A new online story map and wallchart depicting the Irish language writers of the Déise will be launched at an event in Ring College this evening.
Professor Pádraig Ó Macháin, Head of the Irish Department in UCC, will launch Dámh Dhéiseach, a project which has been developed by the Irish Language, Archivist and Heritage Officers of Waterford City & County Council, in conjunction with Professor Ó Macháin, over the last number of years.
Seolfar suíomh idirlín nua idirghníomhach agus léarscáil de scríbhneoirí móra Gaeilge na nDéise ag ócáid i gColáiste na Rinne. Sé an tOllamh Pádraig Ó Macháin, Ollamh le Gaeilge i gColáiste na hOllscoile, Corcaigh, a sheolfaidh Dámh Dhéiseach, an t-ainm atá baiste ar an tionscadal seo atá forbartha ag oifigigh de chuid Chomhairle Cathrach & Contae Phort Láirge, i gcomhar leis an Ollamh Ó Macháin, le roinnt blianta anuas.
This new interactive website and accompanying wallchart are based on the work of Nioclás Mac Craith (1923-2018), historian and scholar from Rinn Ó gCuanach.
Waterford, the area known as 'The Déise', is known for its rich Irish language folklore and literary heritage. A large number of Irish language writers, poets, authors and story-tellers have emerged from this area.
Nioclás Mac Craith spent years researching and gathering information on these writers, ultimately producing a map showing the proliferation of writers, a map which he presented in public for the first time at Tionól na nDéise, as part of the Comeraghs Wild Festival opening night, in Kilrossanty in September 2014.
The premise of the project was conceived that night in Kilrossanty, when the Council's Heritage Officer, Bernadette Guest, Archivist, Joanne Rothwell and Irish Officer, Máire Seó Breathnach, spoke with Nioclás about the work which he was undertaking. With Nioclás' permission, work began on developing an online digital version of the information which he had gathered, to ensure that the people all over the world could access this rich cultural resource. Professor Ó Macháin served as an advisor on the writer's biographies for the story map and Bernadette Guest produced wonderful photographs of the stunning Déise scenery to serve as backdrop images for each of the writers depicted.
With funding from the Heritage Council, work began on developing a website in the form of an interactive story map containing biographies and photographs of more than 100 writers and folklorists. Work continues on the development of the site, with further writers and aids such as video and audio clips featuring the work of the writers still being added to this wonderful resource. In addition, a hardcopy wallchart has been produced, a full-colour printed version of Nioclás' handmade black and white map, which he showed to the public on that first night in St. Brigid's Hall, Kilrossanty.
'Dámh Dhéiseach' will be launched at 8.00pm in Coláiste na Rinne, An Rinn, Co. Waterford as part of the launch event for Volume 23 of the Irish language publication An Linn Bhuí, Iris Ghaeltacht na nDéise. This event is being organised as part of the Irish language summer school, Daonscoil na Mumhan.
Main Image: Nioclás Mac Craith ag cur a léarscáil i láthair an phobail in Halla Naomh Bhrighid, Cill Rosanta i Meán Fhómhair 2014.
