we love our stories in Ireland any decent conversation usually begins with
decent conversation usually begins with
decent conversation usually begins with a story so I’m going to begin this talk
a story so I’m going to begin this talk
a story so I’m going to begin this talk with the story – and this is one I’ve
with the story – and this is one I’ve
with the story – and this is one I’ve come across in a number of different
come across in a number of different
come across in a number of different cultural settings but today I’m going to
cultural settings but today I’m going to
cultural settings but today I’m going to place it in the realm of Irish mythology
place it in the realm of Irish mythology
place it in the realm of Irish mythology as I believe it’s relevant to my message
as I believe it’s relevant to my message
as I believe it’s relevant to my message and the story goes once there was a
and the story goes once there was a
and the story goes once there was a warrior called Kanaan and Kanaan had
warrior called Kanaan and Kanaan had
warrior called Kanaan and Kanaan had been sent on a mission into the wild and
been sent on a mission into the wild and
been sent on a mission into the wild and unfamiliar territory of the land of Down
unfamiliar territory of the land of Down
unfamiliar territory of the land of Down and his mission was to collect a chest
and his mission was to collect a chest
and his mission was to collect a chest full of wonderful jewels gold silver
full of wonderful jewels gold silver
full of wonderful jewels gold silver rubies and the like and as soon as this
rubies and the like and as soon as this
rubies and the like and as soon as this chest was full he was to return with it
chest was full he was to return with it
chest was full he was to return with it immediately back home to his king in
immediately back home to his king in
immediately back home to his king in Ireland and so Kanaan went about his
Ireland and so Kanaan went about his
Ireland and so Kanaan went about his duty and he gathered and collected these
duty and he gathered and collected these
duty and he gathered and collected these treasures and eventually he filled the
treasures and eventually he filled the
treasures and eventually he filled the chests and believe it or not a chest
chests and believe it or not a chest
chests and believe it or not a chest full of treasure can be a surprisingly
full of treasure can be a surprisingly
full of treasure can be a surprisingly heavy thing so canal now needed to find
heavy thing so canal now needed to find
heavy thing so canal now needed to find some help to carry it home and he knew
some help to carry it home and he knew
some help to carry it home and he knew he needed to find not just brave and
he needed to find not just brave and
he needed to find not just brave and strong individuals but people who were
strong individuals but people who were
strong individuals but people who were happy and content within themselves
happy and content within themselves
happy and content within themselves because this was going to be a
because this was going to be a
because this was going to be a particularly long and hard journey back
particularly long and hard journey back
particularly long and hard journey back home to his king in Ireland and so
home to his king in Ireland and so
home to his king in Ireland and so Kanaan went about his duty and these
Kanaan went about his duty and these
Kanaan went about his duty and these people happily assumed their roles and
people happily assumed their roles and
people happily assumed their roles and off they went singing their songs and
off they went singing their songs and
off they went singing their songs and these were a happy people a group of
these were a happy people a group of
these were a happy people a group of people from a local tribe and every day
people from a local tribe and every day
people from a local tribe and every day they went and they ate and off they went
they went and they ate and off they went
they went and they ate and off they went about their roles in the second day they
about their roles in the second day they
about their roles in the second day they ate and off they went about their
ate and off they went about their
ate and off they went about their journey the third morning the fourth
journey the third morning the fourth
journey the third morning the fourth morning the fifth morning the same and
morning the fifth morning the same and
morning the fifth morning the same and by now these group of people had left
by now these group of people had left
by now these group of people had left their own tribal land and had entered
their own tribal land and had entered
their own tribal land and had entered into new lands that were geologically
into new lands that were geologically
into new lands that were geologically different where the vegetation was
different where the vegetation was
different where the vegetation was different where the topography was
different where the topography was
different where the topography was different for even the
different for even the
different for even the or different but these people were still
or different but these people were still
or different but these people were still singing their songs and their ancestors
singing their songs and their ancestors
singing their songs and their ancestors were coming with them because their
were coming with them because their
were coming with them because their ancestors were in their songs and after
ancestors were in their songs and after
ancestors were in their songs and after two and a half moons they had made great
two and a half moons they had made great
two and a half moons they had made great progress but then one morning having
progress but then one morning having
progress but then one morning having eaten they didn’t happily assume their
eaten they didn’t happily assume their
eaten they didn’t happily assume their roles instead they seemed to sink into
roles instead they seemed to sink into
roles instead they seemed to sink into some kind of a tremendous trance state
some kind of a tremendous trance state
some kind of a tremendous trance state within themselves and Kanaan began to
within themselves and Kanaan began to
within themselves and Kanaan began to get impatient and finally he got angry
get impatient and finally he got angry
get impatient and finally he got angry and he pulled out his sword but this
and he pulled out his sword but this
and he pulled out his sword but this made no impression whatsoever on these
made no impression whatsoever on these
made no impression whatsoever on these people as they had fallen deep into this
people as they had fallen deep into this
people as they had fallen deep into this trance state and so eventually Kanaan
trance state and so eventually Kanaan
trance state and so eventually Kanaan wised up and he sat down beside an elder
wised up and he sat down beside an elder
wised up and he sat down beside an elder from the group whose name was aagama and
from the group whose name was aagama and
from the group whose name was aagama and he candidly said Eggman look what’s
he candidly said Eggman look what’s
he candidly said Eggman look what’s going on we were making such great
going on we were making such great
going on we were making such great progress now what’s happening and it
progress now what’s happening and it
progress now what’s happening and it took a long long long time for agua
took a long long long time for agua
took a long long long time for agua to come into a sense of his own hands
to come into a sense of his own hands
to come into a sense of his own hands his own feet his own identity but
his own feet his own identity but
his own feet his own identity but finally he did emerge into a sense of
finally he did emerge into a sense of
finally he did emerge into a sense of who he was and he turned to Kanaan and
who he was and he turned to Kanaan and
who he was and he turned to Kanaan and he said we have moved so far so fast
he said we have moved so far so fast
he said we have moved so far so fast during these last two and a half moons
during these last two and a half moons
during these last two and a half moons that we must now sit down and wait for
that we must now sit down and wait for
that we must now sit down and wait for our souls to catch up and I guess in a
our souls to catch up and I guess in a
our souls to catch up and I guess in a sense that might be what we’re just
sense that might be what we’re just
sense that might be what we’re just doing here today in Berkeley each one of
doing here today in Berkeley each one of
doing here today in Berkeley each one of us here has traveled great distances in
us here has traveled great distances in
us here has traveled great distances in our own lives physically culturally
our own lives physically culturally
our own lives physically culturally intellectually and it’s only in events
intellectually and it’s only in events
intellectually and it’s only in events such as this one that we get an
such as this one that we get an
such as this one that we get an opportunity to sit down and reflect and
opportunity to sit down and reflect and
opportunity to sit down and reflect and maybe just maybe connect with that
maybe just maybe connect with that
maybe just maybe connect with that deeper part of ourselves that part which
deeper part of ourselves that part which
deeper part of ourselves that part which allows us to distinguish what’s really
allows us to distinguish what’s really
allows us to distinguish what’s really important
important
important it took me 30 years to figure out one
it took me 30 years to figure out one
it took me 30 years to figure out one thing that was very important to me I
thing that was very important to me I
thing that was very important to me I grew up in Connemara in the West of
grew up in Connemara in the West of
grew up in Connemara in the West of Ireland Gaelic or as we call it Irish is
Ireland Gaelic or as we call it Irish is
Ireland Gaelic or as we call it Irish is my native language I like to think of
my native language I like to think of
my native language I like to think of Irish as my soul’s language there’s no
Irish as my soul’s language there’s no
Irish as my soul’s language there’s no denying that the Gaelic language today
denying that the Gaelic language today
denying that the Gaelic language today is an endangered tongue with just
is an endangered tongue with just
is an endangered tongue with just approximately 2% of the population who
approximately 2% of the population who
approximately 2% of the population who speak it on a daily basis and given the
speak it on a daily basis and given the
speak it on a daily basis and given the the relative absence of an economic need
the relative absence of an economic need
the relative absence of an economic need for it in this global commercial world
for it in this global commercial world
for it in this global commercial world some academics have stated that barring
some academics have stated that barring
some academics have stated that barring exceptional measure Gaelic as a
exceptional measure Gaelic as a
exceptional measure Gaelic as a community language may not survive
community language may not survive
community language may not survive beyond the next two generations and this
beyond the next two generations and this
beyond the next two generations and this is something that saddens me and I’ve
is something that saddens me and I’ve
is something that saddens me and I’ve been thinking about this and in my
been thinking about this and in my
been thinking about this and in my thinking of the potential loss of this
thinking of the potential loss of this
thinking of the potential loss of this language I’ve thought about how my
language I’ve thought about how my
language I’ve thought about how my relationship with it has changed over
relationship with it has changed over
relationship with it has changed over the years you see as a teenager this
the years you see as a teenager this
the years you see as a teenager this language sometimes caused me a good deal
language sometimes caused me a good deal
language sometimes caused me a good deal of shame amongst my non Gaelic speaking
of shame amongst my non Gaelic speaking
of shame amongst my non Gaelic speaking friends at times it made me feel
friends at times it made me feel
friends at times it made me feel different and and weird to give you an
different and and weird to give you an
different and and weird to give you an example if my parents would call me most
example if my parents would call me most
example if my parents would call me most of the time I would only answer them
of the time I would only answer them
of the time I would only answer them like in monosyllabic words like yeah and
like in monosyllabic words like yeah and
like in monosyllabic words like yeah and no and if it was absolutely necessary to
no and if it was absolutely necessary to
no and if it was absolutely necessary to engage in conversation at times so so
engage in conversation at times so so
engage in conversation at times so so none of my peers would hear me speak
none of my peers would hear me speak
none of my peers would hear me speak today I think of how crazy that was here
today I think of how crazy that was here
today I think of how crazy that was here was my teenage self in the West of
was my teenage self in the West of
was my teenage self in the West of Ireland ashamed to speak his own native
Ireland ashamed to speak his own native
Ireland ashamed to speak his own native Irish language I guess you could say the
Irish language I guess you could say the
Irish language I guess you could say the displacement of indigenous culture that
displacement of indigenous culture that
displacement of indigenous culture that had been going on under colonial rule
had been going on under colonial rule
had been going on under colonial rule for centuries has taken its toll on the
for centuries has taken its toll on the
for centuries has taken its toll on the Irish psyche that isn’t what I want to
Irish psyche that isn’t what I want to
Irish psyche that isn’t what I want to focus on today sometimes in life you
focus on today sometimes in life you
focus on today sometimes in life you have
have
have to leave home to come home living in
to leave home to come home living in
to leave home to come home living in another country affords you the
another country affords you the
another country affords you the opportunity to take a step back and look
opportunity to take a step back and look
opportunity to take a step back and look at your own cultural inheritance from a
at your own cultural inheritance from a
at your own cultural inheritance from a new perspective I experienced what it
new perspective I experienced what it
new perspective I experienced what it was like to live in a community without
was like to live in a community without
was like to live in a community without this language its songs and stories and
this language its songs and stories and
this language its songs and stories and in doing so I realized that this ancient
in doing so I realized that this ancient
in doing so I realized that this ancient tongue is a real gift that’s been passed
tongue is a real gift that’s been passed
tongue is a real gift that’s been passed on to me you see for me personally
on to me you see for me personally
on to me you see for me personally Irish allows me to see the world through
Irish allows me to see the world through
Irish allows me to see the world through somewhat of a different lens it allows
somewhat of a different lens it allows
somewhat of a different lens it allows my imagination to flourish and it has
my imagination to flourish and it has
my imagination to flourish and it has this extraordinary capacity to make
this extraordinary capacity to make
this extraordinary capacity to make things that could sometimes be otherwise
things that could sometimes be otherwise
things that could sometimes be otherwise dull and bland graceful and personal to
dull and bland graceful and personal to
dull and bland graceful and personal to give you an example the Irish word for a
give you an example the Irish word for a
give you an example the Irish word for a wolf is mock cedar
wolf is mock cedar
wolf is mock cedar mock cedar which means the son of the
mock cedar which means the son of the
mock cedar which means the son of the land the Irish word for a ladybug is
land the Irish word for a ladybug is
land the Irish word for a ladybug is Boeing Day which means God’s little cow
and growing up in Connemara you’d be
and growing up in Connemara you’d be greeted each morning by the Atlantic
greeted each morning by the Atlantic
greeted each morning by the Atlantic Ocean and I’m looking out on a choppy
Ocean and I’m looking out on a choppy
Ocean and I’m looking out on a choppy rough sea we might say tabla BOM air
rough sea we might say tabla BOM air
rough sea we might say tabla BOM air Hari in the Escada the fisherman’s
Hari in the Escada the fisherman’s
Hari in the Escada the fisherman’s garden is under white flour this
garden is under white flour this
garden is under white flour this language connects me with my landscape
language connects me with my landscape
language connects me with my landscape an environment in a way that transcends
an environment in a way that transcends
an environment in a way that transcends that which is visual and obvious and
that which is visual and obvious and
that which is visual and obvious and allows me to set forth into what the
allows me to set forth into what the
allows me to set forth into what the Irish writer John O’Donoghue called the
Irish writer John O’Donoghue called the
Irish writer John O’Donoghue called the invisible world – December’s ago I was
invisible world – December’s ago I was
invisible world – December’s ago I was back home in Ireland and my dad and I
back home in Ireland and my dad and I
back home in Ireland and my dad and I were chatting about the state of the
were chatting about the state of the
were chatting about the state of the language as we often do and as this
language as we often do and as this
language as we often do and as this conversation was coming to a close and
conversation was coming to a close and
conversation was coming to a close and the flow was finding its own natural end
the flow was finding its own natural end
the flow was finding its own natural end I asked him one last question what would
I asked him one last question what would
I asked him one last question what would be the real tragedy of losing this
be the real tragedy of losing this
be the real tragedy of losing this language beyond communication beyond
language beyond communication beyond
language beyond communication beyond politics and just like the elder aagama
politics and just like the elder aagama
politics and just like the elder aagama in the story it took him a while to
in the story it took him a while to
in the story it took him a while to answer but finally he did and he said
answer but finally he did and he said
answer but finally he did and he said the real tragedy of losing this language
the real tragedy of losing this language
the real tragedy of losing this language would be boss muhuali Arthur the death
would be boss muhuali Arthur the death
would be boss muhuali Arthur the death of beauty pure and simple and as soon as
of beauty pure and simple and as soon as
of beauty pure and simple and as soon as he said it it made sense to me and a
he said it it made sense to me and a
he said it it made sense to me and a song came to my mind and this song
song came to my mind and this song
song came to my mind and this song epitomized the beauty he spoke of and
epitomized the beauty he spoke of and
epitomized the beauty he spoke of and the song was called Queen a lady moita
the song was called Queen a lady moita
the song was called Queen a lady moita the lament of the three Mary’s and it’s
the lament of the three Mary’s and it’s
the lament of the three Mary’s and it’s a song about the crucifixion but the
a song about the crucifixion but the
a song about the crucifixion but the song focuses on the humanity of this
song focuses on the humanity of this
song focuses on the humanity of this story a desperate mother looking for her
story a desperate mother looking for her
story a desperate mother looking for her son and so within this song we go on a
son and so within this song we go on a
son and so within this song we go on a journey with Mary and in the first first
journey with Mary and in the first first
journey with Mary and in the first first she asks Peter the Apostle have you seen
she asks Peter the Apostle have you seen
she asks Peter the Apostle have you seen my true love Peter responds I saw him
my true love Peter responds I saw him
my true love Peter responds I saw him earlier being beaten by the guard in
earlier being beaten by the guard in
earlier being beaten by the guard in another verse she sees a young man and
another verse she sees a young man and
another verse she sees a young man and the cross and she asks a woman in the
the cross and she asks a woman in the
the cross and she asks a woman in the crowd
crowd
crowd who’s that fine man in the cross the
who’s that fine man in the cross the
who’s that fine man in the cross the woman responds Mary
woman responds Mary
woman responds Mary do you not recognize your own son and
do you not recognize your own son and
do you not recognize your own son and finally in the last first
finally in the last first
finally in the last first she makes her way to his body and she
she makes her way to his body and she
she makes her way to his body and she sees the blunt nails and spear that have
sees the blunt nails and spear that have
sees the blunt nails and spear that have pierced through him killing him now this
pierced through him killing him now this
pierced through him killing him now this is about as graphic and harrowing of a
is about as graphic and harrowing of a
is about as graphic and harrowing of a retelling of this experience gets and
retelling of this experience gets and
retelling of this experience gets and yet somehow when I first heard a shallow
yet somehow when I first heard a shallow
yet somehow when I first heard a shallow singer called Joe Heaney
singer called Joe Heaney
singer called Joe Heaney sing this song I realized something and
sing this song I realized something and
sing this song I realized something and that was that I had never heard grief
that was that I had never heard grief
that was that I had never heard grief sounds so beautiful now growing up not
sounds so beautiful now growing up not
sounds so beautiful now growing up not particularly used to singing in public I
particularly used to singing in public I
particularly used to singing in public I heard a little bit of advice never
heard a little bit of advice never
heard a little bit of advice never volunteer to sing a song always wait
volunteer to sing a song always wait
volunteer to sing a song always wait until you’ve been asked and and then
until you’ve been asked and and then
until you’ve been asked and and then kindly decline upon first request now
kindly decline upon first request now
kindly decline upon first request now usually what will happen is the person
usually what will happen is the person
usually what will happen is the person or the people who are asking you they’ll
or the people who are asking you they’ll
or the people who are asking you they’ll ask you again this time with with a lot
ask you again this time with with a lot
ask you again this time with with a lot more encouragement and this is this is
more encouragement and this is this is
more encouragement and this is this is what it’s really important
this is what is really important you
this is what is really important you stick to you plan you kindly decline
stick to you plan you kindly decline
stick to you plan you kindly decline once more and you’re almost guaranteed
once more and you’re almost guaranteed
once more and you’re almost guaranteed to be met with a third and final request
to be met with a third and final request
to be met with a third and final request with a lot of encouragement this is when
with a lot of encouragement this is when
with a lot of encouragement this is when you say yes and the beauty about saying
you say yes and the beauty about saying
you say yes and the beauty about saying yes at this stage is that you can sing
yes at this stage is that you can sing
yes at this stage is that you can sing any which way out of tune and so long as
any which way out of tune and so long as
any which way out of tune and so long as you sing from your heart
you sing from your heart
you sing from your heart everyone is just delighted with the fact
everyone is just delighted with the fact
everyone is just delighted with the fact that they got you to sing in the first
that they got you to sing in the first
that they got you to sing in the first place so with that in mind we’ll all
place so with that in mind we’ll all
place so with that in mind we’ll all pretend here know that I’ve been asked
pretend here know that I’ve been asked
pretend here know that I’ve been asked three times and I’ll sing you those
three times and I’ll sing you those
three times and I’ll sing you those verses from that song Queenie misery
verses from that song Queenie misery
verses from that song Queenie misery murder ha ha ha ha
um vodka – oh-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho
um vodka – oh-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho huh Soho
Oh lick my hairball
Oh lick my hairball oh here so a canard ah hohoho
ha ho ho Soho
ha ho ho Soho Oh miss Kay hey far brushing ahead ha ha
Oh miss Kay hey far brushing ahead ha ha
Oh miss Kay hey far brushing ahead ha ha share Oh hunger so homo
share Oh hunger so homo
share Oh hunger so homo Oh oh man I am told
Oh oh man I am told
Oh oh man I am told oh oh oh
ha ha ha
ha ha ha oh no song kudu tarney my love
oh no song kudu tarney my love
oh no song kudu tarney my love clean the hassanis lava oh uh uh Soho No
clean the hassanis lava oh uh uh Soho No
clean the hassanis lava oh uh uh Soho No Oh mister could you want love
oh-ho-ho-ho
oh-ho-ho-ho Oh
and so it’s it’s because of these trans
and so it’s it’s because of these trans figurative properties in this language
figurative properties in this language
figurative properties in this language that make magic of the seemingly banal
that make magic of the seemingly banal
that make magic of the seemingly banal and that expose the lies in the thick of
and that expose the lies in the thick of
and that expose the lies in the thick of darkness that in January 2018 I decided
darkness that in January 2018 I decided
darkness that in January 2018 I decided to start an initiative called Celtic
to start an initiative called Celtic
to start an initiative called Celtic consciousness the focus of this
consciousness the focus of this
consciousness the focus of this initiative is to share the beauty
initiative is to share the beauty
initiative is to share the beauty enshrined in the Irish language with a
enshrined in the Irish language with a
enshrined in the Irish language with a wider audience to create experiences
wider audience to create experiences
wider audience to create experiences like our tour in Ireland that use the
like our tour in Ireland that use the
like our tour in Ireland that use the songs and stories of this ancient tongue
songs and stories of this ancient tongue
songs and stories of this ancient tongue as a medium to connect with that deeper
as a medium to connect with that deeper
as a medium to connect with that deeper part of yourself I suppose you could say
part of yourself I suppose you could say
part of yourself I suppose you could say we we kind of create a comfortable space
we we kind of create a comfortable space
we we kind of create a comfortable space for you to sit down while your soul
for you to sit down while your soul
for you to sit down while your soul catches up and so with that now I’ll
catches up and so with that now I’ll
catches up and so with that now I’ll bring this talk to a close but before I
bring this talk to a close but before I
bring this talk to a close but before I go I’ll leave you all with the question
go I’ll leave you all with the question
go I’ll leave you all with the question and that question is is there a language
and that question is is there a language
and that question is is there a language within you that isn’t being shared that
within you that isn’t being shared that
within you that isn’t being shared that isn’t being claimed and most importantly
isn’t being claimed and most importantly
isn’t being claimed and most importantly that isn’t being celebrated kora milla
that isn’t being celebrated kora milla
that isn’t being celebrated kora milla milla mahaki thank you all very very
milla mahaki thank you all very very
milla mahaki thank you all very very much
”
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