Being the one-man band behind Irish Writers Online, I get a lot of requests for links, and of course I do my best, but being as human as the next, I find that courtesy goes a long way. Muiris Ó Meara wrote me the following email, and I’m quoting in in full because I appreciate a few things about it. He addressed me in Irish first, making the positive assumption that I could at least read and understand it. Then he accompanied it with an English translation, just in case. I find that a very nice approach.
A Philip chóir, táim ag scríobh chugat mar gheall ar Chumann scríbhneoirí Óga/Úra na Gaeilge. Bunaíodh an cumann seo chun tacú leis na scríbhneoirí óga/úra atá ag saothrú i ngort na Gaeilge d’fhonn is go bhféadfadis misneach a thabhairt dá chéile. Fé láthair táthar ag iarraidh an blag idirlín atá againn a fhorbairt agus ar an intinn seo atáim ag scríobh chugat. Feicim go bhfuil nacscanna luaite agaibh ar an suíomh s’agatsa agus ba mhór againn dá bhféadfá nasc don gcumann s’againne a chur in airde ar an suíomh s’agaibhse.
I am writing to you with regard to Chumann scríbhneoirí Óga/Úra na Gaeilge na Gaeilge. This organization was established with the intention of giving young and new literary voices writing in Irish a platform whereby they could reach a (potentially) wider audience. It was also felt that these new literary voices would benefit from the mutual support which such an organization could offer young Irish-language writers and regular Irish-language workshops. We are presently trying to develop our blog and this is really the reason I am writing to you. I see that on your site that you have listed links to other sites and we would really appreciate it if you could place a link for our blog here. Chumann scríbhneoirí Óga/Úra na Gaeilge
Beannacht,
Muiris Ó Meara
Ríona Nic Congáil
Majella McDonnell
So I’m very happy to give them a plug. Besides, even if it’s just started, it seems a very nice and lively site and I’ve put it in my RSS links, so I can have a peek on a regular basis.
Well done to all concerned. It’s a great development, because if writing is a lonely task, writing in a minority language like Irish is lonelier still. And some recent research on my part showed that with few exceptions, notably the great Cló Iar-Chonnachta, it’s very hard to get information on Irish language writers. This despite the fact that some Irish language sites have a lot of money at their disposal. The web is a great opportunity for the Irish language, and here’s hoping the young writers now beginning their literary journey will take the opportunity with both hands.
