A wag once noted that Ireland has had three varieties of occupiers: the Good, the Bad and the English. ‘The Good’ being the Celts and ‘the Bad’ being the Vikings respectively remain an integral, if somewhat distant part of our story. As indicated by the language you’re reading this in, with English, we have an ongoing living breathing connection.

English occupation was something the Irish never clearly warmed to. However, the English language, being a canvas of immeasurable malleability, was a zone on which the Irish were able to not just control, but dare one say it, conquer, forming what is known as Hiberno-English. We use it in a distinctive way in vocabulary, idiom and construction. Its characteristics reflect the political, cultural and linguistic history of the two nations, Ireland and England.

Hiberno English

The late great Terence Dolan in his 2008 Hiberno-English dictionary cites the  ‘irrepressible gift possessed by Irish people by Irish people for creative, expressive and reckless manipulation of the English language…The language will continue to evolve, the direction remains obscure, but Hiberno-English flourishes as a distinct variety that lends itself to colourful personal expression and impressive literary achievement exemplified in the writings of John Banville, Frank McGuinness, Colum McCann, Joseph O’Connor and many other distinguished authors’.

We speak and write with a vibrancy and a vitality that is immediately discernible, but occasionally there will be some satellite delay in our interpretation and assimilation of what is being said. A bit like the dialogue in Star Wars where one protagonist is speaking in English and the response is in one of the six million languages of the galaxy, we happily accept this incongruous exchange as normal and indeed enjoyable over time, even if our better judgement knows it’s all a bit mad.

Saluting our ancestors

For it is the madness, the colour and the originality of it that ensures that Irish literature, or Hiberno-Irish literature will always draw the attention of those with a love for words and bold thinking. This does of course extend into the precursor to Hiberno-English being Gaeilge, or the Irish language. Sharpness of thought and erudition are by no means modern tools for the educated Irish – they go right back to our ancients.

With your appetite suitably whetted, join us to salute Hiberno-English’s greatest exponents. And yes, we will be expecting you to brush up on rereading your favourite pieces in preparation for reading them aloud. We’ll also be recommending some pieces you might not heard of. It may sound like homework, but the hope is that it will enrich your valuable time in Ireland!