﻿224
AN GAODHAL.
with her usual arrogant heartless, dis¬
dainful sneer of contempt.
In this very blue outlook for our na¬
tive land, brother Gaels, we appeal to
you to support your native literature
and to scatter it broadcast that there¬
by we may assist our Gaelic brethren
at home in their efforts to preserve it
so that when Providence may deign
to inspire our people with that patriot¬
ic devotion to country which compass¬
ed the freedom of these United States.
Emmet's epitaph may be inscribed in
the language of the land for which he
offered his young life as a sacrifice.
NEW GAELIC BOOKS.
WINTER PASTIMES (Siamsa an Geimhre). or by
The Hearth in West Connacht; a collection of
Stories, Poems, Songs, Riddles, &c. by Daniel
O’Faherty, Connemara. Dublin, P. O'Brien, 46
Cuff Street, 1892
The material for this book was supplied by Mr.
O’Faherty, and was revised and prepared for the
press by the Rev. Eugene O'Growney, Professor
of Celtic, Maynooth College. The letterpress por¬
tion of the work was by Mr. O'Brien, and the res¬
ult is the handsome volume which forms the sub¬
ject of our notice The book reflects credit on all
concerned. The stories are charming and grace¬
ful, — the simple tales by which the peasantry of
the West of Ireland beguile the tedium of the long
winter evenings. But what will give the book its
greatest value in the eyes of Irish scholars is the
stories are told in the living Irish tongue as it is
spoken in the field and by the fire-side to-day in
Connacht. Mr. O’Faherty took down the stories,
songs, riddles, games, charms, prayers, &c. just as
he heard them. Most of the rustic shanchies are
alive still, while some have gone “the way of the
faithful,“ or as it is expressed in our own beautiful
tongue, tha siad anois air h slighe na firinne.
We often heard those or similar tales, and it is
needless to say that the daoine maithe, fairies, (lit¬
erally, good people) figure largely in them. All
the exploits of the Shigheogaighe, — abducting prin¬
cesses, changing old hags to beautiful women, &c.
are the principal features of Connacht tales, and
O’Faherty does them full justice in the book under
review. We anticipate a great popularity for the
book, especially as its low price places it within
the reach of all classes of Irish readers. The Siamsa
can be had for Is 6d (cloth, 2s) from the printer
and publisher, Mr. Patrick O'Brien, 46 Cuffe St.
Dublin.
The book consists of 144 pages, and in all prob¬
ability no publication of its kind has yet appeared
that so faithfully represents the amusements and
passtimes of the country people in the remote part
of Connacht.
The edition consist of 1,000 copies, the expenses
of printing being defrayed (with his usual genero¬
sity on behalf of the Irish language) by the Rev.
E. D. Cleaver, Dolgelly, North Wales, who ,also,
paid for the distribution of 500 copies gratis among
the school children in the South, West, and North
of Ireland, where the Gaelic language is still the
ordinary medium of communication.
It appears from a note at the end of the book
that Mr. O’Faherty intends to publish another vol¬
ume of this interesting folklcre should he meet
with that encouragement his exertions so well de¬
serve.
THE SCOTS.
Our Scottish kinsmen, like the Welsh, are leav¬
ing us, Irish, far in the rear in their fostering care
of their language. In Oban, Highlands of Scotland,
the other day the elite of Scotland gathered to take
part in the Feis Ceoil of their Cumann Gaidhealach,
and subscribed to and awarded prizes to those
who produced the best Gaelic compositions. The
following class of persons were present. Lord Arch¬
ibald Campbell, president ; Lord Ranald Gower,
Col. Malcolm, C B.; Col. C, Gardyne, Col. Gas¬
coigne, Col. Lorne Stewart, with a large array of
the gentry, clergy, and professional men of Scotland.
The proceedings of this highly interesting Gaelic
gathering are given at length in the Tuam News of
October 28, occupying two columns and a half. It is
worth a year's subscription to the News to any one
who would be informed on Gaelic matters.
Such hearty proceedings on the part of the Scots
should shame us, Irish, if we have any shame left.
We see that J J O’Donoughue gave $500 the other
day for the honor of being a national Elector; we
never heard of him to give 5 cents in support of the
Gaelic Movement which, were it not for it, notwith¬
standing his millions, would leave him where he
was twenty years ago — on a level with the Nigger.
His class are the greatest curse to Irish nationality.
They, like the Fox, appropriate to themselves the
fruits of other men’s labors.
ÉABHRACH NUADH
17 E. 105 Sráid,
8mhadh lá de naoi mhí '92.
Chum M. J. Ua Lócháin,
Fear eagair an Ghaodhail.
A Chara Dhíl:
Gheobhfaidh tú leis an litir so
cúig dailleur, dailleur ó do shearbhfhógh¬
anta bhig, dailleur ó mo dhearbh-bhrathair
Seághan, dailleur ó Sheághan Ua Conchu¬
bhair, dailleur ó Mháirtín Breathnach, &
daileur ó Shéamus Ua Códa. Tá súil
agam go m-béidh cuid eile 'na dhiaigh so
agam le cuir chugad. Ní'l nidh air bith
nuadh agam le cuir chugad, acht amháin
an sgeul maith, go bh-fuilmíd go maith
anso.
Le meas mór,
Do shearbhfhóghantuidhe beag,
Caitilín M. Ní Aimneach
We hope those sending the Gael to the old country
will pay punctually and not leave thei friends to
surmise that they owe its continuous reception to
our good nature if the renewals be not noted in it.
During the late campaign the Irish soldier was
in great demand on both sides, but Johny Bull qui¬
etly decided the battle.
