Seachtain na Gaeilge in the City of Culture!
February 27, 2013
Seachtain na Gaeilge (Irish Language Week) 2013 is almost here and Derry – City of Culture 2013 – is set to celebrate all things Irish with a programme of Irish language events and activities which runs from 1st – 17th March.
Seachtain na Gaeilge is celebrated every year by communities across the island of Ireland and this year’s festival is extra special as 2013 has been is being marked as the National Year of Irish with Irish language activities taking place across the island throughout the full year.
This year’s festival kicks off with kicks off with the popular annual literary event Éigse Cholmcille, which will be held at The University of Ulster’s Magee campus on Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd March, and this year’s speakers will address the theme of the ‘Irish language in the New World’. The year’s Éigse will also explore Irish language journalism in the New World and the history of Irish as a university subject in the United States.
The highlight event for children in this year’s programme is Féile Bheag na Leabhar – The Little Festival of Books, which is the first children’s Irish language book and storytelling festival to take place in the city.
Organised by Derry City Council as part of the Humdinger! Children’s Literature festival and funded by Foras na Gaeilge, Féile Bheag na Leabhar begins on Thursday 7th March and runs until Saturday 9th March and will feature storytelling and book-reading events in Irish for children of all ages.
The programme includes an event to celebrate World Book Day with the celebrated Irish language storyteller Gearóidín Bhreathnach, a modern-day take on the fables and legends of Ireland with writer Séamas mac Annaidh and the launch of the Irish language edition of local author and illustrator Trisha Deery’s charming children’s book ‘Déanann Rosie Réidh’. An Irish language book-fair will be available at all events throughout the festival.
From the 11th – 13th Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin will offer learners of Irish from across the city and district the opportunity to try out for silver and gold fáinne fluency pins as part of the annual Fáinne Scheme. A special evening event will be held on Thursday 14th March at the Cultúrlann, at which the Mayor Derry, Cllr Kevin Campbell will award certificates and fáinní to learners.
On Saturday 16th March the city will celebrate Lá na Gaeilge (Irish Language Day) at Guildhall Square from 12.00pm – 4.00pm. Lá na Gaeilge (Irish Language Day) is a mayoral initiative which aims to be a colourful celebration of Irish language and culture to round off Irish Language Week 2013. Among the events planned are an outdoor céilí, traditional music sessions, an Irish Language Information Point and arts and crafts activities for families. The Walled City Market will also be available from 10am – 4pm.
Irish Language Week comes to a colourful close with the annual St Patrick’s Day Spring Carnival on Sunday 17th March and full details of the carnival programme are available by visiting www.derrycity.gov.uk/stpatricksday
To keep up-to-date with all that’s happening over the Irish Language Week period visit Derry City Council’s Irish Language page at www.derrycity.gov.uk/gaeilge or check out local Irish language event listings on Facebook at www.facebook.com/foramphobalnagaeilge
Alternatively you can contact Derry City Council’s Irish Language Officer, Pól Ó Frighil on (028) 71365151 or email gaeilge@derrycity.gov.uk
For all queries in Irish please feel free to call the Council’s Irish Language Line (028) 71376579.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
