Exciting programme of events planned to mark Irish Language Week
28 February 2025
An exciting programme of events have been planned to mark Irish Language Week across the City and District.
Seachtain na Gaeilge runs from 1-17th March and a diverse programme of events have been planned by Derry City and Strabane District Council to provide opportunities for council staff and members of the public to explore, learn and ultimately use Irish.
Encouraging people to get involved, Erin Hamilton, from Derry City and Strabane District Council's Languages Team, said: "We are very excited to reveal our plans for this year's Seachtain na Gaeilge’. We are delighted to have presenter and writer, Ola Majekodunmi and journalist and writer, Michelle Nic Pháidín taking part in events this week. They will engage with people of all ages across the district, immersing themselves in the Irish Language and exploring how Irish impacts on the words and phrases we use every day.
"Promoting and teaching Irish is something which our Languages Team work hard to do all year, and this week gives us a chance to celebrate members of staff who are attaining their Irish Language qualifications at all levels. It's the chance to say 'well done' to everyone who has put in the effort to learn and help promote Irish in our district. We also have taster sessions available for staff to help them get a real feel for Irish and find out if it's something they would like to pursue further."
The week will be kickstarted with a video released to show A Day in the Life of an Irish Language Officer. The video will follow the Council's Irish Language Officer as she carries out her role providing Irish Language services to the local community and promoting the language right across the district. Available on Facebook and Twitter from Monday 3rd March at 10am, this video will give you a behind the scenes look at how the Irish Language is promoted on a daily basis by Council. It will also allow you to think about ways you can get involved with some of the initiatives and outreach programmes available in your area.
On Wednesday 5th March, Council employees will be given the opportunity to attain their Cúpla Focal, Silver Fáinne or Gold Fáinne. This milestone will mark the ongoing commitment by these members of staff to learning and improving their Irish Language proficiency.
The attention turns to some of the youngest learners of the language on Thursday, 6th March when World Book Day is given a distinctly Irish feel. Ola Majekodunmi, presenter, writer, producer and Irish Language Project Co-Ordinator with Fighting Words, will meet with students from Irish medium schools across the district in the Guildhall. Ola will present a creative writing workshop to students that will discuss various themes including the Irish language, identity and Irish medium education. Every school that takes part in the event will also receive a hamper of books to take back to their schools.
On Tuesday, 11th March the Alley Theatre in Strabane is the setting for a special evening of readings and discussion with acclaimed journalist and writer, Michelle Nic Pháidín. Michelle will present a selection of readings in Irish from her collection of short stories Súile Éisc agus Scéalta Eile. The audience will have the opportunity to discuss some of the themes explored in the stories with the author. This event is suitable for those who are fluent in the Irish language. Booking is essential. Please book your place by contacting: [email protected] by Thursday 6th March.
Concluding the celebrations will be a taster course provided for council staff on Wednesday, 12th and Thursday 13th March in both the Derry and Strabane council offices. Those attending will get a short introduction to the Irish language and to learn and practice some Irish words and phrases with the Council's Languages Team.
The Irish Language Week 2025 programme is available at: www.derrystrabane.com/gaeilge. Further information about any of the events is available by emailing [email protected].
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Clár spreagúil imeachtaí beartaithe chun ceiliúradh a dhéanamh ar Sheachtain na Gaeilge
Tá clár spreagúil imeachtaí beartaithe le ceiliúradh a dhéanamh ar Sheachtain na Gaeilge fud fad na Cathrach agus an Cheantair.
Bíonn Seachtain na Gaeilge ar siúl ón 1-17ú Márta agus tá clár ilghnéitheach imeachtaí beartaithe ag Comhairle Chathair Dhoire agus Cheantar an tSratha Báin chun deiseanna a chur ar fáil d’fhoireann na Comhairle agus don phobal araon an Ghaeilge a fhiosrú, a fhoghlaim agus a úsáid.
Agus í ag spreagadh daoine le bheith páirteach, dúirt Erin Hamilton, ó Fhoireann Teangacha Chomhairle Chathair Dhoire agus Cheantar an tSratha Báin: “Tá lúcháir orainn ár bpleananna do Sheachtain na Gaeilge 2025 a nochtadh. Tá an-áthas orainn go mbeidh an láithreoir agus an scríbhneoir, Ola Majekodunmi agus an t-iriseoir agus scríbhneoir, Michelle Nic Pháidín ag glacadh páirte in imeachtaí na seachtaine seo. Beidh siad ag plé le daoine ar gach aois fud fad an cheantair agus ag tabhairt deiseanna don phobal, idir óg agus aosta, sult a bhaint as imeachtaí lánGhaeilge.
Oibríonn ár bhFoireann Teangacha go dian i rith na bliana leis an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn agus a theagasc agus tugann an tseachtain seo deis dúinn ceiliúradh a dhéanamh ar na baill foirne sin atá ag baint amach a gcáilíochtaí Gaeilge ag gach leibhéal. Deis atá ann dúinn ‘maith thú’ a rá le gach duine a rinne iarracht an Ghaeilge a fhoghlaim agus a chur chun cinn inár gceantar. Tá Blaschúrsaí ar fáil againn chomh maith don fhoireann le cuidiú leo fíor-bhraistint a fháil ar an Ghaeilge agus le fáil amach an rud í a bhfuil siad ag iarraidh tabhairt faoi amach anseo.”
Cuirfear tús leis an tseachtain le físeán a thaispeánfaidh Lá i Saol an Oifigigh Ghaeilge. Leanfaidh an físeán Oifigeach Gaeilge na Comhairle agus í i mbun a róil ag soláthar seirbhísí Gaeilge don phobal áitiúil agus ag cur na teanga chun cinn fud fad an cheantair. Beidh an físeán ar fáil ar Facebook agus Twitter ón Luan 3 Márta ar 10 am. Tabharfaidh an físeán seo léargas ar an dóigh a gcuirtear an Ghaeilge chun cinn ar bhonn laethúil ag an Chomhairle. Tabharfaidh sé deis don lucht féachána freisin smaoineamh ar bhealaí inar féidir leo a bheith páirteach i roinnt de na tionscadail agus na cláir for-rochtana atá ar fáil sa cheantar.
Ar an Chéadaoin 5 Márta, tabharfar deis d’fhostaithe na Comhairle gradam Cúpla Focal, Fáinne Airgid nó Fáinne Óir a bhaint amach. Sprioc tábhachtach atá ann d’fhoghlaimeoirí a thaispeánann tiomantas leanúnach na mball foirne seo chun a gcuid scileanna Gaeilge a fhoghlaim agus a fheabhsú.
Beidh cuid de na foghlaimeoirí teanga is óige i lár an aonaigh ar an Déardaoin 6ú Márta nuair a dhéanfar ceiliúradh ar Lá Domhanda na Leabhar as Gaeilge. Buailfidh Ola Majekodunmi, láithreoir, scríbhneoir, léiritheoir agus Comhordaitheoir Tionscadal Gaeilge de chuid Fighting Words, le daltaí ó Ghaelscoileanna ar fud an cheantair i Halla na Cathrach. Cuirfidh Ola ceardlann sa scríbhneoireacht chruthaitheach i láthair do dhaltaí a phléifidh le téamaí éagsúla lena n-áirítear an Ghaeilge, an fhéiniúlacht agus an Ghaeloideachas. Gheobhaidh gach scoil a ghlacann páirt san imeacht beart leabhar le tabhairt ar ais chun na scoile leo chomh maith.
Ar an Mháirt 11ú Márta beidh Amharclann na Caolsráide ar an Srath Bán mar láthair d’oíche speisialta de léamha agus de phlé leis an iriseoir agus scríbhneoir clúiteach, Michelle Nic Pháidín. Cuirfidh Michelle rogha léamha as Gaeilge óna cnuasach gearrscéalta Súile Éisc agus Scéalta Eile i láthair. Beidh deis ag an lucht féachana cuid de na téamaí a luaitear sna scéalta a phlé leis an údar. Tá an ócáid seo fóirsteanach dóibh siúd atá líofa sa Ghaeilge. Ní mór duit d’áit a chur in áirithe don imeacht seo. Cuir d’áit in áirithe trí ríomhphost a chur chuig: [email protected] faoin Déardaoin 6ú Márta.
Le deireadh a chur leis an cheiliúradh, beidh Blaschúrsaí ar fáil d’fhoireann na Comhairle Dé Céadaoin 12 agus Déardaoin 13 Márta in oifigí Chomhairle Chathair Dhoire agus Cheantar agus an tSratha Báin. Gheobhaidh foireann na Comhairle blaiseadh a fháil ar an Ghaeilge agus foghlaimeoidh siad cúpla focal agus frásaí Gaeilge faoi stiúir Fhoireann Teangacha na Comhairle
Tá tuilleadh eolais faoi na himeachtaí ar fad ar fáil ó: [email protected] nó trí theagmháil a dhéanamh leis an Oifigeach Gaeilge ar an Líne Ghaeilge T: 028 71 376 579
Clár iomlán Sheachtain na Gaeilge ar fáil ag: www.derrystrabane.com/gaeilge