Donegal County Council has proudly announced that Dónall Mac Ruairí, a native of Rann na Feirste, has been nominated and selected as Ambassador for Seachtain na Gaeilge and the Northwest District 2021.
Dónall is a well-known presenter on Raidió na Gaeltachta and a family member of the renowned Clann Mhic Ruairí group.
“He is an Irish speaker of ‘par excellence’ and we are privileged that he has accepted the role of ambassador for Seachtain na Gaeilge 2021 in this part of the country,” said Róise Ní Laifeartaigh, Oifigeach Gaeilge Pobail with Donegal County Council.
Seachtain na Gaeilge in the north-west district will be launched online on Friday, 26 February 2021 at 7pm, on Donegal County Council’s Facebook page and Youtube channel, and will be launched online by the Festival’s Ambassador, Dónall Mac Ruairí. Following the launch, there will be a 30 minute online concert with Caitlín Nic Gabhann and Ciarán Ó Maonaigh. Make sure you drop in to enjoy the launch and the great concert we have planned for you.
Seachtain na Gaeilge 2021 will be celebrated virtually by Donegal County Council, in partnership with Derry City and Strabane District Council together with a number of other community and Irish language committees.
Seán Ó Daimhín, Oifigeach Seirbhísí Gaeilge with Donegal County Council, said: “The wide range of events taking place online will include concerts, conversation groups, classes, International Women’s Day , read and discuss sessions, storytelling, online cookery demonstrations, photography competitions, a public talk on the life and work of Colmcille to celebrate his 1500th birthday, children’s singing competition, family fun, art competitions, yoga sessions for children, poetry readings, language exchange with new communities, and the reading book for the month of March with the Northwest Book Club. And not only that, but more events are coming to the fore all the time”.
Speaking about Seachtain na Gaeilge, the Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr Rena Donaghey said that “the onslaught of COVID-19 took many of us by surprise last year and as a result, we had to bring the Seachtain na Gaeilge events to an abrupt end in order to protect the lives of our citizens from this beastly disease.
“A year on and COVID-19 is still in our midst, but out of the challenges come possibilities and both Councils, together with numerous other community groups, are delighted to announce that Seachtain na Gaeilge will go ahead this year, fully online so that we can celebrate our Irish language and culture in a safe environment away from any threat posed by COVID-19.”
As has been the case for several years now, Cultural Services and the Library Services of the Council will host several events this year. Eileen Burgess, Manager of the Cultural Services Division, said that “we in the Cultural Services Division are delighted to fully support Seachtain na Gaeilge in the northwest district this year. There is a vast array of events on this year’s programme and while they are taking place online or in the host homes, I am certain that everyone, whether they are learners of fluent speakers of Irish, will have the opportunity to come together and take part in the events that will be provided through the medium of Irish, be they social, educational or cultural events.”
Details of the events, which are being compiled by the Council will be available in e-format on the Council’s website – www.donegalcoco.ie/ie/cultur/anghaeilge
Seachtain na Gaeilge le Seoladh ar Líne do Chontae Dhún na nGall agus Cheantar an Iarthuaiscirt ar an Aoine, 26 Feabhra 2021 ar 7pm
Cuirfidh Comhairle Contae Dhún na nGall, i gcomhpháirt le Comhairle Chathair Dhoire agus Cheantar an tSratha Báin agus roinnt coistí pobail agus coistí Gaeilge eile, tús spleodrach ar líne le Seachtain na Gaeilge 2021 do Chontae Dhún na nGall agus do Cheantar an Iarthuaiscirt, ar an Aoine, 26 Feabhra 2021 ar 7pm.
Agus í ag caint faoin fhéile, dúirt Cathaoirleach Chomhairle Contae Dhún na nGall, an Clr. Rena Donaghey: “Tháinig an ruathar a rinne COVID-19 aniar aduaidh ar go leor againn anuraidh agus mar gheall ar sin, b’éigean dúinn deireadh tobann a chur le himeachtaí Sheachtain na Gaeilge in 2020 ar mhaithe le sláinte na ndaoine a chosaint ón ghalar uafásach seo.
“Bliain ar aghaidh agus tá COVID-19 linn go fóill, ach as na dúshláin, tháinig féidireachtaí agus tá lúcháir ar an dá Chomhairle, i gcomhar le neart grúpaí pobail eile, a fhógairt go mbeidh Seachtain na Gaeilge á reáchtáil go hiomlán ar líne i mbliana ionas gur féidir linn ár dteanga agus ár gcultúr a cheiliúradh agus é sin a dhéanamh ar ardán atá go hiomlán slán ó aon ionsaí ó COVID-19.”
Mar an gcéanna le cuid mhaith blianta anuas, beidh go leor imeachtaí á reáchtáil ag Seirbhísí Leabharlainne agus Seirbhísí Cultúrtha na Comhairle Contae chomh maith. Dúirt Eileen Burgess, Bainisteoir Rannán Cultúir na Comhairle Contae: “Tá lúcháir orainne i Rannán Cultúir Chomhairle Contae Dhún na nGall lántacaíocht a thabhairt do Sheachtain na Gaeilge san iarthuaisceart arís i mbliana. Tá réimse mór imeachtaí ar chlár na bliana seo, agus cé go mbeidh siad ar líne nó i dtithe na ndaoine, tá muid cinnte go mbeidh deis ag gach duine, idir fhoghlaimeoirí agus chainteoirí líofa, teacht le chéile agus páirt a ghlacadh i gcuid mhór gníomhaíochtaí sóisialta, oideachasúla agus cultúrtha i nGaeilge”.
Dónall Mac Ruairí
Ambasadóir Sheachtain na Gaeilge 2021
Tá Comhairle Contae Dhún na nGall thar a bheith bródúil go bhfuil Dónall Mac Ruairí, de bhunadh Rann na Feirste, ainmnithe agus roghnaithe mar Ambasadóir do Sheachtain na Gaeilge 2021 do Dhún na nGall agus Cheantar an Iarthuaiscirt.
Agus í ag caint ar ról Dhónaill, dúirt Róise Ní Laifeartaigh, Oifigeach Gaeilge Pobail le Comhairle Contae Dhún na nGall: “Tá clú agus cáil ar Dhónall mar léiritheoir agus láithreoir ar Raidió na Gaeltachta agus mar bhall teaghlaigh de chuid Chlann Mhic Ruairí. Is cainteoir Gaeilge den chéad scoth é agus tá sé de phribhléid againn go bhfuil sé ag feidhmiú dúinn mar ambasadóir do Sheachtain na Gaeilge 2021 sa taobh seo tíre”.
Seolfar Seachtain na Gaeilge san iarthuaisceart ar líne ar an Aoine, 26 Feabhra 2021 ar 7pm, ar leathanach facebook agus cainéal youtube Chomhairle Contae Dhún na nGall, agus is é Ambasadóir na Féile, Dónall Mac Ruairí a dhéanfaidh an seoladh ar líne. I ndiaidh an tseolta, beidh ceolchoirm 30 bomaite ar líne le Caitlín Nic Gabhann agus Ciarán Ó Maonaigh. Déan cinnte go mbuailfidh tú isteach le sult a bhaint as an tseoladh agus as an cheolchoirm iontach atá beartaithe againn daoibh.
Agus é ag caint faoin éagsúlacht imeachtaí atá beartaithe, dúirt Seán Ó Daimhín, Oifigeach Seirbhísí Gaeilge le Comhairle Contae Dhún na nGall: “I measc an réimse leathan imeachtaí a bheas ar siúl ar líne beidh ceolchoirmeacha, ciorcail chomhrá, ranganna, Lá Idirnáisiúnta na mBan, seisiúin léigh agus pléigh, scéalaíocht, taispeántas cócaireachta ar líne, comórtais ghrianghrafadóireachta, caint phoiblí ar shaol agus ar shaothar Cholm Cille le ceiliúradh a dhéanamh ar 1500 bliain ó rugadh é, comórtas amhránaíochta do pháistí, spraoi teaghlaigh, comórtais ealaíne, seisiúin ióga do pháistí, léamh filíochta, malartú teangacha le pobail úra, agus leabhar mhí an Mhárta ag Club Leabhar an Iarthuaiscirt. Agus chan amháin sin, ach tá tuilleadh imeachtaí ag teacht chun tosaigh i rith an ama”.
Beidh sonraí na n-imeachtaí sa chlár leictreonach, atá á chur le chéile ag an Chomhairle, ar shuíomh gréasáin na Comhairle –www.donegalcoco.ie/ie/cultur/anghaeilge
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