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Product Description
Drawn from a handwritten manuscript in Irish, Cin Lae Eibhlin is drawn from diaries of Blasket islander Eibhlin Ní Shúilleabháin. She was the sister of Muiris, who wrote the classic Fiche Bliain ag Fás.
The diaries were written between May 1923 and November of that year at the instigation of Brian O Ceallaigh who was instrumental in urging Tomas Ó Criomhthain to write An tOileanach.
The diaries lay for years unnoticed in the National Library together with the remainder of Ó Ceallaigh's papers.
Her diaries were written for him as a daily and lively account of the comings and goings on the Great Blasket.
The diaries have now been edited by Mairead Ni Loingsigh who teaches in the Irish department at UCC.
They constitute an important addition to the body of literature produced on the island. Working through the original handwritten manuscript was a labour of love, she says. "Prof Sean O Coileain, head of the modern Irish department here at UCC, urged me to do my thesis on the diaries, it was he who brought the existence of the manuscript to my attention.
"I think it's fascinating that O Suilleabhain's sister was already writing her diaries before Muiris had written Fiche Bliain ag Fas.
Her accounts of island life were very immediate, not retrospective like much of the other literature. Her view of the island was very positive and even though she was anticipating leaving for Springfield, Massachusetts, the island and island life were clearly big enough for her.
"Nil aon ait mar an baile; ni fheadfa deanamh danuil in aon ait eile ach ann' - "there's no place like home; you couldn't make bold anywhere else,' she wrote, and that was only after a visit to Dun Chaoin.
"She was a very skilful writer with a lovely style and it is obvious that she enjoyed telling her story. I think it can only be good that it will reach an audience for the first time," Ms Ni Loingsigh said.
