Thirty-Two Words for Field by Manchan Magan

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The Irish language has thirty-two words for field. Among them are:

  • Geamhar - a field of corn-grass

  • Tuar - a field for cattle at night

  • Reidhlean - a field for games or dancing

  • Cathairin - a field with a fairy-dwelling in it

The richness of a language closely tied to the natural landscape offered our ancestors a more magical way of seeing the world. Before we cast old words aside, let us consider the sublime beauty and profound oddness of the ancient tongue that has been spoken on this island for almost 3,000 years.

In Thirty-Two Words for Field, Manchan Magan meditates on these words - and the nuances of a way of life that is disappearing with them. 'A rip-roaring, archaeological and anthropological exploration of the lyricism, mystery and oddities of the Irish language, and the layers of ancient knowledge encoded within.

The Irish language has thirty-two words for field. Among them are:

  • Geamhar - a field of corn-grass

  • Tuar - a field for cattle at night

  • Reidhlean - a field for games or dancing

  • Cathairin - a field with a fairy-dwelling in it

The richness of a language closely tied to the natural landscape offered our ancestors a more magical way of seeing the world. Before we cast old words aside, let us consider the sublime beauty and profound oddness of the ancient tongue that has been spoken on this island for almost 3,000 years.

In Thirty-Two Words for Field, Manchan Magan meditates on these words - and the nuances of a way of life that is disappearing with them. 'A rip-roaring, archaeological and anthropological exploration of the lyricism, mystery and oddities of the Irish language, and the layers of ancient knowledge encoded within.

About the Author 

Manchán Magan is a writer and documentary-maker. He has written numerous books on his travels and two novels. He writes occasionally for The Irish Times, reports on travel for various radio programmes, and has presented dozens of documentaries on issues of world culture. He lives in an oak wood, with bees, hens and veg, in a grass-roofed house near Lough Lene, Co. Westmeath.

Praise for Thirty-Two Words for Field

A rip-roaring, archaeological and anthropological exploration of the lyricism, mystery and oddities of the Irish language, and the layers of ancient knowledge encoded within.'
- The Irish Times

‘The book I never knew I needed’
- Caitríona Balfe

‘If you’re into Irish Mythology, Manchán has got some incredibly interesting theories about Irish mythology based on his understanding of the Irish language, and he’s got some theories about the roots of the Irish language that are going to blow your head off.’
- Blindboy Boatclub

‘One only needs to wade a few pages into this rich and absorbing work to see that perhaps we could do with a lot more characters like him dotted about this world.’
- Hilary A. White, Irish Independent

‘An accessible yet erudite stroll back through the Irish landscape’
- Paddy Kehoe, RTÉ

Publisher: Gill Books

Date Published: 28 August 2020

Hardback, 384 pgs.

ISBN: 9780717187973