Dóchas don tSlí
Bronntanas Nollag do léitheoirí Óga
Hope for the Way (Dóchas don tSlí) – a picturebook for little readers, published by Foilseacháin Ábhair Spioradálta as the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope draws to a close.
Is teach foilsitheoireachta Íosánach é Foilseacháin Ábhair Spioradálta a bhfuil leabhair á bhfoilsiú aige as Gaeilge faoin gcreideamh agus faoin gcultúr Críostaí le seachtó bliain anuas. Nuair a ainmníodh Scrín Chnoc Mhuire mar ionad oilithreachta náisiúnta do bhliain na hIubhaile, 2025, shocraigh Foilseacháin Ábhair Spioradálta pictiúrleabhar beag a chur le chéile chun scéal Chnoc Mhuire a insint do ghlúin úr léitheoirí. Is í Marie Whelton údar an leabhair agus is é Frank Endersby an maisitheoir.
Foilseacháin Ábhair Spioradálta is a Jesuit publishing house which has been publishing Irish-Language books about faith and Christian culture for seventy years. When Knock Shrine was designated as a national pilgrimage site for the 2025 Jubilee Year, Foilseacháin Ábhair Spioradálta decided to publish a small picturebook to retell the story of Knock for a new generation of readers. The picturebook is written by Marie Whelton and beautifully illustrated by Frank Endersby.
Buaileann léitheoirí le Réiltín agus í i mbun bácála le Mamó sa chistin. Iarrann Réiltín scéilín óna Mamó. Géilleann Mamó agus insíonn sí scéal do Réiltín faoin radharc míorúilteach ar na flaithis a fuair ár sinsir ar an gCnoc sa bhliain 1879.
Readers meet Réiltín and her granny while baking biscuits together in the kitchen. Réiltín eagerly begs her Granny for a story. Granny succumbs and recounts the miraculous glimpse of heaven which was given to our ancestors at Knock in 1879.
The text is written in rhyming verse and each aspect of the Knock apparition is explored using child-friendly language. At the end of the book there are some activities to encourage inter-generational learning on questions of faith. There is also a short liturgy included on the theme of hope, which could be used by primary teachers in Religious Education and a glossary to aid understanding and language enrichment.
Suitable, in size, for small hands, Dóchas don tSlí was recommended as a faith-based book for children by Áine Ní Ghlinn on Tús Áite, Raidió na Gaeltachta in December, 2025.
Along with Dóchas don tSlí, Foilseacháin Ábhair Spioradálta offer a wide range of Irish-Language books for readers of all ages, any of which would be appropriate as Christmas presents for readers interested in faith and spirituality. These books include Iontas na nIontas by Gabriel Rosenstock – a pocket collection of Christian art and newly composed contemplative haiku; An Ghaeilge agus an Éiceolaíocht by Micheal Cronin – a bilingual exploration of the role language may play in facing the climate crisis; Glóraigí an Tiarna by Michelle Ní Ríordáin – a collection of psalms, canticles, poems and hymns of praise; and, the soon to be published, An Intinn Ghaelach agus an Diagacht by Micheál Mac Craith, which will examine the relationship between Irish Spirituality and the history of religion in Ireland. For more information and a full catalogue go to: www.timire.ie.
Source: Foilseacháin Ábhair Spioradálta
