/lit/ - Literature

>>17351126
To the anon who originally asked the question, and to those who wonder the same, I will offer my insight. I am a native Irish speaker. First and foremost, I would advise you to dismiss the opinions of L2 Irish learners outright, whether on 4chan, Reddit or on whatever social platform you come across them, for their relationship with Irish is shallow. To be blunt, your average L2 learners are the plebeians of the Irish language, peddling around a piddly, childish and anglicised version of Irish with no familiarity or connection with Irish literature, modern or otherwise. Egotists that they are, they think because their Irish is constricted and underdeveloped that Irish as a whole must be as well. Any reasonable person who is conversant in Irish literature will know this to be untrue, as will those whose knowledge of Irish is in-depth. Ironically, these L2 learners will mewl about elitism when we try to convince them to speak an Irish which you think would be the base standard for anyone who wants to claim they ‘speak’ Irish. Monuar, they just froth at the mouth.
In my opinion, it is worth learning, especially if you are one of our folk. I’ll try to convince you, though in brief, for I am working. To learn Irish is to gain access to not only gratifying and intriguing literature, but historical sources as well. When you become conversant in Irish literature, it is only a hop, skip and a jump to pre-standard Classical Irish, the poetry of which is beautiful, creative and fascinating. Munster Irish is a tremendous help in this regard, as it is the dialect which is closest to Classical Irish. To learn Irish gives insight into the way we write and speak English (think of Joyce’s prose, Synge or any of our writers who use Hiberno-English). If you wish to read the Táin, you can read it and our other epics in wonderfully translated modern Irish, thanks to the efforts of Darach Ó Scolaí and Diarmuid Johnson. I could speak about the confidence it gives to you, and the connection to a mindset tailored to the world view of our people, but I do not wish to get too abstract. However, to walk in the Irish countryside on a summer’s day and know the meaning of the places names around you is alone worth learning Irish. This is all I can say for now.

Very true

Lit, rate this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ulpp1yRj-Rc

"Stand ye now for Erin's glory! Stand ye now for Erin's cause!
Long ye've groaned beneath the rigor of the Northmen's savage laws.
What though brothers league against us? What, though myriads be the foe?
Victory will be more honored in the myriads' overthrow.
"Proud Connacians! oft we've wrangled in our petty feuds of yore;
Now we fight against the robber Dane upon our native shore;
May our hearts unite in friendship, as our blood in one red tide,
While we crush their mail-clad legions, and annihilate their pride!
"Brave Eugenians! Erin triumphs in the sight she sees to-day--
Desmond's homesteads all deserted for the muster and the fray!
Cluan's vale and Galtees' summit send their bravest and their best--
May such hearts be theirs forever, for the Freedom of the West!
"Chiefs and Kernes of Dalcassia! Brothers of my past career,
Oft we've trodden on the pirate-flag that flaunts before us here;
You remember Inniscattery, how we bounded on the foe,
As the torrent of the mountain bursts upon the plain below!
"They have razed our proudest castles--spoiled the Temples of the Lord--
Burned to dust the sacred relics--put the Peaceful to the sword--
Desecrated all things holy--as they soon may do again,
If their power to-day we smite not--if to-day we be not men!
"On this day the God-man suffered--look upon the sacred sign--
May we conquer 'neath its shadow, as of old did Constantine!
May the heathen tribe of Odin fade before it like a dream,
And the triumph of this glorious day in our future annuals gleam!
"God of heaven, bless our banner--nerve our sinews for the strife!
Fight we now for all that's holy--for our altars, land and life--
For red vengeance on the spoiler, whom the blazing temples trace--
For the honor of our maidens and the glory of our race!
"Should I fall before the foeman, 'tis the death I seek to-day;
Should ten thousand daggers pierce me, bear my body not away,
Till this day of days be over--till the field is fought and won--
Then the holy mass be chanted, and the funeral rites be done.

"Men of Erin! men of Erin! grasp the battle-ax: and spear!
Chase these Northern wolves before you like a herd of frightened deer!
Burst their ranks, like bolts from heaven! Down, on the heathen crew,
For the glory of the Crucified, and Erin's glory too!"

>Irish aesthetic