''Feasta'' is an
Irish-language
Irish ( Standard Irish: ), also known as Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Insular Celtic branch of the Celtic language family, which is a part of the Indo-European language family. Irish is indigenous to the island of Ireland and was th ...
magazine
A magazine is a periodical publication, generally published on a regular schedule (often weekly or monthly), containing a variety of content. They are generally financed by advertising, purchase price, prepaid subscriptions, or by a combinatio ...
that was established in 1948. Its purpose is the furtherance of the aims of
Conradh na Gaeilge
(; historically known in English as the Gaelic League) is a social and cultural organisation which promotes the Irish language in Ireland and worldwide. The organisation was founded in 1893 with Douglas Hyde as its first president, when it emer ...
(Gaelic League), an objective reflecting the cultural
nationalism
Nationalism is an idea and movement that holds that the nation should be congruent with the State (polity), state. As a movement, nationalism tends to promote the interests of a particular nation (as in a in-group and out-group, group of peo ...
of the language movement, and the promotion of new writing. ''Feasta'' describes itself as a review of Irish thought, literature, politics, and science (''Reiviú den Smaointeachas Éireannach - litríocht, polaitíocht, eolaíocht''). It was formerly supported by
Foras na Gaeilge
(, "Irish Institute"; ) is a public body responsible for the promotion of the Irish language throughout the island of Ireland, including both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. It was set up on 2 December 1999, assuming the roles ...
, but this support was withdrawn because of a review of funding priorities. At present the magazine relies on its own resources.
History
''Feastas foundation in the 1940s reflected the progress made in Irish-language journalism and writing generally since the
Gaelic Revival
The Gaelic revival ( ga, Athbheochan na Gaeilge) was the late-nineteenth-century Romantic nationalism, national revival of interest in the Irish language (also known as Gaelic) and Irish Gaelic culture (including Irish folklore, folklore, Iri ...
. Together with other journals such as
An tUltach and ''
Comhar
''Comhar'' (; "partnership") is a prominent literary journal in the Irish language, published by the company Comhar Teoranta. It was founded in 1942, and has published work by some of the most notable writers in Irish, including Máirtín Ó Cadha ...
'', it was an agent in adapting the language to the requirements of the modern world, and helped determine the course of Irish-language writing.
The magazine has had many
editors
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, photographic, visual, audible, or cinematic material used by a person or an entity to convey a message or information. The editing process can involve correction, condensation, orga ...
, the longest serving being the
poet
A poet is a person who studies and creates poetry. Poets may describe themselves as such or be described as such by others. A poet may simply be the creator ( thinker, songwriter, writer, or author) who creates (composes) poems (oral or writte ...
and educationalist
Pádraig Mac Fhearghusa
Pádraig Mac Fhearghusa is an Irish language poet, magazine editor and language activist.
He was born in Ballineen in County Cork in 1947. He graduated from University College Dublin in 1970 with a BA in Irish, history and philosophy and obtained ...
. Previous editors also included Seosamh Ó Duibhginn (later Irish-language editor of
The Irish Press
''The Irish Press'' (Irish: ''Scéala Éireann'') was an Irish national daily newspaper published by Irish Press plc between 5 September 1931 and 25 May 1995.
Foundation
The paper's first issue was published on the eve of the 1931 All-Ireland ...
),
Eoghan Ó Tuairisc
Eoghan Ó Tuairisc (''Eugene Rutherford Watters'') (3 April 1919 – 24 August 1982) was an Irish poet and writer.
Life
Eugene Rutherford Watters was born at Dunlo Hill, Ballinasloe, County Galway, to Thomas Watters, a soldier, and his wife, Ma ...
, Séamas Ruiséil, Aogán Ó Muircheartaigh and Íte Ní Chionnaith, who was also the first woman elected as president of Conradh na Gaeilge. The current editor is Cormac Ó hAodha.
Despite its links with Conradh na Gaeilge, ''Feasta'' functions as an independent magazine and notes that the views expressed therein are not necessarily those of the Conradh itself.
Scope
''Feasta'' publishes
literary criticism
Literary criticism (or literary studies) is the study, evaluation, and interpretation of literature. Modern literary criticism is often influenced by literary theory, which is the philosophical discussion of literature's goals and methods. Th ...
,
review
A review is an evaluation of a publication, product, service, or company or a critical take on current affairs in literature, politics or culture. In addition to a critical evaluation, the review's author may assign the work a content rating, ...
s, and social and political commentary, with some regular columnists. Social and cultural events relating to the Irish language are also covered.
Poetry
Poetry (derived from the Greek ''poiesis'', "making"), also called verse, is a form of literature that uses aesthetic and often rhythmic qualities of language − such as phonaesthetics, sound symbolism, and metre − to evoke meanings i ...
is published regularly and past contributors have included
Máirtín Ó Direáin
Máirtín Ó Direáin (; 29 November 1910 – 19 March 1988) was an Irish poet from the Aran Islands Gaeltacht. Along with Seán Ó Ríordáin and Máire Mhac an tSaoi, Ó Direáin was, in the words of Louis de Paor, "one of a trinity of poet ...
,
Máire Mhac an tSaoi
Máire Mhac an tSaoi (4 April 1922 – 16 October 2021) was an Irish civil service official, writer of Modernist poetry in the Corca Dhuibhne dialect of Munster Irish, a writer, and highly important figure within Modern literature in Irish. Alo ...
,
Seán Ó Ríordáin
Seán Pádraig Ó Ríordáin (3 December 1916 – 21 February 1977), sometimes referred to as an Ríordánach, was an Irish language poet and later a newspaper columnist. He is credited with introducing European themes to Irish poetry, and is wi ...
, and
Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill
Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill (; born 1952) is a leading Irish poet.
Biography
Born in Lancashire, England, of Irish parents, she moved to Ireland at the age of 5 and was brought up in the Dingle Gaeltacht and in Nenagh, County Tipperary. Her uncle, Mo ...
. The magazine also publishes short fiction, with particular emphasis on new writing. Despite its general emphasis on the linguistic and cultural situation in Ireland, ''Feasta'' publishes Irish-language material from overseas when available.
[Such material usually consists of short fiction and poetry: see, for example, ''Feasta'', Imleabhar 63, Uimhir 2, Feabhra 2010, and Imleabhar 63, Uimhir 4, Aibreán 2010.] The magazine also carries advertising by Irish-language publishers.
See also
*
Modern literature in Irish
Although Irish has been used as a literary language for more than 1,500 years (see Irish literature), and modern literature in Irish dates – as in most European languages – to the 16th century, modern Irish literature owes much of its populari ...
References
Further reading
*Caerwyn Williams, J.E. and Ní Mhuiríosa, Máirín (1979), ''Traidisiún Liteartha na nGael''. An Clóchomhar Tta, Baile Átha Cliath.
External links
*
{{Gaeltacht
Magazines published in Ireland
Magazines established in 1948
Cultural magazines
Conradh na Gaeilge