Duine de shårscéalaithe na Gaeilge
In EanĂĄir 1952, sĂ© bliana sula bhfuair Peig Sayers bĂĄs, thionscain CoimisiĂșn BĂ©aloideasa Ăireann agallaimh lĂ©i agus Ă in ospidĂ©al Naomh Anna, Baile Ătha Cliath. BhĂ Peig thar a bheith sĂĄsta labhairt lena cuairteoirĂ a raibh Gaeilge ChiarraĂ ar a dtoil acu agus seanaithne aici orthu.
FoilsĂtear den chĂ©ad uair in NĂl Deireadh RĂĄite na hagallaimh sin mar aon le rĂ©amhrĂĄ tathagach, trĂĄchtaireacht agus aistriĂșchĂĄn BĂ©arla ar an iomlĂĄn. Cuireann Peig i lĂĄthair anseo seanscĂ©alta idirnĂĄisiĂșnta, scĂ©al FiannaĂochta, finscĂ©alta taistealacha, seanchas stairiĂșil agus sĂsheanchas, roinnt paidreacha, agus tĂĄ cĂșpla lĂ©arĂĄid Ăłna mac, MĂcheĂĄl Ă GaoithĂn, mar anlann leo. LĂ©irĂonn na taifeadtaĂ a bua mar scĂ©alaĂ oilte, a hacmhainn grinn, a mĂłreolas ar scĂ©alta traidisiĂșnta agus a cumas mĂĄistriĂșil ĂĄ gcur i lĂĄthair trĂ shĂșile mnĂĄ. BuanaĂonn an saothar seo ionad Pheig mar dhuine de shĂĄrscĂ©alaithe na Gaeilge agus cinntĂonn sĂ© go bhfuil a cuid scĂ©alaĂochta le hĂĄireamh ar scoth na healaĂne bĂ©il sa tĂr seo.
Among the first rank of Irish storytellers
In January 1952, six years before she died, Peig Sayers was interviewed by a team from the Irish Folklore Commission in St Anne's Hospital, Dublin. She was more than happy to be recorded, and pleased to be visited by old friends, all of whom spoke fluent Kerry Irish.
In Not the Final Word these interviews are published for the first time, in both Irish and English, along with a substantial introduction and detailed annotation. Here Peig tells her versions of international folktales, a Fenian tale, some prayers, migratory legends and historical and supernatural lore, illustrated in paintings by her son, MĂcheĂĄl Ă GaoithĂn. She emerges as a warm and authentic storyteller, with a ready sense of humour, a deep knowledge of traditional narrative and highly skilled in its presentation. This collection reaffirms Peig Sayers's position in the first rank of Irish storytellers and firmly establishes her tales in the canon of Irish oral literature.
