How The Irish Language Inspires A More Connected Way Of Life | Manchán Magan | Ireland's Edge

What can we make of a language that has 32 words for field?

Writer and broadcaster Manchán Magan encountered the remarkable richness of the Irish language as a young child, and his grandmother Sighle was determined that he would learn to speak it in the place where it was the common language of daily life. This was Muiríoch in the west Kerry Gaeltacht, where Manchán spent his childhood holidays in his grandmother’s house. The Irish he learned there dates back to a time when the multiplicity of words for objects, actions, ideas and feelings reflected a way of life with a profound appreciation for the natural world.

In Dingle Manchán spoke with Ireland’s Edge founder and Emmy winning writer and director Nuala O’Connor about his new book, 32 Words for Field: Lost Words of the Irish Landscape.

Ireland's Edge - Available Light/Solas was made possible thanks to our leading partner, Intel Ireland, and supported by Jones Engineering Group, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, The Department of Foreign Affairs, The Irish Times and Kerry County Council

[brendanharding]

The Irish nation is very fortunate to have Manchan Magan. Thank you, Manchan.

[eleanorchapple]

Manchan Magan has inspired me to take up the Irish language. I last learned a bit in a boarding school in the north of Ireland. I’ve an ocean of learning ahead of me but I’m encouraged by all the videos an vlogs out there and here I am in the farming heartland of southern Ontario. I was glad to see that your government has come up with some rewards for knowing the language like I think 20 per cent of each branch must be Irish speakers. I only get snippets of Irish news here so I may be mistaken

[MseeBMe]

I could listen to him talk for the rest of my life.

[naomiseraphina]

Manchan Magan is such a bright being illuminating this world with his passionate genius and wise insighful madness that he is truly one of the saints of our age. No better star need exist by which to steer. If you learn from his example you cannot go wrong. Mile beannachtai air.

[garthhunt]

Loved the lady who conducted the interview, as well as the amazing Manchan Magan!

[auroraboraas]

What a fantastically inspiring man! I just stumbled across an interview with him yesterday, and now I feel like I have a wealth of inspiration available. A very interesting interview!

[Jimtheprovo]

Heard Manchan on the blindboy boatclub podcast first a while ago, can't get enough of this mans story telling.

[jamesduggan]

Dia duit. "H'iontas faoi caint leat".
My lrish is limited; whatever is buried down there from my years in the De La Salle brothers in Ballyfermot ~ a Cork man teacher, Bri. Coleman. He was a good Bro.
However, l was caught by your opening words to Manchán. Lovely way to say, " wonderful to be speaking with you".
Maith thú.
🙏🇮🇪🙏

[Irishmanwoodcraft]

i have felt the pull of our beautiful land, i sensed something more was in the land beneath my feet and gained a sense of one with her, great, honorable, we must make our language great agian....

I live beside an ancient irish speaking community, the ' gailtác' was in this village up until it was move to co Donegal in the early 1920s...

i feel the history here, its place names, and townships has a story to tell...under valued irish heritage surrounds us i believe... more time should given to explore and understand...so many land marks and so many questions... the Irish language could honestly be the key to it all ...

[donalosullivan]

Delightfully interesting and informative.

[bernadettepacker]

I remember my mother telling me that when they had a match they did not look at the man they looked at the field to see if the grass was green so I suppose fields would be central in the language. Manchan's instruction on many words for Field gives a new insight to the naming of the film The Field. A rural life and had to make a living. On the supernatural dimension when taken to Ireland as a child the fields seemed alive as I was told about Jack o lanterns and of course leprechauns. Bernadette

[colinmcgee]

Thank you so much. My family left Ireland for South Africa in 1820, and it's one of the sorrows of my life that I cannot speak this language of poetry and wonder. You gave me a glimpse.

[vscoster]

Is leabhar iontach é seo. Rinne Manchan argóint suimiúil ann faoi an ceangal idir an Gaeilge agus ár gcuid áit ar an tír agus ar an domhan agus ar gcaidreamh le gach rud timpeall muid freisin. Tá sean téarmaí sa leabhar seo nach bhfuil a labhairt níos mó agus cuireann sé brón orm. Ach tá dóchas ionam anois go beidh ár dteanga ag éirí as a glúin mar geal an saothar Mangan agus duine eile cosúil leis.

[chopchung]

Series 1, Episode 1 of his series NO BEALA. go to 2:46 and just watch the dirty look he gets from the bus lady once his back is turned, even though she herself has at least basic Irish.Seems the Irish look DOWN on their own language as a sign of poverty or backwardness.Strange attitudes from a people who fought for so long to be "free".

[daviesbydesign]

Does Manchan still think the language is dead? That’s what he said in Dublin a few years back

[AnnetteMurphyger]

Cluain meala Clonmel (Field of Honey)

[donkeyotay]

obviously an Innuit came and identified 31 different types of snow in the fields, lol. Could also be proof that we invented Estate Agents 😆

[mollymcnaughton]

I'd already begun learning Gaeilge a few months ago when I came across one of Manchán's videos and I was hooked..☘️✨💚🤍🧡

[johnpurcell]

Irish is an English word Ireland is an English word what happened to Gaelic why so opposed to Gaelic

[enriqueham]

IRELAND ONLY FOR THE IRISH UNDER GOD -SAVE YOUR CULTURE AND YOUR COUNTRY !!!!