Bilingual poet and writer, Ciara Ní É spoke to Bláthnaid Treacy on StaidAir on 2FM about her work as a spoken word artist as well as how she grew her confidence in public speaking and recitation.
Ciara told Bláthnaid that you don't have to go to a Gaelscoil or be from the Gaeltacht to be a fluent speaker. Ciara is from Dublin and went to an English speaking school but always had a grá don Ghaeilge and spent time in the Gaeltacht, where her grá grew.
Dúirt sí nár thosaigh sí ag scríobh i nGaeilge go dtí go raibh sí ina cuid fichidí ach go raibh spéis aici sa scríbhneoireacht ó bhí sí ina cailín beag. Ciara writes much of her poetry in a macaronic style, meaning she has both English and Irish in them and she feels the power of both languages makes her poetry better.
She said the response to the macaronic style has been really positive as most Irish people love to hear some Irish and the English element helps those who have some Irish but would be 'too lost', if the whole poetry was in Irish.
Ciara has developed a confident style in her performances and suggests the following tips for those who want to get better at performing or reading aloud:
- Cleachtadh a dhéanann máistreacht: Practice makes perfect. Ciara recommends repetition as a starting point. She says reading it multiple times, over multiple days because it usually goes in, even when you're sleeping
- Éist siar: If you're struggling with that, Ciara records herself and listens back over and over again and says it helps with her performance.
- Tóg do chuid ama: despite being one of the most basic rules, is one of the best, says Ciara. Take a deep breath when you see a full stop. Remember, even if you think you're going too slowly, you're probably not.
Éist le StaidAir from Monday to Thursday, óna 8pm ar 2FM.
