An Chéad Chomhdháil Idirnáisiúnta ar Litríocht Ghaeilge na nÓg

[Pól Ó Cainín, Caitríona Hastings, Alan Titley, Philip O'Leary agus Gearóidín Uí Laighléis]

The first international conference on Irish-language children’s literature was held in St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra, on 8 and 9 April 2011. This event, which was organised by Dr Ríona Nic Congáil and lecturers in the Irish Department, was officially opened by Siobhán Parkinson, Laureate na nÓg, and brought together researchers, teachers, writers, publishers, translators, librarians and others with expertise and interest in Irish-language children’s literature.

The main aim of the conference was to provide those involved in Irish-language children’s literature with a new forum in which to address and debate significant aspects of this literature. Papers covered topics as varied as Irish-language phonics programmes for literacy in the early years, children’s literature in translation, Revival discourses on children’s literature, writing for teenagers, school-based research on children’s response to recent Irish-language publications, the adaptation of traditional Irish material in picture books and graphic novels, literacy and literature in a Gaeltacht context. Speakers from Wales, Scotland and Brittany offered a valuable comparative linguistic and cultural perspective. Professor Philip O’Leary from Boston College delivered a fascinating paper on the writings of Cathal Ó Sándair, who wrote over 120 books in the Irish language for teenagers between the 1940s and 1980s. Professor Alan Titley gave an equally stimulating talk on translations of children’s books into the Irish language from the early twentieth century onwards.

The conference was financially supported by Clár na Leabhar Gaeilge (Foras na Gaeilge) and the St Patrick’s College Research Committee, and it is intended to publish the proceedings in due course.

[Ronan O'Reilly, Gráinne Campion, Meadhbh Ní Eadhra agus Lydia Groszewski]

Tionóladh an Chéad Chomhdháil Idirnáisiúnta ar Litríocht Ghaeilge na nÓg i gColáiste Phádraig, Droim Conrach, ar an 8 - 9 Aibreán 2011. An Dr. Ríona Nic Congáil agus léachtóirí Roinn na Gaeilge a d’eagraigh an ócáid seo agus bhí Siobhán Parkinson, Laureate na nÓg, i láthair chun an chomhdháil a oscailt go hoifigiúil. Bhí oideachasóirí, scríbhneoirí, foilsitheoirí, leabharlannaithe agus daoine eile a bhfuil saineolas agus suim acu i litríocht na n-óg i láthair chun páirt a ghlacadh sna himeachtaí go léir.

An phríomhaidhm a bhain leis an gcomhdháil seo ná fóram tábhachtach nua a chur ar fáil do dhaoine a bhfuil baint acu le litríocht na n-óg, chun an deis a thabhairt dóibh aghaidh a thabhairt ar ghnéithe tábhachtacha den chineál litríochta seo, ó cheist na litearthachta agus an aistriúcháin go dtí an scríbhneoireacht do dhéagóirí agus feidhm na teicneolaíochta.

Thug an tOllamh Philip O’Leary, Boston College, caint ríspéisiúil ar shaothar Chathail Uí Shándair, a scríobh breis is 120 leabhar do dhéagóirí idir na 1940í agus na 1980í. Chomh maith leis sin, thug an tOllamh Alan Titley, Coláiste na hOllscoile, Corcaigh, caint an-spreagúil ar na haistriúcháin Ghaeilge ar litríocht do dhaoine óga a foilsíodh ó bhlianta luatha an fhichiú haois ar aghaidh.

Tá Roinn na Gaeilge buíoch de Chlár na Leabhar Gaeilge (Foras na Gaeilge) agus de Choiste Taighde Choláiste Phádraig, a chuir maoiniú ar fáil chun an chomhdháil seo a reáchtáil.

 

 

Last Updated: Tuesday April 19 2011