cairde teo

 Is iomaí Gael fá Ard Mhacha atá tuirseach an tseachtain seo i ndiaidh dóibh pilleadh ó thuras gnóthach lánimeachtaí ar Ghaeltacht ghrianmhar Dhún na nGall. Bhí siúlóid bhreá i nDún Lúiche á stiúradh ag Seán Ó Dónaill, fear de bhunadh na háite a bhfuil an-taithí aige mar throeraí. Níor ghéill muintir Ard Mhacha roimh dhúshlán riamh agus thug scaifte mór cróga aghaidh ar an Earagail in ainneoin an teasa. Ní raibh oiread agus scamall sa spéir agus bhain an dá ghrúpa de 30 Gael barr na hEaragaile amach, áit a raibh radharc acu ar chontae Dhún na nGall uilig. Is mór an sásamh a fuair achan duine ón éacht sin a dhéanamh agus bhí siamsaíocht na hoíche go mór tuillte acu. Chuaigh an dream uilig a fhad le Teach Hiúdaí Bheag le freastal ar an Chabaret Craiceáilte, oíche iomráiteach ceoil a bhíonn á reáchtáil ag Rónán Mac Aodha Bhuí gach mí. Ar na ceoltóirí a bhí i láthair, bhí Conor Keane, Aoife Scott, Blunderbrau agus Clann Mhic Ruairí as Rann na Feirste, Seosamh Ó Neachtáin agus an sárghrúpa Moxie. An lá dar gcionn, chaith muid 3 uair a chloig ag súil thart ar an Bhun Bheag le foghlaim faoi stair an cheantair. Ba é Dónall Ó Cnaimhsí, garraíodóir Pháirc Náisiúnta Ghleann Bheithe, a stiúir an tsiúlóid seo agus chuaigh muid ó sheanteach an phobail tríd an Choiteann, go Machaire Gathlán agus ar ais frí Mhachaire Clochair. Chuir muid deireadh leis an turas le cuairt bheag ghairid chuig Páirc Náisiúnta Ghleann Bheithe ar an bhealach abhaile. Bhain achan duine idir sult agus sásamh as an turas seo ar Ghaoth Dobhair na gréine agus cé go bhfuil na cosa ag ligint a scíthe, ní fada go mbeidh an grúpa Siúil ag dul amach arís ar an Satharn deireanach de mhí an Mheithimh, an 30ú, le siúlóid a dhéanamh idir Bhaile Uí Chornáin agus Ard Ghlais.

There are plenty of Gaels in Armagh who are recovering this week from a busy action-packed weekend visit to the sunny Donegal Gaeltacht. One group took part in a walk through Dunlewey under the guidance of local man Seán Ó Dónaill. Armagh people are made of stern stuff and never refused a challenge, so a brave crowd set out to climb the Errigal in spite of the day’s heat. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky and the crowd of 30 Gaels braved the gusts of winds to reach the summit where they enjoyed beautiful views of the entire county of Donegal. Everyone felt very proud of this achievement and they certainly deserved a great night’s entertainment. The group paid a visit to Teach Hiúdaí Bheag to experience the Cabaret Craiceáilte, the renowned music extravaganza which is organised monthly by radio personality Rónán Mac Aodha Bhuí. Among the musicians present on Saturday night were Conor Keane, Aoife Scott, Blunderbrau and the Mac Ruairí clan from Rann na Feirste, Seosamh Ó Neachtáin and the fantastic traditional group Moxie. The following day, we spent 3 hours exploring the Bun Beag area, learning about the history of the area. Dónall Ó Cnaimhsí, gardener in the Glenveagh National Park was the guide and we left the old chapel making our way through the townlands of An Choiteann, Machaire Gathlán and around the beaches of Mhachaire Clochair. The trip was rounded off with a short visit to Glenveagh National Park on the way home. Everyone enjoyed the visit to sunny Gaoth Dobhair and although the feet are up as they recover from their exertions, it won’t be long before the walking group Siúil will be back out on the last Saturday of June, 30th, for their next walk between Ballyhornan and Ardglass.

Dar leis an nath cainte, is túisce deoch ná scéal ach d’éirigh le muintir Ard Mhacha an nath sin a iompú thart ar na mallaibh ag oíche airneáil a reáchtáil Cairde Teo i gcomhar le Gael-Linn i dTigh Uí Raifeartaigh ar an bhaile. Bhí Cleamairí Ard Mhacha i láthair lena seó úr lánGhaeilge agus bhí meascán de scéalaíocht, d’amhránaíocht agus de cheol. Ba é an chéad uair ag roinnt daoine a bhí i measc an scaifte móir eispéireas a fháil ar na Cleamairí agus chuaigh siad i gcion ar fhoireann teagaisc agus cinnirí choláistí Mhachaire Rabhartaigh agus Bhun an Inbhir a bhí in Ard Mhacha ag lá oiliúna Gael Linn. Bhí seantaithí ag muintir na háite ar na Cleamairí céanna áfach, agus bhí siad chomh tugtha céanna leis an seó speisialta Gaelach seo. Bhí an scéalaí as Lios Iomána , Ciarán Ó Maicín, ann fosta agus bhí a raibh i láthair faoi gheasa ag a chuid scéalta faoi na sióga. Bhí deoch tuillte ag na Cleamairí agus ag Ciarán araon agus leanadh leis an scléip agus an airneán le seisiún ceoil a mhair go maidin. Gabhann Cairde Teo buíochas le Cleamairí Ard Mhacha, le Ciarán Ó Maicín, le Réamonn ó Gael-Linn, le foireann Thigh Uí Raifeartaigh agus le gach duine a tháinig amach le tacú leis an Ghaeilge i lár phríomhchathair ársa Chúige Uladh.

The Irish saying goes is túisce deoch ná scéal (a drink comes before a story) but the people of Armagh managed to turn that saying around at a recent Irish language night organised by Cairde Teo and Gael-Linn in Rafferty’s Bar in the city. The Armagh Rhymers were present with their fantastic new Irish language show and there was a mixture of storytelling, music and song. It may have been the first time for many of those present to experience the Rhymers, but they certainly impressed the teaching staff from the Gaeltacht colleges in Machaire Rabhartaigh and Bun an Inbhir who were in Armagh for a Gael-Linn training day. The locals are well used to the Rhymers now but they certainly enjoyed this special Irish language performance. Lissumon storyteller Ciarán Ó Maicín had those present spellbound at his stories about the fairies. Ciarán and indeed the Rhymers had earned a wee drink and the criac continued with a music session going into the wee hours. Cairde Teo would like to thank the Armagh Rhymers, Ciarán Ó Maicín, Réamonn from Gael-Linn, the staff at Rafferty’s and everyone who came out to support the Irish language in the heart of the ancient capital of Ulster.

Beidh CLG Ard Mhacha ag eagrú scrúduithe le scoláireachtaí a bhronnadh ar bhaill óga CLG sa chontae Déardaoin 24 Bealtaine. Is féidir foirm iarratais a iarraidh ó oifigeach Gaeilge nó rúnaí do chlub. Caithfidh rúnaí an chlub an fhoirm chomlánaithe a chur ar ais chuig Peadar Mac Murchaidh ar irishculturalofficer.armagh@gaa.ie roimh an Aoine 18 Bealtaine.

Armagh GAA will be holding Gaeltacht scholarship exams for GAA members in Armagh on Thursday 24 May. You can get an application form from the Irish language officer or the secretary of your club. The club secretary must return the completed form to Peadar Mac Murchaidh at irishculturalofficer.armagh@gaa.ie before Friday 18 May.

Beidh an grúpa cnocadóireachta Siúil ag eagrú deireadh seachtaine siúlóide i nGaeltacht Dhún na nGall ar an 26 agus an 27 Bealtaine. Beidh rogha siúlóide ann ar an Satharn ar a 1. Beidh roinnt againn ag dreapadh na hEaragaile nó beidh siúlóid níos fusa ag Caiseal na gCorr ag bun na hEaragaile. Beidh muid ag freastal ar an Chabaret Craiceáilte oíche Shathairn le Blunderbrau agus neart ceoltóirí eile (€5) agus ag stopadh thar oíche ar an Bhun Bheag. An mhaidin dar gcionn, beidh siúlóid threoraithe againn thart ar an Bhun Bheag agus na Doirí Beaga ar a 11 le blaiseadh a fháil de stair agus de sheanchas an cheantair. Beidh costas £30 ar an turas agus clúdaíonn an praghas sin lóistín agus na siúlóidí. Más rud é nach bhfuil lóistín de dhíth ort, beidh costas £5 ar na siúlóidí. Beidh bus ag imeacht as Ard Mhacha ar 9.30 a chlog maidin Shathairn 26 Bealtaine, agus beidh sé ag stopadh in Oileán an Ghuail agus i mBaile Uí Dhálaigh. Beidh muid ag cur an mionbhus ar fáil saor in aisce ach tá líon teoranta áiteanna ar an bhus agus moltar duit teagmháil a dhéanamh le Seán a luaithe agus is féidir ar 028 3751 5229 nó sean@cairdeteo.com le d’áit a chinntiú.

The Irish language walking group Siúil are organising a walking weekend in the Donegal Gaeltacht on 26 and 27 May. There will be a choice of walks on Saturday, starting at 1. Some of us will be climbing Errigal or there will be a less challenging walk at Caiseal na gCorr at the foot of the Errigal. We will be attending the Cabaret Craiceáilte on Saturday night, where Blunderbrau will feature amongst many other musicians and we will be staying overnight in Bun Beag. The following morning, a guided walk will be organised in Bun Beag and Na Doirí Beaga at 11 to tell us about the history and folklore of the area. The trip will cost £30 and the price includes b&b and the walks. If you wish to take part in the walks, but do not require accomodation or travel, there will be a fee of £5 for the walks. A minibus will be leaving from Armagh at 9.30 on Saturday 26 May and it will stop in Coalisland and Ballygawley. We are providing the minibus at no charge, and as there are a limited number of spaces available, you are advised to contact Seán asap on 028 3751 5229 or sean@cairdeteo.com to confirm your place.

Beidh oíche shiamsaíochta ar nós na Gaeltachta ar siúl in Ard Mhacha Dé Sathairn 12 Bealtaine i dTigh Chú Chulainn ar an bhaile, le seanchaithe, scéalaithe, ceoltóirí, baird agus neart eile ag tabhairt píosa de thraidisiúin Ghaeltacht Dhún na nGall isteach i lár Ard Mhacha.

Ar an oíche, beidh Cleamairí Ard Mhacha a bhfuil clú orthu ar fud an domhain ag pilleadh ar a gceantar dúchais i ndiaidh roinnt turas atá déanta acu ar fhéilte i Meiriceá, in Oirthear na hEorpa agus sna críocha Ceilteacha i gCymru agus in Albain. Beidh neart scéal agus craic ón seanchaí áitiúil Ciarán Ó Maicín arb as Lios Iomána ó thús é. Agus beidh neart ceoltóirí agus amhránaithe eilelena chinntiú go mbeidh oíche go maidin againn den tsiamsaíocht Ghaelach is fear atá ar fáil sa chontae.

Tá an oíche shóisialta seo á heagrú ag CAIRDE Teo i gcomhar le Comhthionól Ard Mhacha Thiar agus le Gael-Linn agus cuirifidh sí clabhsúr le lá treanála do mhúinteoirí agus cinnirí Choláistí Samhraidh Gael-Linn a reáchtáltar in Ard Mhacha gach bliain. Cuirfear tús leis an cheol ag 8.30pm, beidh saorchead isteach agus beidh fáilte roimh Ghaeilgeoirí, roimh fhoghlaimeoirí agus roimh dhaoine nach bhfuil Gaeilge ar bith acu. Beidh neart eolais ar fáil ar an oíche do thuismitheoirí nó do dhaoine óga atá ag iarraidh fáil amach faoi na coláistí Gaeltachta, faoi scoláireachtaí agus faoi ranganna Gaeilge in Ard Mhacha.

Ar an oíche chéanna, bronnfaidh CAIRDE Teo agus Comhthionól Ard Mhacha Thiar dhá scoláireacht ar bheirt daoine óga as Cathair Ard Mhacha a bheas ag freastal ar choláiste Gaeltachta i nDún na nGall i mbliana.

Armagh will be hosting its very own Gaeltacht-themed night of entertainment on Saturday 12 May in Rafferty’s Cúchullain Bar, with storytellers, musicians, singers, poets and much more bringing a bit of the Donegal Gaeltacht to the heart of Armagh.

The evening will feature the world-renowned Armagh Rhymers who will be returning to their native city following recent tours of festivals in the US, Eastern Europe and the Celtic nations of Wales and Scotland. There will also be storytelling from local seanchaí and Lissumon native Ciarán Ó Maicín. A host  of musicians and singers will ensure an excellent night of Irish entertainment.

The social night is being organised by CAIRDE Teo, the West Armagh Consortium and Gael-Linn and coincides with a Gael-Linn training event for teachers and leaders at the Gaeltacht colleges in Machaire Rabhartaigh and Bun an Inbhir which will take place in Armagh earlier in the day. Music will begin at 8.30pm, admission is free and the evening is open to Irish speakers, learners and non-speakers alike. Plenty of information will be on hand for any parents or young people interested in finding out more about the Gaeltacht colleges, about scholarships or about learning Irish.

CAIRDE Teo and the West Armagh Consortium will also be presenting two scholarship awards on the evening to a pair of young people from Armagh City who will be attending the Gaeltacht colleges in Donegal this summer.