About An Gúm

The publishing programme of An Gúm covers the following categories: schoolbooks and teaching resources for both the primary and secondary sector; literature for children and young adults; novels and reference works for the general public plus a growing range of e-books.

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An Gúm Conference - Autumn 2016

An Gúm was established in 1926. In autumn 2016 to celebrate its 90th year in the field of publishing a conference was held in conjunction with Lárionad de Bhaldraithe in UCD. Several scholars plus members of the editorial team of An Gúm gave talks about various aspects of its history and publications.

Projects

Among the projects currently being developed by An Gúm are:

Séideán Sí

A complete teaching programme for the Irish curriculum at primary level comprising a wide range of resources for use in the classroom and in the home. In order to meet the needs of both teachers and pupils for digital resources a team of teachers and designers have developed a new website www.seideansi.ie featuring graded interactive games and language tasks to stimulate and facilitate children in developing their language skills.

Textbooks and reference books

A new textbook for the Materials Technology (Woodwork) syllabus of the Leaving Cert programme is being developed in addition to a range of resources, both print and digital, for the primary school curriculum. Click here.

E-books

Almost two dozen titles are now available as e-books including books from our back catalogue such as Dracula plus a wide range of new titles for young readers These are sold through the popular e-book platforms such as Amazon etc. Click here.

Children’s Literature

Orna Ní Choileáin, Gabriel Rosenstock, Alan Titley and Áine Ní Ghlinn are just some of the authors whose novels for children and young adults have been published by An Gúm. These original works along with Irish translations of classic novels such as The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (An Leon, An Bandraoi agus an Prios Éadaigh) mean An Gúm continue to add to the range and diversity of reading material for young readers.

An Gúm’s Heritage

An Gúm was established in 1926. Until 1999 it was under the aegis of the Department of Education at which time its functions were transferred to the cross-border language body Foras na Gaeilge. From the beginning, An Gúm has been involved in the production of textbooks, dictionaries and general reading material in the Irish language. It has published over 2,500 books and 350 music pieces since its establishment.

Intially An Gúm had a central role in the effort to revive literature in Irish. Our large back-list contains a wide range of literature in all the major dialects of the Irish language. After a short period it was felt necessary to augment the small amount of original creative writing available at that time and an ambitious policy of translation was initiated by An Gúm. Translations of over 250 titles from both classical and popular European literature were published during the 1930s. Many of the titles translated were the ephemeral bestsellers of the day but many were classics of their time and are still in print in their original languages.

Among the large number of translators were many who went on to become well-known creative writers in their own right. Gradually, as more creative writers came foward with original material, the need for translations became less acute and, from 1940 on, less and less tranlation of literary titles were undertaken. Today, An Gúm publishes very little new creative writing for adult readers, either original or in translation. However, we have a policy of continually reintroducing titles of outstanding literary merit, including some of the translated material.

An Gúm’s role in expanding the readership of Irish language literature

Ireland, Design and Visual Culture: Negotiating Modernity 1922-1992

Edited by Linda King and Elaine Sisson

The manner in which the book covers and the artwork of An Gúm’s early titles encouraged the reading of Irish language books is detailed in this book published by Cork University Press in 2011

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Chapter 5, written by Brian Ó Conchubhair, entitled ‘An Gúm: The Irish Free State and the Politics of the Irish Language’ describes the history of An Gúm and refers to the manner in which the books’ creative, imaginative design encouraged the public to read Irish language literature. Ó Conchubhair illustrates the pioneering role of An Gúm in Irish book design and its rich design heritage.

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Among the covers and designs singled out for praise are: Béal na Huaige (1927) translated by Leon Ó Broin and designed by Seán Ó Suilleabháin; and Fiche Gearrscéal (1930), translated by Ristéard Ó Foghludha and designed by Ailbhe Ó Monacháin.

Lexicography

Most of the lexicographical work completed in Ireland in the last century has been in the field of the Irish language and most of it has been carried out by An Gúm. The lexicographical projects completed during that time saw a range of general dictionaries made available – both single language (Irish) and bilingual (Irish/English, English/Irish) dictionaries – and in addition an ever-growing series of specialized terminological dictionaries. Foclóir Póca, our pocket Irish/English and English/Irish dictionary, is an all-time bestseller in Ireland.

Children’s Literature

In recent years the greater part of An Gúm’s output has been in the textbook area but it is probably best known in the wider publishing world for its successful high-quality books for children. Children’s books have been a feature of the publishing programme from the early days of An Gúm but in the last thirty years much more emphasis has been put on this sector. Its current catalogue of children’s books comprises a wide range of original titles and international co-editions.

Awards

Many original titles published over the years have won awards from various interest groups: educational awards, reading association awards, design awards, printing awards, etc. This is a testament, not only to An Gúm as publishers but also to the expertise and high standard of work available from Irish writers, illustrators, designers and printers.

An Gúm’s Range of Publications
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Explore An Gum

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New Books
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Primary School
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Secondary School
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Pre-reading Books
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Independent Readers
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Croidhe Cainnte Ciarraighe

Seán Óg Ó Caomhánaigh

Is fada caint ar an saothar mór foclóireachta a rinne Seán Óg Ó Caomhánaigh, Seán a’ Chóta, i dtriochaidí agus i ndaichidí na haoise seo caite, saothar ar chuir sé an teideal Croidhe Cainnte Ciarraighe air, saothar nár foilsíodh riamh. Tá obair mhór thaighde agus eagarthóireachta ar bun le roinnt blianta anuas ar an saothar sin leis an Dr Tracey Ní Mhaonaigh ó Ollscoil Mhá Nuad. Tá lámhscríbhinn an tsaothair gafa go leictreonach aici agus an téacs á chur in eagar i gcónaí. Saothar ollmhór atá ann, os cionn 4,000 leathanach, agus mar gheall ar an oiread sin suime a bheith léirithe ag daoine ann tá an Dr Ní Mhaonaigh á chur ar fáil dúinn chun gur féidir le daoine teacht air agus an saibhreas iontach Gaeilge ann a bhlaiseadh. Tá téacs an tsaothair, mar a sheasann faoi láthair, le fáil thíos i bhfoirm pdf cosanta. Ina theannta sin tá nóta mínithe leis an Dr Ní Mhaonaigh faoin saothar.