Seachtain na Gaeilge got off to a momentous start across Donegal, when the annual festival was launched in The Grianán Theatre, Letterkenny on Wednesday, 28th February.
The Seachtain na Gaeilge international festival takes place from 1 – 17 March 2018 and a wide range of events is planned for Donegal during the festival. Seachtain na Gaeilge was launched by Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr Gerry McMonagle. In attendance too was Cllr Micheál Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig, Cathaoirleach of the Council’s Coiste na Gaeilge.
The selection of traditional music from Crann Óg got the proceedings off to a flying start. A group of students from Gaelscoil Adhmhnáin surprised the audience when they broke into song during the formalities and provided some very enjoyable entertainment. Both they and An Crann Óg brought the proceedings to a close.
Speaking during the launch the Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr Gerry McMonagle ‘There will be approx 100 events organised across County Donegal as part of Seachtain na Gaeilge between the 1st and 17th March, and I am delighted that the County Council and the Library Services and many community groups are taking part in the festival again this year’.
Mr Seamus Neely, Chief Executive of Donegal County Council, spoke about the importance of the Irish language and on the duty of the Council, as a Local Authority, to promote and encourage the use of Irish on a county-wide basis.
Mr Neely also spoke about the importance of providing Irish classes for both elected members and staff members of the Council. At present, there are in excess of 50 attending such classes which are being provided by the Council. Referring to Rannóg na Gaeilge, he advised that the Council has provided further resources to the Irish Language Section of the Council both in terms of human resources and other practical resources.
Mr Neely praised the support of native gaelic football player – Michael Carroll who has agreed to act as the Council’s Seachtain na Gaeilge Ambassador, which is particularly important this year, being nominated as ‘Bliain na Gaeilge’.
Cllr Mícheál Colm Mac Giolla Easbuig, newly elected Cathaoirleach on Donegal County Council’s Irish Language Committee, spoke at the launch. “ If we want the Irish language to survive, we have to speak it. And we have to give every support to our children in using the language, and to older people, and to the new Irish who have come to live in our country. But if we are really serious about the language there is a real need for a complete cultural transformation in this country and a complete change of mindset too”.
Donna Cavanagh, from the Library Service spoke to those present as ‘a learner of the Irish language’. She spoke about the Irish classes that she is attending at present. She referred to the challenges she encountered regarding the Irish language in her youth. But now, she is learning about the ‘spirit of the Irish language’, which is the most important part of all, she says. She personally thanked Fiona Sweeney all the staff across the county who are organising events in their local libraries as part of Seachtain na Gaeilge.
Michael Carroll, county footballer from the Gaeltacht, has kindly agreed to be Ambassador for Seachtain na Gaeilge in Donegal: “Tá lúcháir ó chroí orm a bheith mar ambasadóir Sheachtain na Gaeilge 2018 do Chomhairle Contae Dhún na nGall. Tá an Ghaeilge agam ón lá ar rugadh mé. Is í an Ghaeilge an teanga teaghlaigh atá againn agus tá sí fite fuaite i ngach gné de mo shaol – i mo bhaile dúchais Gaeltachta, i mo chuid staidéir in Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Leitir Ceanainn, ina bhfuil an Ghaeilge mar ábhar lárnach, agus ar an pháirc imeartha – coinním an Ghaeilge i gcónaí i lár báire. Bígí liom agus seasaimis an fód ar son Gaeilge, Gaeltacht agus Condae”.
Seachtain na Gaeilge is an international Irish-language festival promoting the use of Irish language and culture, both at home and abroad, running over a fortnight in March every year. The festival has built up incredible momentum in recent years, becoming the largest celebration of our native language and culture held every year. The festival gives absolutely everyone a chance to enjoy the Irish language, be they native Irish speakers, language learners or those with only a few words.
Róise Ní Laifeartaigh, Irish Language Community Officer with the Irish Language Section of the Council stated that “…Donegal County Council is delighted to be launching the programme of events for Seachtain na Gaeilge; with a wide range of events taking place during the Seachtain, it is hoped that all the community, young and old, will take part in the festival. Many community groups, Gaeltacht groups, individuals and schools throughout the county are busy planning for their own events to support the festival and the promotion of the language.”
Among the many events being organised for Seachtain na Gaeilge in Donegal, there will be storytelling, historical talks, quizzes, art competitions, coffee mornings, Irish language hikes, conversation groups and much much more.
For more information on events in Donegal, contact Róise or Seán
074 94275 or e-mail: rmcclafferty@donegalcoco.ie, or go to www.snag.ie or to www.donegalcoco.ie to look for events near you.
SEOLTAR SEACHTAIN NA GAEILGE 2018 i gCONTAE DHÚN NA NGALL
Cuireadh tús spleodrach le Seachtain na Gaeilge ar fud Dhún na nGall, nuair a seoladh imeachtaí na féile bliantúla in Amharclann an Ghrianáin, Leitir Ceanainn, Dé Céadaoin, 28 Feabhra ag 11.00 am.
Beidh an fhéile idirnáisiúnta, Seachtain na Gaeilge, ar siúl ar 1 – 17 Márta 2018 agus tá clár fairsing imeachtaí Gaeilge beartaithe do Chontae Dhún na nGall le linn na féile.
Sheol Cathaoirleach na Comhairle Contae, An Clr Gerry McMonagle Seachtain na Gaeilge go hoifigiúil. Bhí Michael Carroll, Ambasadóir Sheachtain na Gaeilge don Chomhairle Contae i láthair le tacú leis an seoladh oifigiúil mar a bhí Clr Micheál Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig, Cathaoirleach Choiste Gaeilge na Comhairle Contae.
Chuir An Crann Óg tús bríomhar leis an ócáid agus arís i ndiaidh na n-óráidí le ceol breá sultmhar. Tháinig grúpa daltaí scoile, ó Ghaelscoil Adhmhnáin, Leitir Ceanainn aniar aduaidh ar an lucht féachana nuair a bhris siad isteach ar imeachtaí na maidine le siamsaíocht den chéad scoth. Chuir siad féin agus An Crann Óg deireadh spraíúil leis an ócáid.
Agus é ag caint ag an seoladh, seo mar a labhair Cathaoirleach na Comhairle Contae, An Clr Gerry McMonagle “Tá tuairim is céad (100) imeacht á reáchtáil ar fud Chontae Dhún na nGall idir an chéad agus an seachtú lá déag de mhí Mhárta le ceiliúradh a dhéanamh ar Sheachtain na Gaeilge, agus tá mise an-sásta go bhfuil an Chomhairle Contae agus Seirbhísí Leabharlainne na Comhairle agus neart coistí pobail ag glacadh páirte sa tseachtain arís i mbliana.”
Labhair Séamus Mac Conghaola, Príomh-Fheidhmeannach na Comhairle Contae, faoi thábhacht na Gaeilge agus ar an dualgas atá ar an Chomhairle, mar Údaras Áitiúil, an Ghaeilge a spreagadh agus a neartú fud fad na contae. Labhair sé fosta faoi chomh tábhachtach is atá sé deiseanna foghlama a chur ar fáil do na baill tofa agus do na baill foirne. Faoi láthair, tá breis is 50 oifigeach leis an Chomhairle ag freastal ar ranganna Gaeilge atá ar siúl sa Chomhairle. Labhair sé faoi Rannóg na Gaeilge agus an obair atá déanta ag an Chomhairle o thaobh neartú na rannóige maidir le hacmhainní breise daonna agus tacaíochtaí a chur ar fáil. Mhol sé tacaíocht ón pheileadóir óg – Michael Carroll atá sásta feidhmiú ar ár son mar Ambasadóir na Gaeilge, go hairithe sa bhliain seo, bliain na Gaeilge.
Labhair An Clr Mícheál Colm Mac Giolla Easbuig, Cathaoirleach úrthofa ar Choiste Gaeilge na Comhairle Contae ag an ócáid. “Má tá muid ag iarraidh an Ghaeilge a bheith beo caithfidh muid í a labhairt. Agus caithfidh muid oiread a thig linn a dhéanamh chun tacaíocht a thabhairt do pháistí, agus daoine níos sine, agus na hÉireannaigh úra as tíortha eile. Ach má tá muid dáiríre faoin teanga a shábháil tá géarghá le hathrú mór cultúrtha sa tír seo agus athrú mór meoin”.
Labhair Donna Cavanagh as an tSeirbhís Leabharlainne. Labhair sí mar ‘fhoghlaimeoir Gaeilge’ agus ar na ranganna Gaeilge ar a bhfuil sí ag freastal orthu faoi láthair. Labhair sí faoi laethanta a hóige agus ar na dúshláin a bhi aici maidir leis an Ghaeilge. Ach anois, dúirt sí go bhfuil sí ‘ag foghlaim faoi spiorad na Gaeilge’ gné atá iontach tábhachtach, dar léi.
Ghabh sí buíochas le Fiona Sweeney agus leis na baill foirne sna leabharlanna ar fad atá ag reáchtáil imeachtaí le linn Sheachtain na Gaeilge idir 1ú Márta agus 17ú Márta,
Tá Michael Carroll, imreoir contae as an Ghaeltacht roghnaithe mar Ambasadóir Sheachtain na Gaeilge i nDún na nGall. “Tá lúcháir ó chroí orm a bheith mar ambasadóir Sheachtain na Gaeilge 2018 do Chomhairle Contae Dhún na nGall. Tá an Ghaeilge agam ón lá ar rugadh mé. Is í an Ghaeilge an teanga teaghlaigh atá againn agus tá sí fite fuaite i ngach gné de mo shaol – i mo bhaile dúchais Gaeltachta, i mo chuid staidéir in Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Leitir Ceanainn, ina bhfuil an Ghaeilge mar ábhar lárnach, agus ar an pháirc imeartha – coinním an Ghaeilge i gcónaí i lár báire. Bígí liom agus seasaimis an fód ar son Gaeilge, Gaeltacht agus Condae’.
Is féile idirnáisiúnta Ghaeilge í Seachtain na Gaeilge a chuireann úsáid na Gaeilge agus an cultúr Gaelach chun cinn in Éirinn agus thar lear. Tá an fhéile tar éis neart fuinnimh a bhailiú le blianta beaga anuas, agus tá sí anois ar an cheiliúradh is mó dár dteanga agus dár gcultúr dúchais. Tugann an fhéile deis d’achan duine sult a bhaint as an Ghaeilge, idir chainteoirí dúchais, fhoghlaimeoirí agus lucht an chúpla focal araon.
Dúirt Róise Ní Laifeartaigh, Oifigeach Gaeilge Pobail le Rannóg na Gaeilge sa Chomhairle Contae, “… go bhfuil lúcháir ar Chomhairle Contae Dhún na nGall clár imeachtaí áitiúla do Sheachtain na Gaeilge a sheoladh; tá réimse leathan imeachtaí beartaithe agus táthar ag súil go mbeidh an pobal ar fad, idir óg agus aosta, ag glacadh páirte san fhéile. Tá neart grúpaí, daoine aonair agus scoileanna ar fud an chontae iontach gnoitheach ag ullmhú dá gcuid imeachtaí féin chun tacú leis an fhéile agus an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn”
I measc na n-imeachtaí a bheidh ar siúl le linn Sheachtain na Gaeilge i nDún na nGall beidh scéalaíocht, cainteanna stairiúla, tráth na gceisteanna, maidineacha caife, siúlóidí Gaeilge, ciorcail chomhrá agus go leor eile.
Fá choinne tuilleadh eolais faoi na himeachtaí, ní gá ach teagmháil a dhéanamh le Róise nó le Seán ag 074 94275 nó seol ríomhphost chuig: rmcclafferty@donegalcoco.ie nó www.donegalcoco.ie chun cuardach a dhéanamh d’imeachtaí i do cheantarsa.
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