Conradh na Gaeilge is making the organisation's two main buildings in Dublin and Galway available to the Irish-speaking community to use as centres for meetings, conferences, classes and more in an effort to develop the buildings belonging to the Conradh as cultural centres of Irish in the heart of the two cities.
There are already Irish-language courses, conversation circles, conferences, meetings, and social nights with music and dancing organised regularly in both Conradh na Gaeilge buildings in Dublin and Galway, and any other Irish-language organisation or individual persons can rent rooms from the Conradh on a daily, weekly, monthly or even yearly basis to operate from either of the two buildings during the year.
Pádraig Mac Fhearghusa, President of Conradh na Gaeilge says "Conradh na Gaeilge is the democratic forum for the Irish-speaking community and the organisation is committed to working with other Irish-language organisations to promote the language throughout the island. Community support and cooperation is key to our work, and Conradh na Gaeilge is delighted to have this opportunity to invite other organisations and individuals who are working to promote the Irish language also, to utilise the facilities we have in Dublin and Galway to strength the Irish-speaking community in both those cities, and indeed throughout the country."
In addition to the national head-office of Conradh na Gaeilge, many important organisations in the Irish-language sector are already operating from the building on Harcourt Street, including Oireachtas na Gaeilge; Ógras; Seachtain na Gaeilge; Glór na nGael, Leinster; Rith 2010; the Irish-language chart-station, Raidió Rí-Rá; the Irish-language FLAC Centre of the Four Courts' Branch, An tIonad Saor-Chomhairle Dlí; the Irish-language bookshop, An Siopa Leabhar; and the Irish-language club, Club Chonradh na Gaeilge.
Conradh na Gaeilge's Galway development project, Togra Ghael-Fhorbairt na Gaillimhe, operates from Aras na nGael at 45 Dominic Street in Galway as well as Club Áras na nGael and Ógras, Connaught.
Conradh na Gaeilge's historical headquarters at Number 6 Harcourt Street, Dublin 2 were recently renovated and repaired thanks to the generous donations of the branches of the Conradh and the aid of the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs through the Irish-Language Fund, Ciste na Gaeilge, which is part-funded by the National Lottery, and the building is now being further developed as a place of work, a meeting facility and a cultural centre for the Irish-speaking community in the capital.
Áras na nGael is functioning as an Irish-language centre in Galway at present and Conradh na Gaeilge is also looking to find a new location on which to develop a bigger centre, so as to provide more facilities to the language community in the city in the future.
MORE INFORMATION:
Brenda Ní Ghairbhí
Executive, Conradh na Gaeilge
01 4757401 / 086 3649776
Áine Ni Iarnáin
Director of the Galway Project, Conradh na Gaeilge
091 567824 /
EDITOR'S NOTE:
Conradh na Gaeilge is the democratic forum for the Irish-speaking community working to promote the language. There are 200 branches of Conradh na Gaeilge and since its foundation in 1893, members of the Conradh have been actively promoting Irish in every aspect of life in Ireland and especially its use in their own areas. Conraitheoirí are at the forefront of campaigns to secure and strengthen the rights of the Irish language community. It is also possible to register as an individual member of the Conradh. www.cnag.ie
Club Áras na nGael is the social centre of the Irish-language community in Galway city. The bar is open every night of the week from 8.00pm and Irish music and conversation as Gaeilge are free for everyone. There are sean-nós dance classes with Pádraig Ó hOibicín every Monday night, a Breton Night on the first Tuesday and a series of sociable nights underway every second Tuesday of every month, Beginners' Night is held on Wednesdays, Student Night on Thursdays, world-music dance club Club Oa2 every Friday and excellent traditional music sessions on Saturdays. There are many more events organised throughout the month, including music nights and charity events. Information:+353 (0)91 567824 /
Club Chonradh na Gaeilge is the social centre of the Irish-language community in the capital. The bar is open to members of the Club seven nights a week from 8.00pm and there is always an abundance of Irish music and conversation. There is a conversation circle run every Monday night, Tuesday night is Student Night, and there are many other events organised throughout the month, bridge games, Breton-language and dance classes included. www.anclub.ie
