Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council awarded the fáinne
13 March 2024
The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Patricia Logue has expressed her delight at being awarded the fáinne Irish language fluency pin. The fáinne is generally worn to symbolise a person’s willingness to speak the Irish language and this year, despite having a hectic schedule as first citizen, the Mayor fulfilled her long-held ambition to achieve the fáinne in time for Irish Language Week 2024.
Speaking after receiving the award today the Mayor said: “I’ve always had a very deep affection for the Irish language and when I embarked on my term as Mayor, I made a commitment that I would work towards achieving the first of the fáinne fluency pins – the Cúpla Focal award – in time for Irish Language Week 2024 which runs from 1st-17th March. I’m so proud to have reached this milestone in my Irish language learning journey and I am hopeful that I can continue to make progress in Irish when I finish my term. I also want to take this opportunity to congratulate those staff members at Derry City and Strabane District Council who have undertaken their fáinne exam during Irish Language Week, and to put on record my appreciation for the support that our Irish Language Officer – Erin Hamilton – has provided to all of us learning Irish within Council”.
Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Irish Language Week programme runs until 14 March 2024 and the full festival programme can be accessed at www.derrystrabane.com/gaeilge
Bronntar fáinne ar Mhéara Chomhairle Chathair Dhoire agus Cheantar an tSratha Báin
Dúirt Méara Chomhairle Chathair Dhoire agus Cheantar an tSratha Báin, an Comhairleoir Patricia Logue, go bhfuil lúcháir an domhain uirthi gradam an fháinne a bhaint amach. Léiríonn an fáinne go bhfuil an duine a chaitheann é toilteanach Gaeilge a labhairt, agus cé go mbíonn dialann an Mhéara mar chéad saoránach ag cur thar maoil, bhain sí amach cuspóir a bhí aici le tamall fada chun fáinne a ghnóthú in am do Sheachtain na Gaeilge 2024.
Labhair an Méara i ndiaidh di an fáinne bheith bronnta uirthi: “Bhí grá mór agam don Ghaeilge i gcónaí agus nuair a thosaigh mé amach ar mo théarma méarachta, shocraigh mé go n-oibreoinn go crua chun mo chéad fháinne a bhaint amach – gradam Cúpla Focal – agus é bheith déanta agam in am do Sheachtain na Gaeilge 2024 a ritheann ón 1ú go dtí an 17 Márta. Tá mé bródúil gur bhain mé an chloch mhíle seo amach, agus tá súil agam go mbeidh sé ar mo chumas leanstan le mo thuras teanga nuair a chríochnaíonn mo théarma. Lena chois sin, ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas a dhéanamh le fostaithe ar fad na Comhairle a rinne scrúdú an fháinne i rith Sheachtain na Gaeilge agus ba mhaith liom buíochas ó chroí a dhéanamh lenár nOifigeach Gaeilge– Erin Hamilton – as an tacaíocht a chuireann sí ar fáil do gach duine againn atá ag foghlaim Gaeilge sa Chomhairle.”
Ritheann clár Sheachtain na Gaeilge Chomhairle Chathair Dhoire agus Cheantar an tSratha Báin go dtí an 14ú Márta agus tá clár iomlán na féile ar fáil ag an nasc seo: www.derrystrabane.com/gaeilge