Seacht mBealach is launched!

Seacht mBealach / Seven Ways is well and truly launched. The book is an invitation to connect or reconnect with Gaeilge in ways that let you meet the language from where you are without shame or self-judgement.

Is gearr gairid an saol. Life is damn short. So the book and those around it have helped me lean into living and enjoying the journey!

The book is a field guide based on a weekly rhythm of Gaeilge Gach Lá that acts as a guidepost for what you can do as an ongoing journey. It’s bilingual. You can scan the QR code in every section to hear me read out the Irish part of the text, and read long with me. See the bonus at the end for a reading of the introduction of the book.

You know what they say about a teacher having a lasting effect on you? I was reminded of that with the launch of the book for Seachtain na Gaeilge.

Domhnall was the principal teacher in my small new gaelscoil in the 1980s in Ennis, County Clare. He was my teacher when I was seven years old.

When I sent a copy of the book to the school, I got a response I didn’t expect. “We’re going to do a launch for your book“. It wasn’t a question. They put me in touch with the generous support of An Clár as Gaeilge.

Standing in Scéal Eile Books before the start of the book launch, I see Domhnall walk in. Old memories rush in with him.

During the launch, he spoke with such passion and clarity around the Irish language, and said very kind things about me and the book.

His passion in that room showed me that a good teacher can have an effect for decades, or indeed a lifetime. I believe that the Irish language is part of a web of meaning, a direct way of being the culture.

Having the launch in Ennis was a bit of like coming back home. I only live up the road in Luimneach / Limerick. Having friends and family in the room gave me a feeling of being well-supported.

A week earlier, I had spoken on the Morning Focus show with Alan Morrissey on Clare FM. It was the radio station that I’d have on in the mornings before school.

It was also lovely to have the book stocked at The Ennis Bookshop, and The Lahinch Bookshop. It’s where I would get the occasional gift voucher as a kid and would roam the shelves with delight for what I could get. And now my own book is there. They have a curated selection of Irish language books, plus local and Irish interest books.

The first shop to stock the book was O’Mahony’s Booksellers in Limerick. They have been operating on O’Connell Street since 1902. My son was up sick the night before I was to go in to sign copies. So my smile wasn’t as big as I was planning it to be, but I still savoured the moment.

Agus buíochas leis An Siopa Leabhar. They are the main bookshop for Irish language books in Dublin – always pop in if you have time there. They have been very supportive in stocking signed copies of Seacht mBealach. The significance of signing the books in the presence of the books stocked there was not lost on me.

Last but certainly not least, it’s been beautiful to see that Seacht mBealach has resonated so strongly with our Bitesize Irish community. Customers have been across the island of Ireland, Great Britain, around Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand.

One surprise has been the number of customers in Northern Ireland / the six counties, and the bordering counties. There is a groundswell of support for the language there.

If you haven’t yet gotten your hands on your copy, then you can order Seacht mBealach from Bitesize Irish.

International shipping is available.

Do you have the book? Please reply below with what has resonated with you about the book.

P.S. It seems like dogs enjoy the book, especially black and white ones. They say it’s quite tasty.

Bonus: Reading of the intro (2 mins)

You are welcome to listen to this audio, which is the introduction to the book: