Conradh na Gaeilge is hosting events all over the country for learners and fluent speakers alike this Friday night
Following DuoLingo’s heartening report that over one million people are learning Irish thanks to their app, there has never been a better time for Irish speakers to immerse themselves in the widest choice of Irish-language events ever planned for Culture Night this Friday, 18 September 2015, running from 5.30 – 11.00pm in Conradh na Gaeilge centres north and south, including Uimhir 6, Harcourt Street, Dublin; Áras na nGael, 45 Dominic Street, Galway; Gaeláras Mhic Ardghail, 6B Upper Chapel Street, Newry, Co. Down; Halla Íde, 18 Thomas Street, Limerick; Dún Mhuire, 50 Pearse Street, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary; and more.
Dublin’s diverse programme of events will kick off with a taster of Conradh na Gaeilge’s renowned Irish classes at 6.00pm and again at 7.30pm to give language learners of all levels a chance to try out an enjoyable course before the official start of the autumn term in Uimhir 6, and there will be bilingual guided tours of the historical house every hour or so from 6.00 – 9.00pm.
Comedy sketches taking an entertaining tongue-in-cheek look at the Irish-language world will take to the stage in Club Chonradh na Gaeilge in the basement of 6 Harcourt Street in a performance of Smidiríní at 7.00pm, while there will be plenty of debate on the influence of Conradh na Gaeilge on Irish-language literature with a talk entitled Tionchar Chonradh na Gaeilge ar Litríocht na Gaeilge in An Siopa Leabhar at 7.00pm, aimed at those with an interest in writings as Gaeilge. There will be a particular emphasis on the works produced by Clódhanna Teo., Conradh na Gaeilge’s publishing company, and Pádraig Ó Snodaigh and Aindrias Ó Cathasaigh will lead the discussion.
In addition to innovative dramatic sketches and historical insights, those with a little more energy left in their limbs will enjoy a sean-nós dance workshop at 8.30pm, and the music and merriment will continue in Club Chonradh na Gaeilge for the remainder of Culture Night from 9.30pm onwards. Sinéad Ní Dhomhnaill, Seachtain na Gaeilge & Raising Awareness Executive with Conradh na Gaeilge, is coordinating the Irish-language events in Uimhir 6, and she says:
“Culture Night is celebrating 10 years across Ireland this year, and Conradh na Gaeilge is delighted to be showcasing the talent and diversity of the Irish-language world in our programme of events for 6 Harcourt Street, from a bit of a belly-laughing comedy to historic intrigues and stories about Michael Collins escaping from the building, and the founding of University College Dublin (UCD) here when the Cardinal John Henry Newman lived in Uimhir 6. We are all about having lots of fun with everyone and anyone looking to immerse themselves in Irish in the capital this Culture Night!”
In the west, there will be traditional music, sean-nós dancing, short films in Irish, visual art, and plenty of poetry in Club Áras na nGael at 45 Dominic Street in Galway City from 6.30 – 9.30pm, and all the family are welcome to call in to enjoy this social evening of Irish language and culture with fellow Galwegians. In Mayo, a bilingual guided tour led by Colmán Ó Raghallaigh from Conradh na Gaeilge Maigh Eo and other historians will leave Claremorris Library to tour the town at 6.00pm on Culture Night 2015. The tour will finish at 8.00pm back at the old church that houses the library itself, only for a night of music and poetry to kick off with local harpist Gráinne Hambly and other music groups from the area. There will also be readings from the works of important Irish poets by John Farragher, Pádraig Ó Catháin, Colmán Ó Raghallaigh, and other members of Conradh na Gaeilge, Maigh Eo.
To the north, Craobh an Iúir of Conradh na Gaeilge will present an exhibition entitled Céimeanna in Gaeláras Mhic Ardghail in Newry, Co. Down, as well as a solo performance by Orlaith Hollywood, the Under 14 World Dancing Champion. Céimeanna is an exhibit on the history of Irish dances in the Newry locality and with old dresses, medals, certificates, news clippings, pictures, records, video tapes, and material pertaining to Scottish dances on display, the event is sure to be a highlight of Culture Night 2015. Moreover, Noeleen Ní Cholla will perform in Monaghan on Culture Night, having won first place at the traditional singing competition at the 2012 Pan-Celtic Festival. The singer from the Donegal Gaeltacht of Gaoth Dobhair will share her love of traditional songs in both Irish and Scots Gaelic with everyone at Missy As, Park Street, Monaghan Town at 8.00pm on Friday, 18 September 2015, as part of the celebrations organised by Muineachán Le Gaeilge, the local branch of Conradh na Gaeilge.
In the south, Conradh na Gaeilge Guaire will celebrate Culture Night at 28 - 34 Selskar Street, Wexford, with sean-nós singing and dancing, traditional music, and a poetry reading, while Craobh Luimnigh of Conradh na Gaeilge will host an informal night of Gaelic culture from 7.00 – 10.00pm with music, songs, dancing and a cup of tea or two for all in An Chistin downstairs in Halla Íde, 18 Thomas Street, Limerick. Dún Mhuire at 50 Pearse Street in Nenagh will start the night with a musical reception at 7.00pm, followed by the official launch of the Dúchas: Éigse do Thiobraid Árann festival for Tipperary with Dr Máire Ní Neachtain from Mary Immaculate College in Limerick. Dr Aisling Ní Dhonnchadha from the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, will then give a lecture on the writings of Pádraig Ó Conaire entitled Gnéithe cheannródaíocht Phádraig Uí Chonaire i dtréimhse na hAthbheochana at 8.00pm in Dún Mhuire, and all are welcome.
This is the first year that there has been a concerted effort to include more Irish-language events in the Culture Night celebrations nationwide; Oireachtas na Gaeilge established a working group at the beginning of the year to help artistic, cultural, and entertainment groups to provide organising events for the general public in Irish, and there are almost 80 Irish-language events registered on www.culturenight.ie this year.
MORE INFORMATION:
Sinéad Ní Dhomhnaill
Seachtain na Gaeilge & Raising Awareness Executive, Conradh na Gaeilge
00 353 86 1955515 |
Baba Ní Fhlatharta
Development Officer, Conradh na Gaeilge
00 353 91 567824 |
NOTE FOR THE EDITOR:
Oíche Chultúir: Programme of Irish-Language Events at Uimhir 6 Harcourt Street, Dublin 2
17.00 – 18.00 Welcome
18.00 – 18.30 A Taste of Irish – classes at various levels
18.30 – 19.00 Bilingual Guided Tour of the Historical House
19.00 – 19.30 Smidiríní, comedy sketches about the Irish-language world @ Club Chonradh na Gaeilge
19.00 – 20.00 Lecture: Tionchar Chonradh na Gaeilge ar Litríocht na Gaeilge @ An Siopa Leabhar
19.30 – 20.00 Bilingual Guided Tour of the Historical House & A Taste of Irish – classes at various levels
20.00 – 20.30 Smidiríní, comedy sketches about the Irish-language world @ Club Chonradh na Gaeilge
20.30 – 21.30 Sean-Nós Dancing Workshop
21.00 – 21.30 Bilingual Guided Tour of the Historical House
21.30 – 23.00 Music & Merriment @ Club Chonradh na Gaeilge
