Cúlra (Leaving Cert Irish): Revision Notes

Cúlra

• Amhrán polaitiúil is ea é.
  • It is a political poem.
• Sa dán seo, faighimid léargas cumasach ar shaol crua agus ar chas truamhéalach an spailpín.
  • In this poem, we get a powerful insight into the hard life and tragic case of the spailpín.
• Tá saol an spailpín fite fuaite le cúrsaí polaitíochta a bhí ar siúl timpeall na tréimhse stáiriúil seo.
  • The life of the spailpín is intertwined with political matters that took place around this historical period.

• Scríobhadh an dán seo ag deireadh an ochtú aois déag nuair a bhí muintir na hÉireann in umar na haimléise. Bhí na Gaeil go hiomlán faoi smacht agus faoi chois ag na Sasanaigh.
  • This poem was written at the end of the eighteenth century when the people of Ireland were in a state of turmoil. The Irish were completely controlled and oppressed by the English.
• Bhí an talamh, an t-airgead agus an cumhacht go léir ag na Sasanaigh agus bhí péindlithe dochta i bhfeidhm ar fud na tíre.
  • The English had all of the land, the money and the power and strict penal laws were in effect all over the country.
• Mar thoradh, ní raibh cead ag na caitligh dul go dtí an aifreann agus ní raibh cead acu vótáil.
  • As a result, Catholics were not allowed go to mass and they were not allowed to vote.

• Tríd íomhánna éifeachtacha, cuireann an file an saol suarach, crua a bhí ag an spailpín in iúl dúinn go láidir.
  • Through effective images, the poet presents us with the hard, miserable life of the spailpín.
• Tríd an dán, féicimid cás an spailpín- ní raibh aon stádas nó ceartanna aige.
  • Through the poem, we see the case of the spailpín - he had no status or rights.