An Haicléara Mánas – Manas the Hackler

In the mid-1850s, Patrick Lyden left Clifden and emigrated to America, never returning to Ireland before his death in 1929. In 1978, his great-grandson William Gallagher brought a peculiar manuscript to Ireland. The story, written by Patrick Lyden, was in the Irish language but using phonetic English as he couldn’t write in his native Irish. Linguist Nancy Stenson decoded the manuscript, translated it into standard Irish, and published it along with an English translation. The story is a light-hearted tale set in Errislannon village, revolving around the arrival of Manas the hackler.

Now, after over 150 years, Patrick Lyden’s story is being brought back to Clifden. A celebration and dramatic presentation of the story will take place, featuring Professor Nancy Stenson, Cumann Dramaíochta Chorr na Móna and local actors and Michael Gannon from Connemara Community Radio.

This book holds great significance as a unique and valuable social and historical document.

Special thanks: An tOireachtas and Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe.