Le caoinchead ó / With permission from Coiscéim (coiscéim.ie) agus / and Leo Ó Murchú
Rugadh an t-údar i gContae Chiarraí, oirníodh ar 20 Nollaig 1967 agus d’éag sa Choiré ar 4 Meán Fómhair 2020.
The author was a Columban priest from County Kerry, ordained on 20 December 1967, who died in Korea on 4 September 2020.
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“Pé rud a dhéanfar, a bhuachaill”, arsa m’athair liom, “ná tar chugamsa ag iarraidh oibre. Bhíos díreach tar éis Bráithre an Daingin a fhágaint i 1958 agus bhíos ag féachaint timpeall ar choláistí a bheadh níos oiriùnaí dom.
Soir a bhí an deis, más siar a bhí na grásta. Ghlacas comhairle mo mhuintire agus chuas soir go Cill Áirne, go Coláiste Bhréanainn. Thugas trí bliana ann. Ní bhfuaireas crústáil riamh ná raibh tuillte agam. Gheibhinn mo chrústáil gach aon oíche. Bhínn ag caint sa dorchadas. “Radio Smerwick” a ghlaotaí orm. Bhínn ag dul timpeall ag tarraingt daoine a bhí ina gcnap amach as an leaba. Ach níor beireadh orm riamh ag ól tobac, ná níor beireadh riamh orm thíos faoin mbaile. Bhíos ag foghlaim conas aire a thabhairt dom féin.
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“Whatever you do, boy”, my father said to me, “don’t come to me looking for work.” I had just finished two years with the Christian Brothers in Dingle in 1958 and was looking around for colleges more suitable for me.
Though blessings might lie west, opportunity lay east. I took my family’s advice and went east, to St Brendan’s College, Killarney, where I was to spend three years. I never got a drubbing I didn’t deserve. I got one every night. I used to be talking in the dark. “Radio Smerwick” I was called. I used to go around dragging lads in a heap from their beds. But I was never caught smoking nor was I ever caught below in the town. I was learning how to take care of myself.
Aistrithe ag / translated by Brendan MacHale agus / and Seán Mac Cumhaill.