Gile na Gile (Lorcán Mac Mathúna, Martin Tourish, agus Éamonn Galldubh)
Date: 28 January 2025
Venue: Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin, 37 Great James' Street, Derry, Derry, BT48 7DF
Is féidir rá gur athair an nua Ghaeilge é An Rathailleach. Rachaimid ar aistir trí filíocht an Rathailleach. Filíocht a bhí mar finné ar an 18ú Chéad is Éirinn. ___ It can be said that O Rathaille is the father of the new Irish language. We will travel with O Rathaille through his poetry. Poetry that stands as one of the clearest witnesses of the 18th Century in Ireland.
Thit an domhain Gaelach as a chéile le linn saol Aodhagáin Ó Rathaille, agus bhí sé mar ceann de príomh tráchtaire an casadh cinniúnach seo i stair agus litríocht na hÉireann. Rugabh é le linn ré na mbaird scoil agus fuair sé bás i mbochtanas le linn aimsir na péindlithe agus na cúirt filíochta. Is é a ghin an Aisling polaitiúla; ceol an dóchas le linn chéad gan dóchas.
Filíocht domhain dána fíochmhar a scríobh an Raitheallach. Fíné cáinteach ar am cúiseach tréigeach ab ea é, a scríobh le tuiscint agus súil I gcónaí ar áileacht i mbriathar. Scríobh sé go liriciúil, le rithim agus comhuaim ceolmhar. An file ba chumasaigh de ré nua an Ghaeilge. File nach bhfuil sáraithe fós. Is féidir rá gur athair an nua Ghaeilge é An Rathailleach.
Rachaimid ar aistir trí filíocht an Rathailleach. Filíocht a bhí mar finné ar an 18ú Chéad is Éirinn. Filíocht ceolmhar, liriciúile, a thug dearcadh an file ar saol a bhí ag athrú go tubaisteach. Dearcadh idir éagaoin agus dóchas.
"Breathuighim cuisle cheartchumasach Aodhagáin ghrinn"
___
The Gaelic world fell apart during the life of Aodhagáin Ó Rathaille, and he was one of the leading chroniclers of this traumatic turn in Irish history and literature. He was born during the era of the Bardic School but died in poverty during penal times and the times of the subverted Bardic Court. He was one of the chief generators of the new movement in literature which produced the Aisling; the music of hope during a hopeless first.
The Raitheallach wrote deep, bold and fierce poetry. His poetry was a savage witness to a brutal and tragic time, written with clarity and always an eye for beauty in words. He wrote lyrically, with musical rhythm and alliterative pathos. The most capable poet of a new era of Irish. A poet who has not yet been surpassed. It can be said that O Rathaille is the father of the new Irish language.
We will travel with O Rathaille through his poetry. Poetry that stands as one of the clearest witnesses of the 18th Century in Ireland. Musical, lyrical poetry, which gave the poet's perspective on a world that was changing traumatically. His unique lyrics give us a perspective divided between despair and optimism.