A new TG4 documentary shares with the public for the first time the extraordinary story of Úna Ní Fhaircheallaigh, the first woman to write a novel in the Irish language. A leading member of the Gaelic League and ardent campaigner for women’s rights in education and society, Úna was also the first female Professor of Irish at UCD.
Prof Regina Uí Chollatáin and Dr Ríona Nic Congáil UCD School of Irish, Celtic Studies and Folklore have been leading research on Úna’s significant, but somewhat forgotten, role in Irish history and feature in the new documentary, along with Professor Orla Feely and Dr Cathal Billings. Dr Nic Congáil said, “Úna was an extraordinary woman who fought for equality, justice and the revival of the Irish language.”
Born Agnes Winifred Farrelly in 1874 near Virginia in Cavan, Úna became a fervent campaigner for women’s rights in education and society, and presided over the inaugural meeting of Cumann na mBan in 1914.
She was actively involved in the National University Women Graduates’ Association campaign against the new Irish constitution, Bunreacht na hÉireann in 1937. The NUWGA were seeking the deletion of articles which they believed discriminated against women. Their efforts were met with disappointment when An Taoiseach, Éamon de Valera, chose not to amend the offending articles.
Over her 38 year career at UCD, Úna inspired generations of students and colleagues to embrace and promote the Irish language. She was a driving force behind Ulster’s first Irish college, impacting the lives of many emerging Ulster writers of the Irish Revival as well as impressing on the locals to cherish their language and heritage.
She also left an indelible mark on Gaeltacht communities, promoting female literacy on the Aran Islands at a time when many women living there were illiterate. An active member of the Celtic Congress, she was honorary life president of the Camogie Association and contributed significantly to the revival of the sport.
The new film, created by Macha Media for TG4 and titled after Úna’s pen name ‘Uan Uladh’ (the Lamb of Ulster), uncovers the story behind this remarkable visionary and reveals why history has neglected her over the last century.
Through interviews with leading Irish literature scholars and Úna’s family members, presenter Clíodhna Ní Chorráin reveals how her activism shaped the development of education, politics and sport across the island of Ireland, and how her legacy has impacted the lives of generations of Irish women.
The documentary is now available to watch on the TG4 player.
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Léiríonn clár faisnéise nua ar an gcéad Ollamh mná le Gaeilge i gCOBÁC an tionchar a bhí ag a hoidhreacht ar ghlúine de mhná Éireannacha.
Insíonn clár faisnéise nua de chuid TG4 scéal éachtach Úna Ní Fhaircheallaigh, an chéad bhean a scríobh úrscéal sa Ghaeilge. Ba bhall ceannródaíoch de Chonradh na Gaeilge í Úna, b’fheachtasóir díograiseach ar son chearta na mban san oideachas agus sa tsochaí í, agus ba í an chéad Ollamh mná le Gaeilge i gCOBÁC í freisin.
Tá an tOllamh Regina Uí Chollatáin agus an Dr Ríona Nic Congáil ó Scoil na Gaeilge, an Léinn Cheiltigh agus an Bhéaloidis COBÁC páirteach sa chlár faisnéise agus iad chun tosaigh sa taighde ar ról suntasach Úna i stair na hÉireann, ról a bhfuil dearmad déanta air go pointe. Tá an tOllamh Orla Feely agus an Dr Cathal Billings páirteach sa chlár chomh maith.
Dúirt an Dr Nic Congáil, “Ba bhean eiseamláireach í Úna a throid ar son an chomhionannais, na cothromaíochta agus athbheochan na Gaeilge.”
Rugadh Agnes Winifred Farrelly sa bhliain 1874 gar d’Achadh an Iúir i gCo. an Chabháin, agus ghlac Úna le ról mar bhean feachtais díograiseach ar son chearta na mban san oideachas agus sa tsochaí, agus bhí sí i gceannas ar an gcéad chruinniú de Chumann na mBan sa bhliain 1914.
Bhí baint ghníomhach aici le feachtas Chumann Banchéimithe Ollscoileanna na hÉireann (NUWGA) i gcoinne bhunreacht nua na hÉireann, Bunreacht na hÉireann 1937. Bhí an NUWGA ag iarraidh go leasófaí ailt a rinne sárú ar chearta na mban, dar leo. Cúis díomá dóibh nár éirigh lena gcuid iarrachtaí óir bheartaigh an Taoiseach, Éamon de Valera, gan na hailt chonspóideacha a leasú.
Thar thréimhse 38 bliain ag obair i gCOBÁC, spreag Úna na glúine mac léinn agus comhghleacaithe chun glacadh leis an nGaeilge agus chun í a chur chun cinn.
Bhí sí gníomhach i mbunú an chéad choláiste Gaeilge i gCúige Uladh, a chuaigh i bhfeidhm ar go leor scríbhneoirí Ultacha a bhí ag teacht chun tosaigh i dtréimhse na hAthbheochana, agus ghríosaigh sí muintir na háite chun a dteanga agus a n-oidhreacht a chaomhnú.
D’fhág sí a rian féin ar phobail Ghaeltachta, ag cur litearthacht na mban chun cinn ar Oileáin Árann, i dtréimhse nuair a bhí go leor ban ar na hoileáin neamhliteartha. Ba bhall gníomhach den Chomhdháil Cheilteach í, agus bhí sí ina huachtarán saoil oinigh ar an gCumann Camógaíochta agus chuir sí go mór le forbairt an spóirt.
Léiríonn an scannán nua dar teideal ‘Uan Uladh’, ainm cleite Úna, cruthaithe ag Macha Media do TG4, an scéal taobh thiar den bhean cheannródaíoch seo agus léiríonn sé cén fáth a ndearna an stair faillí inti le céad bliain anuas.
Trí agallaimh le scoláirí mór le rá i litríocht na Gaeilge agus le muintir Úna, taispeánann an láithreoir Clíodhna Ní Chorráin an tionchar a bhí ag gníomhaíocht Úna ar fhorbairt an oideachais, na polaitíochta agus an spóirt ar fud oileán na hÉireann, agus an tionchar a bhí ag a hoidhreacht ar na glúine de mhná na hÉireann. Beidh an clár faisnéise ar fáil ar sheinnteoir TG4 ó mhí an Mhárta 2024.