Forty pupils from Gaelscoil Cois Feabhail in Moville got to meet Taoiseach Leo Varadkar today and sing for him as they helped launch a year-long celebration of the Irish Language – Bliain Na Gaeilge 2018.
The children and their teachers were invited to the Department of the Taoiseach by local TD and Minister for Gaeilge Joe McHugh.
The pupils sang a number of songs for An Taoiseach beside the Christmas tree.
Video via @JoeMcHughTD
Gaelscoil Cois Feabhail with Minister Joe McHugh
Minister McHugh said: “I visited the Gaelscoil earlier this year and listened to their incredible choir. They also gave me a CD of their songs which I listen to quite a bit.
“I was delighted the children from Moville were with us today on what is a special day for the Irish language.”
As one of his final official duties of the year, An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, launched Bliain na Gaeilge 2018 alongside Minister McHugh.
An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar
An Taoiseach explained that 2018 would constitute a special year to celebrate our national language, building on Bliain na Gaeilge 2013, which was organised as part of the tourism initiative, The Gathering 2013, and building on the success of Ireland 2016: Centenary Programme last year.
An Taoiseach said that he has a great fondness for the Irish language and the Gaeltacht as priceless elements of our heritage and our national identity.
Therefore, he was delighted at this marvellous opportunity to place our native language centre stage during 2018.
He stressed that everyone will have an important role to play in order to ensure the success of Bliain na Gaeilge 2018.
He said that he believed that almost everyone in the country had some Irish and that the opportunity and encouragement should be provided to make people comfortable and confident to use the language. “That opportunity and encouragement will be provided during Bliain na Gaeilge 2018”, he said, “and I hope everyone will participate in Bliain na Gaeilge –fluent speakers, people with very little Irish, people in Ireland and people overseas.”
Minister Joe McHugh
Minister McHugh also spoke at the event. He said that, as a new learner of the Irish language, he was delighted to lend full support to a special year for the Irish language in 2018. He was also delighted that the Government had fully supported a cross-Government approach for Bliain naGaeilge 2018 and that President Michael D. Higgins had agreed to be patron for this worthwhile initiative.
“I am very taken with the opportunity we will have in 2018 to revitalise love for the language among the Irish people becausethe language is an integral part of our identity as Irish people”, Minister of State McHugh said.
He acknowledged in particular the working group, comprising Foras na Gaeilge, Conradh na Gaeilge, Údarás na Gaeltachta, RTÉ, TG4, officials from his own Department and many other groups that have done tremendous work to bring the vision of Bliain na Gaeilge 2018 to fruition.
Wishing Bliain na Gaeilge 2018 every success, he said that he believes that the events planned for this special year will give people the confidence and encouragement to speak, learn or relearn the Irish language.
