One of the best parts of the transition was getting to learn a bit about WordPress templates, and I was able to take my old RU template and convert it to work in Wp. It took a few hours, but was worth it. Here's a screen shot of it running on my laptop. I'm thinking of releasing the theme and improving on it. Most of the functionality comes right from the default WP template, so there is much more that can be done. If there are any experienced WP theme designers who would like to help with it, please feel free to let me know.

This will likely be my last post on the site until the conversion. I'm waiting for my ISP to set up a database for me.

Slánte!

One of our Hawaiian Studies majors came into our office with a young part-Hawaiian woman, perhaps 20 years old. He introduced us, and she explained that she had lived in Cork off and on from when she was eight until she was about 16. Apparently her father is from Cork and she has many relatives still there. We talked about our experiences there, and her eyes grew large when I explained that I was considering pursuing a Ph.d. at either UC-Cork or QUB. Apparently some of her Irish-speaking relatives visit frequently, so we talked about wrangling one of them to teach. She hasn't lost her love of the language, though apparently has lost much of it to disuse. We'll have to fix that.

My wife and I spent three wonderful weeks at Glencolmcille and were well served by Liam, Siobhan and the staff there.

Quietly, a small, wizened old geezer wearing a leather biker jacket and a faded Iggy Pop T-shirt walks into the pub and ambles over to the table. The place falls silent.

'Patrick?'

'Oh, flip.' (He's been waiting for this. Fixes best smile and turns around, expecting the worst.) 'Yes, God?'"

Click on the link above for the rest of the adventure.

Someone in the group located this great resource on the Cumman na Gaeilge site. The audio there sounds much more like the Donegal Irish I heard at Oideas Gael, though there still seem to be some minor differences.

"I do have a cassette for studying the language, but your podcast was the first time ever that I was able to hear Hawaiian as a true living language!"

I know exactly how 'Analu feels, as An tImeall and Cumann Carad na Gaeilge have filled that void for me. David Webb started a Yahoo group for people who are working through the "Learning Irish" text together. I no longer feel like I'm alone with my textbooks and tapes in the middle of nowhere struggling with the language and not knowing how or where I'll ever be able to use it. It feels good.

"UNESCO has been emphasizing the concept of 'knowledge societies', which stresses plurality and diversity instead of a global uniformity in order to bridge the digital divide and to form an inclusive information society. An important theme of this concept is that of multilingualism for cultural diversity and participation for all the languages in cyberspace."

I should also note that Bernie Goldbach has posted his thoughts on Conn's post. Well put, Bernie.

I agree with Conn that not everyone has to be an "A-list" blogger to create value on the web. This blog exists to entertain me and me alone. If others stumble across it and find something of value or interest, that's gravy. Like him, I view it as "thinking out loud", and appreciate (most of the time) people taking the time too comment on my thoughts.

I've done quite a bit of soul-searching myself. I did a Nahenahe.net podcast in Hawaiian a few weeks ago, on a whim. I didn't intend it to be a cultural or linguistic statement, but I guess it is. As far as I know there are no regular Hawaiian language podcasts. That alone should be incentive for me to do one, but at this point it is not. I have two blogs, both done in English, and I need to start another one like I need another hole in my head. Ditto for doing a second podcast. If I do the Nahenahe.net podcasts in Hawaiian I might gain some new listeners and probably lose a lot more. Not that this is an issue for me personally, but it would negatively affect those that I believe benefit most from the existence of the blog and podcast - my friends in the recording industry and their fans and supporters.

While our situations are somewhat similar, there is one glaring difference - by posting in English, Conn would expose his thoughts and writings to a far larger audience. If I begin to podcast in Hawaiian only, I greatly reduce my own. Of course, many may listen simply for the music or to listen to the "sonorous" (as it has been described) Hawaiian language. But most would be in a similar situation that I face in listening to An tImeall - being able to pick out a few words or a short phrase, but not comprehending the bulk of the podcast or blog.

I can't make out most of the comments he's gotten on his blog in response to his request for feedback. I image most he will get will be the "it's your blog so do what you want, but this is what I think..." variety. Which is exactly what I'm going to do here

The value of Conn's blog and podcast to me at this point is simply the fact that it is done in Irish. I am a long way from being able to comprehend and appreciate what he is talking about. While he obviously takes great pride in his ability to communicate on a specialized topic like technology in Irish, the language itself is simply the vehicle and not the content. From that perspective, my desire for him to continue to blog and podcast should be inconsequential, and I don't mind. If he were to stop blogging or podcasting in Irish, he's left behind a significant legacy of material in the Irish language. I did this a few years ago when I blogged my travels in Ireland in Hawaiian. A hundred years from now, my (hopefully) Hawaiian-speaking great-great-great-great grandchildren will be able to read and appreciate it. And hopefully Conn's work will be seen, heard and appreciated by his.

When my wife and I departed Ireland three and a half years ago, I made a promise to myself that I would continue to learn the language. I have found it very difficult to fulfill that promise, however, in discovering his blog and podcast, and those of others, I have been inspired to pick it up again. The technology has made it possible for me to connect with speakers of Irish (or at least those that tolerate a Gaeilge newbie's feeble efforts). Perhaps there will soon be a real (I hate the term "virtual") Gaeltacht online, where people will be able to interact as Gaeilge synchronously and asynchronously, as easily as someone in Ireland.

So my friend, whatever decision you make will be the right one. I have hours and hours of your podcast that I will someday be able to listen to and appreciate for their content as well as their language vehicle. And your work has helped inspire me to fulfill a promise to myself. Consider it an unintended consequence of your work, but certainly not one that compels you to keep doing it. Go raibh maith agat a mo chara.

As for Nahenahe.net, I am not considering switching the blog to Hawaiian, but may do so for the podcast. And while I value my listeners and their opinions, the decision is ultimately mine alone.

As I have mentioned (more than a few times) here, the most likely candidates are University of Otago in New Zealand and Queen's University-Belfast. Today, a small sign appeared...

I was at the 'Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai'i, attending to our college's display and preparing to explain to representatives of the visitor industry (today's invited guests) about our college's participation in the establishment of the center. The exhibition hall was empty as most of the crowd was still in the outer reception area, when a lone gentleman walked in and approached our display. I greeted him, and when he returned my greeting I detected a strong Irish accent. I asked him if he was from Ireland, and he smiled and replied "Yes." I introduced myself in Irish "Is mise Keola, cad é mar atá tú?" (I suspected that the accent was from the north, but wasn't sure) He seemed a bit surprised, but smiled, and replied that he was from the north, and they didn't use much Irish there. I asked what area he was from, and he replied "Belfast." I mentioned that I was considering going to Queen's for doctoral study; he smiled broadly and said that he received his BA at Queen's. I was about to ask him about the school and living in the area, and before I could get it out he expressed how wonderful the school was, and that the area around the University was a great place to live. He offered his phone number and let me know he'd be happy to talk further about the University and the area if I decided to enroll there. (He works for the US Department of Agriculture and lives on the island now).

A sign, or a coincidence? I had posted here just last week, soliciting people's opinions on living in Belfast. Of course, I'm not going to base my decision simply on this chance encounter, but having met someone from Belfast who was able to address some of my concerns in person makes feel less apprehensive about the possibility of relocating there for studies.