[English version below]

Fonn a níos fiach’ a deir an seanfhocal, agus nuair a bhualann an t-ocras Seán Mhicil agus a theaghlach óg caithfidh sé seiftiú dá réir.

I bprós glan snoite, insíonn an t-úrscéal gearr seo scéal an fhir atá á thiomáint ag an ocras chun seilg a dhéanamh ar son a theaghlaigh. Ach más é an gorta a chuireann Seán Mhicil amach thar shneachta an tsléibhe i mblianta deiridh an Ghorta Mhóir, de réir mar atá an giorria éalaitheach á leanúint go diongbháilte aige gabhann an tseilg seo chun laochais.

Ba í seo an leabhar ab ansa dá chuid leis an údar féin — insint teann íogair a bhfuil fiántas agus boladh an dúchais tríd. Agus, cé go gcuirtear i gcomparáid le clasaic Hemmingway The Old Man and the Sea í, agus le Moby Dick Herman Melville, is sásúla go mór fada mar leabhar í seo.

Láithreoir: Seán Ó Catháin
Aíonna: Alan Titley agus Séamus Ó Murchú

[Leagan Gaeilge thuas]

Fonn A Níos Fiach is a novella, based on folklore from Dúiche Sheoigheach. Out of his own works, this is the author’s favourite.

This is a tense, emotive telling, with the sense of wilderness throughout. It would remind you of ‘The Old Man and thr Sea’ by Hemingway, but in this case it was hunger and the famine, and not heroism, that drove this man to hunt.

Presenter: Seán Ó Catháin
Guests: Alan Titley and Séamus Ó Murchú

Fonn a Níos Fiach - Leabhar Mhí na Samhna 2019 / Book of the Month - November 2019

[English version below]

Níl Willy Wonka - ná an taobh istigh dá mhonarcha iontach seacláide - feicthe ag aon duine le blianta fada. Nuair a fhógraíonn sé comórtas ina dtabharfar buaiteoirí na gcúig thicéad órga (atá curtha i bhfolach aige i gcludaigh na mbarraí seacláide) ar thuras sa mhonarcha, tá tír is talamh ag iarraidh teacht ar na ticéid!

Is é Charlie agus Monarcha na Seacláide an scéal is cáiliúla le Roald Dahl. Seo é scéal Charlie Buicéid, na gcúig thicéad órga, agus na nÚmpa-Lumpach, agus scéal Willy Wonka féin, scéal atá buanaithe in intinn na n-óg ó chéadfhoilsíodh é in 1964. Tá os cionn 20 milliún cóip den leabhar díolta in 56 theanga. 

Láithreoir: Seán Ó Catháin
Aíonna: Siún Ní Dhuinn agus Rónán Mistéil

[Leagan Gaeilge thuas]

Nobody has seen Willy Wonka - or inside his amazing chocolate factory - for years. When he announces plans to invite the winners of five Golden Tickets hidden inside the wrappers of chocolate bars to visit his factory, the whole world is after those tickets!

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is perhaps Roald Dahl’s best-known story. The story of Charlie Bucket, the five Golden Tickets, the Oompa-Loompas and the amazing Mr Willy Wonka has become firmly embedded in our culture since it was first published in 1964. Conservative estimates suggest the original book has sold over 20 million copies worldwide; it is now available in 55 languages. 

Presenter: Seán Ó Catháin
Guests: Siún Ní Dhuinn and Rónán Mistéil

Charlie agus Monarcha na Seacláide - Leabhar Mhí na Nollag 2019 / Book of the Month - December 2019

[English version below]

Is seanphoblachtánach é an Móránach ar athraigh a shaol go deo i laethanta glórmhara Chogadh na Saoirse, nuair a bhí sé féin ina cheannaire cumasach treallchogaíochta. Anois agus é ina sheanaois ar fheirm in iarthar na hÉireann, tá an Móránach ag troid i gcónaí - lena theaghlach, lena chairde, agus fiú amháin leis féin. Bíonn sé cráite go mion minic agus é ag iarraidh dul i ngleic leis an am atá caite. Thar rud ar bith eile is é a shaol 'idir mhná' - a ghaol lena dhara bean Róise, lena chlann, agus go háirithe a thriúr iníonacha - atá i gceartlár a chruacháis: dúshlán casta an ghrá, agus an faitíos roimhe féin agus roimh dhaoine eile. 

Láithreoir: Seán Ó Catháin
Aíonna: Deirdre Nic Chárthaigh agus Michelle O' Riordan

[Leagan Gaeilge thuas]

Moran is an old Republican whose life was forever transformed by his days of glory as a guerilla leader in the War of Independence. Now, in old age, living out in the country, Moran is still fighting - with his family, his friends, even himself - in a poignant struggle to come to terms with the past.

Presenter: Seán Ó Catháin
Guests: Deirdre Nic Chárthaigh and Michelle O' Riordan

Idir Mhná - Leabhar Mhí Eanáir 2020 / Book of the Month - January 2020

[English version below]

Is síceolaí í Cass Ó Caoimh a bhogann go Conamara nuair a fhágtar ina baintreach í. Mar aon leis an bpostroinnt atá aici san Ionad Leighis áitiúil, glacann sí le post páirtaimseartha i gCeannáras na nGardaí mar shíceolaí fóiréinseach. Nuair a bháitear Niamh, cara a hiníne, creideann Cass gur dúnmharaíodh an ógbhean ainneoin an mhéid a cheapann an Bleachtaire Cigire, Tom Breasal, a hiarleannán. Le cúnamh ón iriseoir Gearóid, mac Tom, agus ó dhaoine a gcuireann sí aithne orthu, déanann sí bás Niamh a fhiosrú agus tugann scéal scáfar chun solais. San am atá díreach thart atá an coirscéinséir eachtrúil seo suite.

Láithreoir: Seán Ó Catháin
Aíonna: Eoin McEvoy agus Caomhán Ó hÓgáin

[Leagan Gaeilge thuas]

Cass Ó Caoimh is a psychologist who moves to Conamara when she becomes a widow. She job shares in the local Health Centre but also takes on a job at the Garda Headquarters as a forensic psychologist. When Niamh, her friend's daughter drowns, Cass believes that the young girl was murdered despite what Detective Inspector, and ex, Tom Breasal believes. With the help of Gearóid, a journalist and Tom's son, along with those with whom she becomes acquainted, she investigates Niamh's death and this gives rise to some alarming developments.

Presenter: Seán Ó Catháin
Guests:  Eoin McEvoy and Caomhán Ó hÓgáin

Cur i gCéill - Leabhar Mhí Feabhra 2020 / Book of the Month - February 2020

[English version below]

Scríbhneoir Gaeilge ar thóir léitheoirí atá i gCormac Mac Ruairí. Tagann sé ar sheift ghlic le suim an phobail a mhúscailt i litríocht na Gaeilge, agus, ar ndóigh, le níos mó leabhar dá chuid féin a dhíol. Ní fada, áfach, go dtarraingíonn an leabhar is úire óna pheann aird antoiscigh Mhoslamacha. An dtiocfaidh aon duine slán ón slad a thitfidh amach ar oileán dúchais an údair?

Tógann Mac a’ Bhaird muid ar thuras bríomhar eachtrúil ó Bhaile Átha Cliath go dtí an Libia agus ón Araib ársa go dtí Gaeltacht Dhún na nGall sa leabhar spleodrach seo; agus caitheann sé súil fhonóideach ar dhéithe beaga na linne seo, sa phrós snasta bríomhar sin is dual dó a chleachtadh.

Láithreoir: Seán Ó Catháin
Aíonna: Claire Dunne agus Liam Mac Amhlaigh

[Leagan Gaeilge thuas]

Cormac Mac Ruairí is a writer in search of a wider readership so he comes up with an idea to pique the interest of the Irish-language readership in order to sell more books. It's not long, however, before his most recent work causes a stir among extremist Muslims. Will anyone survive the devastation that'll transpire in the author's homeland?

Mac a' Bhaird takes us on a journey from Dublin to Libya, from the Middle East to the Donegal Gaeltacht, in this page-turner where he also provides a commentary on what we worship in contemporary society.

Presenter: Seán Ó Catháin
Guests: Claire Dunne and Liam Mac Amhlaigh

Fatwa - Leabhar Mhí an Mhárta 2020 / Book of the Month - March 2020

[English version below]

Is é a dheireadh tús an scéil seo. Tá Sonaí Ó Giolla básaithe ach go bhfuil leithscéal ar a spiorad scaradh lena chorp. Téann sé siar ar bhóithrí na smaointe. A óige i mbaile an Leacain agus ar a chuid laethanta scoile, mar ar chuir sé aithne de chéaduair ar shaothar Karl Marx, a chuaigh go smior ann – ba shóisialaí é feasta. Na laethanta a chaith sé i Londain in éineacht le dream ón mbaile – dream a bhí chomh radacach leis-sean dá mb'fhíor dóibh féin é agus, go deimhin, dá mb'fhíor dósan é chomh maith. An bhean a phós é agus an iníon a bhí acu. Ach airíonn sé a chuid idéalachais á ídiú de réir a chéile ag a laigeachtaí féin, ag athrú aeráide is saoil. Agus is nuair a fhilleann siad ar an seanphaiste tar éis na blianta a bheith caite i Londain acu a fhíortar an sean-nath nach mar a shíltear a bhítear. Nó nach mar a síleadh a bheas amach anseo... 

Láithreoir: Seán Ó Catháin
Aíonna: Aedín Ní Thiarnaigh agus Caomhán Ó hÓgáin

[Leagan Gaeilge thuas]

This story starts at the end and moves backwards. Sonaí Ó Giolla has just died, but his spirit is reluctant to leave his body. He travels back through his memories of his life, the people he lived with while he was living in London as an emigrant from Ireland and became a socialist. He remembers the woman who married him and the daughter they had together. Now, at the end of his days he feels that his idealism has faded and understands that everything is not as it seems, and indeed, the way things were doesn't mean that they will stay the same into the future. 

Presenter: Seán Ó Catháin
Guests: Aedín Ní Thiarnaigh and Caomhán Ó hÓgáin

Thar na Tonnta - Leabhar Mhí na Samhna 2020 / Book of the Month - November 2020

[English version below]

Tá sráidbhaile Asterix go mór trína a chéile. Tá Ogamaix, draoi, i ndiaidh a chorrán óir a bhriseadh agus ní thig leis éilicsir an nirt a dhéanamh gan é! Imíonn Asterix agus Obelix ar mhisean contúirteach go Lúitéis, le corrán nua a cheannach ó Amerigix, a bhfuil gaol i bhfad amach aige le hObelix agus atá ar an fhear déanta corrán is fearr dá bhfuil sa Ghaill. Ach tá Amerigix imithe gan tásc gan tuairisc agus caithfidh ár mbeirt laoch dul á lorg i measc choirpigh agus bhithiúnaigh na cathrach. An dtiocfaidh siad ar Amerigix nó an mbeidh corrán óir nua chun an bhaile leo i gcomhair Ogamaix?

Láithreoir: Seán Ó Catháin
Aíonna: Ola Majekodunmi agus Oisín Mistéil

[Leagan Gaeilge thuas]

It's a disaster - the druid Getafix has broken his golden sickle. Asterix and Obelix go to Lutetia (now Paris) to buy him a new one. Soon they are tangling with the criminal underworld of the big city - can they outwit Navishtrix, Clovogarlix and the sickle-trafficking gang? Will Getafix ever be able to brew magic potion again?

Presenter: Seán Ó Catháin
Guests: Ola Majekodunmi and Oisín Mistéil

Asterix agus an Corrán Óir - Leabhar Mhí na Nollag 2020 / Book of the Month - December 2020

[English version below]

Clasaic i litríocht an domhain chéana is ea Beatha Phí, lán de mhíorúiltí is iontais. Bronnadh duais Man Booker air sa bhliain 2002 chomh maith le gradaim eile, rinneadh scannán de a bhain ceithre
Oscar agus tá sé aistrithe i mbreis is daichead teanga. Seo anois é i nGaeilge.

Tagann Pí Patel slán nuair a théann an long go tóin poill agus a mhuintir ag aistriú ón India go Ceanada. Níl fágtha i ndiaidh na tubaiste ach é féin agus tíogar mór ocrach, iad ar fán i mbád
tarrthála ar an bhfarraige mhór fhiáin. Saol idir codladh agus dúiseacht atá acu, an bás agus an bheatha fite fuaite ina gcuid smaointe. Réitíonn na téamaí seo go binn le saol síorimníoch ár linne
agus é i mbaol a dhíothaithe. Ní mór do Phí dul i muinín na n-achmhainní atá faoina láimh chun teacht slán, agus dul amach ar chreideamh a chroí. Ní mór don léitheoir dul i ngleic leis na fadhbanna a chuireann an leabhar romhainn, agus fírinne an scéil a aimsiú.

Láithreoir: Seán Ó Catháin
Aíonna: Muireann Ní Raghallaigh agus Muiris Ó Raghallaigh

[Leagan Gaeilge thuas]

After the sinking of a cargo ship, a solitary lifeboat remains bobbing on the wild blue Pacific. The only survivors from the wreck are a sixteen-year-old boy named Pi, a hyena, a wounded zebra, an
orangutan – and a 450-pound Royal Bengal tiger. The scene is set for one of the most extraordinary and beloved works of fiction in recent years.

Presenter: Seán Ó Catháin
Guests: Muireann Ní Raghallaigh and Muiris Ó Raghallaigh

Beatha Phí - Leabhar Mhí Eanáir 2021 / Book of the Month - January 2021

[English version below]

Thit an long i dtreo an phláinéid dheirg, í ag luasghéarú i gcónaí. Bhí na cúrsóirí á leanúint agus, mar a shíl A-Hiom, bhí siad ag teacht suas leo, beagán ar bheagán. Líon Na Hasta an radharc ar fad a bhí rompu agus chonaic Sál na sraitheanna de scamaill agus stoirmeacha ina nguairneáin, iad oráiste agus bán, ag casadh leo in atmaisféar meirgeach an phláinéid.

Ar a dTeitheadh i Spás-Long Lastais
Beirt ar a dteitheadh ó Roghail, gealach bheag amach ón bpláinéad dearg Na Hasta, is ea Sál agus Ríosa. Éalaíonn siad i spáslong lastais — agus an crogall daonna, an Sáirsint Raithdead, ar a dtóir. Ach amach rompu tá namhaid níos mó agus níos measa — agus gan fhios di féin, tá rún á cheilt ag Ríosa a tharraingeoidh fórsaí uile an Oilc sa mhullach orthu.

Buaiteoir Ghradam an Saltire Society
Úrscéal ficsean eolaíochta a scríobhadh i nGaeilge na hAlban is ea Air Cuan Dubh Drilseach. In 2013 a foilsíodh é agus is é an chéad úrscéal ficsean eolaíochta lánfhada a scríobhadh do dhaoine fásta i nGaeilge é.

Ghnóthaigh an leabhar seo gradam an ‘First Book of the Year’ do Tim Armstrong ón Saltire Society in 2013. Is é Eoin P. Ó Murchú a d’aistrigh.

Scríbhneoir agus ceoltóir as Seattle Mheiriceá é Tim Armstrong, agus is léachtóir i Sabhal Mòr Ostaig é. Tá sé ag obair faoi láthair ar an dara húrscéal leis, An Luingeas Dorcha air Fàire.

Láithreoir: Seán Ó Catháin
Aíonna: Bríd-Treasa Ní Ghaoithín agus Aonghus Ó Lochlainn

[Leagan Gaeilge thuas]

Escape on a Cargo Space-Ship
Sál and Ríosa are on the run from Roghail, a small moon off Neasg, They escape on a cargo ship — with the human-crocadile Sergeant Rathaid hot on their heels. But out there waiting for them is a greater menace — and, unknown to her, Ríona hides a secret that will bring the forces of destruction upon them.

Winner of the Saltire Society Award
Tinte na Farraige Duibhe (Air Cuan Dubh Drilseach) is a science fiction novel written in Scottish Gaelic by Tim Armstrong and published by CLÀR in 2013. It is the first hard science-fiction novel in Gaelic written for adults.

This book won the Saltire Society First Book of the Year Award in 2013. Translated by Eoin P. Ó Murchú.

Tim Armstrong is a writer and musician from Seattle in the United States. He lives in Scotland and works as a lecturer in Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. He is currently working on his second novel, An Luingeas Dorcha air Faire.

Presenter: Seán Ó Catháin
Guests: Bríd-Treasa Ní Ghaoithín and Aonghus Ó Lochlainn

Tinte na Farraige Duibhe - Leabhar Mhí Feabhra 2021 / Book of the Month - February 2021

[English version below]

Bhris ar m’fhoighne. Ní fhéadfainn é a sheasamh níos faide. Bhí an fhuil ag borradh i mo chuislí. rug mé ar shrian an chapaill amach as a dhá lámh. Sheas mé suas gcarr cosúil leis na fir eile. Ansin thugas laisc don chapall. Réab sí chun cinn. Ba bheag nár caitheadh siar amach as an gcarr mé leis iarracht. ‘Nois bhí sí sna cosa in airde agus muid ag breith suas ar na carranna eile. Bhí deannach ag éirí ó rothaí an chairr. Bhreathnaigh mé síos ar mo Dheaide ach ní hé a bhí ann anois ach Judah Ben-Hur é féin. Bhí meangadh ar a bhéal. “Shíl mé nach mbainfeá an srian amach as lámha t’athar go brách,” adeir sé.

Láithreoir: Seán Ó Catháin
Aíonna: Emily Barnes agus Eilís Everard

[Leagan Gaeilge thuas]

A collection of short stories by Mike P. Ó Conaola, in Irish.


Presenter: Seán Ó Catháin
Guests: Emily Barnes and Eilís Everard

Le Gean agus Scéalta Eile - Leabhar Mhí an Mhárta 2021 / Book of the Month - March 2021

[English version below]
Is tionscadal de chuid Gaelchultúr Teoranta (www.gaelchultur.com) é ClubLeabhar.com. Bunaíodh an comhlacht Gaelchultúr sa bhliain 2004 agus é mar sprioc aige an Ghaeilge agus an cultúr Gaelach, idir cheol, amhránaíocht agus damhsa, a chur chun cinn i mBaile Átha Cliath agus ar fud na tíre.

Tá sé mar aidhm ag ClubLeabhar.com daoine in Éirinn agus i dtíortha eile ar fud an domhain a spreagadh chun leabhair Ghaeilge a léamh. Is féidir le daoine aonair ballraíocht a bhaint amach sa chlub leabhar seo ar líne ach tá sé mar aidhm againn chomh maith na baill a spreagadh le teacht le chéile uair sa mhí in ionaid éagsúla ar fud na hÉireann agus thar lear chun an saothar a bheidh mar leabhar na míosa a phlé.

Ní thógann sé ach nóiméad clárú don chlub agus níl aon táille i gceist.

Roghnaítear leabhar nua gach mí agus bíonn deis ag na baill plé a dhéanamh ar an saothar i bhfóram an tsuímh. Bíonn fáil ag na baill ar aistriúcháin Bhéarla ar na focail agus frásaí is deacra sna leabhair a bhíonn á bplé, rud a éascaíonn an léitheoireacht go mór.

Tá sé mar pholasaí againn leabhair atá róchasta agus acadúil a sheachaint. Tugtar tús áite d’úrscéalta agus do chnuasaigh gearrscéalta, ach bíonn seánraí eile (filíocht agus leabhair thaistil, cuir i gcás) i gceist ó am go chéile chomh maith. Bíonn meascán ann de leabhair nua-fhoilsithe agus clasaicigh atá fós i gcló.

Más mian leat go mbeadh leabhar Gaeilge a thaitníonn go mór leatsa mar leabhar na míosa ar an suíomh seo, bí i dteagmháil linn!

Tá liosta le fáil ar Clubleabhar.com de na clubanna leabhar Gaeilge atá ag feidhmiú in Éirinn cheana féin agus tá Gaelchultúr ag súil go spreagfaidh an tionscadal seo ar líne daoine le clubanna nua a thosú, ní hamháin in Éirinn ach i dtíortha eile mar na Stáit Aontaithe agus an Astráil ina bhfuil lucht na Gaeilge gníomhach cheana féin. Tá comhairle agus tacaíocht ar fáil sa rannóg Bunaigh Club dóibh siúd a bhfuil spéis acu a gclub leabhar féin a bhunú.

Is féidir na leabhair a bhíonn á bplé ar ClubLeabhar.com a cheannach ar siopa.ie. Ar an suíomh sin, tá deis agat leabhar amháin a cheannach nó beart de na leabhair ar fad a bhíonn á bplé i ngach sraith.

Tá maoiniú á chur ar fáil do Clubleabhar.com ag Clár na Leabhar Gaeilge (Foras na Gaeilge).

[Leagan Gaeilge thuas]

The ClubLeabhar.com project is run by Gaelchultúr Teoranta (www.gaelchultur.com). The company was established in 2004 with the aim of promoting the Irish language and various aspects of Irish culture, including music, song and dance, in Dublin and around the country.

ClubLeabhar.com aims to encourage people in Ireland and abroad to read Irish language books. Individuals can become members of this online book club but we also want to encourage the members to meet once a month in various locations around Ireland to discuss the work that will be the book of the month. There is no membership fee.

It only takes a minute to register for the club and there’s no membership fee.

A new book is chosen each month and club members have an opportunity to discuss this book in the website’s forum. Members have access to English translations of the most difficult words and phrases in the books being discussed, which makes reading them a lot easier.

It’s our policy to avoid books that are too difficult or academic. The focus is on novels and short-story collections for the most part, but books from other genres (poetry and travel books, for example) are discussed from time to time. There is a mix of newly-published books and classics that are still in print.

If you would like a book in Irish that you’ve enjoyed to be book of the month on this site, please contact us!

There is a list available on Clubleabhar.com of the Irish language book clubs already functioning in Ireland and Gaelchultúr hopes that this online project will encourage people to start new clubs, not only in Ireland but in countries such as the United States and Australia where Irish speakers are actively involved in promoting the language. Gaelchultúr provides advice and support in the Start a Club section of this site to those interested in establishing their own book club.

The books discussed on ClubLeabhar.com can be bought at siopa.ie. On that site, you can buy one book or a bundle of the books being discussed in each series.

Clubleabhar.com is supported by Clár na Leabhar Gaeilge (Foras na Gaeilge) .

Asterix agus an Corrán Óir - Leabhar Mhí na Nollag 2020 / Book of the Month - December 2020

ClubLeabhar.com

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