📜 An Dán / The Poem
An tEarrach Thiar · Máirtín Ó Direáin
Véarsa 1 · Verse 1
Fear ag glanadh cré
De ghimseán spáide
Sa gciúnas séimh,
Binn an fhuaim,
San Earrach Thiar.
De ghimseán spáide
Sa gciúnas séimh,
Binn an fhuaim,
San Earrach Thiar.
A man cleaning clay / From the heel of a spade / In the gentle quiet, / Sweet is the sound, / In the Western Spring.
Véarsa 2 · Verse 2
Fear ag caitheamh
Cliabh dhá dhroim,
Is an fheamainn dhearg
Ag lonrú
Ar dhuirling bháin,
Niamhrach an radharc,
San Earrach Thiar.
Cliabh dhá dhroim,
Is an fheamainn dhearg
Ag lonrú
Ar dhuirling bháin,
Niamhrach an radharc,
San Earrach Thiar.
A man throwing / A basket from his back, / And the red seaweed / Shining / On a white rocky shore, / Wondrous the sight, / In the Western Spring.
Véarsa 3 · Verse 3
Mná i locháin
In íochtar diaidh-thrá,
A gcótaí craptha,
Scáileanna fúthu
Ag rince ar ghainimh,
San Earrach Thiar.
In íochtar diaidh-thrá,
A gcótaí craptha,
Scáileanna fúthu
Ag rince ar ghainimh,
San Earrach Thiar.
Women in pools / At the ebb of the tide, / Their skirts tucked up, / Shadows beneath them / Dancing on the sand, / In the Western Spring.
Véarsa 4 · Verse 4
Currach lán éisc
Ag teacht chun cladaigh
Ar órmhuir mhall
I ndeireadh lae,
San Earrach Thiar.
Ag teacht chun cladaigh
Ar órmhuir mhall
I ndeireadh lae,
San Earrach Thiar.
A currach full of fish / Coming to shore / On a slow, golden sea / At the end of day, / In the Western Spring.
🎯 Ábhair Staidéir / Study Topics
Anailís · Verse by Verse
Na Véarsaí Ceann ar Cheann
Deep-dive analysis of all four verses — the images, sounds, colours, and emotions in each, with key Irish phrases to use in your exam.
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Téamaí · Themes
Téamaí agus Mothúcháin
Love of place, nostalgia, traditional island life, peace and beauty — all the key themes explored with supporting quotes and phrases.
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Íomhánna · Imagery
Íomhánna agus Teicníochtaí
Visual and auditory imagery, colours, the use of repetition (athrá), and other poetic techniques explained and illustrated with model phrases.
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An File · The Poet
Máirtín Ó Direáin — A Shaol
Born on Inis Mór in 1910, left for the city at 18, spent a lifetime longing for the island. His life, his works, and why this poem matters.
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Freagraí Samhail · Model Answers
Freagraí Scrúdaithe
Full model answers to all three exam question types — imagery, repetition, and poet biography — with handy phrases and exam tips throughout.
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💡 Leid don Scrúdú / Exam Tip
Is dán é seo faoi ghrá áite — grá an fhile d'Inis Mór. Bain úsáid as nathanna Gaeilge ó na véarsaí i do fhreagra agus tabhair an t-aistriúchán eatarthu sna lúibíní. Déan tagairt don athrá "San Earrach Thiar" ag deireadh gach véarsa agus mínigh cén fáth a bhfuil sé cumhachtach.
This poem is about love of place — the poet's love for Inis Mór. Use Irish phrases from the verses in your answer and give the translation in brackets. Always mention the repetition "San Earrach Thiar" and explain its effect.