The Gaeltacht or bust!

Those adults wishing to improve their Irish and spend a little time in the Gaeltacht in the coming months are spoilt for choice – will you head for Ráth Chairn and the green fields of Meath or Waterford and its magnificent coastline?

First up on the calendar is Gaeltacht na nDéise in Co Waterford. A local company, Comhlucht Forbartha na nDéise, is running a weekend of events between Friday 19th and Sunday 21th September in this historic Irish-speaking area. Traditional music – ar ndóigh – will make an appearance and there will be guided walking tours of local attractions, wine tasting and storytelling to enlighten the visitor about the region’s unique cultural heritage.

Language Officer for Waterford County Council, Máire Seosaimhín Breathnach, says that it is a “new initiative for our community” and that what is on offer is “a really different visitor weekend package” suitable for small groups or couples with an interest in Irish culture.

While fluent Irish is not necessary, the organisers say that “a positive disposition” towards the language is important. So, if you have those cúpla focal rusting away in your ceann, perhaps it is am that you took your courage in your lámha and tóg an plunge into Gaeltacht na nDéise?

Details about prices and a full programme are available on www.deise.ie

If one trip to the Gaeltacht is not enough, can your euros stretch to a second one, this time in Ráth Chairn, Co Meath? Gael Linn are organising this cultural weekend between Friday 10th and Sunday 12th Oct.

Gael Linn’s Niamh de Búrca says that the course is aimed at adult learners “interested in improving their Irish in a pleasant, relaxed environment. This is the seventh consecutive year we have run this highly successful event, in partnership with the local co-operative, Comharchumann Ráth Chairn. The weekend will coincide with the annual Éigse Dharach Uí Chatháin festival and participants will have the opportunity to experience the rich cultural heritage of this living Gaeltacht at first hand”.

There will be conversational Irish language classes (intermediate level), workshops on sean-nós singing, a table quiz and plenty of ceol and caint with the local native speakers in the evenings, says de Búrca.

The Ráth Chairn Gaeltacht was founded in 1937 when families from Conamara transferred to the area under a land commission scheme and is situated just an hour from Dublin, between Trim and Athboy in Meath. Aaccommodation will be arranged for participants in the locality and the all-inclusive fee for the weekend is €180 per person.

Information: Seán Ó Ceallaigh at seanc@gael-linn.ie