Caoineadh Airt Uí Laoghaire

Ar an gceathrú lá de Bhealtaine sa bhliain 1773, fágadh an bhean uasal óg i gCorcaigh Eibhlín Dubh Ní Chonaill ina baintreach agus ina tuismitheoir aonair nuair a maraíodh a fear céile Art Ó Laoghaire go foréigeanach mar thoradh ar an aighneas idir Art agus fear a bhí ina Ard-Sirriam ar Chorcaigh, Abraham Morris. Chum Eibhlín Dubh caoineadh íocónach agus ceann de mhórshaothair litríocht na Nua-Ghaeilge i ndiaidh a bháis. 250 bliain ar aghaidh, tá níos mó ardmheasa ná riamh uirthi agus ar a teistiméireacht ghrámhar, dhoilíosach, mhacánta, fhíochmhar agus neamheaglach, lena n-áirítear a comhrá bríomhar lena deirfiúr chéile dhíspeagúil. Is ag ceiliúradh shaibhreas thraidisiún béil na hÉireann, chumhacht ghlórtha na mban in aghaidh na héagóra agus thábhacht na n-ealaíon in am an ghátair leis an ngearrscannán seo ina ndéantar aithris ar an éacht álainn ar a nglaoitear Caoineadh Airt Uí Laoghaire. On the fourth of May in the year 1773, the young Cork noblewoman Eibhlín Dubh Ní Chonaill was left a widow and a single parent when her husband Art Ó Laoghaire was killed violently as a consequence of the feud between Art and a man who had been appointed the High Sheriff of Cork, Abraham Morris. In her grief after his death, Eibhlín Dubh composed an iconic lament and one of the greatest works of Modern Irish literature. 250 years later, she and her loving, despairing, frank, fierce and unflinching testament, including her feisty exchanges with her disapproving sister-in-law, are more highly regarded than ever. We are celebrating the richness of Ireland's oral tradition, the power of women's voices speaking against injustice and the importance of the Arts in troubling times with this short film in which is recited the beautiful poetic achievement which has become known as The Lament of Art Ó Laoghaire.