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Hurlamaboc
This book is in the Irish language only; no English translation accompanies the Irish language text. The adventures of three teenagers living in the Dublin suburbs - Ruán, Emma and Colm. All neighbours of the same age but with different personalities, backgrounds, and social class, preparing for the Leaving Cert. An accident turns everything on its head. They get to know one another better and after all the hurlamaboc ('upheaval') have grown and developed.
Every teenager will recognise Rúan, Emma and Colm. They will enjoy their company as they grow through their adventures. The book offers an insight into the social prejudices and bigotry in Ireland today. This is a readable, inspiring and humorous Irish-language novel which will be enjoyed by all, young and old alike.
Every teenager will recognise Rúan, Emma and Colm. They will enjoy their company as they grow through their adventures. The book offers an insight into the social prejudices and bigotry in Ireland today. This is a readable, inspiring and humorous Irish-language novel which will be enjoyed by all, young and old alike.
- GenresFictionYoung Adult
109 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2006
8 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
About the author
Éilís Ní Dhuibhne
43 books51 followersÉilís Ní Dhuibhne is a writer and critic. She was born in Dublin in 1954. She attended University College Dublin, where she studied Pure English, then Folklore. She was awarded the UCD Entrance scholarship for English, and two post graduate scholarships in Folklore. In 1978-9 she studied at the University of Copenhagen, and in 1982 was awarded a PhD from the National University of Ireland. She has worked in the Department of Irish Folklore in UCD, and for many years as a curator in the National Library of Ireland. Also a teacher of Creative Writing, she has been Writer Fellow at Trinity College and is currently Writer Fellow at UCD. She is a member of Aosdána.
Eilis Ni Dhuibhne is also known as Eilis Almquist and Elizabeth O'Hara.
Eilis Ni Dhuibhne is also known as Eilis Almquist and Elizabeth O'Hara.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 11, 2022
Three Dublin teenagers approach their Leaving Certificate - a final examination at the end of their secondary school careers - in this Irish young adult novel, original published in Irish as Hurlamaboc. Privileged golden boy Ruán, whose mother Lísín is the preeminent "home-maker" on prestigious Ashfield Avenue; misfit Emma, whose single mother Eileen is the only working woman on that same exclusive street; and reserved Colm, who spends most of his out-of-school time working at the local Spar, in order to avoid his abusive alcoholic father, and miserable home-life in the nearby council estate - all three find themselves confronting unexpected challenges and tragedies as the Leaving Cert looms. Although from very different socio-economic and familial backgrounds, the teens find their lives interwoven in unexpected ways...
I enjoyed reading Snobs, Dogs and Scobies, which I initially picked up because it was published by Little Island, a small, independent children's book publisher based in Dublin, and owned and run by renowned Irish children's author, Siobhán Parkinson. Although I purchased it almost two years ago, I've only just now gotten around to reading it, after living in Dublin for some time. I think this is probably fortunate, as there is quite a bit of vocabulary I might otherwise have stumbled over, and any number of Dublin and/or Irish places and contexts I might have found confusing. These range from references to such things as the Dart and Luas - the train and tram systems here in Dublin - to the idea of the 'land of twitching curtains,' referring to the Irish propensity for keeping tabs on their neighbors, and not necessarily in a good way. The narrative here alternates between the three main characters, allowing the reader to witness events from multiple perspectives. I found it amusing that Emma seems to criticize Ruán for his "communist" ideas, in his interactions with 'scobie' Colm, seemingly unaware that Ruán's friend see her as a 'dog,' and unworthy of his attention. Of the three characters, I liked Colm the most, and found his journey to Wales fascinating. I found myself wondering if O'Hara was obliquely hinting that he was gay, in her brief references to his friendship with Welsh boy Dafydd, which Colm sees as "the most important bit" of his experience in Wales, and which he is inexplicably reluctant to discuss with Ruán, when they meet. However that may be, I found the low-key friendship between the two boys, begun when they were in primary school together, and then seemingly abandoned until circumstance brings them together again, rather moving. All in all, a worthwhile read, one I would recommend to those looking for Irish young adult fare.
I enjoyed reading Snobs, Dogs and Scobies, which I initially picked up because it was published by Little Island, a small, independent children's book publisher based in Dublin, and owned and run by renowned Irish children's author, Siobhán Parkinson. Although I purchased it almost two years ago, I've only just now gotten around to reading it, after living in Dublin for some time. I think this is probably fortunate, as there is quite a bit of vocabulary I might otherwise have stumbled over, and any number of Dublin and/or Irish places and contexts I might have found confusing. These range from references to such things as the Dart and Luas - the train and tram systems here in Dublin - to the idea of the 'land of twitching curtains,' referring to the Irish propensity for keeping tabs on their neighbors, and not necessarily in a good way. The narrative here alternates between the three main characters, allowing the reader to witness events from multiple perspectives. I found it amusing that Emma seems to criticize Ruán for his "communist" ideas, in his interactions with 'scobie' Colm, seemingly unaware that Ruán's friend see her as a 'dog,' and unworthy of his attention. Of the three characters, I liked Colm the most, and found his journey to Wales fascinating. I found myself wondering if O'Hara was obliquely hinting that he was gay, in her brief references to his friendship with Welsh boy Dafydd, which Colm sees as "the most important bit" of his experience in Wales, and which he is inexplicably reluctant to discuss with Ruán, when they meet. However that may be, I found the low-key friendship between the two boys, begun when they were in primary school together, and then seemingly abandoned until circumstance brings them together again, rather moving. All in all, a worthwhile read, one I would recommend to those looking for Irish young adult fare.
August 26, 2017
This leabhar...It was a trip and a half and I am completely baffled and I have no idea where to begin.
I'll start with how I came across this book. I recently completed my Leaving Cert, and the opening chapter was prescribed for the prós section of my Irish paper( FYI it came up, and I was fortunate enough to score a H2 overall). As a class, we studied this extract as a satire, a mockery of Irish society during the Celtic Tiger. I was intruiged by this and decided to give the novel a go, hoping to read more about Lisín and her dysfunctional family.
That wasn't exactly what I got.
The plot focuses on Ruán, Emma and Colm, three teenagers living in Dublin, but from different social backgrounds (Ruán is from a well-to do, seemingly 'perfect' family; Emma lives with her single mother, and Colm is a traveller living in a council estate with his mother and abusive, alcoholic father). As the plot progresses, their lives start to entwine as one life altering event after another takes place. At the end of it all, they come away, more independent and free and so forth.
As can be seen, this novel, in my opinion, was more of a coming of age tale than a social satire, more focused on the development of the characters than social commentary. That said, the commentary, in the form of irony and sarcasm was there, and that I liked, particularly the scenes regarding the CAO/points system, and the Irish's reaction to death. However, this humour wasn't at the forefront, and for me that's what caused problems.
The characters' stories themselves were the focus, Ruán and Colm's more so than Emma. To begin with I bought into all of these characters and their struggles...but then, at the halfway mark, things take a turn for the bizarre. Colm goes on the run due to complications in the home, Emma becomes morale support and a voice in the background, and Ruán's story became...wait for it...paranormal (yes, you read that correct, there's a ghost in Hurlamaboc). Their stories also alternate between the first and third person, which at times could be confusing, as it's not always obvious.
And for me, that plot twist is where the book looses me. Ruán and Emma's story becomes 'silly' and what could have been a moving story about overcoming grief becomes nonsensical and Ruán's realisation that he is finally free, comes across as rather callous. Colm's story, while the most interesting, in my opinion, also verges on the ridiculous, and ultimately becomes somewhat idealistic, despite his newfound, perilous circumstances. The ties that began to form between these characters in the beginning slacken, and ultimately become something more feeble.
Overall, I was quiet surprised by what this book was. It wasn't the social satire that I expected, but a coming of age tale that wasn't as impactful as it could have been. Lisín and her dreaded coisír, for all the notes I had to study about them, had less importance in the grand scheme of things than I had initially perceived.
Still this was my first book that I read 'as Gaeilge' and the language for the most part was simple and easy to understand. Perhaps a good book to start with, but not the most realistic of reads, considering its subject matter and setting.
I'll start with how I came across this book. I recently completed my Leaving Cert, and the opening chapter was prescribed for the prós section of my Irish paper( FYI it came up, and I was fortunate enough to score a H2 overall). As a class, we studied this extract as a satire, a mockery of Irish society during the Celtic Tiger. I was intruiged by this and decided to give the novel a go, hoping to read more about Lisín and her dysfunctional family.
That wasn't exactly what I got.
The plot focuses on Ruán, Emma and Colm, three teenagers living in Dublin, but from different social backgrounds (Ruán is from a well-to do, seemingly 'perfect' family; Emma lives with her single mother, and Colm is a traveller living in a council estate with his mother and abusive, alcoholic father). As the plot progresses, their lives start to entwine as one life altering event after another takes place. At the end of it all, they come away, more independent and free and so forth.
As can be seen, this novel, in my opinion, was more of a coming of age tale than a social satire, more focused on the development of the characters than social commentary. That said, the commentary, in the form of irony and sarcasm was there, and that I liked, particularly the scenes regarding the CAO/points system, and the Irish's reaction to death. However, this humour wasn't at the forefront, and for me that's what caused problems.
The characters' stories themselves were the focus, Ruán and Colm's more so than Emma. To begin with I bought into all of these characters and their struggles...but then, at the halfway mark, things take a turn for the bizarre. Colm goes on the run due to complications in the home, Emma becomes morale support and a voice in the background, and Ruán's story became...wait for it...paranormal (yes, you read that correct, there's a ghost in Hurlamaboc). Their stories also alternate between the first and third person, which at times could be confusing, as it's not always obvious.
And for me, that plot twist is where the book looses me. Ruán and Emma's story becomes 'silly' and what could have been a moving story about overcoming grief becomes nonsensical and Ruán's realisation that he is finally free, comes across as rather callous. Colm's story, while the most interesting, in my opinion, also verges on the ridiculous, and ultimately becomes somewhat idealistic, despite his newfound, perilous circumstances. The ties that began to form between these characters in the beginning slacken, and ultimately become something more feeble.
Overall, I was quiet surprised by what this book was. It wasn't the social satire that I expected, but a coming of age tale that wasn't as impactful as it could have been. Lisín and her dreaded coisír, for all the notes I had to study about them, had less importance in the grand scheme of things than I had initially perceived.
Still this was my first book that I read 'as Gaeilge' and the language for the most part was simple and easy to understand. Perhaps a good book to start with, but not the most realistic of reads, considering its subject matter and setting.
March 18, 2018
Sílim gurb é seo an chéad leabhar as Gaeilge a léigh mé lasmuith den córas oideachais, gan cabhair ó mhúinteoir nó dhuine fásta de shaghas éigin... Bhí fonn orm úrscéal a léamh as Gaeilge le tamaill agus ar an nós sin táim sásta go bhfuil sé déanta agam!
Bhí an scéal suimiúl go leor. Trí dhéagóir ag déanamh na hArdteiste agus ag dul i ngleic le fadhbanna an tsaoil. Ní dhéanann an scéal aon rud nach bhfuil feicthe agam cheana, ach bhí sé dea-scríofa.
Bhí an scéal suimiúl go leor. Trí dhéagóir ag déanamh na hArdteiste agus ag dul i ngleic le fadhbanna an tsaoil. Ní dhéanann an scéal aon rud nach bhfuil feicthe agam cheana, ach bhí sé dea-scríofa.
November 26, 2023
Scéal conspóideach ach spéisiúil bunaithe ar dhaoine óga le cúlraí difriúla roimh an gcúlú eacnamaíochta in Éirinn. Bhí an deireadh saghas aisteach agus tá a lán ceisteanna nach bhfuil freagraithe agam ach sin sin.
July 26, 2023
2.5⭐️ for “an bhfuilim aerach? Seans!”
June 7, 2024
she tried to fit every trope ever. made someone gay in the last chapter
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 17, 2024
rip lisín albright u would've loved almond mom tiktok 🙏
its such a crime we dont get to read the full book for the lc because it was actually kind of funny but i understand why we didn't bcs half of it was just ruán being schizo but whatever. this book was the og saltburn tbh it even had the mildly incestuous undertones ❤️
its such a crime we dont get to read the full book for the lc because it was actually kind of funny but i understand why we didn't bcs half of it was just ruán being schizo but whatever. this book was the og saltburn tbh it even had the mildly incestuous undertones ❤️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 9, 2019
Bhí an leabhar seo ina thionchar mór dom agus mé ag fás aníos. Eachtraí saoil á n-insint ó shúile triúr óg, agus iad ag iarraidh a n-áit féin a aimsiú sa saol. Scríofa go rí-mhaith le Gaeilge sho-léite, bhí sé seo ina fhoinse áthais dom. Mholfainn go mór é, do dhaoine óga agus d'fhoghlaimeoirí araon.
November 6, 2017
b’fhíormhaith liom cúig réaltaí a thabhairt don leabhar seo, ach chan fhéidir liom, dá bhrí shonrach: is é cop-out mór deireadh an leabhair, mar a fhaighimid dearbhú heitrighnéasachta (an póg idir Ruán agus Emma) ach cha dtchímid fiú amháin Dafydd, an buachaill atá a fhios againn go bhfuil aerach, agus go háirithe cha dtchímid é fiú agus ag labhairt le Colm — atá gan amhras, dhéarfainn de réir mar a labharfas sé faoi, i ngrá leis, nó ar aon chor gan splanc ina dhiaidh, ach nach deir ach go bhfuil “[s]eans” go bhfuil seisean aerach freisin.
tabhair dom níos mó, a Éilís. is maith an airí ar do léitheoirí é. Lig Do Na Buachaillí A Chéile A Phógadh, Mar Is Ceart Dóibh.
RUD EILE. cén fáth a d’úsáidfeá buama sa Tuirc chun tuismitheoirí Ruáin a mharú, in áit, mar shampla, timpiste tacsaí ar an tslí don aerfort? kind of fucked up a bheith ag cleachtadh foréigin i gceann eile an tsaoil díreach mar phrop do scéal nach dtabharfaidh aon aire don cheann sin.
seachas na dúshláin sin, áfach, thaitin an t-úrscéal liom, go formhór, agus cé go raibh díomá orm nach bhfuil sé níos aeraí, sílim go molfainn an leabhar, agus bheinn sásta go leor cóip de a fháil.
tabhair dom níos mó, a Éilís. is maith an airí ar do léitheoirí é. Lig Do Na Buachaillí A Chéile A Phógadh, Mar Is Ceart Dóibh.
RUD EILE. cén fáth a d’úsáidfeá buama sa Tuirc chun tuismitheoirí Ruáin a mharú, in áit, mar shampla, timpiste tacsaí ar an tslí don aerfort? kind of fucked up a bheith ag cleachtadh foréigin i gceann eile an tsaoil díreach mar phrop do scéal nach dtabharfaidh aon aire don cheann sin.
seachas na dúshláin sin, áfach, thaitin an t-úrscéal liom, go formhór, agus cé go raibh díomá orm nach bhfuil sé níos aeraí, sílim go molfainn an leabhar, agus bheinn sásta go leor cóip de a fháil.
January 16, 2022
Thaithin an leabhar seo go mór liom. Gach rechaibidil, bhí scéalaí difriúil ann. Ruán, Emma, Colm nó gnáthscéalaí. Déantar forbairt mhaith ar na carachtair agus is iontach an rud é go ndéantar giotaí éagsúla den scéal a athinsint ó dhearcaidh dhifriúla.
Scéal a thugann léiriú maith ar an seanfhocal ‘thuas seal, thíos seal’ is ea é. Is deas an rud é gur féidir leis na haicmí meascadh le chéile agus rudaí a mhúineadh dá chéile.
Léigh mé an chéad chaibidil mar ghearrscéal don Ardteist ach níl mórán tábhachtaí ag baint leis an gcéad chaibidil i dtéarmaí an scéil ina iomlán. Tá an leabhar seo saghas cosúil le bailiúchán de ghearrscéalta. Níl sé leadránach. Déantar cuir síosanna áille ar shuíomh an scéil síos tríd.
An-taitneamhach agus eolach mar leabhar. Mholfainn go hard é.
Scéal a thugann léiriú maith ar an seanfhocal ‘thuas seal, thíos seal’ is ea é. Is deas an rud é gur féidir leis na haicmí meascadh le chéile agus rudaí a mhúineadh dá chéile.
Léigh mé an chéad chaibidil mar ghearrscéal don Ardteist ach níl mórán tábhachtaí ag baint leis an gcéad chaibidil i dtéarmaí an scéil ina iomlán. Tá an leabhar seo saghas cosúil le bailiúchán de ghearrscéalta. Níl sé leadránach. Déantar cuir síosanna áille ar shuíomh an scéil síos tríd.
An-taitneamhach agus eolach mar leabhar. Mholfainn go hard é.
August 23, 2019
An ambitious story of loss, learning, liberation, combining shrewd observation with a touch of the surreal. Can be read by old adults as well as Young Adults. It was also published in an English-language version. A real achievement.
January 22, 2023
I really enjoyed reading it. I teach this story every year and always meant to read it and it has given me a newfound appreciation for the story.
August 2, 2023
2 fridges 😹😹😹😹😹😹😹
March 13, 2024
ar ceann de na leabhair is fearr atá ar fáil i nGaeilge. Nuair a thosaigh mé ag léamh Hurlamaboc mheas mé go gcaithfeadh mé seachtain nó dhó ag léamh é ach ní raibh mé ábalta é a fhágáil uaimse. Bhí sé furasta go leoir le léamh (Ní raibh an Ghaeilge ródheacair) agus cheangail mé leis na carachtair go gasta. Tá mé buíoch gur cheannaigh mé an leabhar seo mar beidh sé á léamh agam ar ais san am atá le teacht. 5 Réalta.
March 28, 2018
Picked this up outside the 72nd Street subway station in NYC 2 weeks ago, as a free Irish Arts Center Book Day 2018 handout. Young adult coming of age story focuses on three people, all from very different “classes” in a Dublin suburb, whose lives all change due to one or more accidents. Meet Ruan, Emma and Colm, and let me know what you think of them!
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