cairde teo

Tá Cairde Teo i gcomhar le CLG Ard Mhacha ag eagrú dianchúsa Gaeilge dóibh siúd atá ag iarraidh ár dteanga dhúchais a fhoghlaim den chéad uair nó cur lena gcumas sa teanga. Beidh na cúrsaí ar siúl sa Pháirc Lúthchleasa idir 11am agus 4pm Dé Sathairn 31 Eanáir do thosaitheoirí, d’fhoghlaimeoirí meánleibhéil agus d’fhoghlaimeoirí ardleibhéil. Clúdaíonn an costas £10 lón. Bhí dianchúrsaí Gaeilge ar siúl sa Pháirc Lúthchleasa roimhe seo i gcomhar le CLG Ard Mhacha agus bhí ard-éileamh orthu le foghlaimeoirí ó achan chearn den chontae agus den chúige féin. I measc na ndaltaí atá i ndiaidh freastal ar na ranganna, tá roinnt de réaltaí idirchontae Ard Mhacha le cúl báire iománaíochta sinsear Simon Doherty agus peileadóirí sinsear Charlie Vernon agus Oisín Mac Íomhair. Tacaíonn Cairde Teo agus CLG Ard Mhacha leis an fheachtas ‘Líofa’ de chuid na Roinne Cultúir, Ealaíon agus Fóillíochta, atá ag iarraidh ar dhaoine tiomantas pearsanta a thabhairt go bhfoghlaimeoidh siad Gaeilge le linn 2015. Mar sin, mura bhfuil dea-rún agat don bhliain, thig leat foghlaim na Gaeilge a leagan mar sprioc duit féin in 2015. Le tuilleadh eolais a fháil nó le háit a chur in áirithe i gceann ar bith de na ranganna, déan teagmháil le Seán ar pro.armagh@gaa.ie nó 028 3751 5229.

Cairde Teo are joining up with Armagh GAA to offer an intensive Irish language course for those wishing to learn our native language or to brush up on their Irish language skills. The courses will be held in the Athletic Grounds from 11am to 4pm on Saturday 31 January for beginners, intermediate and advanced levels. The cost of £10 includes lunch. Similar courses have been held in the past in conjunction with Armagh GAA and they have proven to be extremely popular with learners from throughout Armagh and indeed from across Ulster attending. The classes have also received the backing of a number of our inter-county Armagh stars with senior hurling goalkeeper Simon Doherty  and senior footballers Charlie Vernon and Oisín Mac Íomhair attending the classes to brush up on their Gaeilge. Irish learners in Armagh are also encouraged to sign up to the Department of Culture’s Líofa campaign, which encourages people to take a personal pledge to learn Irish in 2015. If you have not taken on a New Year’s Resolution, why not make learning Irish your aim for 2015. For more information or to book a place in one of the classes, contact Seán on sean@cairdeteo.com or 028 3751 5229.

Tá neart deiseanna do phobal na Gaeilge agus d’fhoghlaimeoirí na Gaeilge in Ard Mhacha a gcuid Gaeilge a úsáid ag roinnt ciorcal comhrá atá ar siúl ar fud an bhaile agus ag roinnt clubanna atá á reáchtáil ag Cairde Teo. Bíonn grúpa Gaeilgeoirí ag teacht le chéile achan Luan idir 7pm agus 8.30pm i gcaifé Bake My Day in Ionad Siopadóireachta Chathair Ard Mhacha le comhrá a dhéanamh i suíomh compordach thar chupán tae. Tá an grúpa ag dul ó neart go neart ó bunaíodh an grúpa nua Comhrá is Craic roinnt míonna ó shin agus ghlac said páirt sa churiarracht comhrá 24/7 a rinneadh i nDeireadh Fómhair 2014.

Tá Ciorcal Comhrá Ard Mhacha fadbhunaithe sa chathir agus bíonn said ag bualadh le chéile gach oíche Mháirt i mBeár an Stáisiúin ó 9.30pm. Bíonn meascán de léitheoireacht, caint agus seisiún ceoil ar siúl acu agus is minic a mhealann said turasóirí chuig na seisiúin cheoil Ghaelaigh. Chomh maith leis an ghrúpa seachtainiúil comhrá agus ceoil, eagraíonn Ciorcal Comhrá Ard Mhacha roinnt imeachtaí i rith na bliana agus socraíonn said comóradh bliantúil ar bheatha agus ar bhás an rapaire iomráiteaigh, Séamus Mór Mac Murchaidh.

Eagraíonn Cairde Teo ciorcal comhrá gach Déardaoin ar 3.45pm do dhaltaí scoile atá ag gabháil don Ghaeilge ag leibhéal GCSE. Tugann an ciorcal comhrá seo seans do dhaltaí cleachtadh a dhéanamh ar an Ghaeilge atá foghlamtha acu ar scoil, i suíomh réchúiseach ag Áisionad Bhóthar na hArdeaglaise. Tá sé mar aidhm ag an chiorcal comhrá seo tacú le daltaí agus iad a spreagadh an Ghaeilge a labhairt agus tugann sé deis dóibh ceisteanna a chur faoi aon ghné atá ag do na geirbe dóibh.

Tá club úr aclaíochta bunaithe ag Cairde Teo do phobal na Gaeilge le deis shóisialta eile a chur ar fail do Ghaeilgeoirí an teanga a úsáid taobh amuigh den seomra ranga. Bíonn an club aclaíochta seo ag bualadh le chéile achan Déardaoin ar 6pm ag Spórtlann Andy Ward atá taobh le hÓstán Chathair Ard Mhacha. Tá clár 8 seachtaine socraithe acu le tosú Déardaoin 15 Eanáir ag an ghiom agus beidh said ag cur tús leis an chlár cnocadóireachta arís tríd an ghrúpa Siúil. Beidh an chéád siúlóid den bhliain ar Shliabh Crúb cóngarach don Droim Bearach i gContae an Dúin. Má tá suim agat bheith páirteach i gceann ar bith de na grúpaí, is féidir bualadh isteach ann in am ar bith nó teagmháil a dhéanamh le Seán ar 028 3751 5229 nó sean@cairdeteo.com.

There are plenty of opportunities for the Irish language community and for Irish learners to practice their Irish at several conversation groups across the city, as well as a number of groups which are organised by Cairde Teo. A group of Irish speakers meet up every Monday between 7pm and 8.30pm in the Bake My Day café in Armagh City Shopping Centre for a chat over a cup of tea or coffee in a relaxed atmosphere. The group Comhrá agus Craic is going from strength to strength since it was started several months ago and they recently took part in October’s successful Comhrá 24/7 world record attempt.

Armagh’s conversation group Ciorcal Comhrá Ard Mhachaare well-established in the city and they meet up every Tuesday night in the Station Bar from 9.30pm. The group combines reading material, Irish speaking andIrish songs and they often attract tourists and visitors to Armagh with their traditional music sessions. As well as the weekly conversation and music session, Ciorcal Comhrá Ard Mhacha organise a number of events throughout the year, including the annual commemoration of the life of the famous raparee, Séamus Mór Mac Murchaidh.

Cairde Teo organise a weekly conversation circle every Thursday at 3.45pm for local students who are studying Irish for GCSE. The conversation circle gives the students an opportunity to practice the Irish which they have learnt at school in a relaxed and laid back environment at the Sherry’s Field Complex. The group also aims to support students by encouraging them to improve their confidence in spoken Irish and also gives them the opportunity to ask questions about any aspect of the language which they may be struggling with.

Cairde Teo has also commenced a new fitness club for Irish speakers in Armagh to offer another social opportunity to use the language outside of the formal classroom setting.  The fitness club meets up every Thursday at 6pm at the Andy Ward Health and Fitness Centre at Armagh City Hotel. The 8 week gym programme commences on Thursday 15 January and it will coincide with a new programme of hillwalks for 2015. The first hillwalk will be at Slieve Croob near Dromara in County Down. If you would like to take part in any of the groups, you can call in at any time or you can contact Seán on 028 3751 5229 or sean@cairdeteo.com.

Cuirfear tús arís eile leis an chlub óige Gaeilge ag Droim Airg Dé Luain 12 Eanáir ar 4pm. Tá fáilte roimh pháistí Gaelscoile agus páistí ó scoileanna béarla araon. Bíonn na páistí ag foghlaim Gaeilge ar bhealach spraoíúil trí chluichí, tríd an ealaíon, trí rímeanna agus trí amhráin. Tá táille £1 sa tseachtain ar an chlub agus úsáidfear an t-airgead seo le turas a reáchtáil do na páistí ag deireadh na bliana.

The Irish language club at Drumarg will recommence on Monday 12 January at 4pm. The club is open to children from local Irish medium and English medium primary schools. The children learn Irish in a fun environment through games, through art, through rhyme and through songs. The cost is £1 a week and this is collected to bring the kids away on a trip at the end of the year.

Cuirfear tús arís eile le h-aifreann na Gaeilge ar an Satharn seo 10 Eanáir ar 5.30i.n. sa tseipéal i gColáiste Phádraig. Léifear an t-aifreann Gaeilge achan Satharn ina dhiaidh sin go dtí sos na Cásca ar 21 Márta.

The weekly Irish language mass at St Patrick’s Grammar School will recommence this Saturday 10 January at 5.30pm. The Irish language mass will continue each Saturday up until 21 March, which will be the last Irish mass until after the Easter break.

Cuirfear tús le téarma úr de ranganna Gaeilge do gach leibhéal ag Coláiste Chaitríona in Ard Mhacha Dé Céadaoin 14 Eanáir ar 7pm. Bíonn bunranganna, meánranganna agus ardrang léitheoireachta ar siúl sa tSruth Ghaeilge ag Coláiste Chaitríona ar Bhóthar an Chlochair. Bíonn an-rath ar na ranganna agus dírítear ar Ghaeilge labhartha le cuidiú le foghlaimeoirí líofacht a bhaint amach sa teanga. Mairfidh an téarma go dtí an Chéadaoin 1 Aibreán agus is é an costas a bheas ar an téarma 11 rang ná £30 nó £15 do mhic léinn, do phinsinéirí agus do dhaoine as obair.

Tá Cairde Teo ag tabhairt deise do dhaoine atá ag iarraidh an Ghaeilge a fhoghlaim freastal ar dhianchúrsa Gaeilge Dé Sathairn 31ú Eanáir sa Pháirc Lúthchleasa in Ard Mhacha. Beidh bunrang, meánrang agus ardrang ann. Bíonn na dianchúrsaí, a eagraítear I gcomhar le coiste cultúir CLG Ard Mhacha, ar siúl idir 11am agus 4pm agus cuimsíonn an costas £10 an lón. Bíonn na dianchúrsaí ar siúl go ráithiúil agus thug peileadóir sinsear Ard Mhacha Charlie Vernon agus iománaí sinsear Ard Mhacha Simon Doherty, atá beirt tiomanta a gcomhimreoirí a spreagadh lena dteanga dhúchais a fhoghlaim i rith 2015.

Más mian leat cur le do chuid Gaeilge nó más rud é go bhfuil rún na hathbhliana agat teanga nua a fhoghlaim, déan teagmháil le Seán ar 028 3751 5229 nó sean@cairdeteo.com nó buail isteach chuig oifig Cairde Teo, atá lonnaithe sa siopa úr Gaeilge agus ceirdeanna Ceilteachta in Ionad Siopadóireachta Chathair Ard Mhacha. Tacaíonn Cairde Teo leis an fheachtas Líofa 2015 de chuid na Roinne Cultúir Ealaíne agus Fóillíochta le daoine a spreagadh tiomantas pearsanta a thabhairt an Ghaeilge a fhoghlaim agus Gaeilge labhartha a bhaint amach roimh dheireadh na bliana.

Irish language classes for all levels of learners recommence in St Catherine’s College in Armagh on Wednesday 14 January at 7pm. The classes cater for beginners, lower and higher intermediate and advanced levels and take place in the Irish medium unit of Coláiste Chaitríona on Convent Road in the city. The classes are extremely popular and focus on spoken Irish to help the learners obtain fluency in the language. This term will finish on Wednesday 1 April and the cost for the 11 classes will be £30 or £15 concessions.

Cairde Teo are also offering an opportunity for those interested in learning Irish to attend one of a number of intensive language courses on Saturday 31 January in the Athletic Grounds in Armagh. There will be a class for beginners, intermediate and advanced levels. The courses, which are organised in conjunction with the Cultural Committee of Armagh GAA, take place from 11am to 4pm and the cost of £10 includes lunch. The intensive courses take place seasonally throughout the year and have received the backing of Armagh senior footballer Charlie Vernon and Armagh senior hurler Simon Doherty, who have pledged to encourage a number of their teammates to learn their native language during 2015.

If you are interested in improving your Irish or you have made a new year’s resolution to learn something new, you can contact Seán on 028 3751 5229 or sean@cairdeteo.com or call in to the Cairde Teo office, which is located within the new Irish language and Celtic crafts shop Seacht in Armagh City Centre Cairde Teo support the Líofa 2015 initiative which was developed by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure to encourage people to sign up to a personal pledge to learn Irish and attain conversational fluency in the language by the end of this year.

D’eagraigh Cairde Teo turas speisialta teaghlaigh go Béal Feirste do pháistí ón Ghaelscoil áitiúil agus a gcuid tuismitheoirí ar an Satharn 13 Nollaig. Bhí an t-ádh dearg orainn go raibh Daidí na Nollag ábalta bualadh linn ag Cultúrlann Mac Adaim Ó Fiaich agus thug sé bronntanas beag do achan pháiste. Bhí lúcháir ar na páistí bualadh leis an fhear mór féin le cur i gcuimhne dó an rud a bhí scríofa acu ar a liostaí a bhí curtha acu chuig an Mholl Thuaidh cheana féin. Chomh maith les an deis a fháil labhairt le Daidí na Nollag, d’fhreastail na páistí ar cheardlann ealaíne ag Cultúrlann Mac Adaim Ó Fiaich le maisiúchán Nollag a dhéanamh le tabhairt abhaile agus a chur ar a gcrann Nollag. Bhain na Gaeilgeoirí as Ard Mhacha an-sul as an chuairt chuig mórionad na nGael i mBéal Feirste agus chuaigh sé i bhfeidhm orthu go raibh Gaeilge in úsáid ag achan duine agus Daidí na Nollag ina leith.

I ndiaidh an lóin, thug muintir Ard Mhacha aghaidh ar Iarsmalann Uladh le súil a chaitheamh ar na h-iontaisí atá istigh ann. Bhain na páistí an-sult as an rannán Ceilteach le roinnt mhaith uirlisí agus iarsmaí as Contae Ard Mhacha féin agus as rannán na n-ainmhithe. Chaith said am ag súgradh ar na ríomhairí idirghníomhaíochta agus ag déanamh ealaíne le foireann na hiarsmalainne. Bhí an-dúil ag na páistí sa mhumaí a bhí sa rannán Éigipteach agus i gcnámharlaigh na ndineasár. Is cinnte gur fhoghlaim said neart eolais úir ón chuairt agus bhí ardlá acu i mBéal Feirste.

Cairde Teo organised a special Irish language family trip to Belfast on Saturday 13 December for children from the local Irish medium school in Armagh and their parents. We were very fortunate to meet Daidí na Nollag or Santa Clause at Cultúrlann Mac Adaim Ó Fiaich, Belfast’s Irish language and cultural resource centre on the Falls Road. Daidí na Nollag spent time speaking with all of the children and gave them all a present. The children from Armagh were delighted to meet the man of the moment to remind him of what they had written on their lists. As well as the opportunity to meet Daidí na Nollag, the children attended an arts workshop to create a snowman decoration to bring home to hang on their Christmas tree.

After lunch, the Armagh contingent visited the Ulster Museum to see the many relics and wonders housed there. The children particularly enjoyed the Celtic section with many of the artefacts originating from County Armagh and they also enjoyed the natural history section, where they spent time using the interactive computers and the arts programme which was delivered by the museum staff. The Armagh visitors were also fascinated by the Egyptian mummy and the dinosaur skeletons and fossils. The Armagh families certainly had a very enjoyable day in Belfast and would like to thank Cultúrlann Mac Adaim Ó Fiaich and the Ulster Museum, as well as Jerome McCarthy for a great day out before the Christmas holidays.

Chaith grúpa Gaeilgeoirí in Ard Mhacha oíche phléisiúrtha ag Pláinéadlann Ard Mhacha ar na mallaibh ag taispeántas speisialta Gaeilge den seó Réalta na Nollag. Bhí idir daoine fásta, daoine óga agus páistí Gaelscoile i láthair le foghlaim fá chúlra eolaíoch réalta na Nollag le teacht ar an bhliain inar rugadh Íosa sa stábla i mBeithil, mar a deirtear sa bhíobla Chríostaí. Bhain achan duine a bhí i láthair an-sult as an chlár Gaeilge agus as an chomhluadar Gaelach agus chuir Pláinéadlann Ard Mhacha tae, caifé, sú agus brioscaí ar fáil do chách. Tá an Phláinéadlann iontach gníomhach ag cur na Gaeilge chun tosaigh agus tá roinnt clár ar fáil do pháistí trí Ghaeilge. Reáchtáladh clár speisialta d’imeachtaí óige sa Phláinéadlann ag tús na bliana agus tá súil leo cur leis an fhreastal seo ar phobal na Gaeilge as seo amach.

A number of Irish speakers in Armagh recently visited Armagh Planetarium for a special Irish language showing of The Mystery of the Christmas Star. The audience included parents, young people and children from the local Gaelscoil to hear about the scientific explanation for the Christmas star to explore the actual date of the birth of Jesus in a Bethlehem stable as told in the bible. All those in attendance enjoyed the Irish language show and enjoyed the tea, coffee, juice and biscuits which were provided by the Planetarium. Armagh Planetarium is very active in promoting the Irish language and offers a number of Irish language programmes for children. They also worked alongside Cairde Teo to organise an Irish langauge programme of youth activities and have plans to further enhance their Irish language provision in the near future.

Tá an siopa nua earraí Ceilteacha agus Gaelacha ar an tsaol in Ard Mhacha agus tá ag éirí go hiontach leis agus sinn ag tarraingt ar an Nollaig. Tá an siopa úr darb ainm Seacht lonnaithe in Ionad Siopadóireachta Chathair Ard Mhacha ar Shráid Thomáis agus tá ceirdeanna agus féiríní d’ardchaighdeán ar fáil ann. Tháinig ainm an tsiopa ón cheangal fada atá ag Ard Mhacha leis an uimhir seacht nó tá Ard Mhacha tógtha ar Seacht gCnoc, agus tá stair fada ag na Seacht dTithe ann.

Tá réimse leathan earraí ar fáil in Seacht le seodra sainiúil, croiseanna, plaiceanna agus deilbheanna bunaithe ar sheanchas, ar fhinnscéalta agus ar stair na hÉireann. Díoltas leabhair, dlúthdhioscaí, cártaí Nollag Gaeilge, féilirí, dialanna agus bréagáin thraidisiúnta páistí ann chomh maith. Chomh maith leis na réimsí ‘Wild Goose’ agus ‘Clara Crafts’, tá roinnt réimsí speisialta ag Seacht, mar shampla ‘Celtia’ – réimse seodra, clog agus deilbheanna gairdín atá déanta as dair, péine agus iúr portaigh ar thángthas orthu i móinteacha Loch nEathach, áit ina raibh siad le 5000 bliain. 

 Tá seirbhís oiriúnaithe earraí á cur ar fáil do chustaiméirí fosta. Is féidir beannachtaí nó ainmneacha a chur ar réimse earraí mar stocaí Nollag, mugaí, éadaí do bhabaithe agus caipíní. Tá an siopa ag tabhairt ardáin d’ealaíontóirí Ard Mhacha chomh maith agus is féidir earraí gloine daite a ordú do shuaitheantais clubanna, ainmneacha agus sloinntí, beannachtaí Gaeilge agus seanfhocail orthu.

Fiontar sóisialta atá i Seacht le foireann dheonach agus úsáidtear an t-airgead uilig a dhéantar sa siopa le tionscadail oideachais agus treanála a sholáthar in Ard Mhacha.

A unique new Celtic and Irish gift shop has arrived in Armagh City, just in time for all you Christmas bargain hunters and exclusive gift shoppers. ⑦ is the latest addition to the City’s independent retail offering. The new shop is located within Armagh Shopping Centre on Thomas Street and promises customers a truly distinctive range of high quality craft products and giftware.

Armagh is the city of legends, the city on seven hills, the city of two cathedrals. She boasts a strikingly colourful history. The oldest city in Ireland, Armagh has played host to St. Patrick, the first Celtic high kings of Ireland and Brian Boroimhe. Armagh sings the tune of myth and legend; outside the town, visitors can find one of the Gaelic world’s most ancient ruins, Navan Fort, known as Eamhain Mhacha (the “twins of Macha”). The city is a destination that combines traditional small town charm with extraordinary attractions. The name of the new shop was inspired by Armagh City’s close association with the number seven e.g. Seven Houses, Seven Hills, etc.

⑦ is offering an extensive portfolio including bespoke jewellery, crosses, plaques and sculptures that are inspired by Irish myths, legends and history. Books, CDs, Irish Christmas cards, calendars, diaries and traditional children’s toys are also available at very reasonable prices. The beautifully finished products are designed to speak to the heart and mind, appealing to those who seek meaning beyond the image.

In addition to highly popular gift ranges such as ‘Wild Goose’ and ‘Clara Crafts’, many of the product ranges on offer are exclusive to ⑦, including ‘Celtia’ – a range of jewellery, clocks and even garden sculptures crafted from only the finest bog oak, pine and yew recovered from the wetlands around Lough Neagh, where they have lain buried for 5000+ years. 

⑦ also provides customers with a product customisation service. Personalised greetings or names can be added to a range of products from Christmas stockings to mugs and from baby grows to baseball caps. Nothing displays more thought and feeling than a personalised gift!

Local Armagh artisans are also supported in the new gift shop. ‘Cathedral City Stained Glass’ creates one-off and personalised stained glass items on request. Club crests, family names, Irish language greetings, wedding vows and proverbs can all be inscribed on unique glass pieces.

⑦ is a ‘social enterprise’; i.e. the shop is staffed by volunteers and all revenue generated by the shop will go to fund education and training projects in Armagh City. So, in addition to treating someone special in your life, you can also feel good about helping out your local community!

Be unique this Christmas, shop at ⑦.

Osclófar siopa nua thíos staighre in Ionad Siopadóireachta Chathair Ard Mhacha ar an Satharn seo 29ú Samhain. Buailigí isteach le breathnú ar réimse leathan féiríní, cártaí agus bréagáin.

Our new crafts and gift shop will open downstairs in the Armagh City Shopping Centre this Saturday on 29th November. Call in to view the wide range of giftware, toys, cards and Irish language products.