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Féile na Gaeilge 2010

27/08/10

(English version follows.)

Tharla chéad Fhéile na Gaeilge de chuid éirígí i gCondae na Mí Dé Sathairn seo caite [21ú Lúnasa], la dhá dhosaen ball agus tacadóir ag taisteal go Gaeltacht Ráth Chairn chun páirt a ghlacadh in imeachtaí an lae.

Thosaigh an lá le ranganna Gaeilge, agus chruthaigh an aimsir bhreá coinníollacha foirfe don chomórtas poc fada agus roinnt cluichí lasmuigh. Ní ba mhoille, bhí fleá fhulachta ann freisin agus chríochnaigh an oíche le seisiún iondúil ins An Bradán Feasa.

Thug Diarmuid Breatnach ó Choiste Dlúthpháirtíochta Bhaile Átha Cliath leis na Bascaigh caint ar stair theanga na mBascach, Euskara, agus iarrachtaí rathúla na heite clé ar son na saoirse chun úsáid na teanga a chur chun cinn.

Bhreathnaigh an comhrá ina dhiaidh ar na cosúlachtaí agus éagsúlachtaí idir cásanna na mBascach agus na hÉireann, ar na ceachtanna a dtig le gníomhaígh Ghaeilge foghlaim ó ghluaiseachtaí athbheochana teanga go hidirnáisiúnta, agus freisin an ról a bhí agus a d’fhéadfadh bheith ag athbheochan teanga i streachailtí frith-choilíneacha agus um shaoirse náisiúnta.

Ag caint faoin lá, dúirt urlabhraí éirígí Ursula Ní Shionnain: “Ba é seo an chéad bhliain a bhí Féile na Gaeilge eagraithe ag roinn Gaeilge éirígí. Ón aiseolas dearfach ar fad a fuair muid, is cinnte go bhfuil daoine ag dúil go mór le Féile na bliana seo chugainn cheana féin.

“Tugann an Fhéile deis do Ghaeilgeoirí agus do fhoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge páirt a ghlacadh in imachtaí bunaithe ar ár dteanga agus cúltur dúchasach. Lá sultmhar atá ann do chách, agus cabhraíonn sé chomh maith taispeáint do dhaoine an ról leathan atá ag an teanga le himirt sa streachtailt in éadan an impiriúlachais in Éirinn an lae inniu. I bhfocail Mháirtín Uí Chadhain, ‘Sí an Ghaeilge Athghabháil na hÉireann agus is í Athghabháil na hÉireann slánú na Gaeilge’.”

Féile na Gaeilge 2010

éirígí’s inaugural Féile na Gaeilge took place in County Meath last Saturday [August 21], with two dozen members and supporters making their way to the Ráth Chairn Gaeltacht to participate in the day’s events.

The day began with Irish language classes, while the good weather provided the perfect atmosphere for the poc fada competition and a number of outdoor games. Later on, there was also a barbecue and the evening concluded with the obligatory session in An Bradán Feasa.

There was also a talk given by Diarmuid Breatnach of the Dublin Basque Solidarity Committee on the history of the Basque language, Euskara, and the highly successful efforts of the pro-independence left in the country to promote its usage.

The discussion afterward delved into the similarities and differences between the Basque and Irish cases, into what lessons Irish language activists can learn from language revival movements internationally, and also into the role language revival has played and can play in anti-colonial and national liberation struggles.

Speaking about the day, éirígí spokesperson Ursula Ní Shionnain said: “This year was the first time that Féile na Gaeilge was organised by éirígí’s Irish language department. From all the positive feedback we have received, it’s clear that people are already looking forward to next year’s Féile.

“The Féile offers Irish speakers and learners an opportunity to take part in activities based around our native language and culture. It’s an enjoyable day for everyone, but it also helps to demonstrate to people the wider role the language has to play in the struggle against imperialism in modern day Ireland. In the words of Máirtín Ó Cadhain, ‘Sí an Ghaeilge Athghabháil na hÉireann agus is í Athghabháil na hÉireann slánú na Gaeilge’. [The Irish language is the Reconquest of Ireland and the Reconquest of Ireland is the salvation of the Irish language.]”

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