Merry Christmas all! I know no one will have time to answer any messages today, but I want to post this while I am thinking of it. I recently bought Jimín and a novel by Ó Grianna, both in seanchló, across the Internet. And I want to keep a little list of things to look out for. Not that I am ready to read literature, but I don't want to miss things that come up.

I want to develop a list of the most important 3 novels in each dialect, and also a modern dialectal novel in each in order to keep abreast of changes. I am interested in great and famous novels, rather than plays or short stories. I have this list so far:

Munster: Peadar Ua Laoghaire, Séadna; Tomás Ó Criomhthain, An tOileánach; and Muiris Ó Súilleabháin, Fiche Bliain ag Fás. Am I right in saying these would be the best "pick" of three novels. And is there anything in the much more recent period in dialectal Munster Irish?

Connaught: Máirtín Ó Cadhain, Cré na Cille; Pádraic Ó Conaire; Deoraíocht. Would these be the best two? And would there be anything else famous worth getting as well? Is there anything recent published ini dialectal Connaught Irish?

Ulster: I am not sure what goes here. I have heard of Seosamh Mac Grianna's Mo Bhealach Féin: is it a novel? What aboout something by Séamus Ó Grianna? What is his best or most famous novel? What abouot Micí Mac Gabhann, Rotha Mór an tSaoil. Also is there anything more recent that could illustrate modern dialectal Ulster Irish?

As far as a novel in each dialect illustrating the latest dialectal tendencies, I would read any novel thought to best illustrate it. But as far as 3 famous novels in each: I am looking for great literature. If you think of the English distinction between "modern fiction" and "English literature" (eg Dickens, Austen, etc). I am interested in reading no just any old thing because it is written in Irish - Harry Potter is definitely not what I am looking for - but great, classic Irish books that an educated Irishman ought to have read. Can anyone help me with a little list of things to collect?

An tOiléanach, Mo Bhealach Féin, and Fiche Bliain ag fás are autobiographical, not novels.

Maidhc Dainín Ó Sé is a prolific writer of novels, but he hasn't been accused of literature that I know of.

"An Druma Mór" is a novel

http://www.litriocht.com/shop/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=&products_id=199 8


I have read the books on your list except rothaí mór an tsaoil, and enjoyed most of them.

I'm not sure séadna would make it onto my list, the plot is long winded and contrived (and never finished) , and it seems more to have been a device to write rich Irish than rich literature - something of a fault with an tAthair Peadair.

That has also tended to be a problem with people confusing great Irish with great literature.

Not very helpful I'm afraid, but I'm an engineer, and therefore entitled to be something of a philistine!

Foinse published a top ten recently, you might try getting hold of that list.

http://www.transcript-review.org/section.cfm?lan=en&id=139

Did you see this when I posted it before? Some pointers there I think.

I can't find Foinse's list online.

http://www.litriocht.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=2456

Rotha Mór an tSaoil

is also autobiographical.