Ceolchoirm Dhochreidte sa Hollywood Bowl!

An Incredible Concert at the Hollywood Bowl!

by | 2024/11/12 | Reviews, Personal

An Incredible Concert at the Hollywood Bowl!

At exactly the right time, my wife and I found relief from the hustle and bustle of life, and especially from the anxiety we had about the big and important election we had coming up in the United States. We attended a rock concert at that iconic venue in Los Angeles called the 'Hollywood Bowl'. David Gilmour and his backing band were on stage. It's now about 50 years since I first listened to 'Dark Side of the Moon', Pink Floyd's seminal album, featuring Gilmour as lead guitarist. That album really impressed me, and it didn't fade over time. On the contrary, the influence of the album on me increased year after year, as it unfolded its its secrets to the world. Heartbeats (of life), the ticking of the clock, the rhythm of breathing, the influence of money, ageing, dementia and finally the inevitable death – these are the deep themes running through this album – important themes for all of us. Our insight changes and depends on where we are in our own lives, and that is a very clever plan. This album, like all great works of art, is timeless. So, it's no wonder we were excited about this concert. In spite of our expectations, it was better than we thought it would be, and that's not a small thing!

Beforehand

On the day of the concert, we drove a few hours to Hollywood from San Diego County and checked into a hotel we had booked months in advance. It was close to the 'Bowl' and we were able to walk to the concert. The crowds were doing the same thing, and it was easy and safe. A lot of police were present, and as it was Hallowe’en, a lot of people were in costume, including me ('The Riddler' from Batman). We were there quite early and had time to get some popcorn and a bottle of wine. Then, an official led us to our seats, and we sat down. We had a nice chat with our neighbors and then, the concert started.

The Concert

Gilmour and his band opened with '5 A.M.' from their album 'Rattle That Lock' (2015), followed by 'Black Cat' and 'Luck and Strange' from their new album 'Luck and Strange'. They were poignant pieces of instrumental music and paved the way for the classics we all looked forward to. Then came the pot of gold - three unmistakeable songs from the 'Dark Side of the Moon' album - 'Breathe (In the Air),' 'Time,' and 'Breath (Reprise)'. Even after decades, they haven't lost their spiritual magic, and for people of a certain age, including us, the music took us back down memory lane, and we were young again. A reverent silence fell upon us all, as we listened to sublime notes soaring and swooping through the air, notes that Gilmour coaxed from his guitar and that no other guitarist in the world would have been able to pull off. Perhaps God had left Heaven's gate open and the transcendental music of His own Angels was wafting down over us in the Bowl. Anyway, we were hooked and in a kind of Divine ecstasy!

I won't describe every other song in the concert, but a few others that stand out. I loved the set list - a powerful mix of songs, both old and new. Gilmour was also at his best as a singer, which was very clear when he sang the jewel 'Wish you were here' - the title track of the album of the same name, released in 1975. A new depth in Gilmour's voice brought a full-bodied sound to his singing style. Like a fine wine, Gilmour gets better with time, both singing and playing guitar. He is a master not only of his electric guitar - especially the 'Black Strat' (Black Fender Stratocaster), but also of his acoustic guitar - a Martin D-35, and he played both of them with gusto on 'Wish you were here' '. 

Romany Gilmour (David's daughter) sang a track from the new album 'Luck and Strange', called 'Between Two Points'. David took a back seat in the song and let the spotlight shine on his daughter, who has a great voice herself. We felt the intimate bond between David and Romany as they collaborated on stage.

Romany, Louise Marshall, Hattie and Charlie Webb sang the wonderful song 'The Great Gig in the Sky', from the album 'Dark Side of the Moon'. They were gathered around a grand piano that Louise was playing. Louise was the lead singer, with the other three as backing singers. David Gilmour was playing slide guitar in the background. You wouldn't imagine any singer could sing the high notes as well as Clare Torry, who sang the original version. In my opinion, this version was better than the original – and that’s no mean feat!

Encore!

At the end, Gilmour and his band returned for an encore. When we heard the iconic first note of the tune 'Comfortably Numb', we all stood up in tribute to Gilmour and his band.

Gilmour put on quite a show, playing both guitar solos like there was no tomorrow. He hit every note perfectly and precisely, so that his guitar squawked, whined and howled as if it were the voice of an animal, and he was taming the wild, emotional beast whose voice it was. It was an appropriate closing for the concert, and we were all, both musicians and their audience, exhausted and happy.

 

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Litir ó Mheiriceá – Toghchán Mór i Meiriceá!

Letter from America - Big Election in America!

by | 2024/11/06 | Current Affairs, International News, Personal, Politics

Litir ó Mheiriceá - Toghchán Mór i Meiriceá!

As I write this column, the Presidential election is underway in America. I studied the system of government here in the United States in depth before I cast my own vote. I'll share a summary of it here, along with a few implications, which could be very important, especially if Trump wins the Presidency.

Montesquieu

Cé nár mhaith le go leor Meiriceánaigh é a admháil, ba é fealsamh ón Fhrainc darbh ainm Charles-Louis de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu, a raibh an tionchar is mó aige ar bhunreacht na Stát Aontaithe. Smaoinigh Montesquieu ar struchtúr rialtais nua, a mhol sé mar ‘trias politica’nó ‘scaradh cumhachtaí’ ina leabhar cáiliúil “De l’Esprit des lois” (“Maidir le Brí Dlíthe”) foilsithe sa bhliain 1748. Sa leabhar sin, mhínigh sé go mbeadh sé níos fearr cumhachtaí rialtais a scaradh amach i dtrí pháirt: cumhacht reachtach, cumhacht bhreithiúnach agus cumhacht feidhmiúcháin. Leis an struchtúr sin, bheadh idir shrianta agus cheartúcháin sa chóras, ionas nach mbeadh aon pháirt amháin in ann an ceann is fearr a fháil ar aon pháirt eile. Chuir bunaitheoirí bhunreacht Mheiriceá an prionsabal sin i bhfeidhm nuair a dhear siad an rialtas feidearálach, ina bhfuil brainse reachtach (Comhdháil na Stáit Aontaithe – idir Theach na nIonadaithe agus Seanad), brainse breithiúnach (An Chúirt Uachtarach agus Cúirteanna Feidearálacha na Stáit Aontaithe) agus brainse feidhmiúcháin (Uachtarán na Stáit Aontaithe agus a riarachán).

Other Federal Elections

I got my ballot a few weeks ago, and I have to say I had some work to do to sort out my choices. In addition to the famous Presidential election, there are many other elections taking place at the same time. The United States has a hierarchical system, with multiple levels (Federal, State, County, City). But even with respect to the federal elections, all seats in the House of Representatives (435) and 33 (out of 100) seats in the Senate are on the ballot on a national basis. In addition to voting for President, I will be able to cast my vote for Senator in California and for Representative (in the House of Representatives) in my congressional district.

Two Party System

The system of government in the United States is a two-party system (the Democratic Party and the Republican Party), which happened by accident and not on purpose. In both the Senate and the House of Representatives, the Party with the majority has more power. That is important, because no legislation is passed without the approval of both Houses (both the House of Representatives and the Senate), and finally the approval of the President. That is why it is difficult to pass legislation in the United States. You would think that if one Party had the Presidency and the majority in both Houses (as happens from time to time and could happen in this election), then it would be easy to pass legislation. But even then, it's not too easy. Although only a simple majority (more than half) is required in the House of Representatives, a supermajority (60 Senators out of 100) is usually required in favor of legislation in the Senate before it is given its seal of approval. It is not often that at least 60 Senators from one Party sit in the Senate. Therefore, the Senators from the minority Party in the Senate are able to demand significant changes in legislation before giving it their blessing. There is a formal process to discuss such changes, in an attempt to gain agreement in Congress on the proposed legislation. If Congress reaches agreement on changed legislation, that new legislation needs to go through the approval process all over again. If that new legislation is accepted in both Houses, the President still has an opportunity to veto it. While Congress can override a Presidential veto, that is very difficult to do, and rarely happens.

Implications??

According to the polls, the three federal races are neck and neck, for both Houses of Congress and the Presidency. The Presidential election is a strange election, as one candidate can win even if the other candidate receives a majority of the votes. This can happen because a selection process called an 'electoral college' is used. It is a complex process that is unfortunately not fully representative. I do not have space to discuss this complex process here, but this process is mentioned in the country's constitution, and therefore it is very difficult to change it (around 700 attempts have been made to change it up to now). Because of that process, my Presidential vote here in California is not worth a dime and the people in the 'Swing States' will be choosing the President for the entire country. The States in question are: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, North Carolina and Nevada. But I will cast my vote for Kamala Harris, regardless of the impact of my vote on the outcome.

But, and this is my central point, I am able to cast my vote for a Senator in the Senate and for a Representative in the House of Representatives. And my vote will make a difference to them. Adam Schiff (Democrat) is standing against Steve Garvey (Republican) in the Senate election in California, and according to the polls there is a good chance that Schiff will win. I will support him anyway and cast my vote for him. By the way, Trump hates Schiff (he calls him 'shifty Schiff') and with that, I have plenty of justification to vote for Schiff!

For the House of Representatives, I am in the 49th Congressional district, where the incumbent Representative, Mike Levin (Democrat), is running against Matt Gunderson (Republican). While Mike Levin is leading in the polls, Matt Gunderson is improving his rating. I will cast my vote for Levin, and this is undoubtedly an important vote. Why? Well, if the Democrats were able to achieve a majority in the House of Representatives, they would be able to block legislation that the Democratic Party disagrees with - regardless of whether Trump is in office as President or the republicans have the majority in the Senate. There will not be 60 Republican Senators in the Senate, and therefore, the Democrats will be able to block legislation in the Senate as well, if necessary.

Conclusion

Although I don't have a say in the Presidential election, I do have a say regarding a Senator in the Senate and a Representative in the House of Representatives, and it makes a big difference how many Democrats there are in the Senate and the House of Representatives. So, I have an indirect say in how much power Trump would wield, should he win. I will therefore take full advantage of my vote, in an effort to preserve democracy in this country. And to people in Ireland, I will say this: if Trump were to be elected President of America, that does not mean that he will have unlimited power - he will not! While it is often frustrating for us in America to push for changes in the federal government, in the case that Trump were in office trying to be a dictator, that would be a good thing. It would be difficult, even for Trump, to effect change, regardless of which Party is in power in the Senate and the House of Representatives! But let's hope he won't have that opportunity in the first place, even if there would be other problems to solve!

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Teachtaireacht as na Flaithis in Utah?

A message from Heaven in Utah?

by | 2024/10/09 | Personal

A message from Heaven in Utah?

I'm not a superstitious person, but it felt as if a message had fallen from the heavens. It happened suddenly. We -my wife, myself and two friends- had visited the Mormon visitor center in St. George, Utah, in America when it happened. But before that…

Background

Utah is closely associated with the Mormon religion, officially known as the Church of Jesus of Latter-day Saints (LDS). Joseph Smith founded the religion in 1830. According to LDS teachings, the angel Moroni came to him on September 21, 1823, and told him that he was chosen to restore God's church on Earth. Moroni also told Smith that he had placed gold tablets in western New York, and that they had the writings of the ancient prophets. Smith is said to have recovered the tablets four years later and translated them into English from an unknown language. The result of his work was the holy scripture of the LDS church - "The Book of Mormon".

The Mormons were thought to be rebels, so they were persecuted in Missouri and then in Illinois. In 1844, Smith was charged with treason and imprisoned. An anti-Mormon gang killed him in prison. Brigham Young succeeded Smith as president of the church in 1846. Young and his followers went on a great journey to Utah to escape persecution, and Utah has been the center of the LDS church ever since. There is a variety of religions in Utah today, with Mormons making up 40% of the population of 3.5 million.

Sister Davis was our guide in the visitor center, and she shared information about the Mormons. There was a film to see, and posters to read as part of the visit. It was very interesting for us to learn about the Mormons and their religion. Sister Davis was a friendly lady and patiently answered our questions.

Message?

After our visit to the visitor center, one of our guests took a few photos of us in our van. We were parked across the street from the center. I opened my window and reached out through the window for photos. Then I pushed the switch to raise the window. It started working properly at first, but then there was a loud noise like the sound of a shot and the window glass jumped up at blazing speed and then fell down again. The window was then fully open, and the switch no longer worked. A message from heaven perhaps?

Mechanic?

It was after 5 p.m. at the time and it was difficult to find a mechanic as most garages were closed by then. But there was one that would be open until 5:30. I called it, and I spoke to someone named Jake. I explained that we were parked outside the Mormon visitor center and that we were in trouble because of the van window. He agreed to take the van in even though it meant the mechanics would have to work overtime to fix the problem.

We drove straight to the garage, and they brought the van in right away. The whole process took about 45 minutes and the staff had to stay at work for more than half an hour after closing time. It turned out that the window motor had worn out, and they didn't have a replacement available on (such) an urgent basis. They would be able to lift the window and secure it in place with a screw and plastic fasteners – allowing us to continue our journey and get a new motor after the road trip. We agreed to that solution. Thanks to Jake and his team, we were soon on our way again and the window remained closed for the rest of the trip. The only minor problem we had was that it was a bit noisy when we were driving, as there was a small gap at the top of the window - but that didn't bother us.

Conversion?

I was so taken by the series of strange events that the other three started teasing me for a while. "Michael, do you intend to convert to Mormonism?" said one person. "'Yes", said my wife, "he will want to relocate to St. George soon.” And they continued to make fun of me. Were they right – is it?

Are you kidding me too? Seriously though, if I were a superstitious person, I might contemplate, trying to find out if the strange events of the day could be connected in some way to Mormonism. But I'm not like that. The window motor in the van was on its last legs, no doubt, and it's a coincidence that it broke outside the venue. And what about the garage that Jake kept open for us after closing time? Well, maybe Jake is an exemplary person, or maybe when he heard that we were outside his own religion's visitor center, he was inspired to do his deed of the day. In any case, I don't plan on relocating to Utah any time soon!

.

Seoid Chríonnachta!

Pearls of Wisdom!

by | 2024/08/21 | Current Affairs, Personal, Opinion

Pearls of Wisdom!

 

"This is what they call summer, God between us and evil!"

I turned and who was there but Séimí an Droichid, and the poor creature looked like a drowned rat. Fortunately, I had an open golf umbrella with plenty of room for two people under it.

"Come join me under my umbrella!" I said, because I felt sorry for him.

"That's an offer I can't refuse, and I'm very grateful!" Séimí answered and he already safe, sheltered from a heavy shower.

“Well, let's head to Meubles for lunch, then! I will stand this!” We were outside Woodies and heading in that direction, anyway.

"Beggars can’t be choosers, so to speak!" said Séimí. “Ahead we go!”

When we were sitting by the window, eating soup and brown bread, I asked Séimí the question that had been bothering me recently.

"Séimí, I think we are in an uneasy time at the moment. Although diplomacy is the best way to ensure that there will be peace, there is a lack of it all over the world. But the increase in immigration is having the biggest impact on the western world. Once upon a time, the stresses of immigration were only visible in America. We didn't really understand what was going on there until the same thing happened here too, and we learned the complexities of immigration pretty quickly then. But now, things have taken a turn for the worse in Ireland and the violence is getting worse. Riots broke out in Dublin last year, following online rumors of an attack on children in the city centre. And there have been riots in England recently too. People across Britain were shocked when three girls aged between 6 and 9 were killed in a knife attack on July 29 in Southport, a seaside town north of Liverpool. False rumors quickly spread on social media that the suspect was an asylum seeker, or a Muslim immigrant. The anti-immigrant riots started in Southport, and then other riots broke out across England, from Plymouth on the south coast to Sunderland in the North East. Riots also occurred in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Séimí, where the hell are we going?" I was out of breath, and I was also starving. Séimí was already eating and I quickly imitated him.

“Mickaleen, my faithful friend, what about the niceties of social relations? I'm quite well, thank you, and I hope everything is fine with you, too?” He smiled roguishly, and I realized instantly that I had been rude to Séimí.

"Excuse me, Séimí, for my verbosity - I wasn't thinking at all. And we are fine too, and as busy now as we were before we quit our jobs. I was looking for relief, maybe, or reassurance from you that things will work out in this country and around the world and that's why I started blathering."

"Michael, I understand what you are saying, and that you are worried that things are in turmoil around the world, including in our own country. Too much bad news affects us all negatively. Times like this remind me of an old English proverb, which goes like this: 'Have the calmness to accept things I cannot change, have the courage to make changes when possible, and understand the difference between them.' We have an opportunity as a country to take a strict stance in relation to countries and people committing atrocities. We can express our views to our TDs (representatives). We also have the opportunity to express our discontent on the street, as demonstrations are often organized to pressure the government to address important issues. And we as citizens have a duty to use our votes wisely, and to give our support to people and parties that do not have hatred as an integral part of their political vision. Michael, people worry especially when terrible things are happening that they have no control over. But you can get things done most of the time. Although they are often small things, they make a positive impact in the right direction. My advice to all citizens is another old saying - 'actions speak louder than words'. One small action is stronger than a thousand words. I don't know if that would give you any relief or reassurance, but that's my approach to things like that!” With that, Séimí finished eating and nodded his head wisely. I myself had finished my meal and was drinking in every word that my faithful friend had to say.

“Séimí, you did it again! You are right. The 'Stand up to Racism' group held more than 50 rallies in Great Britain and the North. Around 15,000 gathered in Belfast, chanting the words: 'when migrants are under attack, what do we do? Let's stand up!' There are also frequent anti-racism rallies in Ireland, and there was a big one in Dublin last year. Our conversation reminds me of a few other old sayings of Teddy Roosevelt’s: 'In the hour of destiny, the best thing to do is the right thing, and the worst thing to do is nothing' and ‘Do what you can with what you have, where you are.'

“Well, we're of like minds then. And you tied everything together with the statements of President Teddy Roosevelt. He was a pillar of support for the disadvantaged during the Great Depression in the United States. Great advice from him, no doubt! Well, it's not raining anymore – I'm going to meet another friend at 'Costa' now. Nice to meet you, and I'll definitely see you again after a while."

"I'll be looking forward to it!" I said, but Séimí was already halfway down the stairs.

.

.

.

.

Cuairt ar Bhaile Átha Cliath!

A visit to Dublin!

by | 2024/08/14 | Personal

A visit to Dublin!

I haven't spent much time in Dublin for many years. My wife spent more time there - she is originally from Dublin - visiting her relatives who live there. I myself lived in Dublin for more than twenty years altogether. That's where I met my wife for the first time. That's where I attended University. That's where I first started working, after getting a job at Córas Impar Éireann (CIE). I grew up and did my thing in Dublin. In short, that's where I spent my youth – sometimes unwisely. BAC is definitely an important part of my history. Therefore, it was about time I spent a few days in this ancient capital to pay my respects to her and to reacquaint ourselves with each other.

First Impressions

We got ourselves a room in the "Herbert Park Hotel" in Ballsbridge for three nights. The hotel is located near Herbert Park, a wonderful park between Ballsbridge and Donnybrook. Sinead's sister lives next to the park and takes her two dogs out for a walk several times a day. We drove from Carrickshock in county Kilkenny up to Dublin and checked into the hotel. Then I drove to the North Wall in the city center to return the car we had rented. I noticed the big changes to the North Wall, with international companies, hotels and restaurants now located there, which were not there once. The economy is booming in the city centre, not only on the North Wall Quay but in various other places, too. I saw the cranes when I was in the taxi going to the hotel. Without a doubt, my first impression of the city was that of a prosperous and flourishing city. I know there are big problems too. For example, I saw the barriers up and down both sides of the Grand Canal – that's not a permanent solution to the lack of housing!

Coláiste na Tríonóide

We got ourselves a room in the "Herbert Park Hotel" in Ballsbridge for three nights. The hotel is located near Herbert Park, a wonderful park between Ballsbridge and Donnybrook. Sinead's sister lives next to the park and takes her two dogs out for a walk several times a day. We drove from Carrickshock in county Kilkenny up to Dublin and checked into the hotel. Then I drove to the North Wall in the city center to return the car we had rented. I noticed the big changes to the North Wall, with international companies, hotels and restaurants now located there, which were not there once. The economy is booming in the city centre, not only on the North Wall Quay but in various other places, too. I saw the cranes when I was in the taxi going to the hotel. Without a doubt, my first impression of the city was that of a prosperous and flourishing city. I know there are big problems too. For example, I saw the barriers up and down both sides of the Grand Canal – that's not a permanent solution to the lack of housing!

The Old Library and Book of Kells

The Long Room is the main room of the Old Library (built between 1712 and 1732), with 200,000 of the oldest books. The roof was raised in 1860 so that more space could be created. There was an illuminated statue of the Earth on display, called Gaia and it was amazing to see it suspended in the air.

The Book of Kells has been on display in the Old Library since the mid-19th century and attracts over 500,000 visitors each year. The book is open to show two pages of the script. We saw pages with a list of names on it – a kind of genealogy. It was a wonderful sight - a book written around 800 A.D.

I would recommend this trip to anyone who would like to get a general overview of Trinity College, and to see the Book of Kells.

National Museum of Ireland

The next day, and our last day in Dublin, we visited the National Museum of Ireland. Sinéad has been there many times before, as she is an archaeologist. But I think, and I'm ashamed of it, that this was my first visit to the National Museum. Well, procrastination often pays off, and that was definitely true for me. We spent two hours there, and we hadn't seen half of what was on display. I will be back to see and learn more. It is a first class institution, no doubt. We saw many prehistoric artifacts from the Bronze Age - the collection of prehistoric goldwork comes from a range of dates between 2200 BC and 500 BC. The Kingship and Sacrifice exhibition was also very interesting - the result of the findings of the National Museum of Ireland's Bog Bodies Research Project, which was established in 2003 after two Iron Age corpses were found in a bog in Oldcroghan, Co. Offaly and in Clonycavan, Co. of Meath. The remains were dated to the period between about 400 BC and 200 BC and were all very well preserved. It was really interesting to see such old remains, being able to see a human body from that period. It's free to visit the National Museum - that's an offer you can't refuse!

.

.

.

.

Cúrsa san Aistriúchán!

A Course in Translation!

by | 2024/08/07 | Language Affairs, Personal

A Course in Translation!

 

My wife Sinéad and I recently spent a week in the Donegal Gaeltacht and we both had a great time. We attended courses organised by Oideas Gael in Glencolmcille - Sinéad on a course with an emphasis on spoken Irish and myself on a course in translation. Sinéad really liked the course she attended, and she improved her spoken Irish. I had never done a course in translation before, so I had no idea what I was walking into.

I was taken aback

I thought I already had the basic translation skills and would polish them in this class. I was soon taken aback. First, the teacher asked us to translate phrases or sentences from English into Irish. I did as he asked and then the problems just started. For example, we had to translate 'Mixed Doubles' (in tennis) into Irish. I went into Foclóir.ie and the translation I got is ‘cluiche dúbailte measctha’. We all had that same translation (five of us) in the class. We thought we'd quickly move on to the next phrase. A few hours later we were still chatting about that translation. Doctor Micheál Ó Duibh was teaching us a master class - there is no doubt about that. Micheál used this example and a few others too, to let us know the difficulties involved in translation. What happened during the time we were discussing 'Mixed Doubles'?

Master Class

We trust the dictionaries we use in translation. That's not always a good thing, and it's worth thinking first about what's behind the English version. It is also worth imagining that you are explaining English from Irish to someone who does not speak English. Also, the dictionary does not have to conform to the official Standard. You may not think so, but there are situations where it is necessary for you to comply with the official Standard in order to meet the terms of your contract. After all, you have options all the time when translating.

Micheál took us through the process, step by step. As an introduction, he said that there was more than one way to translate, and that he would show us his own way. His process is as follows.

Before translating 'mixed doubles', how about 'doubles'? We suggested a ‘dúbailte' to him. ‘Dúbailte’ can be used he said, but is there a better way to translate it into Irish? Don't you think there are only two people playing with the word 'dúbailte'? Is it right to use ‘dúbailte’ when referring to people? We didn't have the answers. He proposed 'cluiche beirteanna' as a translation of 'doubles', and 'cluiche beirteanna na bhfear', 'cluiche beirteanna na mban' and 'cluiche beirteanna measctha' as translations for 'men's doubles', 'women's doubles' and 'mixed doubles'. I have to say that those translations are much better, in my opinion, than what is in the dictionary. Micheál made translations of the meaning of the phrases, instead of a bare translation of the words themselves. That approach raises the quality of the translation significantly. That's just one example, but it gives you a taste of what's involved when you translate.

Sometimes, there is a phrase that is not clear how to translate, and you have to state the options and then think to pick the right one. For example: 'Irish Music Month 2024'. It can be given the following translations: ‘Mí Cheol na nÉireannach 2024’, ‘Mí Cheol na hÉireann 2024’, ‘Mí Cheol Éireannach 2024’, agus ‘Mí Ceoil Éireannaigh 2024’. The biggest problem with that is that the English version is ambiguous. For example, 'Irish' can be used to refer to someone from Ireland or something from Ireland. And it can be 'Irish Music' month', or 'Irish 'Music month'' and they are not the same. In Irish, each meaning has a different translation. We thought ‘Mí Cheol na hÉireann 2024’ was the best translation and what was meant in the original English version.

Practice makes perfect

We had a lot of exercises to do in class, and we spent most of the time practicing the craft of translation. We had to translate all kinds of passages, from official paragraphs from government documents to informal speeches by politicians, from road signs to passages from novels. We shared our efforts with the other students in the class, and they wrote suggestions on them. In this way, we received very useful feedback and we were learning and improving our skills all the time.

After that, Micheál said that it is very difficult to translate famous quotations. He gave us a difficult one, written by George Bernard Shaw: 'Dancing is a perpendicular expression of a horizontal desire'. I thought about it, and I noticed a few things. Firstly, the words 'perpendicular' and 'horizontal' work well in English, but it would be quite difficult to translate them directly into Irish. Secondly, it is a semi-sexual reference and it would not be correct to translate the explanation directly, because then the semi-reference which is central to the statement will be lost. Then, he came to me, and I did my best translation of the course and maybe ever: 'Scaoileann fonn fonn'. There are only three words, but they convey the essence of Shaw's statement. Instead of using geometric patterns, I used wordplay. Fonn means an air or tune, but it also means a wish or desire. You would be able to come up with 'A tune releases desire' as an explanation of the phrase Scaoileann fonn fonn'. I was sure after that translation that I had learned a lot in this great class, and that I am much more confident now to deal with all kinds of translations from now on!

.

.

.

.

en_USEnglish
en_USEnglish gaGaeilge