‘Is mise Collinge an file’ is not how Mr Declan Collinge, introduced himself to the students of Irish language in Elements, Syntax and (appropriately) Poetry when he addressed them in the James Joyce Library on Monday 25th November – but he might well have. Is file dhá-theangach é Declan Collinge, as Baile Átha Cliath agus tá neart dánta scríofa agus leabhar foilsithe aige. During his visit he read some of his poems in both, Irish and English, versions, spoke about his work and answered his audience’s questions related to his writing process, ideas and inspiration.
Seán O’Grady (Elements) and Eoghan McLoughlin (Poetry) were two of those in attendance and we asked them to write a cúpla focal as Gaeilge each for the website (suíomh gréasáin)…
Tháinig Declan Collinge go Coláiste Choill Chluana Gabhann ag deireadh mí na Samhna. Is file an-mhaith é. Labhair sé leis an gCéad Bhliain faoi na bealaí a smaoiníonn sé ar na dánta, labhair sé píosa freisin faoina shaol agus léigh sé cúpla dán.
Dúirt Declan go raibh aithne aige ar Séamus Heaney agus chuaigh sé go dtí an tsochraid. Rinne sé aistriú go Gailge ar dhán a scríobh Heaney..
An dán is fearr a thaitin liom ná “an Gadaí.” Bhí sé faoi sheanmháthair Declan a bhí in ospidéal. Cheap sí gur thóg gadaí a spéaclaí. An rud a tharla ná bhí a spéaclaí go léir caillte ina mála féin!
Seán Ó’ Grádaigh, Elements
Ar an 25u de Mhí na Samhna thainig an file ardmholta Declan Collinge ar cuairt chugainn. Sa leabharlann James Joyce léigh se sampla dá fhiliocht dúinn, as Gaeilge agus as Béarla. D’fhreagair sé freisin gach ceist a cuireadh air o na daltai o na múinteoiri ar ábhar éagsula, ón bhfhilíocht go dti an tslí ina múintear Gaeilge sna meán scoileanna.
Ceapaim go n-aontaiodh na daltaí uilig a bhí i láthair liom nuair a deirim go raibh an cuairt uaidh teagaiscúil dúinn go léir. Bhí na dánta a léigh sé go léir scríofa go sciliuil agus mhínigh sé cúlra agus brí éagsúla na dánta dúinn. Bhi sé an-suimiuil a thuairim faoin bhfilíocht atá ar chúrsa na hardteistea chloisint. Cuireadh ceist amháin air faoi tslí ina scríobh sé a chuid dánta. Tá tuairim ag a lán daoine go bhfuil se easca do fhile dán a scriobh ach ba léir nach fíor sin. Táim cinnte go bhfuil na daltaí uilig den tuairim gur bhain idir tairbhe agus fiúntas leis an gcúairt seo. Táimid buíoch do Mrs Cooper as an gcuairt seo a eagrú.
Eoghan McLoughlin
Mr Collinge’s visit was sponsored by The James Joyce Library and the Irish Department. The Library would like to thank Ms Zita O’Neill and Ms Geraldine Dillon for their help in organising the event.
Declan Collinge was born in Dublin. He has a BA and Higher Diploma in Education, an MA in Anglo-Irish Studies and a PhD in Anglo-Irish Studies from UCD. His poetry and literary essays are regularly published in Innti, Éigse Éireann,Comhar, An Guth, Riposte, the Irish Literary Supplement and in The Irish Review. His poems and articles have been broadcasted on Raidió na Gaeltachta and on RTÉ. Dr Collinge is an author of several Irish textbooks and seven poetry collections: Sealgaireacht (1982), Faoi Léigear (1986), Fearful symmetry (1990),Common Ground (1996), Teachtaireacht téacsa (2007), The Lonely
