Pádraig Mac Piarais
Coiscéim 2012
ISBN 6660012120635
Lth/Pgs 247
I 1912 gealladh go mbeadh rialtas dá cuid féin ag Éirinn faoi dheireadh. Ba léir go raibh athrú i ndán don tír, agus shíl Pádraic Mac Piarais gur mhithid do lucht na Gaeilge dul isteach i gcúrsaí polaitíochta. Chuir sé tús le páipéir nua Gaeilge, An Barr Bua. Tháinig Gaeil thréitheacha eile leis san iarracht, agus chuir siad ábhar spreagúil machnaimh ar fáil gach seachtain. Bhunaigh siad Cumann na Saoirse chun cuidiú leis an obair.
Ba bheag acmhainní a bhí acu, áfach, seachas díograis, fonn agus féith an ghrinn. Cé nár mhair an páipéir ach trí mhí, d’fhág sé lorg mór. Is foinse riachtanach é le forbairt pholaitiúil an Phiarsaigh go háirithe a thuiscint. Thug an páipéar le chéile daoine a throidfeadh gualainn ar ghualainn i 1916. Chuir beirt díobh ainm le forógra na Poblachta, maraíodhcúigear acu de bharr páirt a ghlacadh san éirí amach.
Cuirtear An Barr Bua ar fáil anseo ina iomláine den chéad uair, maille le nótaí cuimsitheach agus réamhrá ag cur síos ar a chomhtheacs. Léargas breise as an ngnáth a thabharfaidh sé ar an bPiarsach, ar pholaitíocht na linne, agus ar iriseoireacht na Gaeilge.
An Barr Bua was a political paper, but a remarkable political paper. For one thing it had the literary graces, style, fanaticism, and tolerance that only an editor like Pearse could give it. Above all it had thought, avoided formulae and barren controversy. A delightful humour animated its pages, a caustic wit which did not even spare the editor… Pearse, who was chief contributor as well as editor, used the Irish language with a literary grace, style, variety, humour and force never yet surpassed. Essay, poem, fable and leading article – as well as a summary of foreign news. Pearse enunciated the political views he then held. We can read An Barr Bua today with interest for its pronounced personal note and literary charm while many points and arguments have point and relevance.
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