Speak Irish: Leabharlann Phoiblí

By Bob Carney

Conas atá sibh? Tá suil agam go bhfuil sibh go maith. In 1731 Benjamin Franklin and a group of friends established what would become America’s first public library. Their goal was to allow access to books to those who might otherwise never have the opportunity. They wanted anyone to be able to borrow a book and take it home to read.

Cleveland Public Library first opened as a Public School Library for the Cleveland Board of Education in 1869. It was housed in a series of rented spaces and temporary homes until 1925 when the Main Library opened its doors on Superior Avenue in Downtown Cleveland.

By the early 1930s, 12,000 people a day were visiting and taking advantage of what the library was able to offer. In the 50s, the library’s collection had tripled in size and the building was running out of room. In 1957, voters approved a three-million-dollar bond issue that allowed for the purchase and renovation of the former Plain Dealer Building.

The Main Library underwent major renovations in 1999, following a new eleven-floor building named for Louis Stokes that opened adjacent to the Main Library in 1997. That building has thirty miles of bookshelves and can house 1.3 million books, along with the latest electronic resources. Cleveland Public Library also offers a variety of classes and events at the Main Library and its twenty-nine branches.

Irish, Scottish, and Welsh Collections

Lisa Held works in the International Languages Department of the Main Branch. She has a graduate background in Irish history and interment-era literature from NUI Galway, as well as Irish from time spent at University Ulster, Coleraine.

After joining Cleveland Public Library’s International Languages and Foreign Literature Department, she persuaded her manager to allow her to take over the library’s Irish, Scottish, and Welsh collections that have been sitting in “Stacks” (the storage floor of the library) for over a decade. Lisa has managed to get a new vendor set up to acquire new Irish materials and has added to the collection. There are also orders ready for when the budget reopens.

In January, Lisa invited Mary and me to visit and offered us a tour of the International Language Department, and even up into “Stacks,” which is not open to the public. It’s been many years since I visited the Main Branch and had forgotten what a magnificent place it is. The architecture alone is worth the visit! There are exhibits throughout the building (the Superman one is pretty impressive) along with artwork from local artists.

Lisa showed us the library’s Irish language collection, which consists of language learning materials for all ages and levels, fiction for adults, young adults, and children, as well as non-fiction titles once again for all ages and levels.
There are also several Irish language films on DVD available. Lisa’s goal is to expand the Irish language section because of the number of people in Cleveland of Irish ancestry.

Using and taking advantage of these books and resources helps Lisa in acquiring more. She told us that if a book is requested that the library does not have in its collection if it’s available through their vendors they will obtain it for you and add it to the collection so others may also benefit from it.

With Lisa’s help, I selected a range of Irish language books to check out and share with class members of the Speak Irish Cleveland class. We meet every Tuesday evening at PJ McIntyre’s, and you’re always welcome to join us.

https://youtu.be/3QMqve7e7Ok?feature=shared

100 Focal Tosaigh do do Bhabaí

by Edwina Riddell

Although this book was most likely intended for Irish speakers to teach their toddlers the language, beginners can benefit from it as well. It has illustrations that make it easy to see the meaning of the word. Pair it up with Teannglan. Ie the online dictionary for aid with pronunciation.

Taibhsí sa Teach
by Kazuno Kohara

Murcha Mór
by Jane Clark and Charles Fuge

Both of these books are aimed at young readers or those who have a desire to start translating written Irish. This is something we do in our classes.

A Táin
by Colmán Ó Raghallaigh and the team at The Cartoon Saloon

This is a graphic novel (think of graphic novels as comic books grown up) that relates the story of the great cattle raid and Cú Chulainn.

Essential Irish
by G. Bannister

What’s That as Gaeilge?

By Garry Bannister

These two books are great Irish phrasebooks. I liked the approach taken in the second book, useful phrases based on a word in English. For example, the entry for man has the phrase, “Man cannot live by bread alone” “ Ní ar an arán amháin a chairman an divine” and “Could I talk to you man to man?” “A bhféadfainn labhairt leat fear le fear eile?”  along with a few others. It was easy to get lost in this book.

Irish is Fun
by Aodán Mac Póilín and M.Phil

Irish for Beginners 

Usborne Language Guide

Introductions to the Irish language in easy-to-understand cartoon form.

Pluid  Scéal na mBlocanna H 1976-81

by Eoghan Mac Cormaic

For experienced readers of the Irish language. It is the story of the protests by IRA prisoners and their attempts to be recognized as political prisoners.

Peig
by Peig Sayers

One of the great memoirs to come from the Blasket Islands. Peig was a gifted seanchaí.

I hope you take the time to visit the Cleveland Public Library soon. Stop and say hello to Lisa, she’ll be happy to help you find just what you’re looking for.

Slán go fóill

See this and all of Bob’s columns HERE.

Bob Carney

*Bob Carney is a student of Irish language and history and teaches the Speak Irish Cleveland class held every Tuesday at PJ McIntyre’s. He is also active in the Irish Wolfhound and Irish Dogs organizations in and around Cleveland. Wife Mary, hounds Rían, Aisling Draoi, and terrier Doolin keep the house jumping. He can be reached at [email protected]