Press Releases04 Oct 25

A Statement of Tribute to Manchán Magan

The Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, the Most Revd John McDowell, has joined the Bishop of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe, the Rt Revd Michael Burrows – in Bishop Burrows’ capacity as Patron of Cumann Gaelach na hEaglaise – to pay tribute to the late Manchán Magan:

Today we mourn Manchán Magan, a man who had the ability to take people with him on his many journeys around the world. His imagination and empathy took his audiences to new understandings of these places and through the Irish language. He was an advocate for Irish as a means of waking the forgotten meanings of the many names for fields across Ireland. He connected us, not just to the fields and the rain, but to the countless generations who have proceeded us, on this land, in this country, and who have named these realities – fields and floods, stubble in the moonlight and the lie of a sheltered headland. Manchán showed us that our forebearers named all these aspects of our environment with love and care and intelligence.

We offer our condolences to all those who Manchán loved and were loved by him.

Mhúscail Manchán scéal na bhfocal. Focail a bhíodh ina dtost le fada an lá. – Manchán brought to life the story of words. Words which were dormant for so long

Ní maith linn bris seo a mhuintíre. – We do not like it that his family are suffering this loss.

Ní maith linn gur níos boichte atá ár saol ina dhiaidh. – We do not like it that our lives are poorer without him.

Guímid solas na bhFlaithis ar a anam uasal. – We pray for the light of Heaven on his noble soul.

Go raibh sé i measc na naomh ar neamh – that he may be among the saints in heaven.

Go raibh sé ar mhóinéar saibhir Dé – that he may be in the rich hayfields of God.