cairde teo

Ní bheidh aifreann na Gaeilge ar siúl i seipéal Choláiste Phádraig ar an Satharn seo, 20 Aibreán. Beidh an t-aifreann ar ais ar an 27 Aibreán ar 5.30pm.

There will be no Irish language mass this Saturday, 20 April, in St Patrick’s Grammar School chapel. The Irish language mass will return on Saturday 27 April at 5.30pm.

Beidh féasta mór ceoil in Ard Mhacha Dé Sathairn 20 Aibreán nuair a bheas an mórghrúpa ceoil Bréag sa chathair den chéad uair. Tá ardiomrá ar Bréag, a bheas ag ceol i mBeár Uí Cheallaigh, ar fud na hÉireann mar gheall ar a gcuid coirmeacha bríomhara agus tá lucht leanúna díograiseacha acu a bhaineann sult as an meascán mearaí de cheol Ceilteach, reggae, ska agus domhanda. Beidh an t-airgead uilig ón oíche ag dul don charthanas ‘Rith do Dháithí’. Cuirfidh síntiús beag iontrála de £5 go mór leis an chúis fhiúntach seo.

Bunaíodh Bréag sa chéad áit le hairgead a thiomsú do Ghaelscoileanna Bhéal Feirste ach tá siad anois ar cheann de na bannaí is mó clú i saol na Gaeilge. Le blianta beaga anuas, bhí Bréag ar an stáitse in áiteanna chomh fada sin i gcóngar le Sri Lanka, agus tá cumasc úr Ceilteach forbartha acu nár chualathas riamh roimhe. Is de chéad ghlúin Gaeilgeoirí uirbeacha Bhéal Feirste, tá a n-oidhreacht Ghaelach le cluinstin tríd na liricí agus tríd an cheol. Le stíleanna ó Oirthear na hEorpa agus ó Mheiriceá Laidineach, chomh maith le fréamhacha reggae agus ska, tugann Bréag eispéireas ar leith don éisteoir, agus don rinceoir de ghnáth.

Cheoil Bréag ar fud na hÉireann, na hEorpa agus na hÁise, agus phill siad ar Thír na mBascach agus ar an Eilvéis go mion minic. Bhí siad mar chuid d’Fhéile Ealaíon Shligigh, d’Fhéile an Phobail agus d’fhéilte eile, agus bhí siad ar an ardán céanna leis an bhanna clúiteach Iamacách The Wailers faoi dhó, chomh maith le Shane McGowan, Sly & Robbie, Bad Manners, Steel Pulse, The Beat, Mano Negra, Neville Staple, Alabama 3, Lee Thompson, The Rubber Bandits, The Hothouse Flowers, Black 47, agus Kila. Bhí Bréag le feiceáil ar an teilifís go minic fosta ar RTÉ, ar BBC agus ar TG4, chomh maith le sealanna ar theilifís Shrí Lanka, Thír na mBascach agus na Fraince.

Cuirfidh an ghig le ceolchoirm mhór Nathan Carter in Ard Mhacha agus beidh fáilte mhór roimh lucht freastail na ceolchoirme sin bualach isteach chuig Beár Uí Cheallaigh ina dhiaidh le heispéireas iontach de stíl úrnua ceoil Ghaelaigh. Tá an cheolchoirm á maoiniú ag Cairde Teo le ceiliúradh a dhéanamh ar Bhliain na Gaeilge, agus rachaidh an t-airgead uilig ar an oíche fo dtí an carthanas Run for Dáithí.

Armagh will be treated to a music extravaganza on Saturday 20 April when the extremely popular band Bréag visit the Cathedral City for the first time. Bréag, who will be playing in Kelly’s Bar, are renowned throughout Ireland for their lively concerts and have gathered a cult following throughout the island and further afield with their infectious brand of modern Celtic, reggae, ska and world music. All proceeds from the night will go to the ‘Run for Dáithí’ charity appeal. A small admission fee of £5 will contribute to this very worthy cause. 

Formed initially to raise money for local Irish language schools, Bréag have become one of the most refined and original acts of their kind. Over the last decade, having performed as far afield as Sri Lanka, Bréag have developed a Celtic fusion never before heard. The first generation of urban Gaelic speakers in modern Belfast, their Gaelic heritage permeates through their lyrics and music. With Eastern European and Latin American traditional styles, branched with roots of reggae and ska, Bréag give the listener, and inevitably the dancer, a unique musical experience.

Bréag have performed throughout Ireland, Europe and Asia, and have returned to the Basque country and Switzerland on numerous occasions. Having performed at the Sligo Arts Festival, Féile an Phobail and other festivals, Bréag have twice shared a stage with the infamous Jamaican reggae outfit The Wailers, as well as Shane McGowan, Sly & Robbie, Bad Manners, Steel Pulse, The Beat, Mano Negra, Neville Staple, Alabama 3, Lee Thompson, The Rubber Bandits, The Hothouse Flowers, Black 47, and Kila. Bréag have also made numerous television appearances on RTÉ, BBC and TG4, as well as performances on Sri Lankan, Basque and French television.

The gig will complement the musical the Nathan Carter concert in Armagh and patrons attending the concert in the Athletic Grounds are welcome to call in to Kelly’s afterwards to experience a fascinating twist on modern Irish language music. The concert is being sponsored by Cairde Teo to celebrate Bliain na Gaeilge, Irish language year, and all proceeds from the night will go to the Run for Dáithí charity.

Tá Colmcille i ndiaidh a fhógairt go bhfuil scéim sparánachtaí oscailte do dhaoine atá ag iarraidh freastal ar chúrsaí cónaithe i nGaeilge na hAlban i 2013. Tá an scéim ag díriú ach go háirithe ar chúrsaí ag Rubha an Fhèich in Eilean Leòdhais, agus ag Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. Beidh tús áite ag mic léinn lánaimseartha 3ú leibhéal, ag daoine ar féidir leo a léiriú go bhfuil ceangal acu le hobair na Gaeilge, agus a bhfuil deis agus toil acu nascanna a thógáil le pobal Ghaeilge na hAlban agus ag daoine atá ag cur isteach den chéad uair, nó nach bhfuil níos mó ná dhá chúrsa déanta acu. Is féidir le mic léinn agus le daoine gan tuarastal iarratas a dhéanamh ar dheontas breise ar luach £200 le haghaidh taistil agus bia. Íocfar an deontas seo i ndiaidh láimhe, agus ar bhun admhálacha. Is é 03.05.2013 an spriocdháta le haghaidh iarratais ar sparánachtaí.

Cúrsaí ag Rubha an Fhèich Eilean Leòdhais 2013

12-30 Iúil & 20 – 17 Iúil

www.ravenspoint.co.uk/cursaichean-gaidhlig.html

Cúrsaí ag Sabhal Mòr Ostaig 2013

13 – 20 Iúil 2013 (bunrang)
20 – 27 Iúil 2013 (meánrang/ardrang)

www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/gd/cursaichean/cursaichean-goirid/samhradh-2013/ (leagan Gàidhlig)

www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/en/cursaichean/cursaichean-goirid/samhradh-2013/ (leagan Béarla)

Chuaigh grúpa Gaeilgeoirí amach chun páirce ag Páirc Esler ag an deireadh seachtaine le hionadaíocht a dhéanamh ar son Ard Mhacha mar chuid de Chomórtas Peile na nGael ar an Iúr. Tháinig na peileadóirí as achan chearn den chontae leis an cheangal idir an Ghaeilge agus an Cumann Lúthchleas Gael a cheiliúradh. Bhí an comórtas á reáchtáil mar chuid d’Ard-Fheis Chonradh na Gaeilge a bhí ar siúl ar an Iúr an deireadh seachtaine seo caite.

Bhí imreoirí as Eanach Mór, Tulaigh Sháráin, Dromainn Tí, An tIúr, Béal Átha an Airgid, Port an Dúnáin agus Clann Éireann ar fhoireann Ard Mhacha. D’imir siad in eadán na nGael Óg as Baile Átha Cliath, Ollscoil Uladh Chúil Raithin agus Laochra Loch Lao as Béal Feirste. Club lánGhaeilge atá sna Gaeil Óga atá ar an fhód le cúpla bliain anuas agus an-rath orthu. An deireadh seachtaine céanna, bhí breis agus 60 Gaeilgeoirí a d’imir leis an chlub ar dhá fhoireann peile, ar fhoireann iomána agus ar fhoireann pheil na mban. Imríonn Gaeilgeoirí ó chlubanna éagsúla i mBéal Feirste le Laochra Loch Lao agus bíonn siad páirteach i gComórtas Peile na Gaeltachta gach bliain in éineacht leis na Gaeil Óga agus foirne Gaeltachta. Bhí mic léinn le Gaeilge as Contae Aontroma, Contae Thír Eoghain agus Contae Ard Mhacha ag imirt le hOllscoil Uladh agus d’imir Gaeil Ard Mhacha leis an dá fhoireann.

Chomh maith leis an chomórtas do na fir, imríodh cluiche iomaíoch pheil na mban idir Gaeil Óga Bhaile Átha Cliath agus Laochra Loch Lao Bhéal Feirste. Sháraigh Gaeil Ard Mhacha Na Gaeil óga agus Ollscoil Uladh ach níor éirigh leo Gaeil Bhéal Feirste a chloí. Bhí ionadaíocht ag Ard Mhacha ar fhoireann Bhéal Feirste le Niamh Nic Ruairí ón Lorgain. Sa deireadh, bhí Laochra Loch Lao ró-láidir sa dá chód agus thóg siad an dá corn ar ais go Béal Feirste iad, ach ba é an príomnhbhuaiteoir ar an lá ná an teanga nó ní raibh focal Béarla le cluinstin ar an pháirc.

Dúirt Seán Ó Maoilsté, Oifigeach Gaeilge le CAIRDE Teo in Ard Mhacha agus ball de Chumann De Bhuilbh Tóin agus Naomh Éanna i nDoire Mhic Cais, dúirt sé gur bhain a raibh i láthair an-sult as an lá. “Deis iontach do na himreoirí a gcuid Gaeilge a chleachtadh agus molaim lucht eagraithe na hArdFheise as an chomórtas a chur san áireamh. Bíonn neart Gaeilgeoirí ag imirt peile, iomána agus camógaíochta ach is annamh a bhíonn deis acu an teanga a chleachtadh, go háirithe ar an pháirc imeartha. Ba chóir go raibh an CLG i bhfad níos gníomhaí leis na deiseanna seo a chruthú do Ghaeil. Tá obair iontach ar siúl ag baill aonair sna clubanna agus sna contaethe agus fiú ar Choiste na Gaeilge de chuid Pháirc an Chrócaigh ach tá sé thar am do na húdaráis aitheantas ceart a thabhairt do bhunreacht na heagraíochta.”

Tá Seán ina bhall de Choiste Gaeilge CLG Ard Mhacha agus chuir sé in iúl gur ríthábhachtach le Bord an Chontae sin an Ghaeilge. “Cuireann CLG Ard Mhacha béim ar an teanga trí hailt a chur sna cláir, trí phróifílí dátheangacha imreora, trí fhógraíocht, tríd an Scór, trí scoláireachtaí agus bailiúcháin a eagrú, trí dhianchúrsaí a sholáthar agus trí cheardlanna rialta. Tá roinnt mhaith imreoirí idirchontae ag tacú lenár n-iarrachtaí agus tá siad breá sásta a gcuid féin a dhéanamh chun leas na Gaeilge in Ard Mhacha.”

A group of Irish speakers took to the football field at Páirc Esler in Newry last weekend to represent Armagh in a seven aside football competition for Gaeilgeoirí. The players came from across the county to strengthen the link between the Irish language and the Gaelic Athletic Association. The competition was held as part of Conradh na Gaeilge’s Annual General Meeting, which was held in Newry over Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Armagh Gaels were represented by players from Annaghmore, Tullysaran, Dromintee, Newry, Silverbridge, Portadown and Lurgan. They played Na Gaeil Óga from Dublin, University of Ulster Coleraine and Laochra Loch Lao from Belfast. Na Gaeil óga is the Irish language GAA club, which was set up in the capital a couple of years ago to allow GAA players to use Irish, their first language and the first language of our country, and they have been blossoming ever since. The same weekend, over 60 Irish speakers represented the club on the two football teams, the hurling team and the ladies’ football team in the club. Irish speakers from various clubs across Belfast play for Laochra Loch Lao and they take part in the annual Gaeltacht Football Competition alongside Na Gaeil Óga and teams from the Gaeltacht. Irish speaking students from Counties Antrim, Tyrone and Armagh played for University of Ulster and the Armagh contingent played for both teams.

As well as the male competition, an enjoyable and competitive game of ladies’ football between Dublin’s Na Gaeil Óga and Belfast’s Laochra Loch Lao was also played. Gaeil Ard Mhacha defeated Na Gaeil Óga and University of Ulster but were unable to challenge Laochra Loch Lao. Armagh was also represented in the ladies’ football with Niamh Nic Ruairí from Lurgan lining out for the Belfast side. In the end, Laochra Loch Lao proved too strong in the two codes and brought the trophies back to Béal Feirste, but the main winner on the day was undoubtedly the Irish language as not a word of English was spoke on the field.

Seán Ó Maoilsté, Irish language development officer with CAIRDE Teo in Armagh and member of Wolfe Tone and St Enda’s GAC in Derrymacash, said that everyone who took part really enjoyed the occasion. “This was a fantastic opportunity for the players to use their Irish and I can only praise the organisers of the ArdFheis for including the competition. There are a lot of Irish speakers playing football, hurling and camogie, but it is not very often that they get to use the language, particularly on the playing field. The GAA should be a lot more proactive in providing opportunities such as this for Irish speakers. There is plenty of good work being carried out by individuals within the GAA, by county boards and by Croke Park’s Irish Language Committee, but it is high time that GAA authorities started to fully recognise the principles stated in the GAA constitution in relation to the preservation of our language.”

Seán is a member of the Armagh GAA Irish language committee and he stated that the Armagh County Board places great importance on the Irish language. “Armagh GAA is doing a lot of work to promote our national language with articles in programmes, bilingual player profiles, signs and advertising, Irish used in Scór, money collections, awarding scholarships, Irish classes and workshops for club representatives. Many of the inter-county players have some degree of Irish, whether that be a cúpla focal or a fluent speaker, but they are extremely supportive of the language and are happy to do their bit to promote the Irish language in Armagh.”

Beidh Aifreann na Gaeilge i gColáiste Phádraig ag toiseacht  i ndiaidh sos na Cásca Dé Sathairn 13ú Aibreán agus leanfaidh sé ar aghaidh gach Satharn ar 5.30 i.n. go dtí 22ú Meitheamh, nuair a bheas sos an tSamhraidh ann.

The Irish language mass in St Patrick’s College will recommence following the Easter break on Saturday 13 April at 5.30pm and will continue each Saturday at 5.30pm until 22 June, when it will stop for the Summer break.

Seó Spóirt is one of the best sports programmes produced in this country. It goes out weekly on TG4 with some of the best GAA analysts offering their opinion on upcoming football and hurling games. Armagh is often represented on the show with Jarlath Burns and Charlie Vernon providing their insight on occasion. But did you know that the Armagh connection goes further. Gemma Ní Chionnaith is a roving reporter on the show, visiting GAA grounds across the country, and despite her fierce support for her native Galway, she is proud of her own Armagh heritage. Gemma spoke to Armagh GAA in the lead-up to today’s game about Seó Spóirt and about her grandfather Gerard McAlinden who played for Wolfe Tone GAC in Derrymacash back in the 1950s.

Tá Seó Spóirt ar TG4 ar cheann de na cláir spóirt is fearr a chraoltar in Éirinn. Bíonn na mílte ag súil go mór le tuairimí stuama an laoich SBB a chluinstin achan seachtain. Tá féith ar leith ag an Chiarraíoch cothrom Dara Ó Cinnéide a mhealann an lucht féachana chuig an clár agus bíonn lucht leanúna an spóirt in Éirinn ag dúil go mór leis an Aoine le fáil amach cé acu saineolaí a bheas ar an tolg in éineacht leis na saoithe an tseachtain seo.

I measc na saineolaithe a bhíonn ar an chlár go minic, tá buíon bheag Gaeilgeoirí as Ard Mhacha. Is eol don saol mór anois go bhfuil Gaeilge ag Iarlaith s’againn féin, agus tá a chruth greannta sa tolg sa stiúdeo thiar i gConamara. Cuireann sé bród ar phobal na Gaeilge in Ard Mhacha go mbíonn Iarlaith le feiceáil agus le cluinstin go mion minic ar TG4 mar thráchtaire agus mar anailísí nó cuireann sé in iúl don tír go bhfuil an Ghaeilge beo beathach in Ard Mhacha. Is minic a shuigh Charlie Vernon ar an tolg céanna ar Seó Spóirt le dearcadh an imreora a chur in iúl don phainéal agus lena chuid saineolais a scaipeadh linn uilig. Tá an t-ádh linn in Ard Mhacha go bhfuil imreoir mór le rá againn atá sásta ár dteanga féin a úsáid agus tá an t-ádh le TG4 go bhfuil Charlie breá ábalta chuige.

Ach ní hiad Iarlaith agus Charlie amháin a sheasann an fód ar son Ard Mhacha. Tá bean amháin eile a thaistealaíonn an tír le crua a chur ar imreoirí ó gach contae.  Gaillimheach go smior í Gemma Ní Chionnaith, an láithreoir agus tuairisceoir óg, nó sin a shílfeá cibé. Ach cinntíonn Gemma go bhfuil ionadaíocht sheasta ag an Úllghort ar an chlár. In ainneoin na canúna, tá Gemma bródúil as an cheangal atá aici le Contae Ard Mhacha nó is ann a rugadh agus a tógadh a h-athair mór, Gerard McAlinden. D’imir Gerard peil le Cumann De Bhuilbh Tóin i nDoire Mhic Cais sna 50idí lena dheartháireacha ach bhog sé as sin go dtí an Spidéal i nGaeltacht Chois Fharraige na Gaillimhe, áit ar oscail sé teach tábhairne agus áit ar thóg sé a chlann ann.

Inniu agus peileadóirí na Gaillimhe linn in Ard Mhacha, an mbeidh cos ag Gemma sa dá champa? Bhuel, seo a bhí le rá aici féin, “Sílim gurbh é an rud is sábháilte agus is cliste ná go mbeadh cos agam sa dá champa! Rugadh agus tógadh i nGaillimh mé fhéin, ach tá an ceangal atá agam féin agus mo mhuintir le hArd Mhacha thar a bheith láidir i gcónaí. Cé go bhfuil 150 míle idir muid féin agus ár ngaolta ó thuaidh, labhrann muid lena chéile ar an bhfón gach seachtain agus bíonn muid ar cuairt ar a chéile go minic.”

Cár chuir Gemma suim i gcúrsaí spóirt ar dtús? “Bhí an teach baile buaillte ar an bpáirc peile – Cumann Peile Mícheál Breathnach. Bhíodh mé fhéin agus mo dheartháir ann ó moch maidin go hoíche. Is ann a chaith muid ár gcuid ama ar fad agus is dócha gur ansin a thosaigh an spéis a bhí agam sa gCLG. Faraor, ní raibh mórán maitheasa ionam mar imreoir, mar sin d’iomapigh mé ar an dtuairsceoireacht!”

Cuireadh tús leis an chlár Seó Spóirt ar TG4 seacht mbliana ó shin agus tá Gemma ag obair leo ó shin. “Bíonn mé ar an mbóthar gach seachtain ag taisteal ó cheann ceann na tíre. Níl páirc peile sa tír nach raibh mé ann faoin tráth seo! Bíonn deis agam bainisteoirí agus imreoirí an CLG a chur faoi agallamh gach aon seachtain agus taithníonn an obair thar cionn liom.”

Seó Spóirt on TG4 is one of the best sports programmes broadcast in Ireland. Thousands tune in every week to hear the learned thoughts of the one and only Seán Bán Breathnach, famous for his commentary on Katie Taylor’s heroic performance in London amongst other things. Dara Ó Cinnéide is the show’s presenter and the legendary Kerryman manages to appeal to the audience with his balanced opinions keeping the other analysts in check. The viewers also look forward every week to finding out which sports star will be making a guest appearance. 

A couple of Armagh Gaeilgeoirí are among the experts who have joined Dara and Seán Bán on the show. We all know that Jarlath Burns is a fluent Irish speaker and he has been guest analyst on a number of occasions. It is a great source of pride for the Irish language community in Armagh that one of our all-time greats is a regular on TG4 as commentator or analyst and he lets the country know that the Irish language is alive and well here in County Armagh. Senior footballer Charlie Vernon is also a familiar face on the show, voicing his opinion from a player’s perspective. We are fortunate in Armagh that such a prominent footballer is willing to speak and promote our own national language and TG4 are fortunate that Charlie is more than capable of holding his own.

It’s not just Jarlath and Charlie who represent the Orchard County. The show has a roving reporter who travels the country to interrogate inter-county players. Gemma Ní Chionnaith is a proud Galway woman, but she ensures that Armagh has a permanent presence on the programme. In spite of the Galway dialect, Gemma is proud of her link with County Armagh. Her grandfather Gerard McAlinden was born and raised in north Armagh. Gerard played for Wolfe Tone GAC, Derrymacash back in the 50s alongside his brothers, before moving to An Spidéal in the Galway Gaeltacht of Cois Fharraige, where he set up a pub and reared his family.

Today as the Galway footballers visit the Athletic Grounds, will Gemma be torn between the two teams? Well, here is what she had to say, “I think the smartest and the safest thing to say is that I’ll be shouting for both Armagh and Galway! I was born and raised in Galway , but my Armagh connection is as strong as ever. Although there are 150 miles between ourselves and my relations up north, we speak to each other on the phone every week and we often visit each other too.

How did Gemma first develop her interest in sport? “Our house was right beside the football field – Cumann Peile Mícheál Breathnach (Mícheál Breathnach GAC). Myself and my brother used to play at the field from dawn to dusk. We spent most of our time there and that’s where I developed my love for the GAA. Unfortunately, I was never any good at playing, so I turned to the reporting!”

Seó Spóirt began on TG4 seven years ago and Gemma has been working on the programme from the start. “I travel the length and breadth of Ireland each week. There’s hardly a field in the country that I haven’t been to by now! I am fortunate that I get the opportunity to interview GAA managers and players each week and I really enjoy my job.”

Is féidir féachaint ar Seó Spóirt gach Aoine ag a 8.30pm ar TG4. Coinnigh siúl ar an sceideal leis an am cruinn a fháil.
You can watch Seó Spóirt on Fridays on TG4. Keep an eye on TV listings for times. The show has English language subtitles.