Oíche Gaelach i Stormont

le Peadar de Bluit

Dé hAoine (7/12) seo chaite tionóladh ceiliúradh den Gaeilge i Stormont. D’eagraigh Uactarán Shinn Féin an ocáid, a thaispeáin an t-athrú atá ag teach tar pholaíocht na tíre seo. Bhí thart ar 200 daoine ag an ócáid a chonaic ceol, rince agus spraoi i rith na hoíche. D’fhreastal poblachtánaigh ó gach carn den tír ar Stormont ó Cill Choinnigh go Dún na nGall, agus Gaillimh go Blá Cliath. Bhain an uile duine a bhí ann sult ollmhór as an ócáid tábhachtach seo do Ghaeilgeoirí Shinn Féin, agus gníomhaithe na Gaeilge sna sé contae.

(Ógra Members with Irish American Comedian Des Bishop)

Last Friday a celebration of the Irish language was held in Stormont. The event organised by the Sinn Féin President, Gerry Adams, was a clear indicator of just how much things have changed in the six counties. There were in excess of 200 people in attendance enjoying the music, song and dance during the evening. Republicans from all over Ireland gathered in Stormont from Kilkenny to Donegal, and Galway to Dublin. Everyone who was there thoroughly enjoyed the night, which was an important night for Gaeilgeoirí in Sinn Féin as well as Irish language activists in the six counties.

Tá sé tábhachtach go gcaomhnaítear an suim sa Ghailge anois laistigh agus lasmuigh den gluaiseacht agus cabhrú le fás na hathbheochana atá i gcruth thar a bheith sláintiúil na laethanta seo. Ba cheart go ndéanfaidh Gaeilgeoirí cineadh dearfach Gaeilge a úsáid gach uair is féidir leo. Ní féidir le teanga maireachtaint gan daoine á labhairt. Tá sé de dhualgas ag Gaeilgeoirí ní hamháin an Ghaeilge a labhairt nuair is féidir leo, ach daoine eile a spreagadh í a labhairt chomh maith.

Mar a chéile le gach ócáid de chuid Sinn Féin na laethanta bhí grúpa láidir ó Ógra ann. Ní iomlán na daoine óga a bhí sa grúpa Ógra áfach, bhí daoine óga ann ó scoileanna áitiúla sa cheantar. Chomh maith le sin bhí roinnt iar-baill de Ógra Shinn Féin ag freastal ar an ócáid agus iad anois ag obair le Sinn Féin. Bhí sé spreagúil na daoine óga seo go léír a fheiscint ag freastal ar an ócáid seo ag cur na bréige faoi easpa suime an ógra sa Ghailge ina luí go hiomlán.

It is imperative the increasing interest in Irish is maintained both within and without the movement and that the ongoing revival of Irish is aided in whatever way possible. It is the responsibility of al Gaeilgeoirí to use and promote the Irish language at every chance possible. This responsibility is prevalent for young people more so than anyone else, and it appeared from Friday night that the youth of Ireland are more than willing to take up this mantle. Outside of the substantial Ógra contingent that can be seen at most Sinn Féin events these days, there was a number of young people from Gaelscoileanna in the immediate area, as well as many former members of Ógra now absorbed into the Sinn Féin structures. This significant group of young people showed that the future of the Irish was assured for the foreseeable furure.

Is cuid lárnach de oidhreacht is cultúr na hÉireann í an Gaeilge. Tá sé de dhulgas againn ar fad í a fhoghlaim is a labhairt. Mar a dúirt an Piarsach tráth,

“Tír gan teanga. Tír gan anam.”