One of the most enjoyable things about language planning in Gaeltacht an Eachréidh has been the opportunity to meet some of our native speakers who have kept the Irish language alive on the eastern banks of the River Corrib.

This weekend we were very sad to hear of the passing of John Murphy, from Annaghdown, who was among the first people to be interviewed by us for our Native Speakers Project last year.

John, or Seán, had a fantastic memory as he regaled us with amazing childhood memories. He had stories of feeding elephants with turnips and cabbage on the Headford Road, as Duffy’s Circus travelled from Headford to Galway, or the way in which parents used to dress little boys up as girls in order to fool the fairies.

He often spoke on Raidio na Gaeltachta about his memories of growing up in an Irish-speaking household in Annaghdown and loved to host visitors who would speak to him in our native language.

John (96) was delighted to be interviewed by Alanagh Ni Ghriofa and Ciarán O Tiarnaigh for our Native Speakers Project this time last year and we were so thrilled when, despite his poor health, he was able to travel to the Menlo Park Hotel to celebrate the completion of the project in October.
We were so thrilled to get a photograph of John with his life-long friend Tom Concannon (97), also from Annaghdown, another man who had brilliant stories about growing up ‘as Gaeilge’ to the north of Galway City.

John was passionate about the Irish language and regularly contributed to programmes on Raidio na Gaeltachta, reminding listeners that Irish is still being spoken to the north and east of Galway City. He also published a wonderful bilingual book, By Corrib, Clare and Cregg, as well as doing regular interviews for Raidio na Gaeltachta, looking back at his long life driving trucks all over Ireland.

His funeral takes place this evening and tomorrow in his beloved Corrandulla.

May John Rest in Peace.

You can view his one hour interview ‘as Gaeilge’ which is part of our Native Speakers Project at this link: https://youtu.be/UNsPne05vRk