Is féile Ghaeilge náisiúnta agus idirnáisiúnta í Seachtain na Gaeilge le Energia, atá
ar an gceiliúradh is mó dár dteanga agus dár gcultúr dúchais a bhíonn ar siúl in
Éirinn agus fud fad an domhain gach bliain.
Tugtar deis do gach éinne sult a bhaint as an Ghaeilge tríd a bheith páirteach san
fhéile, idir chainteoirí dúchasacha, fhoghlaimeoirí agus lucht an chúpla focal, trí
fhéilire imeachtaí siamsúla agus spraíúla a chur ar fáil do gach cineál suime agus
gach aoisghrúpa.
Is grúpaí deonacha agus pobail, comhairlí áitiúla, scoileanna, leabharlanna, agus
eagrais cheoil, spóirt, ealaíne agus chultúrtha a eagraíonn imeachtaí ina gceantar
féin do Sheachtain na Gaeilge.
Is dócha gurb é Conradh na Gaeilge ar an eagraíocht deonach is mó sa tír a
eagraíonn imeachtaí do Sheachtain na Gaeilge. Ó céadbhunaigh siad Seachtain na
Gaeilge ag tús an chéid seo caite tá béim curtha ar an Bhailúchán Náisiúnta a
tharlaíonn ar an 17 Márta. Go hiondúil, bailítear airgead do chúis na teanga lasmuigh
d’eaglaisí agus baintear úsáid as ioncam an bhailiucháin chun íoc as scolaireachtaí
Gaeltachta do dhaltaí scoile. Tá an Bailiúchán á thógail san Iúr ó 1897. Is oibrithe
deonacha iad go léir atá páirteach in obair an Chonartha sna bólaí seo agus tá ár
mbuíochas tuillte acu as a saothar agus as a bhfís an Ghaeilge a athphréamh in ithir
Oirialla.
Déanann Craobh an Iúir de Chomhaltas Uladh iarracht i gcónaí a bheith ag pleanáil
go straitéiseach. Baineann áibhéil leis an téarma a leanas ach bíonn a
‘bpríomhtháscaire feidhmíochta’ acu féin gach mí, ag leibhéal a oireann dóibh ar
ndóigh mar ghrúpa beag gan mórán acmhainní. I mbliana tá sprioc acu Mí an Mhárta
a úsáid chun na céadta samplaí (seans na mílte) d’earraí bolscaireachta a
scaipeadh ar fud an Iúir. Fuair siad an ‘merch’ seo ó Fhoras na Gaeilge, ó Ghael
Linn, ó Raidió Rí-Rá, ón Choimisinéir Teanga agus ó ardoifig an Chonartha i mBaile
Átha Cliath. I gciorcail áirithe, bí ag dúil le pinn, pinn luaidhe, buidéil uisce,
suaitheantais, mugaí, T léintí, málaí siopadóireachta, rialóirí 7rl, ar a bhfuil an
Ghaeilge greannta orthu, a fheiscint. Tá tairiscintí agus imeachtaí spéisiúla
beartaithe ag a lán grúpaí eile agus rith sé liom gur trua nach bhfuil eagras
proifisiúnta, nó oifigigh, nó oibrí lánaimseartha ann chun clár imeachtaí a chomhordú
agus nach bhfuil ciste áitiúil ann chun cabhrú leo. Dhéanfadh sé diofar. Pé scéal é,
is é príomhchuspóir Sheachtain na Gaeilge ná ár dteanga a neadú i lár an aonaigh.
Tar éis an tsaoil, is le gach pobal Seachtain na Gaeilge agus is le gach duine an
Ghaeilge – Bain Triail Aisti – Surprise Yourself!
Seachtain na Gaeilge and The Big Irish Giveaway
Families, cultural organisations (GAA, Gaelic League Branches, An Cumann
Scoildrámaíochta), local businesses and the Council are gearing up for Lá Fhéile
Pádraig. Newry folk (a discerning bunch with high expectations) typically rate the
day on their enjoyment of the parade through the town and a dry, sunny afternoon,
with plenty of floats bedecked in forty shades of green, always helps. Whether it be
the spectacle and music of the parade, the donning of jackets green, the sporting of
the shamrock, the Irish Mass, flags, children’s festive make-up and ribbons, badges,
bunting, around-a-pound wigs, the National Language Collection, the seisiúin, the
day-that’s-in-it menus in the town’s cafes and bars – we traditionally have much to
look forward to.
For speakers of Irish, it is a very special day as it was the then influential Conradh na
Gaeilge who successfully campaigned to make Lá Fhéile Pádraig a National Holiday
in the early twentieth century. The current vibrant and varied Seachtain na Gaeilge
le Energia programme, rolled out across the country and facilitated in the main by
voluntary groups, has injected a fresh Irish language focus on the whole first half of
March. Irish classes are flourishing at different venues in the wider Newry area and
no doubt Fáinní and certificates for language attainment will be issued. It is also a
good time to think of learning or returning to Irish. To that end, Newry Branch Gaelic
League will be providing free copies of their popular “Faigh Fáinne-Caith Fáinne”
resource (now in its third edition) and their new “Déanfaidh Sin an Gnó” pack to
anyone who calls to the Upper Chapel Street Gaeláras. They will be issuing stacks
of Irish language ‘merch’ (donated by diverse sponsors) and these are expected to
be snapped up early. Those interested in second-hand Irish books are welcome to
browse through a wide selection of texts on 7 th March (Gaerláras) and all funds
raised will go to United Nations relief of Gaza (UNRWA). An exhibition of materials
relating to Protestants and The Irish Language will be held on Monday 11 th March
(Gaeláras) and this will showcase one the rarest books ever published in Irish. An
intensive course for those studying at a more advanced level of Irish (perhaps, but
not exclusively, candidates for public exams or certificates/diplomas or Meánrang
Upper/Ardrang students) will take place on Friday 15 th March (10.00am>1.00pm,
Gaeláras). This will involve some exciting challenge in a relaxed, supportive setting
and those interested can contact gaelarasmhicardghail@gmail.com
Meanwhile, our cherished local Bunscoileanna and Primary schools, and the
dynamic Irish Departments in our Secondary schools will be rising to the occasion,
inspiring children to speak and sing and pray and think in Irish, to book Gaeltacht
courses, and to choose Irish for GCSE and A Level. It is increasingly apparent to
those involved in the revival of Irish that on many fronts the future looks bright –
adults are sticking at it and chipping away at their learning targets; high quality
output is broadcast and published on various media channels every day; jobs and
training opportunities abound in the Irish language sector for graduates; and, in the
context of Ulster, Irish is slowly but surely being re-experienced, or newly discovered,
by citizens from diverse backgrounds.
Seachtain na Gaeilge an’ the bag Airish Gie Awa’
Femmelies, cultural organisations, (GAA, Gaelic League Brenches, An Cumann
Scoildrámaíochta), locail businesses an’ the Cooncil ir gearin’ ap fer Lá Fhéile
Padraig. Newry fowk, (boadies wi’ guid taste an’ heigh stannarts), ir apt tae rate the
day oan hoo mich they enjoy the parade through the toon. A bricht sunny efternuin
wi’ clatters o’ fowk trigged oot in the fowerty shades o’ green ir allus a baag help.
Shud hit bae the sichts an’ music o’ the parade, the waerin’ o’ green jeckets an’
shamrock, the Airish Mass, flegs, weans wearin’ mak’ ap an’ badges, buntin’, “Aroun’
a Pun” wigs, the National Leid Collection, the seisiúin, the day at’s in it, menus in the
toon’s cafes an’ bars – traditionally we hae mich tae leuk forrit tae.
Hit’s a gyely special day fer thaim at speak Airish oan accoont o’ hit bein’ Conradh
na Gaeilge wha rin the campaign tae mak’ La Fhéile Pádraig a national holiday in the
early yeirs o’ the las’ century. The lively an’ varied Seachtain na Gaeilge le Energia
programme roulled oot acroass the kintra an’ maistly pit oan bae voluntary curns,
haes pit a new minted airtin oan the furst hauf o’ the montht o’ Mairch. Airish clesses
ir thrivin aa differ venues in an’ aboot Newry an, nae doot, Fáinní an’ certificates fer
leid lairnin wul bae gien oot. Hit’s a guid tim’ tae think aboot lairnin ir gaein beck tae
Airish. Tae thon enn Newry Brench Gaelic League wul gie free coapies o’ thair
kenspeckle “Faigh Fáinne – Caith Fáinne” resource at’s noo in hit’s thurd edition
alang wi’ thair new minted “Déanfaidh Sin an Gnó” peck tae onieboadie aa the
Gaeláras oan Apper Chapel Street. They wul gie oot reeves o’ Airish “merch”, (gat
fae differ sponsors). Hit’s likesey at thon wul bae snapped ap early oan. Thaim
intherested in secon’ han’ beuks ir welcum tae leuk aa a baag selection o’ texts in
the Gaeláras oan Mairch 9 th an’ aa o’ the catter ris wul gae tae United Nations Relief
o’ Gaza (UNRWA). An exhibition aboot Protestants an’ the Airish leid wul bae oan
shew oan Monday 11 th Mairch (Gaeláras) an’ wul shewcaase yin o’ the rarest Airish
leid beuks iver brocht oot. An intensive coorse fer fowk studyin’ Airish aa a mair
advanced level laike thaim taakin public exams ir certificates/diplomas ir Meánrang
Upper/Ardrang students wul bae hel’ oan Friday 15 th Mairch (10.00am – 1.00pm
Gaeláras). Thaire wul bae sim excitin’ challenges in a bieldin settin’ an’ thaim
interested can get oantae gaelarasmhicardghail@gmail.com
Forebye the daeins abeen oor locail Bunscoileanna an’ Primary schuils an’ the lively
ective Airish depairtments in oor Secondary schuils wul ris’ tae the occasion bae
inspirin’ weans tae yairn, sing, pray an’ think in Airish, tae beuk coorses in the
Gaeltacht an’ tae chuse Airish fer GCSE an A Level. Mair an’ mair hit’s baecummin
clear tae thaim ettlin tae revive Airish at in monie wies tims tae cum leuk bricht –
adults ir stickin’ wi’ hit an’ chippin’ awa’ aa thair lairnin targets; heigh quality ootpit
baes braidcast an’ pit oot oan differ media channels ivry day.; thaire ir joabs an’
trainin’ chansts in the Airish leid sector fer graduates; an’, in the caase o’ Ulster,
Airish baes experienced agin ir bein’ new foun’ bae citizens fe differ beckgruns.
