I haven't read this book, and its been out for a year, but I saw it on the front page of gaelport.com and thought it may be a good read to clear misconceptions, as seems to be the purpose.
Can be purchased:
http://www.litriocht.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=5341 More Facts About Irish
le Helen Ó Murchú
ISBN 9780955841002
Coiste na hÉireann den Bhiúró Eorpach do Theangacha Neamhfhorleathana Teoranta 2008
376 lch
Cuntas cruinn ar a bhfuil sa leabhar seo is ea an teideal. Tugtar ann na sonraí, na sonraí uile, na fíorshonraí, i dtaobh na Gaeilge, go háirithe sonraí ar na forbairtí is déanaí. Is ábhar í an Ghaeilge a tharraingíonn go leor tuairimíochta buile. Sa leabhar seo, áfach, gheobhfar foinse shaibhir cruinneolais a bheidh thar a bheith áisiúil don léitheoir le spéis, don iriseoir, don mhac léinn, do lucht polaitíochta agus polasaí.
Tá tuairimíocht áirithe chomh maith ann, ach tá rochtain fhurasta uirthi seo sna hachoimrí ag deireadh gach rannóige. Tosaítear le Réamhrá a bhfuil a thréithe féin bainteach leis agus leanann ocht gcinn de rannóga ar na hábhair seo: stair, cainteoirí an lae inniu, soláthar an Stáit don Ghaeilge, cúrsaí oideachais, an saol sóisialta, an saol gnó, an earnáil dheonach agus Tuaisceart Éireann. Tá dearadh álainn ar an saothar. Cuimsíonn an t-ábhar táblaí agus léaráidí; an t-iomlán sin agus breis ar dhiosca ina theannta. Is i mBéarla atá an leabhar scríofa le hachoimre dheiridh i nGaeilge a chríochnaíonn le híomhá chumhachtach ar na fíricí go léir atá tugtha – An Ghaeilge ar dhroim toinne.
Is áthas leis na foilsitheoirí, Coiste Náisiúnta na hÉireann den Bhiúró Eorpach, an leabhar seo a chur ar an margadh. Rinne Foras na Gaeilge páirt-mhaoiniú ar an táirge agus is í Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge atá i mbun margaíochta agus dáiliúcháin.
This book does exactly what it says on the cover. It gives the facts, the unvarnished facts, all the facts, about the Irish language, particularly the details of recent developments. On a subject on which there is often wild opinion, this book provides an invaluable source of accurate information for the interested public, to journalists, to students, even to politicians and policy makers. After a quirky introduction, the book contains eight sections covering history, the present language community, State provision for Irish, education, social life, economic life, the voluntary sector and Northern Ireland. It contains some opinion also which is neatly retrievable under the end of section summaries. Beautifully designed, containing tables, illustrations and with accompanying disc, it covers a broad range of material, literally something for all interests.
It is written in English with a final summary in Irish, ending evocatively with the final summation on all the facts presented – Irish, cresting the wave. The Irish Committee of the European Bureau for Lesser Used Languages is very pleased to publish it.
The production was part-funded by Foras na Gaeilge and is marketed and distributed by Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge.
