Liverpudlian Tony Birtill (67) who passed away last week hit many heights in a life tremendously well-lived.

He was a patient and experienced mountain walking guide, a quietly confident black belt in karate, a much-loved community college lecturer, a journalist with an eye for a great headline, an accomplished Irish speaker and a passionate Irish patriot.

He also wrote the book on the Liverpool Irish — literally — with his acclaimed opus, recently updated, 'Hidden History: The Irish Language in Liverpool - An Ghaeilge i Learpholl'. 

Of that book, in these columns, QUB prof Micheál Ó Mainnín said: "This is a mine of information and a labour of love by its author. Not only is it a book which everyone with an interest in the Irish language and the Irish connection with Liverpool should read but it is also an enduring tribute and monument to the people of this most interesting city. I, for one, have been enriched by it."

He was also an inveterate giggler, liked to savour a pint of the black stuff in Tí Bhidí in Gleann Colm Cille, Co Donegal (where he developed, mapped out and trailblazed the first-ever Gaeilge walking tour course for adult learners) and was an unabashed fan of Belfast and its Irish language revival.

He was as Irish as the Lagan and a dynamo behind the powerhouse which is the Liverpool Irish Centre. Through his journalism for the Irish Post in England, he spotlighted the travails and triumphs of the Irish in Britain while shining a spotlight on some murky coners of loyalism, such as the activities of the Canadian gunrunners who were feted in the Lord Mayor's Parlour in Belfast City Hall. 

As a student and teacher of Irish, he was as generous and gracious in helping fellow-learners as he was careful and cautious when guiding walking groups across the perilous cliffs of Sliabh Liag in the Donegal Gaeltacht. But fools he did not suffer gladly: he was once tossed from a walking course in Scotland when he corrected a former 'forces' group leader who was mocking the 'unintelligible' Gaelic names on the ordinance survey map of the Grampian Mountains. Tony suggested that, actually, the names in Gaelic might aid the hiker - a mountaineer on Ben Nevis, for example, may not be as surprised to be enveloped in cloud halfway up if she understood that Beinn Nèamh-Bhathais translates as 'Mountain with its Head in the Clouds'. For his impudence, Tony was kicked off the course. Similarly, a college boss who made the mistake of branding Mr Birtill as one of those 'stupid Paddys' ended up effectively paying for a new kitchen in Tony's Donegal holiday home. 

SIÚLAÍ SONA: Tony Birtill sna sléibhte
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SIÚLAÍ SONA: Tony Birtill sna sléibhte

Over recent years, he was battered and bruised by prostrate cancer. He was knocked down more than once but rose repeatedly with that same sense of defiance which saw him join a sit-down protest blocking Kilburn High Road the night Bobby Sands died.

The pandemic was a cruel time to be a cancer battler: Covid prevented Tony's chemo treatment for a period in 2020 and this year, when he was hospitalised for long periods, no visitors were permitted. 

Still, the ordinary day heroism which made Tony Birtill beloved by so many carried him through. In his final days in the Liverpool hospice, he had the comfort and company of his family and the palliative love and care of his grá-gheal Grace O'Reilly. Long-time partners, the pair tied the knot in the hospice the week before he passed.  

Liam Ó Cuinneagáin, founder of the Oideas Gael Irish language college in Gleann Colm Cille, said Tony had been at the heart of their activities for three decades.

"Tá muid go mór faoi bhrón in Oideas Gael agus Tony, cuid lárnach dár bhfoireann le 30 bliain anuas agus cara dílis do Ghleann Cholm Cille ar shlí na fírinne. 

"Tháinig Tony as Learpholl go Oideas Gael i dtosach i 1988. Bhí sé linn achan bhliain ina dhiaidh sin agus é ag comhrá leis na sean bhoic i dtábhairne Teach Bhiodaí. Mhol Tony dúinn cúrsa a chur ar fáil bunaithe ar shaibhreas timpeallachta an cheantair idir an béaloideas, logainmneacha, Sliabh Liag agus Port. Mheall Tony na céadta ar na cúrsaí seo thar na mblianta le cuidiú ó bheirt cairde dílis dó Breandán Delap agus Aindriú Mac Giolla Easbuig. Bhí Tony gníomhach i ngach réimse den chultúr gaelach i Learpholl agus thug sé tacaíocht fuinniúil do feachtaisí in Éirinn, leithéidi bunú TG4 agus cearta na n-imirceánach."

"Ní bheidh an samhradh sa Ghleann choíche mar a gcéanna. Comhbhrón ó chroí lena mhac Liam, máthair Liam Liz, agus a bheancéile Grace."

Tony Birtill is survived by his wife Grace and son Liam and a large family circle. 

His funeral mass will take place on Monday 8 November at Blessed Sacrament Church, Walton Vale, Liverpool. 

Deepest condolences from pobal na Gaeilge in Belfast and from the Belfast Media Group to Tony's extended family, to his widow Grace, to his son Liam and to Liam's mum Liz. Ní dhéanfar dearmad go deo air. 

’S ba charthanach fial thú ariamh is ba sona do lámh,
Agus bheifeá faoi chian mar riartha dá dtiocfadh in do dháil,
Ba deismir do chiall le ’ach aon de d’aicme ar an tsráid,
’S ní mhairfeadh beo bliain i mbuaireamh in d’easpaí mar ’tá.

SAOL MAITH DEARFACH

Saol maith dearfach a chaith fear Learphoill Tony Birtill (67), a fuair bás an tseachtain seo thart; saol a bhí lán buaiceanna, saol ar bhain sé cion céadach as.

Ba threoraí siúl sléibhe foighneach é a raibh a lán taithí aige; ba dhuine muiníneach gan a bheith maíteach é a raibh crios dubh aige sa chearáité; ba léachtóir i gcoláiste pobail é agus gean mór ag gach duine air; b’iriseoir é a raibh súil mhaith aige do cheannlíne chliste; ba Ghaeilgeoir líofa agus tírghráthóir paiseanta Éireannach é. 

Scríobh sé leabhar fosta faoin Ghaeilge i Learpholl, 'Hidden History: The Irish Language in Liverpool - An Ghaeilge i Learpholl' a ndearnadh uasdátú air ar na mallaibh.
Faoin leabhar céanna sin, dúirt an t-ollamh Micheál Ó Mainnín, Ollscoil na Banríona Béal Feirste, sna colúin seo: "This is a mine of information and a labour of love by its author. Not only is it a book which everyone with an interest in the Irish language and the Irish connection with Liverpool should read but it is also an enduring tribute and monument to the people of this most interesting city. I, for one, have been enriched by it."

Bhíodh sé i gcónaí ag sciotaíl, bhain sé an-sult as pionta den stuif dubh a bhlaiseadh Tigh Bhidí i nGleann Cholm Cille, Co. Dhún na nGall (áit ar fhorbair sé agus ar leag sé amach an chéad chúrsa siúil riamh d’fhoghlaimeoirí fásta na Gaeilge), agus bhí dúil mhór aige i mBéal Feirste agus sa bhorradh faoi athbheochan na Gaeilge sa chathair. 

Bhí sé chomh Gaelach leis an Lagán agus bhí sé lán fuinnimh agus é ag cur borradh láidir faoi Ionad na Gaeilge, Learpholl. Ina chuid iriseoireachta don Irish Post i Sasana, tharraing se aird ar fhadhbanna agus ar bhuanna na nÉireannach sa Bhreatain agus dhírigh spotsolas ar chúinní diamhra an dílseachais mar shampla gníomhaíochtaí lucht smuigleála gunnaí ó Cheanada ar caitheadh leo go flaithiúil i bParlús an Ard-Mhéara i Halla na Cathrach, Béal Feirste.  

Mar mhac léinn agus mar mhúinteoir Gaeilge, bhí sé flaithiúil macánta lena chomhfhoghlaimeoirí. Mar threoraí, bhí sé cúramach aireach agus é i mbun grúpaí siúil a stiúradh trasna bheanna contúirteacha Shliabh Liag, i nGaeltacht Dhún na nGall. Ach níor chuir sé suas riamh le hamadáin agus cuireadh an ruaig air uair amháin as cúrsa siúil in Albain nuair a cheartaigh sé ceannaire grúpa, a bhí sna ‘fórsaí’ lá den tsaol, a rinne magadh faoi na logainmneacha Gaelacha ‘dothuigthe’ ar mhapa Shléibhte a’ Mhonaidh. Mhol Tony, go díreach, go bhféadfadh na logainmneacha Gàidhlige cuidiú leis an siúlóir: sléibhteoir ar Bheinn Nibheis, mar shampla, dá dtuigfeadh sí go gciallaíonn Beinn Nèamh-Bhathais 'Mountain with its Head in the Clouds' sa Bhéarla, ní bheadh an oiread sin iontais uirthi dá dtitfeadh brat ceo anuas thart uirthi. As ucht a dhánachta, díbríodh Tony ón chúrsa. Ar an dóigh chéanna, saoiste coláiste a rinne an botún ‘duine de na Paddys bómánta sin’ a thabhairt ar an Uasal Birtill, chríochnaigh sé suas ag íoc, i ndáiríre, as cistin nua i dteach saoire Tony i nDún na nGall. 
 
Le blianta beaga anuas, bhí sé briste brúite agus ailse phróstataigh air. Bhain an galar dá chosa é níos mó ná uair amháin ach d’éirigh sé arís is arís eile, gníomh dúshlánach den chineál chéanna is a d’fhág go raibh sé páirteach in agóid suí síos a chuir bac ar Bhóthar Ard Kilburn an oíche a fuair Bobby Sands bás.

Don duine a bhí ag troid in aghaidh ailse, ba thréimhse chrua chadránta í tréimhse na paindéime. Chuir Covid cosc ar chóireáil ceimiteiripe Tony ar feadh tréimhse in 2020 agus i mbliana, nuair a bhí sé san ospidéal ar feadh tréimhsí fada, níor ceadaíodh cuairteoirí a bheith aige.

Mar sin féin, chuaigh a chrógacht umhal, a thuill an oiread sin geana dó, chuaigh sé chun sochair do Tony Birtill Le linn a laethanta deireanacha in ospís de chuid Learphoill, bhí sólás agus cuideachta a theaghlaigh aige agus grá agus cúram maolaitheach a ghrá geal Grace O'Reilly. Agus iad ina bpáirtithe le fada an lá, phós an bheirt san ospís an tseachtain sular éag sé. 

Dúirt Liam Ó Cuinneagáin, bunaitheoir Coláiste Gaeilge Oideas Gael i nGleann Cholm Cille, go raibh Tony ag croílár a gcuid imeachtaí le tríocha bliain anuas.

"Tá muid go mór faoi bhrón in Oideas Gael agus Tony, cuid lárnach dár bhfoireann le 30 bliain anuas agus cara dílis do Ghleann Cholm Cille ar shlí na fírinne. 

"Tháinig Tony as Learpholl go Oideas Gael i dtosach i 1988. Bhí sé linn achan bhliain ina dhiaidh sin agus é ag comhrá leis na sean bhoic i dtábhairne Teach Bhiodaí. Mhol Tony dúinn cúrsa a chur ar fáil bunaithe ar shaibhreas timpeallachta an cheantair idir an béaloideas, logainmneacha, Sliabh Liag agus Port. Mheall Tony na céadta ar na cúrsaí seo thar na mblianta le cuidiú ó bheirt cairde dílis dó Breandán Delap agus Aindriú Mac Giolla Easbuig. Bhí Tony gníomhach i ngach réimse den chultúr gaelach i Learpholl agus thug sé tacaíocht fuinniúil do feachtaisí in Éirinn, leithéidi bunú TG4 agus cearta na n-imirceánach.

"Ní bheidh an samhradh sa Ghleann choíche mar a gcéanna. Comhbhrón ó chroí lena mhac Liam, máthair Liam Liz, agus a bhean chéile Grace."

Ina dhiaidh, fágann Tony Birtill a bhean chéile Grace agus a mhac Liam agus grúpa mór de dhaoine mhúinteartha.

Beidh Aifreann na sochraide ann Dé Luain 8 Samhain in Eaglais na Sacraiminte Beannaithe, Walton Vale, Learpholl.

Déanann  phobal na Gaeilge i mBéal Feirste agus Grúpa Meán Bhéal Feirste comhbhrón ó chroí  le teaghlach sínte Tony, lena bhaintreach Grace, lena mhac Liam agus le máthair Liam, Liz. Ní dhéanfar dearmad go deo air. 

’S ba charthanach fial thú ariamh is ba sona do lámh,
Agus bheifeá faoi chian mar riartha dá dtiocfadh in do dháil,
Ba deismir do chiall le ’ach aon de d’aicme ar an tsráid,
’S ní mhairfeadh beo bliain i mbuaireamh in d’easpaí mar ’tá.

AND MADE FREE

Below is a poem in Tony's memory by his brother-in-law Steve Taylor. 

LOVED AND LOVED
 
Tony Birtill, 1954-2021

He'll have them speaking Irish by the end of the week
 
Replacing English, with Liverpool as the designated team
Not just for God and Jesus, but all the famous Saints
 
He'll map out walking routes across the clouds,
With stops for explanations beside the ocean
 
Where one time, he saved a sheep. It was in the paper
We teased him, he'd arranged it
 
His laughter woke up multitudes. Meanwhile,
 
The Celtic harp will supplant the dainty lyre
And there'll be a statue to Larkin, reaching out
 
Robert Tressell will be given a seat, wherever he wants
And paid properly, at a union rate, if they need to decorate
 
Guinness will become the official drink of Heaven
 
The proclamation signatories will each be elevated
Even those who don't believe. It makes no difference
 
The country will be united and made free