Northern gospel hall wants to study Ó Fiannachta Bible

A GOSPEL hall in Northern Ireland has ordered 500 copies of the late Monsignor Pádraig Ó Fiannachta’s Biobla Naofa so that they can study the Bible in the Irish language.

The order means that there will be a new print run of An Bíobla Naofa, which was one of the crowning achievements of Mons Ó Fiannachta’s lifetime work as a scholar.

Amid a growing interest in Irish language studies in Northern Ireland, John Gallagher of the multi-denominational St. John’s Gospel Hall in Newry placed the order for An Bíobla Naofa with the publishing house of An Sagart, which is based in An Díseart in Dingle. However, Mons Ó Fiannachta’s Bible has been out of print for several years and a new print run will be needed to fill the order.

The reprint will give an opportunity to bring the highly regarded Bible back into general circulation, but before this can happen An Sagart, which holds the copyright, must agree to the new print run.

Acting Editor of An Sagart’s publishing house, Tadhg Ó Dúshláine, said approval from the board of An Sagart is needed as a matter of urgency. “Any delay could jeporadise this unique cross border cross cultural opportunity. Hopefully the board will be able to give the go ahead in the very near future,” he said.

Sending 500 copies of the Bible to the North of Ireland could have an important input into ongoing efforts to establish an consensus on the standing of the Irish language north of the border. “This initiative affords us a wonderful cultural opportunity to reacquaint both traditions in the North with their common heritage,” said Tadhg.

“An Bíobla Naofa always acknowledges its debt of gratitude to the wonderful first edition of the Bible in Irish by Bishop William Beddell in the 17th Century,” he said. “Given the political attention now being focussed on the Irish language in Stormont, this imaginative initiative is welcome in order to progress mutual understanding.”

William Beddell who died in 1642 was an Anglican churchman and Bishop of Kilmore and Ardagh. St. James’s Church in Dingle held a copy of the Beddell Bible, which was subsequently bought by Kruger Kavangh, possibly in the late 1960s. This bible, along with a number of Kruger’s papers and photographs, were given by Páid Néill to Tadhg Ó Dúshláine to arrange for their proper storage. Kruger’s Archive is now housed in Maynooth.

An Bíobla Naofa was published in 1981 by An Sagart, the editing and main translation work were done by Mons. Ó Fiannachta who died in Dingle Community Hospital one year ago this week.