County Clare, IRELAND, Friday 5th January 2007 – Groups and individuals planning to take part in Seachtain na Gaeilge 2007 have been asked to register their event with Fóram Ghaeilge an Chláir. The recently established forum, which is comprised of members of various Irish language organisations throughout the county, has taken on the role of co-ordinating a countywide programme for the annual Festival.
Seachtain na Gaeilge is a non-profit organisation which helps to promote the Irish language and culture both at home and abroad within a two week festival held in March every year. Since its foundation by Conradh na Gaeilge in 1903, the festival has progressed and developed not alone on a national level but in countries such as Germany, Brazil, Canada, America and England.
“Seachtain na Gaeilge 2007, which takes place from March 3rd to 17th, is expected to be even more comprehensive than last year”, explained Emer Ní Fhlaitheartaigh, Irish Language Officer, Clare County Council.
She added, “Last year’s Programme of events involved hundreds of people of all ranges of fluency throughout Clare and included tours of Clare Museum for primary schools, readings by well-known authors in libraries throughout the County, lunchtime music sessions, translations of menus for restaurants and hotels and lectures on various topics of interest. Last year was also marked by the launch of a highly successful composition competition culminating in a concert that gave local talent an opportunity to perform in Glór Irish Music Centre.”
Clár na Seachtaine, meanwhile, will be launched at a high profile event in Glór Irish Music Centre in mid-February. All events included in this programme will be also be included in the National Programme for Seachtain na Gaeilge which will be available on www.snag.ie If you are organising an event and would like it to be included in this programme please contact either Emer Ní Fhlaitheartaigh, Comhairle Contae an Chláir on 065-6846222 or by email to gaeilge@clarecoco.ie or Breandán MacFhionnghaile, An Clár as Gaeilge on 065-6864474 or by email to clarasgaeilge@eircom.net on or before January 16th.
Clare County Council joined by a number of other leading agencies and community organisations, established Fóram Ghaeilge an Chláir in December 2006. The Forum’s main aim is to achieve a strategic, integrated approach to the promotion of the Irish language in all sectors of society in the County. Its membership includes Clare County Council, the GAA, An Clár as Gaeilge, Health Service Executive, Chambers of Commerce throughout the County, Conradh Na Gaeilge, Clare Vocational Educational Committee, Coiste Ghlór na nGael, Inis, Clare Community Forum, Clare Tourist Council, Coiste Logainmneacha an Chláir and Glór Irish Music Centre. The group will also benefit from the participation of Féile Scoil Drámaíochta and Féile na hInse.
Further details on Seachtain na Gaeilge are available from the Seachtain na Gaeilge website www.snag.ie or from Oifig na Gaeilge on 065-6846222.
-ENDS-
Note to Editor:
- Emer Ní Fhlaitheartaigh, Irish Language Officer, Clare County Council is available for interview and further comment. To arrange please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy Public Relations on 086-8534900 or media@dunphypr.com.
- Seachtain na Gaeilge is sponsored by Foras na Gaeilge. Foras na Gaeilge, the body responsible for the promotion of the Irish language throughout the whole island of Ireland, was established on 2nd December 1999. In the Good Friday Agreement, it was stated that a North/South Implementation body be set up to promote both the Irish language and the Ulster Scots language. Under the auspices of this body, Foras na Gaeilge will carry out all the designated responsibilities regarding the Irish language. This entails facilitating and encouraging the speaking and writing of Irish in the public and private arena in the Republic of Ireland, and in Northern Ireland where there is appropriate demand, in the context of part three of the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages.
