Pádraig Ó Héalaí – författare

‘Ach cérbh í Peig Sayers?’Níorbh í in aon chor an tseanbhean ologónach í ar chuir na glúnta de dhaltaí scoile aithne uirthi. Is léir ó chuntais uathu siúd arbh eol dóibh í gur bhean ghrámhar thuisceanach í a raibh acmhainn grinn inti; bean a fuair blas ar ghal tobac agus ar bhraoinín fuisce, agus a bhí oilte ar chraiceann a chur ar scéal.Saolaíodh Peig i nDún Chaoin i gCo. Chiarraí i 1873. Thug sí bua na scéalaíochta léi óna hathair agus tugadh a sárchuimhne agus an lé a bhí aici le comhluadar faoi deara go luath. Phós sí iascaire ón mBlascaod agus chaith sí saol cruógach i dteaghlach líonmhar ag déanamh cúraim don seisear leanbh léi a mhair.Tugann Labharfad le Cách le chéile den chéad uair na taifeadtaí a thóg an BBC agus RTÉ uaithi i 1946, 1947 agus 1953, mar aon le haistriúcháin Bhéarla orthu. Léiríonn siad fairsinge repertoire Pheig idir scéalta cráifeacha, paidreacha, scéalta rómánsacha, scéalta faoin osádúr agus cuntais ar an saol a caitheadh tráth ar an oileán ach go bhfuil a chuimhne ag dul i léig anois. ‘Who was that Peig Sayers?’She was anything but the maudlin and old-fashioned Peig remembered by generations of school children. From the descriptions of those who met her, the real Peig emerges as a warm, wise and humorous woman, with an addiction to tobacco, a fondness for a sup of whiskey and a mastery of the art of ‘spin’.Born in Dún Chaoin in County Kerry in 1873, Peig learned the art of storytelling at her father’s knee, and quickly became known for her sociable nature and excellent memory. Marrying a fisherman from the Great Blasket, she enjoyed a full life with a large extended family and the care of her six living children.I Will Speak to You All collects, for the first time, in both Irish and English, the recordings made by the BBC and RTÉ of Peig Sayers in 1946, 1947 and 1953. They illustrate Peig’s repertoire, ranging from religious stories and prayers to humorous, romantic, even supernatural tales, as well as descriptions of an island life that is passing from living memory.

Duine de shárscéalaithe na GaeilgeIn Eanáir 1952, sé bliana sula bhfuair Peig Sayers bás, thionscain Coimisiún Béaloideasa Éireann agallaimh léi agus í in ospidéal Naomh Anna, Baile Átha Cliath. Bhí Peig thar a bheith sásta labhairt lena cuairteoirí a raibh Gaeilge Chiarraí ar a dtoil acu agus seanaithne aici orthu.Foilsítear den chéad uair in Níl Deireadh Ráite na hagallaimh sin mar aon le réamhrá tathagach, tráchtaireacht agus aistriúchán Béarla ar an iomlán. Cuireann Peig i láthair anseo seanscéalta idirnáisiúnta, scéal Fiannaíochta, finscéalta taistealacha, seanchas stairiúil agus sísheanchas, roinnt paidreacha, agus tá cúpla léaráid óna mac, Mícheál Ó Gaoithín, mar anlann leo. Léiríonn na taifeadtaí a bua mar scéalaí oilte, a hacmhainn grinn, a móreolas ar scéalta traidisiúnta agus a cumas máistriúil á gcur i láthair trí shúile mná. Buanaíonn an saothar seo ionad Pheig mar dhuine de shárscéalaithe na Gaeilge agus cinntíonn sé go bhfuil a cuid scéalaíochta le háireamh ar scoth na healaíne béil sa tír seo. Among the first rank of Irish storytellersIn January 1952, six years before she died, Peig Sayers was interviewed by a team from the Irish Folklore Commission in St Anne’s Hospital, Dublin. She was more than happy to be recorded, and pleased to be visited by old friends, all of whom spoke fluent Kerry Irish.In Not the Final Word these interviews are published for the first time, in both Irish and English, along with a substantial introduction and detailed annotation. Here Peig tells her versions of international folktales, a Fenian tale, some prayers, migratory legends and historical and supernatural lore, illustrated in paintings by her son, Mícheál Ó Gaoithín. She emerges as a warm and authentic storyteller, with a ready sense of humour, a deep knowledge of traditional narrative and highly skilled in its presentation. This collection reaffirms Peig Sayers’s position in the first rank of Irish storytellers and firmly establishes her tales in the canon of Irish oral literature.