Idir Ballaí Fuara

Insíonn Idir Ballaí Fuara scéal na gcimí poblachtacha a d’fhoghlaim an Ghaeilge le linn na 1970í i bPríosún Bhóthar Chromghlinne, i gCásanna na Ceise Fada, sna Blocanna H agus i bPríosún Ban Ard Mhacha.

Bhí stádas polaitiúil ag cimí poblachtacha sna luath 1970í angus bhí fáil acu ar mhúinteoirí agus ar théacsleabhair, chomh maith le taithí a gcomhchimí ní ba shine. Ach in 1976 tugadh isteach polasaí an choiriúlaithe agus baineadh stádas polaitiúil ó na cimí poblachtacha.

Bhí cimí ann nár ghlac leis an pholasaí seo agus chuir said tús le hagóid na pluide. Gan teacht acu ar ábhar scríofa ná leabhar ar bith, seachas Bíobla in achan chillín, tháinig na cimí ar bhealaí nua le an Ghaeilge a fhoghlaim agus a theagasc sna coinníollacha is dúshlánaí.

Idir Ballaí Fuara tells the story of republican prisoners who learned the Irish language during the 1970s in Crumlin Road Jail, the Cages of Long Kesh, the H-Blocks and Armagh Women’s Prison.

Republican prisoners had political status in the early part of the 1970s and were able to avail of teachers and textbooks, as well as the experience of older fellow prisoners. However in 1976 the policy of criminalisation was introduced and political status was removed from republican prisoners.

Prisoners who refused to accept this policy began the blanket protest. Having no access to writing material or books, beyond a Bible in each cell, the prisoners found new ways to learn and to teach the Irish language to each other in the most difficult of circumstances.