Seachtain na Gaeilge

Bígí linn sa leabharlann, i mBaile Coimín, ag 7.30pm - 9.00pm, an 10ú Márta, le haghaidh caint, ceol, agus píosa craic !
Join us in the library, to celebrate Seachtain na Gaeilge, at 7.30 - 9.00pm, March 10th (Thursday) for some music and fun !

Caora Deasa

Lá Fhéile Pádraic, bígí linn!

Tá trathnóna iontach pleanáilte againn don 10ú de mí Márta, ag 7.30 sa leabharlann, i mBaile Coimín. We have planned a lovely evening in the library at Blessington, March 10th at 7.30. Join us for a little of wine and some Irish farmhouse cheese, for some music and and of course, for plenty of chat!
We will be supplying the wine early in order to get you to sing. Máirín and I can't guarantee that you'll hear our heavenly voices but let me tell you that Máirín is a mean banjo player!
It'll be lots of fun, wear something green, and we'll see you there.
Beidh ceol agus craic againn le chéile, caith an seamróg agus feicfidh muid sibh ann.

Gaoth Liom Leat le Séan Ó Ríordán

Do bhuaileas leis an ngaoith is í ag dul abhaile,
Do chasas ar mo sháil is abhaile liom léi,
D'aistrigh sí treo is fágadh mé ag taisteal
Fé mhearbhall i gcás idir dhá ghaoth.

Luaigh muid cúpla file ag an ciorcál cómhrá an lá seo caite. Tháinig mé ar an dán ghearr seo agus thaitin sé go mór liom.

What a swell party that was!

Máirín and I were delighted with the number of people who joined us at the last ciorcál comhrá in the library. Go raibh míle maith agaibh ar fad, bhí sár oíche againn!

I forgot my carefully crafted vocabulary sheet (ahem) but the conversation was wide ranging as ever. In fact we had such a lovely number of people in the group that I couldn't keep track of all that was going on, God dammit. It nearly killed me mar tá mé chomh fiosrach! (I'm so nosy!) Won't speak for Máirín, but dare I say she was thinking the same thing? Editing may follow!!

Tá's ag Dia go dtaitníonn sé liom bheith ag éisteacht le ngach rud. Tá siúl agam gur bhain sibh taitneamh as an tráthnóna, a chairde nua.

Here's to our next meeting timpeall ar Seachtain na Gaeilge. Beidh tae glas againn, agus seamrógaí ar na mbrioscaí. We can serve green tea and shamrock shaped biscuits.

A huge Go Raibh Míle Maith Agat (shouty text!) to Margaret, our super duper librarian who stays late and listens to us blathering. We love all of our librarians in Blessington. Tá siad go hálainn agus igcónaí chomh cabhrach. They are lovely people and always so helpful.

Anois teacht an tearrach, tá an lá ag dul chun síneadh

Fáilte róimh, a chairde.

Beidh ciorcál cómhrá ar siúl arís againn sa leabharlann, i mBaile Coimín ag 7 a chlog, 17ú Feabhra. Beidh muid ag plé gach shaghas rud. Tá muid i bhfad níos dochasach anois, there's a grand stretch in the evenings and the bulbs are peeping up.

Slán go deo le brón is buairt, ach ná leigh an alt céanna a léigh me i Vanity Fair, le bhur dtoil, gan prozac nó brandy ar a laghad.

Our troubles can melt away like candy drops, but try not to read the same article I read in the current issue of Vanity Fair, without some prozac or a strong brandy at least. We'll provide some support through the era of universal social charges. Remember, the ciorcal cómhra is free and we'll give you a cup of tea or REAL coffee (ideal for keeping you awake) and a biscuit.

Bígí linn,

Slán tamaill,

Máirín agus Sinéad

Nollaig Shona, a chairde uilig!

Beannachtaí na Nollag agus na hAthbhliana oraibh go léir agus ar bhur gcomhluadar, a chairde! Tá sé ag druidim isteach chomh tapaidh anois agus bíonn iontas orm gach uile bhlian an méid nach bhfuil déanta agam. Plus ca change, plus ca reste la meme.

Tá sos againn ón sneachta anois (le haghaidh cúpla lá ar a laghaid) agus beidh ceiliúradh beag againn sa leabharlann. Cúpla píog, b'fheidir gloine fíon nó dhó, agus má bhíonn an tádh linn, beidh daoine sásta "party piece" éigin a dhéanamh. What's not to love, mar a deireann se féin!

Tá muid ag ceapadh an uair seo go ghearrfaidh muid euro amháin chun costas na fíona, agus na píoga a chluadach. Is "social entrepreneurs" muid, mé féin (Sinéad) agus Máirín ach ní Bill Gates muid.

Happy Christmas to one and all! It draws in so quickly and despite all of my best intentions I remain at the same disorganised state every year. Ah well, as my Mammy says, "so much fuss, can't it all be done in a day". Mammies are great, especially west of Ireland ones, who remain stoic in the face of retail "madness". "Don't buy me anything......." etc. She has put a cap of ten euro on her present which makes it all the more difficult to buy.

Anyway enough of my guff, apparently we are on a short break from snow, so take your chances, put on your four pairs of socks, put on the layers of clothes you normally wouldn't like to be seen in and come to the library for píosa craic linn.

We have come up with a clever ploy of feeding you mince pies AND mulled wine, to warm you up for some music (from you!) Joking aside, kind of, we will have music and fun. Though Máirín and I are "social entrepreneurs", (big society and all that), we are not Melissa and Bill Gates, therefore we suggest that you might like to through in a euro to cover the costs of the wine and pies.

Back to our spiritual home!

Tá muid ar ais, a chairde! Tá súil againn go raibh samhradh deas suaimhneasach ag gach éinne. Tá mé féin agus Máirín ullamh agus ar bís don séasúr atá romhainn. Agus.........tá muid ar ais san áit in a thosaigh sé ar fad........... an leabharlann!

Tá muid an-bhuíoch do Janet sa Blessington Bookstore. Go raibh míle Janet don fáilte, don tae agus don caife.

We're back, friends! Máirín and I really hope that you had a lovely, restful summer. We're very excited about our new season of ciorcál cómhrá with our loyal attendees and newbies! And...... we are returning to where it all began..............our spiritual home...........the library. Hello again, Margaret!

We're very grateful to Janet in the Blessington Bookstore. Thank you so much Janet for your welcome, and all the teas and coffees. Remember to shop there for all your literary requirements.

Friday the 24th of September is Culture Night in Blessington, so on the Thursday 23rd @7.30 in the library (our next ciorcál cómhrá) our theme will be da dah........Culture. Fair play to you Pat, you do such fantastic work in the community. We're leaving it wide open to allow for plenty of chat. We never stick to a theme anyway (see previous post) and of course we all very cultural, ahem,(she says, hiding the latest Hello! magazine). Be ready to be forthright in your views on music, literature, drama, anything at all.

Beidh oíche cultúrtha ar súil i mBaile Coimín, ar an 24ú Mean Fómhair, agus mar sin phiocamar mar téama don ciorcál cómhra ná da dah..........Cultúr. Beir bua, a Phat, tá tú go hiontach, an méid obair a dhéanann tú sa cheantar! Dár ndóigh, beidh an téama breá leathan. Beidh deis ag cách neart caint a dhéanamh. Ar aon nós ní leanann muid aon treoir(féach thuas) agus cinnte tá muid ar fad iontach cultúrtha, (a deireann sí, ag cuir Hello! i bhfolach).

Beidh muid ag plé ceol, litríocht, dráma, do rogha rud.

You're all welcome, whatever your fluency. Looking forward to seeing you in the library.

Thursday, 23rd September, 7.30pm

Fáilte roimh cách, an Déardaoin, 23ú Mean Fómhair, 7.30pm. Ag súil libh ar fad sa leabharlann.

Trathnóna deas!

Bhí trathnóna álainn againn sa Blessington Bookstore. Bhuail muid le cúpla duine nua- hurray! Bhí neart caint againn timpeall an bord agus caife iontach. Go raibh maith agat, Janet.

We had a lovely evening in the Blessington Bookstore. We were delighted to meet some new ciorcálees. There was plenty of aul'chat around the table and some excellent coffee, highly recommended! Thank you, Janet!

Anyway, our time has come again. If you want to hang out with us on Thursday 20th May from 7.30-9.00pm, you are more than welcome. Just bring your cúpla focal and a couple of euro to buy a tea or coffee.

Bí linn arís ar Deardaoin 20ú, Bealtaine ó 7.30-9.00. Beidh fáilte mór romhait. Ni gá ach do chúpla focal a thabhairt leat. (Agus cúpla euro do chupán tae nó caife, níl sé saor in aisce anois.)

An Blessington Bookstore, an Phríomhsráid, Baile Coimín.

Tá muid ag bogadh

Tá muid ag bogadh trasna an bóthar chomh fada leis An Blessington Book Store. Anocht beidh cupán álainn caife nó tae ar fáil do na ciorcálees. Bígí linn anocht ag 7.30 - 9.00 le haghaidh píosa craic agus cómhrá.

We're moving across the road as far as the Blessington Book Store. Janet is kind enough to provide a complimentary cup of tea or coffee to all ciorcalees this evening to celebrate the move. Join us for some chat and fun at 7.30 until 9.00 this evening.

Tá an fómhair tagtha faoi dheireadh agus tá na duilleoga ag titim. Nach bhfuil na dathanna go haoibheann faoi láthair. Ta fhios againn go bhfuil Oíche Shamhna ag druidim nuair a chloiseann muid na 'bangers' ag pléascadh gach oíche. Ná bac leis an hot chocolate trathnóna Déardaoin. Tar chuig an ciorcal cómhrá linn agus beidh píosa craic againn le chéile, trí Ghaeilge dar ndóigh!

Well, the autumn has finally arrived after our much deserved Indian Summer. The leaves are gently falling (until some windy night will blow every leaf from the tree). Aren't the colours beautiful? We know that Hallowe'en is coming when we hear bangers exploding every night. Put down your hot chocolate Thursday evening and come out to meet us at the ciorcál cómhrá where we'll have a bit of chat.

Ciorcál Cómhrá

Déardaoin 22ú Deireadh Fómhair

Thursday 22nd October

Tá muid arais!

Nama,nama,nama,nama, yéhéhé tá muid arais!

Tá súil ag Sinéad agus Máirín go raibh samhradh deas ag gach éinne agus go bhfuil sibh réidh chun Gaeilge a labhairt. Beidh muid ag plé na laethanta saoire.

Cá raibh sibh? Barbados nó Ballybunion? Staycation nó villa le infinity pool?

Is cuma linn. Tá muid ar fad bocht arís agus níl ach fágtha píosa craic agus cómhra.

We're back. Nama, pama, we're rearing to go!

Myself(Sinéad) and Máirín hope that you all had a lovely summer and that you're all ready to speak Irish again. We will be discussing holidays.

Where were you? Barbados in your shorts or Ballybunion in your wellies? Staycation or at your villa with the infinity pool(so 2007!) We don't care as we're all poor again, making soup out of the contents of our fridge which would normally end up in the compost. All we have left is some craic and conversation on competitive pricing(I know where you can get it even cheaper!)

Bígí linn trathnóna Déardaoin.

Be with us on Thursday evening at 8 o'clock, 24th September.

An Grá

An dtaitníonn lá fhéile Vailintín leat ?

Cén fáth?

An bhfuil sé rómánsach? (romantic)

An bhfuil sé ró-dhoilleallach? (forced)

Cé acu ab fhearr leat - coróg bláthanna (bunch of flowers) nó cupán tae sa leaba ar maidin?(a cup of tea served to you in bed)

bosca seacláid nó dinnéar blasta déanta sa bhaile duit?

box of chocolates or a homemade dinner made for you

An raibh tú riamh i mbialann oíche Vailintín? Cén chaoi a raibh sé?

Were you ever in a restaurant on Valentine's night? How was it?

An leithscéal é chun na phraghasanna a ardú?

Is it an excuse to raise prices?

Ar chuir tú cárta Vailintín ag éinne riamh? Nuair a bhí tú i do dhéagóir, b'fhéidir?

Have you ever sent a card? Maybe as a teenager?

Tús Nua

Foclóir

Ar mhaith leat aon rud a thosnú nó a athrú an mbliana?

Is there any thing you would like to start or change this year?

Ar mhaith triail a bhaint as spórt?

Would you like to try some sport?

An mhaith leat dul amach ag siúl níos minice?

Would you like to go walking more often?

Nó aclaíocht de aon shaghas a dhéanamh?

Or any particular exercise ?

An bhfuil sé ar intinn agat an maratón beag(nó mór) a dhéanamh?

Any plans to do the mini-marathon(or the marathon........fair play to you!)?

An bhfuil sé ar intinn agat bheith páirteach i gcúrsaí cultúrtha?

Would you like to be involved in cultural events?

Ar mhaith an teilifís a mhúchaint agus éisteacht le cheol/leabhar a léamh/litir a scríobh le cara?

Would you like to turn off the telly and listen to music/read a book/write a letter to a friend?

Ar mhaith leat ainm gach crann agus gach éan a bheith ar eolas agat?

Would you like to know the name of each tree and each bird?

Ar mhaith leat scil nua a fhoghlaim? Teanga nua? Ceird nua?

Would you like to learn a new skill? A new language? A craft?

Níos bhunasaí ! More basic!

Ar mhaith leat gan a bheith a cantalach ar maidin? 

Would you like to be less cranky in the mornings?

B'fhéidir gur mhaih leat eirigh níos luaithe ar maidin.

Maybe you'd like to get up earlier in the mornings.

Ar mhaith leat do arán féin a bhácáil gach lá?

Would you like to bake your own bread each day?

An mbeadh suim agat in obair deonach?

Would you be interested in voluntary work?

Dul i dteangmháil le sean chara?

Getting in contact with an old friend?

Cuairt a thabhairt go rialta ar duine aosta i do cheantar?

Regularly visit old people in your area?

Bheith níos chiallmhar le do chuid airgead?

Be wiser with your money?

Go neirí leat!!

TÚS NUA

Fáilte ar ais a chairde,

Athbhliain faoi mhaise daoibh go léir ! Beidh an ciorcál cómhrá ar siúl arís oíche amárach ag a hocht sa leabharlann, 15ú Eanair agus beidh muid ag plé ...........Tús nua! 

Cad atá le déanamh agat an mbliana? Spórt nua le thriail, bheith níos sibhialta ar maidin, níos mó garríaodóireacht a dhéanamh, caca nua a bhacáil gach seachtain, sínís a fhoghlaim...........

Tar chuig an ciorcal agus abair linn é, ní dhéarfaidh muid le éinne é. Ach nuair a deireann tú go bhfuil tú ar an dry le haghaidh mí Eanair,  beidh muid in aice leat sa West nuair a bhíonn an pionta tapaidh agat......... ceann amhain ...cén  dochair a dhéanfaidh sé?!

Welcome back everyone,

Happy New Year to all ! The ciorcál cómhrá is back tomorrow evening in the library(Blessington) January the 15th @8pm and we will be discussing .........A Fresh Start!

What have you planned for this year? To try a new sport, to be civil in the mornings, to do more gardening, to bake a cake once a week, to learn Chinese(it's the only country with decent economic prospects to which we can emigrate).

I threw in the "try a new sport" for any fit attendees. To be honest, trying any sport at all would be more pertinent. Does thinking about training for the mini-marathon count? I've read a really good book on the subject....

Here's a good one......Labhair níos mó Gaeilge! 

Bare all to us at the ciorcál cómhrá tomorrow evening. If you have vowed to go off the drink for the month of January you can be guaranteed that one of us will be behind you at the checkout in SuperValu watching you pack a couple of bottles of cabernet sauvignon (it was on special offer!!!).

Dia Dhaoibh a chairde,
Beidh ár gciorcál cómhrá ar siúl arís trathnóna amárach sa leabharlann, ag a hocht a chlog. Bhí deacrachtaí ag mé féin agus Máirín téama na míosa a phiocadh. Tá gach rud chomh gruama faoi láthair ach faoi dheireadh phioc muid "Cá raibh tú?" Mar shámpla, cá raibh tú nuair a chuala tú an nuacht mar gheall ar na Twin Towers i Nua Eabhrac? Nó nuair a scaoileadh Nelson Mandela ón bpriosún? Nó nuair a síneadh an chomhdhearbhú i mBéal Feirste? Nuair a thit an balla i mBerlin?

Bígí linn!

Dear Friends,
It's that time of the month again and our ciorcál cómhrá will take place in the library, at 8pm this Thursday 20th. Máirín and I had to really think hard of theme which would not send an already depressed population over the edge. So we came up with "Cá raibh tú?" "Where were you?", as in where were you when you heard about the Twin Towers in New York? Or when Nelson Mandela was released from prison? Or when the Joint Declaration was signed in Belfast? Or when the Berlin Wall fell? Or when Diana died?
Lots of food for thought there. I must announce a blanket ban on all discussions about banks(grrr), overdrafts(grrrrrr), the r word, downturns ..............enough about my personal life!

Come and join the fun, be there or be square,

Library, 8pm, Nov. 20th
Tea and biscuits thrown in.

Polaitíocht

Nuair a phioc muid "Polaitíocht" mar téama na míosa cúpla seachtan ó shin níor shamhlaíomar go mbeadh an méid sin caint ar cúrsaí airgid, cáináisnéis, cártaí leighis, árdú cáine...............a thiarcais! Bhí muid ag ceapadh go mbeadh muid ag plé "glamour politics"- Obama, McCain,Hillary, Sarah, Michelle, Cindy, an bhratóg réaltbhreac, ta's agat féin. Ach athríonn an saol chomh tapaidh sin, tá sé deacair a choinneáil suas leis. Mar is eol do na regulars ní leanann muid an téama beag nó mór! Tosóidh muid leis an téama agus feicimid!
Bí linn ag 8-9.30pm, sa leabharlann, Déardaoin, 23ú Deireadh Fómhair.

When we chose "Politics" as our theme several weeks ago, little did we think that the country would be consumed by money issues, budgets, medical cards, tax levies......................dear me! We were thinking "glamour politics " with the imminent US presidential election- Obama, McCain, Hillary, Sarah, Michelle, Cindy, red states, blue states, star spangled banners, razzamatazz, important CNN election reports and Michelle Obama's outfits. Anything to get us through the longer autumn evenings. Issues,smissues, we wanted an escape from our reality. As our regular attendees well know, we don't follow our theme closely so let's see how it works out!
Join us in the library, 8-9.30pm,Thursday 23rd October.

Foclóir úsáideach - Useful(or useless, depending on your view)vocabulary

Cáináisnéis - Budget
Aire - Minister
Airdeadas - Finance
Uachtarán - President
Na Stáit Aontaithe - US
Toghchán - Election
Olltoghchán - General Election
Iriseoirí - Journalists
Cáin - Tax
Dáilcheantar - Constituency