Craicing Gaeilge! Muintir na Gaillimhe
A bilingual chat with some of Galway’s interesting inhabitants: helping you with your Irish!
Máire Treasa Ní Dhubhghaill
An as Gaillimh tú? Cá bhfuil tú i do chónaí anois?
Is ea! Rugadh agus tógadh mé in Indreabhán agus tá mé fós i mo chónaí ann! Rinne mé féin agus m’fhear céile athchóiriú ar theach mo mhamó agus bhog muid isteach díreach roimh na Nollag. Tá sé iontach a bheith i mo chónaí ar ais sa mbaile arís.
Cén obair a dhéanann tú?
Is láithreoir teilifíse mé. Tá mé ag obair le TG4 le seacht mbliana anuas agus is iad “GLEO”- clár nua do dhéagóirí agus “Rugbaí Beo”- beochraoladh TG4 den tsraith “Guinness Pro12” agus buaicphointí Craobh na hEorpa - na cláir is mó a bhfuil baint agam leo i láthair na huaire.
Cé nó céard a spreag tú tabhairt faoin obair seo?
Bhí an-suim i gcónaí agam i gcúrsaí drámaíochta agus aisteoireachta, ach shocraigh mé tar éis na scoile tabhairt faoin mhúinteoireacht bunscoile; gairm ar bhain mé an-sult as. Ach tar éis bliain a chaitheamh ag múineadh tháinig an deis aníos freastal ar chúrsa láithreoireachta i TG4 agus tar éis seachtain a chaitheamh ar an gcúrsa le seachtar eile, bhí an t-ádh liom gur roghnaíodh mé mar láithreoir ar Cúla4 agus tá mé anseo ó shin!
Cén sprioc atá agat do 2015?
Ó thaobh na hoibre de tá mé ag leanúint le cúrsaí rugbaí ach ag tógáil briseadh gairme uaidh TG4 le triail a bhaint as saol mar shaor-láithreoir ar feadh píosa! Ba mhaith liom roinnt taistil a dhéanamh sa mbliain atá amach romham, chomh maith le tús a chur le togra nó dhó; tá mé ag súil go mór le tús a chur le caibidil nua!
Céard a dhéanann tú don Chraic i nGaillimh?
Is breá liom an rogha bialann atá ar fáil i nGaillimh agus is aoibhinn liom dul amach le béile le mo chairde agus clann agus b’fhéidir beagán damhsa ina dhiaidh! Bíonn ceol beo iontach le cloisteáil i nGaillimh, go háirithe i rith an tsamhraidh agus déanaim iarracht freastal ar gigeanna nuair a bhíonn an deis agam.
Cá bhfuil an chraic faoi cheilt i nGaillimh?
Sílim go ndéantar dearmad ar an saibhreas cultúir agus craic atá ar fáil taobh amuigh de Chathair na Gaillimhe. Bíonn ceol beo iontach le cloisteáil sa Spidéal Tigh Giblin, mar shampla. Is féidir tráthnóna nó oíche mhaith a bheith agat le béile blasta agus ceol traidisiúnta ar ardchaighdeán i do thimpeall.
TRANSLATION
Are you originally from Galway? Where do you live now?
Yes! I was born and raised in Indreabhán and I’m still living there. Myself and my husband renovated my grandmother’s house and moved in just before Christmas.
What do you do workwise?
I’m a TV presenter. I’ve been working with TG4 for 7 years now. I’m currently presenting GLEO, a new show for teenagers and Rugbaí Beo, live coverage of the Guinness Pro12 series and European Championship highlights.
Who or what inspired you in your chosen career?
I was always into acting but after school I trained as a primary school teacher. I spent an enjoyable year teaching and then I had an opportunity to do a presenting course in TG4. After a week on that course, with 7 others, I was lucky enough to be chosen as presenter for Cúla4 and I’ve been here ever since!
What’s your goal in 2015?
Workwise I will continue to be involved with rugby, but I’m taking a career break from TG4 to work as a freelance presenter for a while. I’d love to travel this year and to start on a new project or two. I’m really looking forward to starting a new chapter.
What do you do for the Craic in Galway?
There’s a great choice of restaurants in Galway and I love going for a meal with friends and family, with maybe a bit of dancing afterwards. Galway has a great live music scene, especially in summer, so I go to gigs whenever I can.
What is Galway’s best kept secret?
I think people forget that there’s a wealth of culture and craic outside of Galway city. For example, Tigh Giblin in An Spidéal has brilliant live music. You can spend a very pleasant evening enjoying a fine meal surrounded by top quality traditional music.
