Celebrate Seachtain na Gaeilge in Fingal

Fingal County Council is getting ready to celebrate our language and culture during Seachtain na Gaeilge 2024.  This international Irish Language festival runs from 1-17 March with its motto encouraging everyone use whatever Irish they have – Bain Triail Aisti. 

Council events are taking place in County Hall Swords, Local Libraries, Ardgillan Demesne and the Seamus Ennis Centre, with many other events being organised by Irish language groups throughout the County.

Speaking about the festival Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. Adrian Henchy commented: “Seachtain Na Gaeilge is an opportunity for everyone, even those of you who might be new to the language, to embrace it and try the Cúpla Focal. I was delighted to see the enthusiasm at the launch of the festival in Blanchardstown at the weekend and I would encourage everyone to attend some of the events.”

On Wednesday 13th March at the Atrium County Hall Swords, with the support of the Seamus Ennis Arts Centre, there will be a Seachtain na Gaeilge celebration with Ceol, Craic and Gaeilge from 7pm – 9pm. The entertainment will be provided by three hugely accomplished Fingal resident musicians, Ellie Níc Fhionnghaile, Dónal Kearney agus Fergus Cahilane. Ellie Níc Fhionnghaile is a traditional fiddle player and singer from Gleann Cholm Cille, a Gaeltacht in Southwest Donegal.  Dónal Kearney is a singer from County Down who has made Fingal his home and is co-founder of the Irish Institute of Music & Song in Balbriggan and of Skerries Folk Club.  Fergus Cahillane who performs under the moniker FARÓ is the host of the TSEAC Singing Sessions.  This annual event, which welcomes Irish language enthusiasts from the county to join Fingal staff, is always very popular and audience participation is encouraged so if you would like to join in with a song on the night please do.

Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly, said: “Our language and culture is very important and it is wonderful to celebrate and support this with the many events taking place during Seachtain na Gaeilge again this year. The Council has recently launched a Gaeltacht Scholarship scheme for secondary school students and the successful applicants will be announced during the festival. I would also like to compliment all the fantastic community groups in Fingal who are working to promote the language not just during Seachtain na Gaeilge but throughout the year.”

On Thursday March 7th Head Gardener Dominica McKevitt and Irish Officer Bernie Kelly will lead a bilingual walk in Ardgillan Demesne, Balbriggan. Meet in front of the Castle (facing the sea) at 11am.

The Irish language film An Tine Bheo (The Living Flame)  will be shown in the Seamus Ennis Art Centre, Naul on Thursday 14 March.   The documentary was released on the Golden Jubilee of the Rising in 1966 and features a score composed by Seán Ó Riada. See  https://www.tseac.ie/an-tine-bheo.  There will be a Pop Up Gaeltacht in the Centre on the same night starting at 6pm, everyone welcome.

The events in local libraries include music by Antaine Ó Faracháin and Nollaig Mac Carthaigh in Balbriggan on 6 March from 6.30pm -7.30pm, and in Baldoyle on the 13th at 6.30pm – 7.30pm. There will also be a Bodhran Beats family workshop with Niall Preston, Ar Ais Arís 3D Film in Irish which can be viewed on 3D headsets, Folklore Stories with Róisin Murphy, Family Storytime with Seosamh O Maolalaí, a bilingual poetry evening and much more See: Library Brochure

Bernie Kelly Irish Language Officer said: “I would encourage everyone to try a few words of Irish during Seachtain na Gaeilge and attend some of these events if you can. Irish is a beautiful and ancient language, and it lives by being spoken – Beatha Teanag í a Labhairt!”