilge (The School of Advanced Irish Language Studies) in Dublin and was a senior professor at the institute, as well as the president of the Royal Academy in Ireland. Richard Best died in Dublin in 1959 and is buried there.

1809_DCC_StoryOfIrish_ENG.indd 18

06/12/2013 15:35

Story of Irish

Liam Ó hAnluain

University of Ulster, Magee Campus

Énrí Ó Muirgheasa

Énrí Ó Muirgheasa also known as Henry Morris was born on 14 January 1874 in Cashlan East, County Monaghan. He had close ties with Derry and his library of books can be found at the University of Ulster’s Magee College in the city. Henry collected stories throughout his life and made a wonderful collection of songs and folklore from the old Gaeltacht areas of Ulster. Many of these songs are published in two of his best known works, Céad de Cheoltaibh Uladh and Dhá Chéad de Cheoltaibh Uladh. He died in 1945.

Liam Ó hAnluain was one of Ireland’s most influential grammarians. He was born on 11 January 1910 in the Waterside area of Derry, where his father had a pub and shop. Liam was educated at the Christian Brothers School, Brow of the Hill in Derry. He decided to become a Christian brother in 1925. He was accepted into Saint Joseph’s College, Baldoyle. Having taught for a few years at Saint Mary’s College in Marino he gained a degree from University College Cork. In 1958, whilst living in Dublin, the Provincial asked him to write ‘Graiméar Gaeilge na mBráithre Críostaí’ - the Christian Brothers' famous Irish grammar guide. In 1960, he was promoted to general secretary of the Christian Brothers which meant he spent the majority of the remainder of his life in Rome carrying out his duties. He died in Dublin on the 16th of April 1992.

1809_DCC_StoryOfIrish_ENG.indd 19

06/12/2013 15:35

1809_DCC_StoryOfIrish_ENG.indd 20

06/12/2013 15:35

Story of Irish

4. Growth and Development Throughout the 1960s and 1970s the Irish language community in Derry continued to grow. This growth gathered momentum in the 1980s, when a number of different groups of Irish language enthusiasts formed societies and organisations to facilitate the demand for Irish language classes and to support the growing language community.

Bunscoil Cholmcille

The Irish language community is a diverse and evolving community. Over the years a range of individuals and organisations have been at the forefront of language promotion in the area:

An Cumann Gaelach In the 1960s a group of young Irish speakers in Derry established an Irish language society called An Cumann Gaelach. An Cumann Gaelach held meetings above a shop on the Strand Road. One of the standout achievements of the Irish language enthusiasts within the group was the establishment of Irish medium education in the city. It was with the help and encouragement of Steelstown Primary School that the first Irish medium education unit was set up in Steelstown in 1983.

1809_DCC_StoryOfIrish_ENG.indd 21

06/12/2013 15:35

Growth and Development

Conradh na Gaeilge - Craobh Cholmcille In 1985, a local branch of the Gaelic League called Conradh na Gaeilge - Craobh Cholmcille was established in Dove House in the city. The branch subsequently became known simply as Conradh na Gaeilge and moved to Great James Street where it grew into the organisation known today as An Gaeláras. Throughout the 1990s An Gaeláras grew to become the largest Irish language organisation in the city, responsible for providing Irish language classes and developing models for the long-term strategic development of the language in the city. An Gaeláras eventually outgrew its premises on Great James Street and embarked upon an ambitious capital project to design and build a new purpose-built Irish language cultural centre also on Great James Street. The project was a success and the state-of-the-art Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin opened on the 4th of September 2009.

Cumann Gaelach Chnoc na Rós was founded in the Rosemount area of Derry in the late 1980s by a local man, Ivor Ferris. When first established Cumann Gaelach Chnoc na Rós offered Irish classes from the Rosemount Resource Centre but in 1992 the society began to offer night classes from St Anne's Primary School in Rosemount where classes still run to the present day. During the 1990s the society enlisted the support of native speaking language assistants to facilitate the teaching of Irish in the city, some of whom stayed with the organisation and helped support the development of arts and cross community language awareness programmes. In 2000, the organisation opened an office on Duke Street in the Waterside area of the city with a view to extending its cross-community outreach programme. In recent years Cumann Gaelach Chnoc na Rós has been to the forefront in developing events for learners such as Irish Language Week and Gaeltacht scholarship schemes.

1809_DCC_StoryOfIrish_ENG.indd 22

06/12/2013 15:35

Story of Irish

Members of the Derry Craobh

Cumber House in Claudy had a major influence on the promotion of Irish in the County Derry area in the 1980s and the early 1990s. Se谩n De B煤rca, from the village of Claudy (better known as Johnny Burke) worked tirelessly to develop classes at Cumber House for learners of Irish until his death in 2010. More recently a new organisation Gl贸r Chl贸idigh has begun to offer language and traditional music classes for learners in the area. 23

1809_DCC_StoryOfIrish_ENG.indd 23

06/12/2013 15:35

Origins

1809_DCC_StoryOfIrish_ENG.indd 24

06/12/2013 15:35

Story of Irish

5. The Irish language in Derry today The Irish language community in Derry continues to grow. According to the 2011 Census, 14.13% (14,605) of the population in the Derry City Council area has knowledge of Irish. Much of this growth can be attributed to the development of a strong Irish language infrastructure featuring an energetic community of Irish language enthusiasts, a range of support organisations and a thriving Irish-medium education and third level sector. In the Derry City Council area there are over 300 children who attend Irish-medium schools. These children learn all of their subjects through the medium of Irish. As well as four nursery schools in the area: Naíscoil Éadain Mhóir, Naíscoil Mhaol Íosa, Naíscoil Dhoire and Naíscoil Cholmcille, there are three Irish medium primary schools: Bunscoil Cholmcille in Steelstown established in 1983, Gaelscoil Éadain Mhóir in the Brandywell established in 1998 and Gaelscoil na Daróige in Ballymagroarty established in 2005.

Bunscoil Cholmcille is situated in Steelstown and was established in 1983 when a committee of local parents approached the then Bishop of Derry, Edward Daly to plan the development of Irish medium education in Derry. Bunscoil Cholmcille was only the second Irish-medium education project in the north of Ireland and was opened as a unit within Steelstown Primary School. It was the first immersion education project to be statefunded in the north of Ireland. The school originally opened with 24 children and one teacher.

1809_DCC_StoryOfIrish_ENG.indd 25

06/12/2013 15:35

The Irish language in Derry today

Pupils starting Gaelscoil Éadain Mhóir 26

1809_DCC_StoryOfIrish_ENG.indd 26

06/12/2013 15:35

Story of Irish

After ten years of continuous growth the decision was taken to separate the Irish school from the main English-medium school and a new and independent school called Bunscoil Cholmcille was created. In September 1993 Bunscoil Cholmcille opened with 183 children and a teaching staff of nine. In 2000 a new pre-school service was founded on the site, Naíscoil Dhoire. Gaelscoil Éadain Mhóir first opened in 1998 with 6 children. At the time it was situated in the Creggan district of the city. The school remained on this site until 2001 when it moved to its current site near the Gasyard in the Brandywell area of the city. In 2002 the Department of Education granted the school official recognition.

Since its inception Gaelscoil Éadain Mhóir has grown considerably and there are currently almost 140 children attending the school, with 26 children attending a preschool which was opened in 2009 and which has now been granted statutory recognition by the Department of Education. Gaelscoil na Daróige was founded in September 2005 by a local committee in Ballymagroarty as a result of a desire expressed by the parents of children already attending the Irish medium preschool Naíscoil Mhaol Íosa. It was evident at the time that most children leaving the Irish medium pre-school were choosing to enter local English speaking primary schools. The school achieved official status in 2009.

1809_DCC_StoryOfIrish_ENG.indd 27

06/12/2013 15:35

The Irish language in Derry today

The University of Ulster located the headquarters of its Irish and Celtic Studies Research Institute in Derry in 2009. It is widely recognised as a centre of excellence for the study of Celtic languages and literatures. In 2013, The School of Irish Language and Literature was established with its headquarters at the Magee College Campus and the school has made Irish language courses available in Derry and Belfast. The university team works in close partnership with the Irish language community in both cities. Out of 248 university linguistics departments throughout the UK the University’s School of Irish was ranked joint third.

Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin is a purpose-built Irish language arts and cultural centre situated on Great James Street close to Derry’s city centre. It opened on the 4th of September 2009. Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin is a multipurpose centre with a 200 seat theatre, a community college for adult language learners, a youth club, a book and craft shop, an Irish language café, business incubation suites and offices. The centre is managed and operated by An Gaeláras and the building is widely recognised as a nerve centre for the Irish language arts not only in the city of Derry but also in the northwest of Ireland. The striking architecture and ultra-modern feel of the building suggest a community that is forward-looking and future-focused.

1809_DCC_StoryOfIrish_ENG.indd 28

06/12/2013 15:35

Story of Irish

Derry City Council is a civic leader in the promotion of the Irish language in the Derry City Council area. The Council offers a full range of services to the local community in the Irish language and in 2011 the Council established the Irish Language Community Network Forum, the aim of which is to foster opportunities for partnerships between Irish language organisations in order to promote the growth and development of the language in Derry. There are now legislative protections for the Irish language in the form of the Good Friday Agreement (1998) and the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (2001), but more importantly, public and official attitudes to the language are positive and the language is now embraced within the public life of the city.

Throughout the island of Ireland, the reputation of Derry as a centre of excellence for language promotion has grown steadily over the years. In 2006 Derry hosted Oireachtas na Gaeilge – the largest celebration of Irish language and culture held on the island of Ireland and in 2013, Derry made history when it hosted Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann – the first time the festival had ever come north of the border in its 60 year history. The Irish language in Derry today is in a stronger position than it has been in the past 100 years. This growth is testament to the passion and zeal of a new generation of devoted Irish language enthusiasts who have committed their energies to the achievement of a bilingual society in the city and district.

1809_DCC_StoryOfIrish_ENG.indd 29

06/12/2013 15:35

Origins

1809_DCC_StoryOfIrish_ENG.indd 30

06/12/2013 15:35

Story of Irish

6. A New Story Where will the story go? In 2013, Derry celebrated its year as City of Culture. It was our time to tell a new story to the world. The Irish language is part of our past story and part of our new story. It is part of our shared heritage, and part of our shared future. It is your story and mine. We can be optimistic about the future of the Irish language here. In fact, the language is probably in a stronger position now than it has been at any time in the past 100 years. Irish can be seen and heard all over the city of Derry; it is part of the unique cultural character of this city and held in great affection by many.

But the future of the Irish language here relies on an acceptance that the language is not something which can be owned. It belongs to us all, each and everyone. In this city of many cultures, there is a place for every story. This is our story. Together we can tell a new story.

1809_DCC_StoryOfIrish_ENG.indd 31

06/12/2013 15:35

1809_DCC_StoryOfIrish_ENG.indd 32

06/12/2013 15:35

l ScĂŠa

ilge e a aG

a Bh g n a e An T

o De g o e

Listen to stories from local people about the Irish language: www.btportraitofacity.com

1809_DCC_StoryOfIrish_ENG.indd 33

06/12/2013 15:35

1809_DCC_StoryOfIrish_ENG.indd 34

06/12/2013 15:35

www.derrycity.gov.uk/gaeilge

1809_DCC_StoryOfIrish_ENG.indd 35

06/12/2013 15:35

This document is available upon request in a number of formats including large print, Braille, PDF, audiocassette and minority languages. For further information on alternative formats please contact: telephone (028) 7136 5151 textphone: (028) 7137 6646 or email: equality@derrycity.gov.uk

1809_DCC_StoryOfIrish_ENG.indd 36

06/12/2013 15:35