Category: News & Events

A chairde,

The shop is now open at the following times:
Monday-Saturday, 10am – 4pm

We would like to thank you for supporting the shop by placing online orders in the past few months.

You can now visit the shop or order online, and we are happy to say that ‘Click and Collect’ is now a permanent option for online orders.

Thank you for your support and we hope that you, your families and friends are doing well.

Le beannacht,
Áine, Pádraigín, Séamus agus Aisling

Dia daoibh a chairde,

We are now offering a brand-new click-and-collect service for online orders.

When you place an order and select ‘Click and Collect’ as your shipping method, we will send you an email to let you know when it is ready for collection.

Click and collect will operate Monday-Friday 10am-1pm.

If you have any questions, please email us on eolas@anceathrupoili.com and we will respond as quickly as possible.

Go raibh míle maith agaibh,
Foireann ACP

A chairde,

Due to COVID-19, An Ceathrú Póilí has taken the decision to close our shop in An Chultúrlann until at least the end of the month but we will keep offering books online. We will make sure to update you when the situation changes.

As a small, independent bookshop we are dependent on our customers’ support. In 1984 we were closed by fire but re-opened quickly. Due to the rapidly changing situation due to coronavirus, that may not be possible.

After 36 years of your support, we need it more than ever to ensure that we are able to re-open when the time comes. Many of you will have ordered through our website and some will not have. We hope that you can browse through our books and spread the word to friends and family – we will still be open online and Áine, Pádraigín and Séamus will be checking our online orders each day to ship them.

An Ceathrú Póilí are still open for business online – please note that backordered products may take longer to ship due to present circumstances. We will notify you once your backordered product has been shipped.

We hope that you remain safe in the coming weeks and months and thank you for your support over the last (almost) four decades – we will keep in touch.

Le dea-ghuí,
Áine, Pádraigín, Séamus agus Aisling.

We are over the moon to now be able to offer Gift Cards for our customers.

You can order a gift card for yourself or as a gift to a special friend at the following page:
anceathrupoili.com/shop/gift-card/

Online gift cards can also be used in the shop as well as online!

If you have any questions, as always, email us at eolas@anceathrupoili.com or leave a comment on this blog post. 😀

Thank you for your support! 😀
The trio @ ACP

Please note this event will be held in Irish.

Club Leabhar Choiscéim Feirste welcome you to the launch of Páras 1919, a collection of short stories by Gabhán Ó Fachtna on Saturday, 30 March @ 1:00pm. The collection will be launched by Máire Zepf.

Refreshments available, all welcome!

An Ceathrú Póilí
Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich
216 Falls Road
The Gaeltacht Quarter
Belfast BT12 6AH
028 9032 2811

It’s hard to believe a full year has passed since last year’s Leabhra Feabhra, a celebration of Irish language literature. This year at An Ceathrú Póilí and online at anceathrupoili.com, we are delighted to offer a gift to visitors. Be you a learner, a listener, a history buff or a wee one, we hope we have something for everyone.

We will have a special sale in the bookshop (10:00am-4:00pm) and a 10% discount on all online orders (00:01am-23:59pm) – Saturday 2nd February 2018! Call into the shop in An Chultúrlann or visit anceathrupoili.com.

Leabhra Feabhra ends 4:00pm in the shop and at one minute until midnight on the website!

Online, enter ‘leabhra2019‘ as your voucher code to apply your discount.

Tá mí na Nollag buailte linn, tá na laethanta níos gairide, an ghaoth níos fiáine agus is amhlaidh is teo teolaí tarraingtí atá an teach, go háirithe agus tú i do shuí cois tine le leabhar i lámh amháin agus cupán tae sa lámh eile.

From Saturday 1 December–Wednesday 5 December, we are offering a 10% discount on all orders of £30 or more to help you find that book to relax with, fill a few Christmas stocking and to pass a gift or two on to those you love best. To apply your discount, just enter the following discount code at checkout:

NOLLAIG2019

Ádh mór!

Creid nó ná creid níorbh as Éirinn ná pór na hÉireann í Sylvia. Is as Michigan í agus tógadh í sa chrios meirgeach sin, áit arbh as ceol Motown agus na Supremes. Bhain sí céim amach ar Ollscoil Ann Arbor ann agus mar chuid den staidéar sin chaith sí tamall sa Ghearmáin. Ansin thug sí a haghaidh ar Mheicsiceo, áit ar mhúin si Béarla is Gearmáinis. Ba ansin a thit sí i ngrá le Gearmánach fir. Chuaigh sí ar ais go dtí An Ghearmáin leis, áit ar pósadh iad agus ar tógadh clann.

Bíodh sin mar atá, cad chuige a bhfuil suim aici i gcultúr na hÉireann? De réir mar a thuigim, bhí suim aici i gceol na hÉireann agus í ag éisteacht leis músclaíodh spéis inti i bhfocail na n-amhrán sean-nóis. Cén teanga atá inti agus cad é mar a chuirtear an ceol leis na focail? Tháinig sí ar chinneadh, cinneadh a chuir cor ina dán, rachadh sí go hÉirinn leis an teanga a bhlaiseadh. Shocraigh sí cúrsa fána coinne ar Oideas Gael in iardheisceart Dhún na nGall agus ba ansin a bhuail mé léi. Ar shuí isteach dom sa rang sean-nóis faoi stiúir Ghearóidín Néidí Frainc shuigh Sylvia i m’aice agus thosaigh sí ag cur cogar i mo chluas, ‘cad é mar a fhuaimnítear seo agus siúd, cad é a chiallaíonn an focal sin srl. Is dócha go n-aithníonn andúileach sean-nóis andúileach sean-nóis eile. Ón am sin i leith dhéanadh sí an rud ceannann céanna agus faoi cheann na seachtaine d’éirigh cairdeas eadrainn. Ach bhí fadhb mhór aici leanstan ar aghaidh leis an Ghaeilge agus í thall sa Ghearmáin. Shocraigh muid ar bheart. Scríobhfadh sí mír nó dhó sa Ghaeilge agus cheartóinn iad. De réir a chéile, tháinig borradh ar na míreanna, d’fás siad ina scéalta agus ní raibh sé rófhada go raibh cnuasach gearrscéalta aici. D’fhoilsigh Coiscéim é, comhlacht dá chuid Phádraig Uí Snodaigh, faoin teideal Fínéid as an tSín.

Is dócha gur thit sí i ngrá le scríbhneoireacht mar trí bliana dár gcionn tháinig leabhar eile óna peann chugam, leabhar dar teideal Ceithre Bhean Déag as an Ghearmáin. Ba í Coiscéim an foilsitheoir arís. Sa leabhar úr seo, tá cur síos ar ghnéithe is ar thréithe na mban sa Ghearmáin. Istigh faightear: grá, drúis, grá gan chúiteamh, fadhbanna sóisialta na seanóirí, an saol fríd shúile an aosa óig, bean faoi mhíchumas, fadhbanna na dteifeach, bá, mná ag foghlaim Gaeilge, deoraíocht, agus faoi uafás is dhóchas is mheanma dhochloíte sna campaí géibhinn Auschwitz is Ravensbruck.

An chéad sliocht a chuir Sylvia inár láthair, ba shliocht é as an scéal Kaddish, scéal a bhaineas le dóchas gan sárú taobh istigh de champaí géibhinn Auschwitz agus Ravensbruck. Cinnte go bhfuil blas ar an bheagán. Seo an rud a dúirt Gerda:

Bhí an fichiú breithlá romham agus mé sa champa i Ravensbruck. Rud ar leith an fichiú breithlá, nach ea? Ní raibh mé ag iarraidh go rachadh sé thart mar ghnáthlá. Mar sin, níor ith mé mo chuid aráin an oíche roimhe. Rinne mé troscadh agus choinnigh an t-arán le go mbeadh dhá phíosa agam an lá arna mhárach. Ar an dóigh sin bheinn beagáinín sách, mar a bhínn tráth dá raibh. Saghas brontanais dom féín. Chuir mé in éadach beag é faoi mo philiúr. Ar mo bhreithlá dhúisigh mé agus chuir mé lámh faoi mo philiúr leis an chiondáil aráin a tharraingt amach, ach bhí sé imithe! Bhí mé in ísle brí. Mar bharr ar an donas, bhí orm a bheith ag obair ag an rollóir an lá sin, an obair ba mheasa is ba chontúirtí sa champa. Bhí an rollóir an-trom agus ba mhinic a ghortaítí cosa na mban agus iad ag obair leis. Mar sin, ba mhór an faitíos a bhí orainn go léir roimh an obair sin. Bhí muid amuigh ar tí tosú ar an obair nuair a shiúil grúpa ban eile tharainn. Gan focal a rá, d’fhág mé mo mheitheal féin agus chuaigh mé sa ghrúpa eile chomh neamhshuntasach agus ab fhéidir liom. Ní dúirt duine faic faoi ach an oiread agus mé ag fágáil an ghrúpa nua i ndiaidh tamaillín. Chuaigh mé ‘abhaile’, amhail is dá mbeadh sin breá normálta, agus thosaigh ag cniotáil. Bhí orainn stocaí a chníotáil do na saighdiúirí nuair a bhí am again, agus obair réasúnta thaitneamhach a bhí inti. Níor tháinig duine ar bith faoi mo choinne ná níor tharla aon drochrud dom ach an oiread. Ach níor bheag an baol dom féin an méid a rinne mé. Dá ngabhfaí mé thabharfaí léasadh dom, ar a laghad, mar gheall ar na rialacha a shárú. Ach níor gabhadh mé. Bhí mé i mo shuí ar mo leaba ag cniotáil agus mé sona sásta gur eirigh liom an obair chontúirteach úd a sheachaint ar mo bhreithlá. Tá mé brodúil fós go raibh sé de mhisneach agam é a dhéanamh. Blas beag saoirse a bhí agam an lá sin.

Chuir Sylvia an dlaoí mhullaigh ar an tseoladh le sliocht eile as an leabhar a léamh, sliocht a bhaineas le scéal dar teideal Gaeltacht Gnannenweiler, sceal ina bhfuil triúr ban ag bualadh le chéile go rialta le Gaeilge a fhoghlaim:

Nár inis mé daoibh riamh an scéal faoi conas a chruthaigh Dia an Ghaeilge? Seo mar a bhí: i dtús báire, chruthaigh Dia neamh agus talamh, solas agus dorchadas, na plandaí agus na hainmhithe, na fir agus na mná. Chonaic Dia gur mhaith sin. Ansin ba mhithid na teangacha a dháileadh ar na pobail. Mar sin, thug sé an Fhraincis do na Francaigh, an tSínis do na Sínigh, an Tuircis do na Turcaigh, agus teanga oiriúnach do gach pobal. Bhí na teangacha go léir dáilithe go luath, agus chonaic Dia gur mhaith sin. Ach ansin chonaic sé daoine ar oileán beag glas i bhfad i gcéin ag geáitsíocht go tréan gan rud ar bith ach corrgháír nó gnúsacht éigin ag teacht as a mbéil. ‘Nach mise an t-amadán ceart!’ ar seisean. ‘Rinne mé dearmad glan ar na Gaeil. Na créatúir! Agus na teangacha go léír caite agam! Cad is féidir liom a dhéanamh?’ Rinne sé a mhachnamh ar feadh cúpla bomaite. ‘Tá ‘s agam! Bronnfaidh mé mo theanga féin orthu!’ Agus sin a rinne sé.

Sna samplaí thuasluaite seo tá blaiseadh beag den chineál scéil a fhaightear sa leabhar nuafhoilsithe seo. Molaim an leabhar daoibh.

Tá muid fíor-bhuíoch d’fhoireann na Cultúrlainne, agus de Phádraig Ó Snodaigh, ach go háírithe.

An Buntáiste Breise is a guidebook for Irish speaking families, written by Marcas Mac Ruairí, and published by Glór na nGael.

An Buntáiste Breise is set to be launched in An Chultúrlann, Belfast on Saturday, April 29th (1pm-3pm), 2017 by acclaimed author Máire Zepf.

Anois teacht an Earraigh beidh ’n lá ‘dul chun síneadh…

Spring has sprung and the music is flowing from speakers, earphones, voices and venues around Ireland 😇 We’re delighted to share some of our favourite albums from very interesting musicians, local and neighbours.

Sona do Cheird – Doimnic Mac Giolla Bhríde

From the Gaoth Dobhair Gaeltacht, Doimnic is a winner of Corn Uí Riada and is the driving force behind Gaelic choirs Cór Thaobh a’ Leithid, in Donegal, and Belfast’s Cór Loch Lao. This is Doimnic’s third solo album, a release sitting alongside collaborative efforts such as that with Scots Gaelic singer Griogair Labhruidh and Cór Thaobh a’ Leithid. He has also published a collection of songs for children, Ící Pící.

Doimnic has composed new tunes on Sona do Cheird for songs from ‘Dhá Chéad de Cheoltaibh Uladh’, some of which have never been recorded.

Gaelré – Gráinne Holland

Gráinne Holland is a hugely talented traditional singer. Gaelré (era of the Gaels) is her second album, released under the iconic Gael Linn label.

This album features the Co. Antrim anthem ‘Airdí Cuan’ (that has never before been recorded sung), in the Antrim Glens Irish dialect from the Doegen Archive, as well as songs she heard growing up in Belfast – Albert Fry’s ‘Síos an Sliabh’ and ‘Slóite na bhFiann’, translated into the Irish by Séamus Ó Grianna.

The Seven Suns – John McSherry

John hails from west Belfast and is a founder member of some of Ireland’s biggest musical groups such as Lúnasa, At First Light and Dónal Lunny’s Coolfin. He is recognised as one of the most diverse uilleann pipers in the world, which is exemplified by this rich concept album. The Seven Suns is a journey through places throughout this world and the other, connected by sounds, old knowledge and the music of the Celtic nations.

John was inspired by the Seven Suns, stone carvings found in Dowth. The majority of the music is newly composed by John with a few traditional tunes.

Áilleacht – Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin

A collection of newly written and composed songs in the Irish language by Oriel singer Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin. Recorded in Teelin, the songs centre around love and the different incarnations and aspects of it. As well as Pádraigín’s own songs, renowned poet Biddy Jenkinson’s ‘Cruit Dhubhróis’ is also be heard in a beautiful harp and voice setting.

Produced by Steve Cooney and Denmark’s Palle Mikkelborg, there is a wealth of musicians to be heard Áilleacht (meaning ‘Beauty’), including Iarla Ó Lionáird, Laoise Kelly, Odhrán Ó Casaide, Helen Davies, Mikkel Nordsø and Brian Dunning.

One Penny Portion – Lasairfhíona

A decade since the release of ‘Flame of Wine’ and 15 years since she recorded ‘An Raicín Álainn’, we are excited that One Penny Portion from Aran singer Lasairfhíona Ní Chonaola is finally here! From Inis Oírr, this is a gentle, soulful album with Máire Breathnach returning as producer.

As well as the amhráin mhóra (big songs) ‘Éamonn an Chnoic’ (Ned of the Hill) and ‘An Chuilfhionn’ (The Coolin), there are some rare gems to be found here, too, such as ‘Éilis Nic Dhiarmada Rua’ and songs for the wee ones such as ‘She Didn’t Dance’.

Westward – Éilís Kennedy

West Kerry’s Éilís Ní Chinnéide is a voice that no one can fail to appreciate. Her third solo outing, Westward is a collection of traditional songs and numbers penned by the singer herself. Éilís has toured worldwide over the past number of years as one half of the folk duo Lumière with Pauline Scanlon.

There is a lively, modern take on the humorous classic ‘An tÚll’ which Éilís learned from her mother Edna Ní Chinnéide, as well as a soulful, earthy performance of ‘Pé in Éirinn Í’, written by 18th century poet Uilliam Dall Ua hEarnáin. Éilís’ own ‘The Flannel Red’, and Scots Gaelic classic ‘Cailín Mo Rún-sa’ are two other highlights of this great collection.

Na Mooneys – Na Mooneys

The surname Mooney (Ó Maonaigh / Ní Mhaonaigh) are synonymous with the northern music of Ireland. Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh is best known as singer and fiddler with the group Altan. Before founding Altan with Andytown’s Frankie Kennedy she was a member of Ragairne along with her brother Gearóid and fellow Donegal woman Enya. On this album you will hear Anna Ní Mhaonaigh, herself a member of Macalla (alongside Seosaimhín Ní Bheaglaoich), and fiddler Ciarán Ó Maonaigh of fiddle trio Fidil.

You will also hear the voice of the younger Mooney generation with Nia, Mairéad’s daughter, lending vocals, as well as the instrumentation of Mairéad’s long-term collaborator and Capercaillie co-founder Manus Lunny, who produced the album. Among the highlights of Na Mooneys is ‘A Óganaigh Óig’ with a newly composed melody and ‘Dónal na Gealaí’, led by Anna Ní Mhaonaigh.

Lonesome George – Lonesome George

Lonesome George began as a group in the Sunflower Pub on Union Street in Belfast city centre. With voices, double bass, guitar, fiddles, bodhrán and a banjo in the mix, this is an ecclectic project full of new compositions and rearranged tunes.

The arrangements are exiting and new, inspired by Jewish dances and Caribbean Calypso music, all from the perspective of trad musicians!

Mo Chamán Bán – Éamonn Ó Faogáin

One of Belfast’s big personalities, Éamonn Ó Faogáin had a strong and equal love for song and for hurling. Éamonn Mór was a seminal member of Cór Aifreann Feirste and was their musical director for more than 30 years.

Although Éamonn departed the mortal world last year, he has left behind a treasure trove of songs for all to enjoy. Mo Chamán Bán is a collection of songs in Irish and in English about hurling guided by the sweet voice of the big man himself.

Turrys – Ruth Keggin

From the Isle of Mann, Ruth Keggin is a Manx Gaelic singer who has released two albums to date. She is also a member of ‘Aon Teanga : One Language’ along with Mary Ann Kennedy (Scots Gaelic) and Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin (Irish Gaelic).

The similarities and differences between our own Gaelic and that from Mann can be heard as well as the styles of music found here and the unique style of folk music found on the island and Ruth’s take on it all. Irish speakers will know Manx classic ‘Ushag Varrey’ (recorded by Éamonn Ó Faogáin and Gráinne Holland), and also have the chance to learn cúpla focal (a few words) of Manx from this beautiful record.

Modal Citizen – Josie Nugent

From Clare, Nugent now lives in Belfast with her husband, piper Brian Stafford. After recording a number of albums with her husband and her sister Mary, Josie released her first solo album, Modal Citizen last year.

This album is a collection of tunes from and inspired by County Clare, the north of Ireland, England and Sweden, with octave violin, Stroh fiddle and MK1 Stage Piano to be heard. Joining Josie are Mary Nugent, Nigel and Dianne Boullier, Geordie McAdam, Alan Burke, Sean O’Donnell, Séamus O’Kane and Mark Wilson.

North – Conor Caldwell agus Danny Diamond

Belfast fiddlers Conor Caldwell and Danny Diamond are well known as members of multiple trad and folk groups and recorded this album in the iconic recording studio of the Irish Traditional Music Archive in Dublin.

Conor is also a lecturer in the Department of Creative Arts and Queens University Belfast, while danny is a member of bands Mórga and Slow Moving Clouds.