Seachtain na Gaeilge is up and running - it's a perfect time to get reading as Gaeilge. Here, Ruth Concannon from Children's Books Ireland tell us about their new reading guide full of great books as well as giving us great recommendations to get you going.
March is a month that is filled with celebrations around all things Irish – our history, our culture and our language. There are many ways to celebrate Irish or Irishness, but of course at Children's Books Ireland, our favourite way of celebrating Irishness is through stories.
You simply cannot beat the drama and magic of Irish folklore, from much loved legends like The Children of Lir and the tale of Cú Chulainn, to lesser-known hidden gems passed down through the oral tradition. And what better way to explore Irish folklore, fairytales, myths and legends than through our own native tongue? Inspired by our new Léigh Leabhar Gaeilge recommended reading guide, we have selected some of our favourite Irish folklore stories written as Gaeilge.
The Léigh Leabhar Gaeilge recommended reading guide is filled with 100 brilliant recommendations encouraging young readers aged 0–18 to pick up a book as Gaeilge. Not only is there a book for every interest level and reading taste, but this is also a fantastic guide for all levels of readers as Gaeilge – whether you are a fluent reader, an improver, or taking your first steps in discovering/ rediscovering the Irish language. Each review includes a description of the book in English and an age recommendation to guide you on your journey to exploring the enchanting world of leabhair Ghaeilge.
If you’re curious to find more leabhair Ghaeilge, you can check out our full Léigh Leabhar Gaeilge recommended reading guide on www.childrensbooksireland.ie or pick up a copy in participating shops and libraries.
An Drúchtín agus an Seilide by Oein DeBhairduin and illustrated by Olya Anima, Little Island Books and Skein Press, 32PP, ISBN 9781915071316
Scéal béaloidis de chuid an Lucht Siúil atá san fhoilseachán seo, faoi bheirt drúchtíní ar deartháireacha iad i ré sula raibh seilidí ar an saol. Tá fonn ar dhuine amháin acu blaosc agus baile a bheith aige, ach tá fonn ar an duine eile a bheith fiáin gan srianta. De réir a Chéile aithníonn siad an gaol atá eatarthu in ainneoin na n-éagsúlachtaí. Fabhalscéal álainn a chothódh plé faoin éagsúlacht agus a chuirfidh le heolas agus le tuiscint léitheoirí óga.
A translation of The Slug and the Snail, this fable from the Irish Traveller community teaches us about difference and acceptance. (Age 2–4, 5–7)
Cluasa Capaill ar an Rí by Bridget Bhreathnach and illustrated by Shona Shirley MacDonald, Futa Fata, 40PP, ISBN 9781910945605
Is aithinsint ghalánta é seo ar scéal béaloidis idirnáisiúnta. Insítear scéal Labhraí Loingseach, prionsa a bhfuil rún mór á choinneál faoi cheilt aige: rugadh é agus cluasa capaill air. Leantar Labhraí tríd an leabhair, óna óige uaigneach chuig a aosacht mar rí, agus barbóir iontaofa nua á lorg aige chun a ghruaig a ghearradh d’fhéile bhliantúil na ríochta agus a chluasa a choinneáil faoi rún ina dhiaidh sin. Cuireann an pictiúrleabhar seo eispéireas thar a bheith draíochtúil agus tumthach ar fáil don léitheoir.
A retelling of the famous folktale of Labhraidh Loingseach, the king with horse’s ears. (Age 5–7, 8–10)
An Fia sa Choill by Sadhbh Devlin and illustrated by Anastasia Melnykova, Futa Fata, 42PP, ISBN 9781915684165
Is minic a léimid faoi Fhionn Mac Cumhaill sna scéalta Fiannaíochta, ach ní chloistear mórán faoina bhean chéile, Sadhbh. Is athinsint álainn é seo ar scéal rúndiamhrach Shadhbh. Tá gluaiseacht iontach tríd agus tá gach ní ann a mbeifeá ag súil leis ó scéal Fiannaíochta: an dúlra, ainmhithe, amhránaíocht, ceol na cruite, brionglóidí agus luibheanna. Níl spás ar bith curtha amú ag an ealaíontóir leis na pictiúir áille ildaite le stíl Cheilteach iontu. Ceann álainn don léitheoireacht os ard nó don léitheoireacht neamhspleách.
This retelling of an old Irish legend brings us to the moment when Fionn Mac Cumhaill met Sadhbh, who magically transforms from a deer into a woman. (Age 5–7, 8–10)
An Féileacán agus an Rí by Máire Zepf and illustrated by Shona Shirley MacDonald, Futa Fata, 48PP, ISBN 9781910945483
Is athinsint é An Féileacán agus an Rí ar sheanscéal grá Éadaoin agus Mhír. Insíonn Zepf I réamhrá gairid nach raibh aon stiúir ag Éadaoin ar a saol sna seanleaganacha, ach sa leagan seo, tá smacht ag Éadaoin ar a cinniúint féin. Tá Éadaoin agus Mír le pósadh, ach cuirtear mallacht ar Éadaoin agus tagann cruth féileacáin bhig uirthi. Tá an leabhar seo sármhaisithe ag Shona Shirley Macdonald. Éiríonn le Zepf scéal mealltach a insint ar bhealach simplí, le friotal fileata in úsáid go minic. Tugann sí beocht do scéal Éadaoin agus Mhír don chéad ghlúin eile.
A retelling of the mythological love story of Éadaoin and Mír, where a curse is put on Éadaoin and she turns into a butterfly. (Age 8–10, 10–12)
Finscéalta na hÉireann by Eithne Massey and illustrated by Lisa Jackson, The O’Brien Press, 64PP, ISBN 9781788494731
Déanann an leabhar seo athinsint ar chuid de na finscéalta is mó a bhfuil cáil orthu in Éirinn. Tá siad scríofa i ndóigh spraíúil a dtugann léargas dúinn ar phearsantachtaí na gcarachtar, go háirithe Fionn fiosrach ag síorcheistiú a mhuintire. Cloisimid fosta faoin éad agus faoin olc, faoin gcumha agus faoin gcrógacht. Tá lucht na córa agus na coire ann ach tugtar le fios go mbíonn mothúcháin againn uilig. Tá léaráidí áille ag dul leis na scéalta a chuireann beocht ins na carachtair.
A translation of best-loved Irish Legends, this book tells the stories of The Salmon of Knowledge, The Children of Lir, Oisín and more. (Aois 8–10, 10–12)
Scéalta le hInsint don Ghaelach by Caoimhe Nic Lochlainn and illustrated by Olivia Golden, Cois Life, 100PP, ISBN 9781907494789
Scéalta ón mbéaloideas, á n-insint ar bhealach éadrom soiléir atá oiriúnach do pháistí an lae inniu. Tá éagsúlacht ann, idir scéalta gearra greannmhara mar 'Nuair a tháinig an tae go hÉirinn’, ag magadh faoi mhíthuiscintí, agus scéalta fada draíochta, ‘Cóitín Luachra’ mar shampla. Tá an bheogacht agus an greann céanna sna pictiúir, agus tá focail neamhghnácha mínithe sa ghluais. Tá an leabhar oiriúnach do léitheoirí in aoisghrúpa 10–14, ach is leabhar iontach é le léamh os ard do pháistí ó chúig bliana d’aois ar aghaidh.
This collection of folktales has a mixture of funny short stories such as ‘When the tea came to Ireland’ and longer magical tales. (Age 10–12)
Ruth Concannon is the Publications Manager for Children’s Books Ireland (CBI), the national charity and arts organisation that champions every child’s right to develop a love of reading. Rith says: "Our mission is to inspire a love of reading in children and young people on the island of Ireland, and to champion equitable access for all to excellent books.
"We share our expertise and enthusiasm with the adults who guide and influence young readers and encourage schools and early childhood settings to build a positive culture of reading and reading aloud. We support and promote authors and illustrators and connect them with their audiences through our work."
