Time to boast as Glór glory goes to Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich

A BIG HELLO to wallflowers and boasters alike, you are all welcome to the Buffer’s Guide to Irish.

As regular readers will know, the Bluffer could never be described as mórtasach - boastful (aye, dead on!).

People who go on and on about how great they are said to be ag déanmh mórtais - showing off although you can use it about people who, like the Bluffer are very umhal - modest.

Ní bhíonn sí ag déanamh mórtais faoina cuid torthaí - she’s modest about her results is a useful sentence you could swap around to suit your needs.

Another way of saying that someone has notions beyond their station is Bíonn sé i gcónaí ag maíomh as féin - he’s always boasting about himself.

However, sometimes shouting to the world about how great you are is the only sensible thing to do and that is what Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich are doing after being announced winners of the Glór na nGael 2019 competition. 

“What is Glór na nGael?” I hear you ask.

It’s an organisation which, since 1961, has been running a comórtas bliantúil - an annual competition between community groups to decide which has done the most to promote Irish in their area.

There a many different categories in the competition but the West Belfast’s Cultúrlann has just bagged the top honour and the €20,000 duais - prize.

And for anyone who hasn’t been there, the former Presbyterian church is a veritable cornucopia of activity behind its austere walls.

The first thing that will greet you will be the bialann - the restaurant simply called Bia which is the Irish for food.

Bia is a virtual hub for a huge mix of people - Gaeilgeoirí - Irish speakers, oibrithe pobail - community workers with ríomhairí glúine - laptops and enough paperwork to cover the whole Brexit negotiations as well as pinsinérí - pensioners and teaghlaigh - families all enjoying the atmosphere and the great food whether they know Irish or not.

Beside Bia is An Ceathrú Póilí - The Fourth Policeman, a bookshop,  where you can get your Irish and English reading material or some beautiful lámhcheardaíocht - handcrafts.

Then there is Dánlann Dillon, the art gallery named after the west Belfast artist, Gerard Dillon where there are taispeántais - exhibitions all year round for you to browse through with a glass of wine on opening nights.

The Dánlann also hosts seoltaí leabhar - book launches, ranging from the traditional to one which had a real-life dragon in attendance!

There is a bigger amharclann - theatre – named after actress Siobhán McKenna – where dramas and concerts are held.

There are regular ranganna Gaeilge - Irish classes, lectures, debates as well as great fun activities for children and a host of other activities to numerous to mention.

As soon as the Covid-19 restrictions are lifted, make Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich your first port of call to see what all the fuss is about and to experience the spirit and energy and creativity of Belfast’s Irish language community.

CÚPLA FOCAL

mórtasach (more-tassakh) - boastful 

déanamh mórtais (janoo moretish) - showing off

umhal (uwil) - modest

Ní bhíonn sí ag déanamh mórtais faoina cuid torthaí (nee veean shee eg janoo moretish fweena cudge torhee) - she’s modest about her results

Bíonn sé i gcónaí ag maíomh as féin (beean shay i goe-nee eg mweeoo ass hane) - he’s always boasting about himself

comórtas bliantúil (comortiss bleeantooil) - an annual competition

duais (dooish) - prize

bialann (beealaan) - a restaurant 

bia (beea) - food

Gaeilgeoirí (gaylagoree) - Irish speakers

oibrithe pobail (ibreeha pubble) - community workers 

ríomhairí glúine (reeooweree gloonya) - laptops 

pinsinérí (pinshinayree) - pensioners 

teaghlaigh (chaowlee) - families

An Ceathrú Póilí (an kehroo poelee) - The Fourth Policeman

lámhcheardaíocht (laowkyardeeakht) - handcrafts

taispeántais (tashpaantish) - exhibitions

seoltaí leabhar (shawltee lyore) - book launches

amharclann (aowerclan) - theatre

ranganna Gaeilge (rangana gaylicka) - Irish classes