Diverse Programme of Events to Celebrate Irish Language Week

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council will celebrate Seachtain na Gaeilge (Irish Language Week) this year with a programme of events from 1 March to St. Patrick's Day, 17 March. Seachtain na Gaeilge the largest Irish language festival in the world, annually celebrating the native language and culture of Ireland.

The programme of events will give people the opportunity to enjoy the Irish language through a diverse range of activities ranging from guided walks, video content, puppet shows to a Schools Drama Festival. If you are a new learner or if you are fluent in Irish, you will be warmly welcomed. The activities will encourage people to learn, grow and be motivated towards the language, and the online video materials give people a better opportunity to enjoy the Irish language.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Cllr Valerie Harte said, "It is important for this Council that we hear and see the Irish language around us, not only during Seachtain na Gaeilge, but throughout the year, and not only in the community but within the organisation itself as well. For that reason, I am very happy to organise a Coffee Morning in the Council to celebrate Seachtain na Gaeilge 2024 for all Councillors and staff."

Key Projects for Seachtain na Gaeilge 2024 will include:

New Parents and Toddlers Group: Seal Spraoi

We work with Irish language groups in the local community and with Irish language organisations throughout the year. Recently we have been working in partnership with the all-island Irish language organisation Glór na nGael to start a parent and toddler group in the district. It is a special joint venture to serve families around Newry and South Armagh who are interested in learning and speaking Irish together as a family.

Seal Spraoi will be officially launched in The Quays shopping centre on Wednesday 5 March with a special puppet show. The group met for the first time in February this year and meets at 10am on the first Wednesday of each month. If you would like to register for this group, contact niamh@glornangael.ie. Learners and parents who are fluent in Irish, and those who are interested in the language are welcome to come together to enjoy the language and the company.

Puppet Show and Video Series: Caoimhe agus an Chóisir

A short video series entitled ‘Caoimhe agus an Chóisir’, meaning ‘Caoimhe and the Party’, was developed with the support of Council. The outputs included the creation of a brand-new story and artwork which was commissioned as part of the project. ‘Caoimhe agus an Chóisir’ also features a series of three videos produced by Seán Ó Muireagáin and Edel Ní Churraoin, and the series will be shared during Seachtain na Gaeilge on Council's social media channels. To launch the video series, the puppet show will tour to Irish medium nursery settings throughout the area and the young children will have the opportunity to see the show live in their own school.

Video content on the Council's YouTube channel

For the past five years, Council has been creating video content for the public, which is shared on the Council's YouTube channel, and on social media. Now in 2024, there is an archive of video content online for the community to enjoy. The online content gives people an additional opportunity to enjoy the Irish language. To find the Irish language video projects that have been produced over the years go to: www.youtube.com/@newrymournedowndistrictcouncil

Irish Language Guided Walks

As we all know, it is not necessary to be in the classroom to learn Irish and this year the Council is inviting its employees to attend a guided walk on the Ring of Gullion or in Delamont Park. During these internal events, staff will have the opportunity to use a few words of Irish and the guides will share information about nature bilingually. 

Schools Drama Festival

Over the past few years, the Irish Language Newry Schools Drama Festival has been providing children from the local all-Irish primary schools the opportunity to experience the stage in Newry Town Hall. The drama competition has been going from strength to strength and assists children and young people to develop new skills through the Irish language. This year, the festival will take place in alternative venues, but the same opportunities will be available to the children. The School Drama Festival will take place in the Down Arts Centre at 10am on Tuesday 12 March, in the Market Place Theatre at 10am on Wednesday 13 March and the five all-Irish primary schools will participate in the competition this year.

Celebration in Education

Gaelscoil Phádraig Naofa is celebrating 20 years, and the Council congratulates the school staff in offering children the opportunity to do their schooling through the medium of Irish. Classes started in St Mary’s High School, Newry at the beginning of this academic year, which gives the students an opportunity to learn the language. To celebrate this development, Council is supporting the school in celebrating Seachtain na Gaeilge 2024.

Irish Language Bursary Scheme 2024-25

The Irish Language Bursary Scheme 2024-25 will open on Monday 11 March 2024 at midday. For more information and to apply, go to: www.newrymournedown.org/ssng. For further information on Seachtain na Gaeilge or the events mentioned above please email gaeilge@nmandd.org or visit www.newrymournedown.org/snag.