ClubLeabhar.com - Irish Language Book Club

[English version below] In ainneoin na mílte Éireannach a thit i gcogadh mór 1914-1918, is beag trácht orthu i litríocht na Gaeilge. Seo é an chéad úrscéal sa teanga a insíonn a scéal. Ní hé amháin gur saothar ceannródaíoch é Saighdiúir ach is úrscéal cumhachtach frithchogaidh é, agus é tugtha chun solais go húr beo máistriúil ag Cathal Ó Searcaigh. Láithreoir: Seán Ó Catháin Aíonna: LAonghus Ó hAlmhain agus Liam Mac Amhlaigh [Leagan Gaeilge thuas] The novel’s protagonists are two young Gaelic speakers from Cloich Cheann Fhaola in north west Donegal who believe they are going on a glorious adventure without any real notion of the horrific realities they would encounter as infantrymen on the western front. Saighdiúir is an immensely moving book that evokes the horror and the terror of that dreadful conflict. It gives vivid heart-rending descriptions of the tragic waste of brief young lives fed into the voracious jaws of war. It is a harrowing corrective to the myth of a just war. Presenter: Seán Ó Catháin Guests: Aonghus Ó hAlmhain and Liam Mac Amhlaigh

[English version below] Buaileann bean ghalánta le seanabhean ar an dtraein, ach ní mar a shíltear a bhítear. Téann cailín óg ag siopadóireacht, is gan ’fhios ag éinne cá luíonn an bhróg uirthi. Braitheann bean teanntaithe san óispidéal, ach nuair a thagann a fear céile ar a tuairisc, ní aimsíonn siad na focail chuí. Ceithre splancscéal is tríocha atá sa chnuasach so, iad go léir faoi bhun 1,000 focal. Pléann siad le réimse mór téamaí i saol na mban, idir chumha is ghrá, idir uaigneas is dóchas. Insintí géara gonta, go bhfuil tús, lár agus deireadh leo – cé gur minic go dtosnaíonn siad i lár baill nó go gcríochnaíonn siad go luath. Tá an leabhar so ag cur thar maoil le carachtair bháúla, agus splanc léargais nua á fháil acu ar an saol. Tugtar cuireadh duit teacht ag spraoi ar feadh tamaillín i saol na splancscéalaíochta. Láithreoir: Seán Ó Catháin Aíonna: Lisa Nic an Bhreithimh agus Bríd-Treasa Ní Ghaoithín [Leagan Gaeilge thuas] A glamorous woman meets an old lady on the train, but not all is as it seems. A young girl goes shopping, but no one knows the extent of her troubles. A woman feels cornerned in the hospital, but when her husband comes to visit her, they can’t seem to find the right words. This collection comprises of thirty four flash fiction stories, all of them under 1,000 words. The look at a wide range of themes in women’s lives, from sadness to love, from lonliness to hope. They are short snappy tales that have a beginning, a middle and an end – although they often start in the middle of the action or finish early. This book is overflowing with empathetic characters, as they get a flash of new insight into life. You are invited to come and play for a while in the world of flash fiction. Presenter: Seán Ó Catháin Guests: Lisa Nic an Bhreithimh and Bríd-Treasa Ní Ghaoithín

[English version below] Tá Emer Uí Ghríofa imithe gan tásc. I gcúinne uaigneach ar bhruach na Life a aimsíonn an Garda Réamonn Seoighe a corp. Tá a mac, Dan, cráite faoina bás ach cén drogall atá air labhairt leis na gardaí? Tá Colmán Ó Gríofa ina theach saoire ar leithinis Bhéarra an deireadh seachtaine céanna, é scartha ó Emer ach dílis di i gcónaí. Tacaíonn a chomharsa Aoife Nic Dhiarmada leis agus í ag éirí gafa sa chás. Tá noda fiúntacha agus fianaise bhréige á scagadh aicise agus ag na gardaí; tá faire faoi cheilt ar siúl istoíche agus an t-am ag sciorradh. An nochtfar an ciontóir sula ndéanfar an dara marú? Is úrscéal cumhachtach é 'Sa Pholl Báite' a chaitheann solas géar ar choimhlintí sóisialta agus ar an nimh i gcroí an duine. Bhain an saothar seo duais i gComórtais Liteartha an Oireachtais 2022 agus bhí sé ar Ghearrliosta Ghradam Fhoras na Gaeilge, Leabhar Ficsin Gaeilge na Bliana i nGradaim Leabhar An Post in 2023. Láithreoir: Seán Ó Catháin Aíonna: Caomhán Ó hÓgáin [Leagan Gaeilge thuas] Emer Uí Ghríofa has gone missing without a trace. Garda Réamonn Seoighe finds her body in a lonely corner on the banks of the Liffey. Her son, Dan, is devastated by her death, but why is he reluctant to talk to the guards? Colmán Ó Gríofa, her estranged husband, is in his holiday home on the Béarra peninsula that same weekend, separated from Emer but still devoted to her. His neighbour Aoife Nic Diarmada supports him as she becomes involved in the case. Together with the authorities, they sift through a mosaic of substantial clues and fabricated evidence. The night witnesses a covert surveillance operation as time inches relentlessly forward. Will the perpetrator be unveiled before another life is claimed? “'Sa Pholl Báite' captivates readers with its exploration of societal discord, shining a penetrating light on the hidden poisons lurking within the human soul.” This work won a prize in the Oireachtas Literary Competitions in 2022 and was shortlisted for the Foras na Gaeilge Irish Fiction Book of the Year Award in the An Post Irish Book Awards in 2023. Presenter: Seán Ó Catháin Guests: Caomhán Ó hÓgáin

[English version below] Seo é an chéad chnuasach Gaeilge le hAlan Titley ó foilsíodh an 100 scéal atá i Leabhar Nóra Ní Anluain (1998). Má tháinig scata úrscéalta uaidh idir an dá linn níor thréig sé an ealaín ghairid riamh, óir tá seacht scéal anseo a ghnóthaigh duaiseanna Oireachtais. A bhformhór mór níor cuireadh i gcló cheana iad. Is ilchineálach an t-ábhar atá sa chnuasach seo: scéalta traidisiúnta ar an sean-déanamh, fabhalscéalta, scéalta gaisce nó rómánsaíochta agus tuilleadh. Láithreoir: Seán Ó Catháin Aíonna: Sorcha de Brún [Leagan Gaeilge thuas] This marks Alan Titley’s first collection of short stories since the release of his renowned work Leabhar Nóra Ní Anluain. Despite his subsequent contributions in the form of several novels, Titley has remained dedicated to the craft of short storytelling, a commitment evident in this anthology, which includes seven award-winning tales from the Oireachtas competition. Notably, the majority of these stories are previously unpublished, enhancing the collection’s novelty. The compilation boasts a rich tapestry of stories, encompassing various genres: traditional narratives steeped in antiquity to enchanting fables, stirring accounts of heroism and romance, and beyond. Presenter: Seán Ó Catháin Guests: Sorcha de Brún

[English version below] Tamall beag i ndiaidh meán oíche ar an 1 Feabhra 1943, déantar ionsaí fíochmhar, barbartha ar iompróir míleata agus é ar a bhealach go saotharlann rúnda i ndeisceart Bhaile Átha Cliath. Maraítear na saighdiúirí uile atá á thionlacan agus goidtear an lastas ríluachmhar atá istigh ann, an tEitleán Dofheicthe. Déanann na Gardaí mionscrúdú ar láthair an áir, ach níl ach fear amháin a bheidh in ann an cás casta seo a réiteach agus pleananna na gcoirpeach a chur de dhroim seoil: Réics Carló, lorgaire príobháideach. Tá Réics, Brian agus a gcairde ar ais sa scéal eachtrúil seo ó pheann Chathail Uí Shándair, an dara húrscéal ina shraith faoin lorgaire clúiteach as Baile Átha Cliath. Tá an t-eagrán nua seo curtha in oiriúint do léitheoirí óga an lae inniu. Láithreoir: Seán Ó Catháin Aíonna: Zoya Everard agus Rónán Mistéil [Leagan Gaeilge thuas] The second book in the Réics Carló series of detective novels. 2022 edition. An tEitleán Dofheicthe is a classic adventure novel for teens by Cathal Ó Sándair. First published in 1943 this new edition is adapted for contemporary readers. Shortly after midnight on the 1st of February 1943, a violent and barbaric attack is staged against a military carrier on its way to a secret lab in south Dublin. All of the soldiers guarding the transport are killed and the valuable cargo – The Invisible Plane – is stolen. The Gardaí examine the scene of the massacre, but only one man will be able to solve this complicated case and thwart the criminals’ plans: Réics Carló, a private detective. Réics, Brian and friends are back for this action-packed story by Cathal Ó Sándair, the second in his series of books about the famous investigator from Dublin. This new edition is adapted for contemporary readers. Presenter: Seán Ó Catháin Guests: Zoya Everard and Rónán Mistéil

[English version below] “Tá anáil an bhéaloidis le mothú go soiléir san eipic spreagúil, ealaíonta seo. Cuireann scéal an ghiorria ar ár súile go héifeachtach tuiscintí agus tuairimí doimhne ár sinsear i leith an tsaoil agus nádúr an duine – an dá chineál, óg agus aosta, caide agus céilí comhraic. Is figiúr í an chailleach a mhair ar imeall an phobail, díthreabhach a bhí gafa leis an nádúr agus leis an saol eile. Ina ainneoin sin, bhí ról lárnach sa tsochaí aici, ag teacht i gcabhair in am an ghátair, agus ag roinnt eolas praiticiúil agus gaoise go fial ar chách. Coincheap ársa is ea cumas na caillí í féin a chlaochlú, gné shuaithinseach den scéalaíocht ó ré na meánaoise anonn, tréith atá le sonrú go háirithe sna heipicí clasaiceacha, Tochmharc Éadaoine agus Oidhe Chlainne Lir, atá fite go deas fileata isteach i scéal an ghiorria. Sa saothar seo, téann an t-údar i ngreim go meabhrach, físiúil le téamaí suntasacha ón éigse béil, téama atá chomh hábhartha inniu is a bhí riamh”. -An Dr Criostóir Mac Cárthaigh, Cnuasach Bhéaloideas Éireann Láithreoir: Seán Ó Catháin Aíonna: Ailbe van der Heide agus Aedín Ní Thiarnaigh [Leagan Gaeilge thuas] This debut collection of poetry from the Donegal-based writer and linguist Eithne Ní Ghallchobhair addresses Irish nature and a day in the life of a hare. This collection was shortlisted for the 2020 Irish Language Book of the Year Award. Guests: Ailbe van der Heide and Aedín Ní Thiarnaigh

[English version below] SPLUFF SPLAIFEIRTÍ AGUS A CHAIRDE AR MARZ anseo istigh dúinn. Eachtraíocht, daonnacht, carachtair, dúshláin agus tarlúintí as cuimse a fhágfaidh ár dtuiscintí ar fhíorspéis an domhain sa spás athraithe go deo. “Is scéal é seo atá iontach feiliúnach don aoisghrúpa – é lán den mhistéir, den choimhlint, den naimhdeas agus den chomhcheilg – [scéal] a chuireann saint an duine daonna i gcodarsnacht le cur chuige síochánta Mhuintir Mharz …” – Deirble Nic Conghamhna, Moltóir an Oireachtais 2021. Ghnóthaigh ‘Spluff Splaifeirtí agus An tIonradh ar an bPláinéad MARZ’ mórdhuais Oireachtais in 2021. Láithreoir: Seán Ó Catháin Aíonna: Eilís Everard agus Jody Buckley-Coogan [Leagan Gaeilge thuas] A whirlwind interplanetary adventure from award-winning author Ré Ó Laighléis. Spluff Splaifeirtí and his friends embark on a journey full of challenges and adventure to the planet Mars. Adventure, exciting characters, challenges and amazing events will forever change our understanding of mankind’s interest in space exploration.  Guests: Eilís Everard and Jody Buckley-Coogan

[English version below] Nuair a thuirling Réamainn Prút i mBéal Feirste i 1988, is strainséir é ina bhaile dúchais. Tugann sé faoi deara na fógraí ollmhóra a roinntear uimhir theileafóin na bpóilíní, á spreagadh chun glaoch a chur ort – chun faisnéis a thabhairt ar aghaidh faoi sceimhlitheoirí, chun ualach a bhaint as do choinsias. Ach tá Réamainn ag smaoineamh ar a óige, ar an sean-rainn a bhíodh na seanmóirí cois bóthair ag aithris: 'Tar éist le mo scéal faoi Ióná agus an míol mór; Bealach síos i lár an aigéin!' Cuimhníonn sé freisin ar oíche chinniúnach na Nollag 1942. An oíche a léim sé amach as eitleán Gearmánach ar chósta Chontae an Dúin, rinne sé a bhealach go teach a thuismitheoirí i marbh na hoíche. Láithreoir: Seán Ó Catháin Aíonna: Réaltán Ní Leannáin agus Eoin P. Murchú [Leagan Gaeilge thuas] When Réamainn Prút lands in Belfast in 1988, he is a stranger in his home town. He notes the huge adverts sharing the police phone number, encouraging you to call – to pass on information about terrorists, to lift a burden from your conscience. But Réamainn is thinking of his youth, of the old rhyme the roadside preachers used to recite: 'Come listen to my tale of Jonah and the whale; Way down in the middle of the ocean!' He remembers too the fateful night in December 1942. The night he jumped out of a German plane on the coast of County Down, he made his way to his parents’ house in the dead of night. Guests: Réaltán Ní Leannáin and Eoin P. Murchú

[English version below] Chaith príomhcharachtar an úrscéil seo, Barra Mac Aodhagáin blianta dá óige i scoil thionsclaíoch. San aithris mhothúchánach, mhachnamhach seo, leanaimid scéal Bharraigh agus é ag fáil taithí ar fhórsa brúidiúil múinteoirí, agus ar a thuras i dtreo téarnaimh ón tráma sin. Láithreoir: Seán Ó Catháin Aíonna: Emily Barnes agus Liam Mac Amhlaigh [Leagan Gaeilge thuas] Barra Mac Aodhagáin spent years of his childhood in an industrial school. In this emotional, thoughtful novel, we follow Barra’s story as he experiences the full force of brutal teachers, and on his journey towards recovery from that trauma. Guests: Emily Barnes and Liam Mac Amhlaigh

[English version below] Tosaíonn an scéal seo le beirt fhear óga a fheiceann rud atá dochreidte - doshamhlaithe, go fiú. Ach de réir mar a nochtann an scéal, tógtar fírinní inaitheanta ina thimpeall go dtí go n-éiríonn sé níos deacra diúltú dó. Cad is fírinne ann i saol a bhfuil eolas ag imeacht ar saithnín inár dtimpeall gach lá? Tugann an scéal seo orainn ár dtuiscint ar an saol seo a cheistiú. Ag dul anonn is anall idir an lá atá inniu ann agus an seachtú aois déag, cruthaíonn sé líon damhán alla d'fhírinní stairiúla a fhitear le chéile chun saol eile a chruthú, saol a aithnímid ach nach féidir linn glacadh leis. Láithreoir: Seán Ó Catháin Aíonna: Deirdre Nic Chárthaigh agus Aonghus Ó Lochlainn [Leagan Gaeilge thuas] This is a story about two young men who saw something unbelievable, unimaginable. As the story develops they recognise the truths around them until it becomes harder to reject. What is the truth in a world where knowledge is passing the proverbial, where every day this knowledge questions our understanding of this world, going back and forth between the present day and the seventeenth century? It creates a number of spider webs of historical truths woven together to create another world we recognize but cannot accept.  Thaddeus Ó Buachalla is an Irish-language author novelist, poet and composer from Cork City. He was awarded a doctorate by Cork University College in 2015. He has two books published by Coiscéim, Clocháin sa Scoilt in 2019 and EL. His newly published novel, EL echoes the work of Umberto Eco in its bizarre fusion of science fantasy and historical fiction. EL was awarded a prize in the Oireachtas Literary Competition in 2022. Presenter: Seán Ó Catháin Guests: Deirdre Nic Chárthaigh and Aonghus Ó Lochlainn

[English version below] Bréan den chaimiléireacht agus den chiníochas, tugann Fabio Montale a chúl leis na póilíní agus socraíonn síos leis an saol simplí a chaitheamh faoi sheanrithimí an bhaile — an fharraige, an t-iascach, beár na háite, agus cluichí belote faoin ngrian. Ach nuair a imíonn mac lena chol ceathrair gan tásc, tarraingítear Montale ar ais isteach i gcúlsráideanna dorcha Mharseille – agus i gcúlbhóithre na cuimhne. Láithreoir: Seán Ó Catháin Aíonna: Lisa Nic an Bhreithimh agus Aonghus Ó hAlmhain [Leagan Gaeilge thuas] Fabio Montale, an introspective ex-cop with a placid life based on cronies, aperitifs, and a little fishing, is yanked back into his city’s politically charged underworld. On one single sunny day, a beautiful cousin whom he hasn’t seen in years enlists his help to find her son, a wayward teen-ager, and an old friend is gunned down in front of him on the street. Izzo, who died in 2000, is more than adept at noir conventions—gritty light, sudden switches of scene, the pervasive rot of cynicism, which sullies even the best intentions. But what makes his work haunting is his extraordinary ability to convey the tastes and smells of Marseilles, and the way memory and obligation dog every step his hero takes. Presenter: Seán Ó Catháin Guests: Lisa Nic an Bhreithimh and Aonghus Ó hAlmhain

[English version below] Cnuasach gearrscéalta le Róise Ní Bhaoill. Tugtar ar thurais muid sna scéalta seo, turais intinne, turais go críocha aduaine, turais go tíortha atá stollta ag an choimhlint agus ag an athrach; ach is turais go croí na daonnachta iad go léir, le daoine atá ag cuartú saol dóchasach úr nó le daoine a bhfuil orthu gníomhú in aghaidh a dtola. I ndomhan a bhfuil mórghluaiseachtaí daonna ag léiriú an éagothromais, feictear an daonnacht ina steillbheatha sna scéalta seo. Inste i nguth tomhaiste deisbhéalach, tá scéalaíocht Rann na Feirste i stíl liteartha chomhaimseartha an lae inniu le sonrú go soiléir sna scéalta seo. Láithreoir: Seán Ó Catháin Aíonna: Caitlín Nic Íomhair agus Hannah Rice [Leagan Gaeilge thuas] Short stories by Róise Ní Bhaoill. Presenter: Seán Ó Catháin Guests: Caitlín Nic Íomhair and Hannah Rice

[English version below] Beirt bhan: Mélanie, a bhfuil fonn uirthi, ó bhí sí ina déagóir, cáil a bhaint amach ar chlár réaltachta teilifíse. Éiríonn léi aird an phobail a fháil ar deireadh leis an gcainéal YouTube a chruthaíonn sí le saol a beirt pháiste a chur os comhair an tsaoil mhóir, lá i ndiaidh lae. An bhean eile: Clara, póilín, a thagann i gcabhair ar Mélanie agus a teaghlach nuair a bhuaileann tubaiste iad. Ach de réir mar a chuireann Clara eolas ar shaol na dtionchairí idirlín, tagann amhras mór uirthi faoin tslí bheatha atá roghnaithe ag Mélanie dá clann óg, leochaileach. Úrscéal dochreidte maith, scéal comhaimseartha atá scríofa go máistriúil: cás na bpáistí a bhfuil i bhfad an iomarca dá saol curtha ar taispeáint ar na meáin shóisialta. Láithreoir: Seán Ó Catháin Aíonna: Bríd-Treasa Ní Ghaoithín agus Oisín Montanari [Leagan Gaeilge thuas] Mélanie, who grew up worshipping Loft Story (the French adaptation of Big Brother), has just one thing on her mind: becoming famous. But her one performance on a reality TV show is a flop. A few years later, now a wife and a mother, she creates her own channel on YouTube: Happy Playtime, which showcases her two children on a daily basis. She soon has millions of followers who “like” and comment on their every move. Meanwhile, a young woman, Clara, becomes a police officer. Marked by the brutal loss of her parents, she joins the criminal investigation unit. Their paths meet when Mélanie’s daughter, Kimmy, vanishes into thin air. A meet-up with the wrong person? Did she run away? Was she kidnapped? As the investigation runs its course and as Clara discovers the world of influencers, she realises how violent Happy Playtime can be for the two children, who are both the stars of the show, as well as its victims. With this novel, Delphine de Vigan takes up a dizzying issue: the social media and their excesses. She brilliantly explores an increasingly navel-gazing society, in which everything is staged and up for sale, including family happiness. Presenter: Seán Ó Catháin Guests: Bríd-Treasa Ní Ghaoithín and Oisín Montanari

[English version below] Nuair a fhuadaítear an Dr Leon, eolaí rí‑éirimiúil atá ag obair ar aireagán sár-rúnda ar son Rialtas na hÉireann, iarrtar ar a sheanchara Réics Carló an cás a fhiosrú. Tá Réics muiníneach go n-éireoidh leis Leon a thabhairt slán – níor theip air riamh cás a réiteach. De réir mar a théann sé i mbun oibre, áfach, tuigtear dó go bhfuil rud éigin as an ngnáth ar fad faoin gcás áirithe seo. Beidh clisteacht, cúnamh agus a dhá dhorn de dhíth air roimh dheireadh na heachtra seo. Ar feadh dhá scór bliain chuir an scríbhneoir bisiúil Cathal Ó Sándair déagóirí na hÉireann ag léamh faoin mbinse scoile i ngan fhios do na múinteoirí. Seo chugainn i gcló arís a chéad leabhar, Na Mairbh a d’Fhill, ina gcuirimid aithne ar an mbleachtaire clúiteach Réics Carló. Bhí sciob sceab ar an leabhar seo lena linn – díoladh os cionn míle cóip de sa chéad mhí dó a bheith i gcló. Tá an t-eagrán nua seo curtha in oiriúint do léitheoirí óga an lae inniu. Láithreoir: Seán Ó Catháin Aíonna: Emma Ní Chearúil agus Caomhán Ó hÓgáin [Leagan Gaeilge thuas] When Dr Leon is kidnapped, a brilliant scientist who is working on a secret project for the Irish Government, his old friend Réics Carló is asked to investigate the case. Réics Carló is confident that he will succeed in rescuing Leon – he has never failed to solve a case. As the case progresses, however, his earlier confidence is shaken. He soon realises that all is not as it first appeared. He will need his wits, his friends and his two fists before the tale is out. For over forty years, the writer Cathal Ó Sándair delighted young readers. It is lovely to welcome his books back in print and newly adapted to suit today’s readers. Na Mairbh a d’Fhill is his first book and this is where readers first meet the famous detective Réics Carló. This book was a huge success when it was first published – over 1,000 copies sold in the first month. This edition makes the classic title accessible for today’s readers. Presenter: Seán Ó Catháin Guests: Emma Ní Chearúil and Caomhán Ó hÓgáin

[English version below] Tá an grá agus and t-éad fite fuaite lena chéile sa scéal tragóideach seo ina chuireann Gráinne an laoch óg, Diarmaid, faoi gheasa í a bhreith leis ón bhfear a bhfuil sí geallta leis. Sárinsint agus sárléaráidí ó thús go deireadh. Láithreoir: Seán Ó Catháin Aíonna: Sadhbh Rosenstock agus Rónán Mistéil [Leagan Gaeilge thuas] A haunting tale of love and jealousy where Gráinne and Diarmaid are relentlessly pursued by Fionn whose desire for revenge must inevitably lead to tragic consequences. A superbly illustrated and fast-paced graphic novel. Presenter: Seán Ó Catháin Guests: Sadhbh Rosenstock and Rónán Mistéil