Seachtain na Gaeilge kicks off in Carlow
This year’s Seachtain na Gaeilge when the focus is on the Irish language features a bumper festival programme of events in Carlow town. The feast of Irish and bilingual events will run over two weeks and welcomes participation by all regardless of one’s command of the language.
The festival opens Tuesday, 4th March with Féile Scoildrámaíochta Cheatharlach, the schools’ Irish drama festival running all day from 10am in the GB Shaw Theatre when over 300 young people from a total of 6 schools will tread the boards to present Irish language versions of popular plays and musicals such as Aladdin, Wicked, and Oz.
The ever-popular Comórtas Ealaíne or Spring Art Competition for primary schools will encourage the use of Irish through art in the classroom and the best efforts will be passed on to Glór Cheatharlach for adjudication. Prizes will be awarded to pupils in first to sixth classes and the winning creations will be published in The Nationalist and on social media.
Carlow’s amateur drama group Aisteoirí an Lóchrainn are rehearsing a new comedy by Cathal Ó Catháin “An Dealg a Tharraingt”. Not to be missed, the play will be staged in Scoil Mhuire gan Smál, Green Lane on Friday, 14 April at 7.30pm and guarantees buckets of laughter.
Comórtas na bhFuinneog, the best dressed window competition, is once again held in association with St. Patrick’s Festival and entry is open to all shops and businesses in Carlow town. Owners are invited to decorate their windows and to use Irish and bilingual phrases and signage.
An abundance of phrases and greetings ‘as Gaeilge’ must feature and students of Gaelcholáiste will be happy to assist with suggestions and translations. To enter simply dress the window with a festive display celebrating all things Irish and cultural.
Other Seachtain na Gaeilge events for schools include the popular table quiz for post primary schools and the spraoicheist for primary schools. A trip to the cinema is sure to prove popular for a special schools’ screening of the Irish language film Froggie in the local IMC Cinema @ Fairgreen.
The film is about two brothers who have performed the same song for twenty years with their puppet, Froggie. When Froggie is kidnapped and held for ransom, the brothers must come up with a plan to get Froggie back. Froggie is set in Galway and the cast includes Carrie Crowley (An Cailín Ciúin), Seán T. Ó Meallaigh (Vikings) and Paidí Ó Lionáird.
With the focus on speaking Irish, there will be several opportunities to gather socially and join a conversation ‘as Gaeilge’ during the festival including Comhrá @Lamberts Café and the Pop-Up Gaeltacht in Teach Bar.
“Nóiméidí ag Leá” is an Irish translation of the book “Melting Moments” and it will be launched at Lamberts on Wednesday, 12 March at 12.00. Through Toddles & Waddles, two adorable penguin characters, this story by Lindsay Martin-Fenlon sensitively explores the symptoms of dementia and the emotions it can stir in those affected by the disease, their loved ones and carers.
Wednesday, 12 March has been designated as Lá na gCiorcal or National Conversation Circle Day when people are encouraged to organise an Irish conversation circle in the office, school, home, canteen or place of work.
A new addition to the Seachtain na Gaeilge programme this year is the happy revival of Scór na Sinsear, the GAA Senior Scór talent competition which will be held in Éire Óg on Saturday 8 March at 8pm. All Carlow GAA clubs are invited and encouraged to participate in the various categories.
Lá Fhéile Pádraig on Monday, 17 March will begin at 10.30am with the celebration of Mass in Irish and the blessing of the shamrock in Carlow Cathedral. There will be a full afternoon of family entertainment from 2.00-5.30pm including the Town Parade at 3pm to mark the national feast while a Céilí Mór with the Johnny Reidy Céilí Band in the Woodford Dolmen Hotel from 9pm to midnight will round off the day’s festivities and bring the curtain down on another Seachtain na Gaeilge in Carlow.
The bumper Seachtain na Gaeilge programme with details of all events is available now from Glór Cheatharlach on 085 1340047, 087 2857048 and on facebook www.facebook.com/glor.cheatharlach