In the early 1930s, according to Philip O'Leary's book, "Gaelic Prose in the Irish Free State", the curriculum at University College Cork was as follows.

1st year students read:
*An Ball Dubh, a play by Mícheál Ó Siochfhradha
*Béal na hUaighe, a story collection by León Ó Broin
*Allagar na hInise by Tomás Ó Criomhthain
*An Baile Seo 'gainne by Pádraig Ó Siochfhradha
*Lucht Ceoil by Art Ó Riain
*Geantraighe, a story collection by Seán Ó Ciarghusa

2nd year students read:
*Niamh by PUL
*An t-Oileánach by Tomás Ó Criomhthain
*Cioth is Dealán by Séamus Ó Grianna
*An Fraoch Bán, by Pádhraic Óg Ó Conaire
*Onncal Seárlaí, by Séan Ó Ciarghusa
*Indé agus Indiu by Pádraig Ó Séaghdha

3rd year students read
*An Buaiceas by Pádraig Ó Séaghdha
*Fiche Blian ag Fás, by Muiris Ó Súilleabháin
*Fear Siubhail, story collection by Mac Meanman
*the translation of Corneille's Polyeucte by Pádraig de Brún
*An Grádh agus an Ghruaim, by Seosamh Mac Grianna

That was the university course, noted as being one of the best of the university curriculums at the time, as the poet Tadhg Ó Donnchadha was professor of Irish there.

(Message edited by corkirish on November 25, 2010)

A few years ago I came across a student in the First Year of a course leading to the BA in Irish trying to read "An Dochtúir Áthas".

Has anyone here read it?

Yes.

Or most of it. I gave up eventually; the story didn't hold me.

I couldn't get into it at all. I didn't think it a good choice for youngsters starting off on a degree course.

For me I need a really good story, a clever plot, good characterisation, humour, and really good vivid Irish such as that of Maidhc Deainín Ó Sé, Joe Steve Ó Neachtain or Biddy Jenkinson. Without those reading Irish is heavy going.

Ultimately writing a language is celebrating the beauty of the words, idioms and imagery of the language and its agility in re-inventing itself to cope with the constant change that the humans who speak and write it experience.

Of course a language can't re-invent itself unless it is used. Who is to use Irish in the near future "going forward"? Who has anything to say that should be said in Irish?

Mise agus tusa, ar ndóigh, driobal na muice agus bacach Shíl Aindí.

Is gá dúinn ócáidí a chruthu agus gan géilleadh don chathú Béarla a tharraingt isteach for the sake of the visitors.

I think TG4 and Raidio na Gaeltachta are wonderful. It is a joy to see and hear all those continuity announcers, newsreaders, commentators, interviewers, actors and actresses performing in Irish, people who in earlier recessions would almost certainly have found themselves digging trenches in Britain or bartending and waitressing in the US.

I don't mean to disparage those who delve into the literature and detritus of years, centuries, gone by but without an emphasis on passing the language on to new speakers today and tomorrow there will be no one left to understand or to care.

We'll be back to the days of Ó Donabháin and Ó Comhraí. Irish will be the preserve of a few scholars. How will "Corkirish and Carmanach" sound?

Relax. I'm joking. Or trying to! LOL.

Ní lia duine ná tuairim; tá réimse fairsing leabhair sa Ghaeilge agus sa Bhéarla.

Sílim áfach go mba cheart do dhuine atá ag déanamh céim sa Ghaeilge bheith ag dul i ngleic le téacsanna dúshlánacha.