Là Fhéill Pàdraig sona dhuibh! Happy St. Patrick’s Day! (In Scottish Gaelic!)
In advance of St. Patrick’s Day 2024, The Irish Gaelic Tattoo Handbook author Audrey Nickel, aka The Geeky Gaeilgeoir, has written several new blog posts on themes related to the (mis)use of Irish language and symbols. Read her posts at the links below:
We’re also featuring our titles with significant Irish-language content, which alongside The Irish Gaelic Tattoo Handbook, include two new books published in autumn 2023: the children’s book Lugh and the Fortress of the Gods and the graphic novel An Rós Fiáin.
Lugh and the Fortress of the Gods is a bilingual children’s book in English and Irish that retells a myth about Lugh of the Long Arm. This myth is retold as a participation story with action words and gestures, making it perfect for reading aloud. The book also helps introduce children to the Irish language. Three versions of the story are included: the first in English, the second in English with action words in Irish, and the third version entirely in Irish which is good for Irish-language learners. The actions are the same in all three versions, acting as a bridge from English to Irish. The book has engaging black-and-white illustrations by the illustrator of Fionn MacCool and the Salmon of Knowledge.
An Rós Fiáin is an Irish-language graphic novel translated and compiled from the Nova Scotian indie comic book series “Wild Rose.” Set in rural Ireland and London in 1790, An Rós Fiáin reimagines a haunting Appalachian-Irish murder ballad as a tale of love and revenge. When Eliza Day is seduced and betrayed by a wealthy English lover, she soon finds out that the restrictive society in which she lives has no place for defiant women who break with convention. With the help of Adam Stone, a free Black man, Eliza has a chance to make a new life for herself after the loss of her innocence – but to do so, she will have to be braver than she could ever have imagined. The story contains mature themes and is recommended for ages 15 and older.
