An aimsir láithreach
Ach guairneán gaoithe, séideán bruithne, cathair ghríobháin is ea an aimsir láithreach atá ag athrú ar luas an tsolais, táimid istigh ina lúba gan aon doras amach seachas an aimsir féin a bhfuil dalladh púicín uirthi. Fairis sin, tá níos mó eolais, chomh maith le heolas nach eolas é in aon chor, á scaipeadh agus á chraobhscaoileadh ar ala an tsoicind ionas nach féidir leis an intinn dhaonna greim a choimeád air.
Tá leabhar ag an bhfealsamh nó ag an tráchtaire Iodálach Roberto Calasso a bhfuil The Unnameable Present air i mBéarla ina ndéanann sé iarracht ar shloinne a chur ar a bhfuil ar siúl timpeall orainn faoi láthair. Baineann cuid mhór den leabhar, áfach, le hathnuachan Ioslaim agus leis an tslí ar bhain cultúr saolta an Iarthair an bonn de, go háirithe an phornagrafaíocht agus an saibhreas thar tomhas. De sin, fíoch an tsaoil Mhoslaimigh i gcoinne 'an iarthair', bíodh gur dóigh liom féin gur mhó a bhaineann sin le coilíneachas leanúnach agus le tacaíocht Mheiriceá do dheachtóirí lofa i dtíortha na nArabach.
Bhí leabhar ag Bryan Appleyard, ach tá breis agus tríocha bliain ó shin anois ann, a raibh Understanding the Present mar theideal air, ach is mar ar ghabh an eolaíocht i bhfeidhm orainn is mó is ábhar dó, agus ar éigean go raibh géarchéim na héiceolaíochta ar an gclár an uair úd.
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Dá ainneoin sin, is aoibhinn liom leabhair a bhíonn ag iarraidh scéal mór ár linne a insint is a chiallú, an eachtra dhána, an dearcadh leathan, an radharc ó thaobh na dtaobhanna seachas an duine lag ina chúlóg leithleasach ag grinneadh go ceathrúshúileach ar lúidín a choise bige féin.
Is mó sin tráchtaire a chuir a bhundún amach ag iarraidh breith ar luaineacht na linne. Ach an oiread leis an duine a ghliúcaíonn amach trí pholl eochrach tuisceana amháin, níl ag aon mhórfhealsamh machnaimh ná pápa polaiticiúil ná claonbhreitheamh creidimh ar bith ach a dhá shúil féin agus pé spúnóigín meabhrach a deonaíodh dó.
Ba theideal oiriúnach é The Age of Empire ar leabhar Eric Hobsbawm ar an tréimhse 1875-1914 mar is idir na lúibíní ama sin is mó a sheas glóir-réim na n-impireachtaí Eorpacha ar scornach na ndonán bochta ar fud an domhain. Teideal maith, ach gan a bheith cruinn beacht mar bhí impireachtaí eile scuabtha leo agus cinn eile ar tí a saolaithe ag an am.
Maidir le lorgaireacht na lipéad, mar sin, cad is féidir a thabhairt ar an aois, ar an am seo a mairimid inti? B'fhurasta Aois na hImpireachta a ghairm uirthi fós, ach tá Sasana agus an Fhrainc slogtha isteach iontu féin de cheal fodair chogaidh thar lear, tá an Rúis leonta in ainneoin a gothaí concais, agus ní heol d'aon duine ó sheachtain go seachtain cad tá ar siúl ag an impireacht is mó dá raibh riamh ann, impireacht Stát Aontaithe Mheiriceá.
Idir an dá linn tá madraí allta an chogaidh scaoilte den iall ag Iosrael arís agus croí an tseandomhain ar crith nuair nach bhfeadair aon duine cad í an chéad chéim eile.
B'fhearr gan aon ainm a chur ar an aimsir láithreach, go fóill.
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Irish Times
16-06-2025
- Irish Times
An aimsir láithreach
Is í an tréimhse is deacra labhairt nó scríobh faoi ag am ar bith ná an aimsir láithreach anois díreach. Tá sé deacair go leor trácht ar an aimsir chaite, mar cé go bhfuil sí, mar a déarfá, caite, tá teorainn lena bhfuil d'fhianaise ina taobh, ar a laghad go teoiriciúil. Is fusa labhairt ar an aimsir fháistineach óir is féidir leat rud ar bith a rá ina taobh agus tá seans go mbeidh an ceart agat, go háirithe má tá tú doiléir go leor ar nós Nostradamus agus Colm Cille. Ach guairneán gaoithe, séideán bruithne, cathair ghríobháin is ea an aimsir láithreach atá ag athrú ar luas an tsolais, táimid istigh ina lúba gan aon doras amach seachas an aimsir féin a bhfuil dalladh púicín uirthi. Fairis sin, tá níos mó eolais, chomh maith le heolas nach eolas é in aon chor, á scaipeadh agus á chraobhscaoileadh ar ala an tsoicind ionas nach féidir leis an intinn dhaonna greim a choimeád air. Tá leabhar ag an bhfealsamh nó ag an tráchtaire Iodálach Roberto Calasso a bhfuil The Unnameable Present air i mBéarla ina ndéanann sé iarracht ar shloinne a chur ar a bhfuil ar siúl timpeall orainn faoi láthair. Baineann cuid mhór den leabhar, áfach, le hathnuachan Ioslaim agus leis an tslí ar bhain cultúr saolta an Iarthair an bonn de, go háirithe an phornagrafaíocht agus an saibhreas thar tomhas. De sin, fíoch an tsaoil Mhoslaimigh i gcoinne 'an iarthair', bíodh gur dóigh liom féin gur mhó a bhaineann sin le coilíneachas leanúnach agus le tacaíocht Mheiriceá do dheachtóirí lofa i dtíortha na nArabach. Bhí leabhar ag Bryan Appleyard, ach tá breis agus tríocha bliain ó shin anois ann, a raibh Understanding the Present mar theideal air, ach is mar ar ghabh an eolaíocht i bhfeidhm orainn is mó is ábhar dó, agus ar éigean go raibh géarchéim na héiceolaíochta ar an gclár an uair úd. READ MORE Dá ainneoin sin, is aoibhinn liom leabhair a bhíonn ag iarraidh scéal mór ár linne a insint is a chiallú, an eachtra dhána, an dearcadh leathan, an radharc ó thaobh na dtaobhanna seachas an duine lag ina chúlóg leithleasach ag grinneadh go ceathrúshúileach ar lúidín a choise bige féin. Is mó sin tráchtaire a chuir a bhundún amach ag iarraidh breith ar luaineacht na linne. Ach an oiread leis an duine a ghliúcaíonn amach trí pholl eochrach tuisceana amháin, níl ag aon mhórfhealsamh machnaimh ná pápa polaiticiúil ná claonbhreitheamh creidimh ar bith ach a dhá shúil féin agus pé spúnóigín meabhrach a deonaíodh dó. Ba theideal oiriúnach é The Age of Empire ar leabhar Eric Hobsbawm ar an tréimhse 1875-1914 mar is idir na lúibíní ama sin is mó a sheas glóir-réim na n-impireachtaí Eorpacha ar scornach na ndonán bochta ar fud an domhain. Teideal maith, ach gan a bheith cruinn beacht mar bhí impireachtaí eile scuabtha leo agus cinn eile ar tí a saolaithe ag an am. Maidir le lorgaireacht na lipéad, mar sin, cad is féidir a thabhairt ar an aois, ar an am seo a mairimid inti? B'fhurasta Aois na hImpireachta a ghairm uirthi fós, ach tá Sasana agus an Fhrainc slogtha isteach iontu féin de cheal fodair chogaidh thar lear, tá an Rúis leonta in ainneoin a gothaí concais, agus ní heol d'aon duine ó sheachtain go seachtain cad tá ar siúl ag an impireacht is mó dá raibh riamh ann, impireacht Stát Aontaithe Mheiriceá. Idir an dá linn tá madraí allta an chogaidh scaoilte den iall ag Iosrael arís agus croí an tseandomhain ar crith nuair nach bhfeadair aon duine cad í an chéad chéim eile. B'fhearr gan aon ainm a chur ar an aimsir láithreach, go fóill.
The Irish Sun
12-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
Inside history of St Colmcille who's ‘intrinsically linked' to Irish identity amid calls for bank holiday in his honour
IRELAND could be getting a new bank holiday in honour of another one of the country's patron saints. The Advertisement 2 A new July bank holiday has been proposed Credit: Alamy 2 St Colmcille is the third patron saint of Ireland Following the addition of However, this is still fewer than the Now a campaign to have a public day off named after St Colmcille is growing. Advertisement READ MORE IN IRISH NEWS And the campaign is heating up, with The Kells Colmcille 1500 committee and Kells Local Heroes are supporting the proposals given St Colmcille's links with the Meath town and the Book of Kells. Local councillor Sean Drew intends to submit a motion in support of a new public holiday for the next sitting of Meath County The Advertisement Most read in The Irish Sun Cllr Drew also suggested renaming the existing June But as exhausted No rain forecast as Met Eireann pinpoint exactly where warmest temps to hit over the bank holiday weekend SAINT Colmcille, or Saint Columba, established more than 50 Christian sites across Ireland. St Colmcille, meaning 'the dove of the Church', was born at Gartan, near Lifford, Co Donegal, in 521AD. Advertisement HOLY MAN, POET & DIPLOMAT Born into Irish aristocracy, St Colmcille is said to have been a descendant of legendary Niall of the Nine Hostages. Niall was a fifth century Irish warlord reputed to have fought against the Romans and armies of ancient Scotland, Historians say Colmcille founded his first monastery in what is now the modern day city of Derry or Doire Cholm Cille, in the year 545. 1500 years after his birth historians speak of his legacy as a holy man, a poet and a diplomat. Advertisement It is said that he protected those who were deprived of ears, eyes and throat. PRAYER OFFERING The well of St Colmcille on the Ballycullen Road in south It is believed that Colmcille stopped off here on one of his journeys around Ireland to quench his thirst and bless the well. The holy well has a statue of Colmcille set into stone and visitors to the well drink from the water pray and leave medals nailed into the bark of a tree as offerings. Advertisement Rags left by previous pilgrims visiting the well are to provide cures for eyes, ears and throats. Across Ireland, there are many sites associated with St Colmcille. PATRON SAINT The sites in the north west and in the eastern region associated with St Colmcille included Gleann Cholm Cille, Toraigh, Kells and Swords. The influential Irish monk is known the patron saint of Advertisement Historians point out he was a significant historical figure in the spreading of Christianity in One of his most important monasteries was in Iona, off the coast of Much history was written and recorded in his monasteries. One of Ireland's most famous books, the Book of Kells, is believed to have been crafted by monks in the Columban monastery on Iona. ENDURING LEGACY Colmcille died in Iona on 9 June, 597 AD aged 75. Advertisement But his legacy, as well as devotion to the saint, has endured to modern times. Many Ireland currently has ten public holidays per year, with St Brigid's Day the most recent addition to the list in 2023. Miriam Manning is of the Kells Colmcille 1500 committee which was established to mark the 1500th anniversary of the birth of St Colmcille from 2020 to 2021. Advertisement WORLDWIDE RECOGNITION Miriam said: 'The Kells association with Columban heritage and the Book of Kells has shaped our identity through the centuries and it would be fitting if he is honoured by the Government. 'A dedicated public holiday recognising St Colmcille, who is also known as St Columba presents an opportunity for Kells to develop a national and international profile for the town and to develop further the networks and collaborations created during the anniversary year keeping the story of St Colmcille alive. 'The iconography perfected in the Book of Kells is recognisable worldwide and in this way it is important to note that Colmcille's legacy is intrinsically linked to our national identity.' The connection between St Colmcille and Kells reaches back to the sixth century when Manus O'Donnell's 'Life of Colmcille' says the Saint was granted the dun of Kells by High King of Tara Diarmaid MacCarroll. Advertisement After Colmcille's death in Iona in Scotland, his followers who included scribes, stonecutters, goldsmiths and masons, returned to Kells in 804 bringing with them the precious relics of the saint. ENORMOUS CONTRIBUTION Miriam explained: 'From the teachings of Colmcille, Columban monks and scribes became some of the greatest scribes and painters of books in the world and it is believed the Book of Kells owes its identity and status to having been completed by a particular scribe in the town.' Also backing Donegal's call for a public holiday, Mark Smith of Kells Local Heroes said it would raise the profile of the town and attract scholars and academics who might not visit otherwise. He said: 'St Colmcille's house, the round tower and the Celtic crosses in the town have proven to be huge attractions for students and experts in the study of the Book of Kells and the enormous contribution that local monks made in spreading Christianity across Europe.' Advertisement He said: 'St Colmcille has important historical connections not only with Kells but with many other locations in the county and I think it would be apt and fitting to have a special day in his honour.' One thing is for sure. Meath and Donegal are united in believing honouring St Colmcille with a public holiday of his own is a divine idea.
Irish Times
02-06-2025
- Irish Times
Tithe, tithe, tithe
Nuair a bhí staidéar beag éigin á dhéanamh agam ar chanúintí na Gaeilge fuaireas amach go raibh go leor leaganacha den fhocal 'teach' ann. Is é 'tigh' a bhí agamsa óir is i gceann díobh a raibh cónaí orm, agus rud éigin cosúil le 'toigh' sna críocha ó thuaidh a bhí i bhfad uaim. Bhí sin ceart go leor, óir thig le duine trí leagan den fhocal céanna a choimeád sa chloigeann is dúire. Ach b'í an uimhir iolra den fhocal céanna sin 'teach' a chuir mearbhall go brách orm. Níl i gceist agam mearbhall go brách a chur ar an léitheoir chomh luath seo san alt, ach is leor a rá go bhfuil a oiread sin leaganacha den uimhir iolra ag an bhfocal 'teach' sa Ghaeilge is atá réitigh á moladh ar fhadhb na tithíochta. Sin í an fhadhb atá againne, ceist na tithíochta a shimpliú, agus mar sin a réiteach. Sa chás annamh is go mbeadh dhá theach ag mac nó ag iníon de chuid Chonamara is amhlaidh go mbeadh teachannaí acub, nó titheachaí, nó tigheannaí, ní teachachaí, nó teachaíonna, nó tithí, nó tithíochaí, nó tithiúthaí, nó titheabhaí, nó tithiúbhaí, nó tíofachaí, nó tíofaí nó meascán méadaithe díobh, rud a d'fhág nárbh fholáir ceist na dtithe a thabhairt chun caighdeáin, is é sin, í a shimpliú. Sin í an fhadhb atá againne, ceist na tithíochta a shimpliú, agus mar sin a réiteach. READ MORE Agus réiteach simplí atá air nuair is gátarach a dhéanamh. Nuair a bhí formhór an phobail gan léamh ná scríobh ceapadh polasaí réabhlóideach chun deireadh a chur leis an neamhlitreachas. Bunaíodh scoileanna, oileadh múinteoirí, cuireadh d'fhiachaibh ar pháistí beaga an bóthar léanmhar cosnochtaithe a shiúl gach maidin go dtí an clár dubh agus slat na foghlama. Réitíodh an fhadhb. Tá géarchéim is cruachor tithíochta anois againn gan amhras anonn. Ní ghéillim go bhfuil ceart ar theach mar cheart daonna, mar ní ann do chearta daonna mar earra meitifisiciúil a thit anuas ón spéir. Sinne a shocraíonn na cearta daonna. Ach creidim i leas an phobail mar leas gach aon duine. Dá réiteofaí fadhb na tithíochta in Éirinn, réiteofaí go leor d'fhadhbanna na tíre. Dá mbeadh árais chónaithe ar fáil do chách d'fhanfadh an t-aos oibre agus seirbhíse gurb orthu a bhraitheann an chuid eile againn. Bheadh intuigthe go bhféadfaí fanacht sa tír, tá chomh simplí leis sin. Thabharfaí aghaidh ar an aimsir fháistineach le dóchas. Cuirtear Roinn Tithíochta ar bun mar a ceapadh ranna riachtanacha in aon tír shibhialta, agus cuirtear lab mór den mhaoin náisiúnta isteach inti mar a déanadh nuair a mhalartaíomar an solas leictreach ar an gcoinneal agus ar an ngeaitire tráth ar tógadh Ard na Croise. Faoi stiúir na Roinne sin bheadh Comhlacht Tógála Náisiúnta a sholáthródh tithe don phobal. Bheadh na tithe sin ar fáil ar chíos réasúnta fad is a mhairfeadh an tionónta, ach ní bheadh cead an teach a cheannach. Ar an gcuma sin bheadh ann don chéad ghlúin eile nuair a thiocfadh an t-am. Más cumannachas é sin, tá sorry orm, tugtar cumannachas air. Ba chuma, dhéanfadh leas gach n-aon. Ní chuirfí i gcríoch de dhroim oíche é, ach thabharfadh misneach agus dóchas don phobal nuair ba léir go raibh réiteach i ndán agus soláthar rialta d'árais chónaithe ar fáil. Ba ghá gearradh tríd an luifearnach agus an raingléis de mhaorlathas a thachtann aon bheart riachtanach a dhéanamh; déantar amhlaidh i gcónaí nuair a bhíonn mótarbhealach le tógáil nó an leas coiteann i gceist. Thiocfadh oibrithe ó chian is ó chóngar nuair a bheadh an saothar ann dóibh sa tslí chéanna is a thóg Paddies na hÉireann Sasana agus baill eile. Bheadh lánchead tógála i gcónaí ag comhlachtaí príobháideacha dóibh siúd ar mó de shealús agus maoin dóibh a dtithe seachas áit chun cónaithe.
