Irish-Language

St Enda’s 60-year project hasn’t ended after 60 minutes in Croker

<b>TURNING POINT:</b> Naomh &Eacute;anna goalkeeper Paddy Flood is black carded during Saturday night&rsquo;s Intermediate football final at Croke Park
TURNING POINT: Naomh Éanna goalkeeper Paddy Flood is black carded during Saturday night’s Intermediate football final at Croke Park TURNING POINT: Naomh Éanna goalkeeper Paddy Flood is black carded during Saturday night’s Intermediate football final at Croke Park

CAD É mar atá sibh a chairde, how’s it goin’ dear readers and loyal fans of the Bluffer’s Guide to Irish. 

Well, that’s what I call a deireadh seachtaine - a weekend. 

On Friday night, it was off to the Duncairn Arts Centre for the fabulous FIFTY club night of ceol, filíocht agus comhrá - music, poetry and conversation.

Was blown away by all

the acts – Lonesome George, poet Stephen Murphy from Leitrim,  Ian Lynch (of Lankum) and the fabulous Emma Langford.

The next day, however it was off to the stáisiún traenach - train station for the trip to Dublin to join a hot of others in supporting Naomh Éanna - St Enda’s in the Intermediate football final at Páirc an Chrócaigh - Croke Park. 

There is something special about Cumann Lúthchleas Gael (CLG) - the GAA and na cluichí Gaelacha - Gaelic games.

Now we all know about an pheil Ghaelach - Gaelic football and iomanaíocht - hurling for the lads and camógaíocht - camogie for the girls but the GAA also organises liathróid láimhe - handball and a game that people always forget – an cluiche corr - rounders.

(Did you know that hurling and camogie have been granted special cultural status by the United Nations?)

Imrím is I play, so imrím peil is how you would say I play football. Look up a dictionary for other sports you might play.

Ag imirt is playing so bhí mé ag imirt inné - I was playing yesterday and so on.

The Bluffer’s days of chasing a football are long gone (not that they ever started!) so he was happy to be on the Enterprise to Dublin, chocabloc with lucht tacaíochta - supporters of every shape and size and every age group.

GAA games are big family affairs. Because teams are recruited from a club’s geographical areas, you get sets of brothers/sisters all playing for the same club. Parents do all the stuff they complain about – without ever meaning it – like ag ní an fheistis - washing kits, driving the kids to and from training and games and so on and this is because they know that the GAA is a free education system, teaching young people about how life works, the struggles against adversity, the need for physical well-being, enjoying success when you’ve earned it and taking defeat when it comes but rising above it.

And there you have GLG Naomh Éanna. 

As anyone who has read Brendan Crossan’s articles in the Irish News will know, the Hightown Road club is very special.

Five times, club members have flanked the coffin of oifigigh - officials and imreoirí - players who had been murdered during the troubles.

Rinneadh ionsaí ar an chumann - the club was attacked on numerous occasions but the club carried on because of their belief in the worth of the culture they were promoting be it sport or the Irish language.

Unfortunately, Naomh Éanna lost in the final, beaten by a better team, Kerry champions Kilcummin, in what was a hugely enjoyable game.

In defeat, the Antrim and Ulster champions were magnanimous in defeat and the Hogan stand roared in salute to their bravery at the end of the game. One thing is for sure - the 60-year project at Naomh Éanna isn’t going to stall after just 60 minutes in Croke Park.

CÚPLA FOCAL

deireadh seachtaine (jeroo shakhtinya) - a weekend

ceol, filíocht agus comhrá(kyawl, fileeakht agiss coera) - music, poetry and conversation

stáisiún traenach(staashoon traynakh) - train station

Naomh Éanna (neev ayna) - St Enda’s

Páirc an Chrócaigh(paark un khrokee) - Croke Park

Cumann Lúthchleas Gael(cummin looclass gayl) - the GAA 

na cluichí Gaelacha(me clihee gaylakha) - Gaelic games

an pheil Ghaelach(un fel gaylakh) - Gaelic football 

iománaíocht(umaaneeakht) - hurling 

camógaíocht(camogeeakht) - camogie

liathróid láimhe(leeahyrodge laava) - handball

an cluiche corr(un cliha cor) - rounders

imrím peil(imreem pell) - I play football

bhí mé ag imirt inné(vee may eg imirtch inyay) - I was playing yesterday

lucht tacaíochta(lukht takeeakhta) - supporters  

ag ní an fheistis(eg nee un ayshtish) - washing kits

oifigigh (ifigee) - officers

imreoirí (imroree) - players

rinneadh ionsaí ar an chumann(imroree) - the club was attacked