Notable People in the Movement
Here are some notable people who played a role in the foundation of Conradh na Gaeilge or who took part in the organisations campaigns in recent year. Many people have been involed with Conradh na Gaeilge since the organisation was founded in 1893 but they may be more recognised for their other achievements. Read more about them below:
Dubhghlas de híde
Dubhghlas de híde (An Chraoibhín Aoibhinn) was born in Longford House, Castlereagh, co Roscommon in 1860. His native area of Dún Gar was a Breac-Ghaeltacht (mixed Irish and English-speaking area) and he learned Irish from some of the residents there.
Having graduated from Trinity College, he spent a year teaching in Canada before returning to Ireland. On the 25th November 1892 he gave a famous lecture “The Necessity for the De-Anglicisation of Ireland” to the National Literary Society, and one year later he attended the founding meeting of Conradh na Gaeilge. He was elected unanimously as the first President of the organisation on the 4th of August 1893. De hÍde was President of Conradh na Gaeilge from 1893 until 1915. In those years the organisation changed public perception in Ireland on the importance of the Irish Language, our native culture and the history of Ireland.
De hÍde had a central role in every one of the main Irish Language campaigns in that time, particularly for the right to have Irish in the education system and to raise funds in the United States to promote Irish Language work. He was appointed a Professor of Irish Language and Literature in the National University of Ireland in 1938. The writer, folklore collector, professor and language activist Dubhghlas de hÍde passed away on 12 July 1949.
Mícheál Ó Coileáin
Revolutionary leader Michael Collins was born on the 16th of October 1890 in Woodfield, co. Cork. He moved to London when he was 15 years old, and he worked as a clerk in the West Kensington deposit bank. He spent time as a stockbroker and working on the Trading Board. Collins was active in Conradh na Gaeilge and in the Gaelic Athletic Assocation and was a candidate in Conradh na Gaeilge elections in 1915.
When he returned to Ireland in 1916, he registered as a member of the Keating Branch of Conradh na Gaeilge. Collins is most recognised for his perserverence of Irish freedom. He took an oath to the Irish Republican Brotherhood in 1909, and enrolled in the Irish Volunteers in 1914. He took part in the Easter Rising and played a leading role in the foundation of Dáil Éireann.
He worked as Minister for Finance in 6 Harcourt St (where Conradh na Gaeilge's head office is today), and was in charge of the Irish Volunteers Intelligence Service during the War of Independence. He signed the Anglo-Irish Treaty in December 1921 and was in charge of the care-taker Government which was established as a result. He was killed on 22nd August 1922 in an ambush i mBeál na Blá, co. Cork during the Civil War.
Íte Ní Chionnaith
Íte Ní Chionnaith is a native Irish speaker from Inchicore co. Dublin and has been active in Conradh na Gaeilge for more than half a century. She attended her first Ard-Fheis in 1969 and has often been a member of the Executive Committee since. She was elected Deputy President of the Conradh, and was the first woman elected as President of the organisation in 1985.
She was involved in every campaign fought by Conradh na Gaeilge during that period, especially the campaign for Irish Language television (from which TG4 was established). She spent time in Mountjoy Prison because of her stance on Irish Language television, and she refused to pay her TV license from 1976-1996. She was also involved in the Language Rights campaign (from which came the Official Languages Act), and she was very prominent in the campaign founded in the 1980s demanding a Language Bill for the Irish speaking Community in the North.
Íte was a Senior Lecturer with Irish in Dublin Institute of Technology (now TU Dublin) teaching Journalism and Communications students until she retired. She is still active in Conradh na Gaeilge and is often heard and seen in the media.
Lynette Fay
Lynette Fay is a well known broadcaster who has years of experience as a presenter and producer for bother TV and radio. Orginally from co. Tyrone Lynette is often heard on the airwaves as a present with BBC Radio ulster. She is very passionate abour the Irish language and has worked on many Irish Language TV programmes from TG4, RTÉ and BBC NI.
Fay as taken part in many campaigns organised by Conradh na Gaeilge in recent years. In 2014 she was an ambassador for Seachtain in Gaeilge alongside Dublin Footballer Ciarán Kilkenny and TV presenter Máire Treasa Ní Dhubhghaill.
Not only that but she was an ambassador for Bliain na Gaeilge in 2018 which celebrated 125 years since the foundation of Conradh na Gaeilge. 'It gives me a great encouragement to see the demand for and growth of Irish in the North in recent years - whether that's in media, business, education or as part of every day life. I hope Bliain na Gaeilge will help develop this. I am delighted to be a part of it.'
Eimear Considine
Eimear Considine is a well-known rugby player for UL Bohemians, Munster and for Ireland. Orginally from co. Clare, Considine is an Irish and PE teacher and has played many sports to a high level including camogie and gaelic football. She was named on the Irish Rugby Sevens team in 2013 and was first capped on the Irish national 15s team in 2017 and is now a central player in the national team.
Considine is often seen on TV as an analysist for rugby matches. She was part of the first all-female punditry team on TG4 for a men's Pro-14 game between Leinster and Cardiff.
Considine was an ambassador for Seachtain na Gaeilge le Energia in 2020 alongside James Kavanagh and Gráinne McElwain ' I think there's a huge connection between the Irish language and the sports we play in Ireland. Irish can be used while playing sport or while doing anything from day-to-day, we should be proud to speak it'
Dáithí Ó Sé
Daithí Ó Sé was an ambassador for Seachtain na Gaeilge in 2009 which Aoife Ní Thuairisg. Bhí Daithí Ó Sé ina ambasaóir ar Sheachtain na Gaeilge sa bhliain 2009 in éineacht le hAoife Ní Thuairisg. Ó Sé is a well known presenter who was brought up in the Corca Dhuibhne Gaeltacht in co. Kerry. He studied Irish and History in college and worked as a teacher before he started working full-time with TG4 on continuity and the weather in 1999.
Since 2010 Ó Sé has presented coverage of the International Rose of Tralee which takes place in Tralee co. Kerry each year. He is cohost of 'Today' on RTÉ and also presents 'Seal le Daithí' on TG4 in which he interviews prominent members of the Irish speaking community.
