VIEW FROM WITHIN
CELTIC TWILIGHT
Having recently completed the first major critical analysis of Irish language
journalism, Dr Regina Uí Chollatain talks to Danielle Barron about her
research and the renaissance of the Irish language
HE LAND of saints and scholars “Seeing so many young people enjoying Fáinne an Lae.”
T
has produced a disproportionate themselves, I really felt that Irish is no The newspaper’s establishment had
amount of writing talent. While longer a marginal community and the historical, sociological and linguistic
our classic literary prowess ‘as media probably have played a major part implications, she says. “Many of the main
Gaeilge’ has been well- in that but so has young people’s vigour leaders of the 1916 Rising and the first
documented, the study of Irish and sense of identity.” Dáil, and very prominent historical
journalism, past, present and future, is She says she looks on the Irish language figures, were editors and writers of An
beginning to develop as the language media today as “coming of age” and adds Claidheamh Soluis.”
carves a considerable niche in the that she believes TG4, Raidió na Gaeltachta Working on the book inspired her to
mainstream media. and even RTÉ have significantly improved delve further into the history and
One of the people at the forefront of the image of Irish in today’s society. Irish development of journalism through the
this is Dr Regina Uí Chollatain, who lectures has been made more accessible through native tongue. “It sparked my interest in
in modern Irish literature, contemporary avenues such as the soap operas on TG4, as Irish journalism and I started looking at it
Irish writing and critical theory (focusing well as characters in general programming from a literary, critical and contemporary
on Irish language journalism, print and beginning to use a ‘cúpla focail’, she says. point of view. It very quickly became clear to
broadcast media) and film studies. At UCD, “Popular culture has a huge influence on me that the historical element will not be
she is the postgraduate co-ordinator for language value and people should feel brought to the fore without also
the School of Irish, Celtic Studies, Irish that they are allowed to talk the language investigating and analysing the
Folklore and Linguistics. at whatever level they have. It doesn’t have contemporary element.”
Dr Uí Chollatain is reluctant to use the to be perfect.” While the critical and conceptual analysis
word revival in relation to the Young people are thus more comfortable of journalism has been quite prominent in
contemporary popularity of Irish with the language these days, and tend to the USA and Britain over the past 100
language media and broadcasting, but see it as an asset, rather than a burden, she years, it remains in its infancy as a concept
does agree that there seems to be a explains. “It shouldn’t have to be a burden. in Ireland, she says. “Research has been
resurgence in popularity. “We have had I think the awe of the language is done mainly from a historical and literary
the revival, and to me this is the diminishing and that is perhaps one of the point of view, but it has mainly focused on
rebuilding of the foundation stones that best things the media has done – making it studies of particular language newspapers,
were laid through the original revival but a language of the people,” she says. with my own book being of the same
somehow got lost midstream. It’s very Although Dr Uí Chollatain started her nature. To date, however, a major critical
significant that we are at the turn of the career as a primary teacher in her native analysis on Irish language journalism has
century again and that there is this new Donegal, she admits she always had not been produced.”
energy being injected into Irish significant interest in both journalism and Having researched the available
language.” the Irish language. “As a result of that, I literature on the topic, Dr Uí Chollatain
According to Dr Uí Chollatain, the started studying Irish journalism through began to form her own critique, which has
recent centenary celebrations of the the Irish language and my first book was a now evolved into her second book, due to
Cumann Gaelach in UCD were both critical analysis of the first Irish language be published this summer. She hopes that
“heartening and absolutely inspiring”. newspaper An Claidheamh Soluis agus the book, entitled Pròs Iriseoireachta na
PAGE THIRTY EIGHT UCD CONNECTIONS
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