14/03/2023 - Ceolchoirm Charraig Airt do Sheachtain na Gaeilge

Cuid den tslua a bhain sult agus spraoi as ceolchoirm Sheachtain na Gaeilge i gCarraig Airt Dé Sathairn seo caite

Bhí oíche spleodrach, sultmhar i Halla an Pharóiste, Carraig Airt oíche Dé Sathairn seo caite nuair a rinne muintir an pharóiste, idir óg agus aosta ceiliúradh ar an teanga agus ar an chultúr mar chuid d’imeachtaí Sheachtain na Gaeilge.  Chomh maith leis sin, thacaigh siad go fial agus go flaithiúil le Seirbhís Dóiteáin Mhíobhaí, seirbhís atá ag feidhmiú go hiomlán ar bhonn deonach.

Ba cheolchoirm í a bhí eagraithe ag Rannóg na Gaeilge, Comhairle Contae Dhún na nGall i gcomhar le LPT Thuaisceart Dhún na nGall.  Chuir Róise Ní Laifeartaigh, Oifigeach Gaeilge Pobail, Rannóg na Gaeilge, fáilte mhóir chroíúil roimh lán an tí a bhí bailithe isteach. Chuir sí a chomhleacaí, Séan Ó Daimhín, Oifigeach Seirbhísí Gaeilge, Rannóg na Gaeilge, in aithne agus ba é an té a rinne fear a’tí ar feadh na hoíche.

Dúirt Seán go raibh sé thar a bheith sásta a bheith i láthair agus mhol sé do dhaoine cibé méid Gaeilge a bhí acu a úsáid agus  gan a bheith scanraithe agus iad i measc cainteoirí líofa Gaeilge. Thug sé le fios nach raibh Gaeilge ar bith aige féin go dtí go dtug sé faoi fhoghlaim na Gaeilge agus beagnach fiche bliain bainte amach aige.

I measc an tslua, bhí an Clr Micheál Choilm Mac Giolla Easpuig, Cathaoirleach Choiste na Gaeilge agus tháinig sé chun ardáin chun tús a chur le himeachtaí na hoíche.  Labhair an Clr Mac Giolla Easpuig go paiseanta faoin Ghaeilge agus faoi cé chomh tábhachtach is atá sé don phobal oibriú le chéile chun a chinntiú go slánófar an teanga don chéad ghlúin eile.

Dúirt sé nach aon strainséir é don taobh sin tíre agus gur iomaí uair a chaith sé i gcuideachta a sheanchara, Charlie Mhandaí Ó Gallchóir as na Dúnaibh (nach maireann) agus iad i mbun feachtais ar mhaithe le leas na teanga.

Bhain an lucht féachana sult as an cheol, amhránaíocht, damhsa Ghaelach, sceitse grinn agus dánta a bhí ar chlár na ceolchoirme.  Bhí páistí ó thrí scoil an pharóiste páirteach sa cheolchoirm.  Rinne na Naíonáin Mhóra i Scoil Naomh Bríd, Na Dúnaibh damhsa Gaelach agus d’aithris roinnt páistí eile dánta go healaíonta.

Splancanna a bhain Sophie Elliott ó Scoil Eoin Baiste, Carraig Airt ó urlár adhmaid an ardáin agus poirt á ndamhsa aici, ba léir a cumas agus a tallann.  Ina cuideachta ón scoil fosta, bhí scór páistí a cheol amhrán agus a d’aithris dán agus bhain an lucht féachana an-phléisiúir as a dtaispeántas.

Ó cheantar álainn na nDúnaibh is ea Dónal Mac Daibhéid agus cheol sé amhráin Ghaeilge ar a shuaimhneas agus ní ualach ar bith dó athrú ón cheol traidisiúnta go ceol tíre.  Ba léir go raibh aird an lucht féachana aige ó thús go deireadh.

Thóg Aisteoirí Mhíobhaí, baicle fear sa chás seo, croí na ndaoine lena sceitse grinn agus ní fios an raibh siad ag caint as a seasamh nó nach raibh!  Cibé, níor bhain sin de ghreann an sceitse agus bhí an lucht féachana sna trithí gáire ag coimhéad ar a gcuid geáitsí ar an ardán.

Chuaigh Buíon Cheoil Scoil Cholmcille, Dubhlinn Riabhach go mór i bhfeidhm orthu siúd i láthair lena gcuid port agus amhrán.  Bhí an-teacht i láthair ag an ghrúpa seo ar an ardán agus ba shuntasach an meascán d’uirlisi ceoil a bhí acu.  Beidh siad le feiceáil arís sa mhórshiúl ar Lá Fhéile Pádraig i gCarraig Airt.

Sheas Caoimhín Mac a’Bhaird sa bhearna bhaoil nuair a bhí gá leis agus cheol sé amhráin bhreá bhríomhara agus bhí go leor eile idir lámha aige ar an oíche chomh maith.

Chuir an ceoltóir, cumadóir, drámadóir agus eile, Bri Carr tús agus deireadh le himeachtaí na hoíche, bean a bhfuil an ceol aici ón chliabhán.  Cheol sí amhrán nua-chumtha dá cuid féin ‘Is tú mo chúis’ agus tuilleadh amhrán lena chois sin.

Tógadh bailiúchán €1,200 do Sheirbhís Dóiteáin Mhíobhaí agus bronnfar an t-airgead seo orthu go luath. 

Ní féidir críochnú gan tagairt speisialta a dhéanamh don Choiste Fáilteachais agus na mná tí a chuir sóláistí ar fáil don tslua i rith na hoíche.  Agus do na fir chúraim, Micheal agus Donnelly, a chinntigh go raibh deireadh in ord sa halla.

Táthar ag súil go spreagfar ócáidí mar seo muintir na háite pilleadh ar an Ghaeilge atá i bhfolach ina n-intinn  nó tabhairt faoi fhoghlaim na Gaeilge as an úr agus thug Póilín Uí Ghallachóir, Oifigeach Pleanála Teanga sa cheantar cuireadh do dhaoine teagmhail a dhéanamh léi i dtaca leis seo.

Mar a deirtear ‘ar scáth a chéile …’

There was an enjoyable and entertaining night in the Parish Hall, Carraig Airt last Saturday night when the people of the parish, both young and old, celebrated the Irish language and culture as part of the ongoing Seachtain na Gaeilge events. In addition, the community gave very generously to the collection taken up for the Mevagh Fire Service, a service operating entirely on a voluntary basis. 

The concert was organized by Rannóg na Gaeilge, Donegal County Council in collaboration with LPT Thuaisceart Dhún na nGall. 

Róise Ní Laifeartaigh, Oifigeach Gaeilge Pobail, Rannóg na Gaeilge gave a warm welcome to the large crowd in attendance.  She introduced her colleague, Séan Ó Daimhín, Oifigeach Seirbhísí Gaeilge, Rannóg na Gaeilge and he was the fear a’tí for the night.

Seán said that he was very happy to be present and encouraged people to use whatever amount of Irish they had and not to be intimidated when they were in the company of fluent Irish speakers. He revealed that he himself did not speak any Irish until he started learning Irish when he was almost twenty years old.

Among the crowd, was Cllr Micheál Choilm Mac Giolla Easpuig, Cathaoirleach of Choiste na Gaeilge and he came forward to commence the night's proceedings. Cllr Mac Giolla Easpuig spoke passionately about the Irish language and how important it is for the community to work together to ensure that the language is preserved for the next generation.

He said that he was no stranger to that area and that in fact he had spent many times in the company of his old friend, Charlie Mhandaí Ó Gallchóir from Na Dúnaibh (deceased) when they were campaigning for the Irish language.

The audience enjoyed the music, singing, Irish dancing, comedy sketch, poetry etc that formed the programme of events for the night.  Children from three parish schools took part in the concert. The Naíonáin Mhóra in Scoil Naomh Bríd, Na Dúnaibh performed an Irish dance and some other children recited poems very eloquently.

Sophie Elliott from Scoil Eoin Baiste, Carraig Airt sent sparks flying from the wooden stage floor with here impressive heavy jig and slip jig, her ability and talent being very evident. Also from Scoil Eoin Baiste, was a group of 12 children who sang a song and recited a poem, and their performance was thoroughly enjoyed by the audience.

Dónal Mac Daibhéid hails from the scenic area of Na Dúnaibh and he sang some favourites as Gaeilge at his leisure.  It is no toil for Dónal to interchange between traditional Irish songs and country music. It was clear that he had captured the audience's attention from start to finish.

Aisteoirí Mhíobhaí, a group of men in this instance, lifted the hearts of the audience with their comedy sketch and while they may have been off-script on occasion, it just added to the entertainment value of the performance.  The audience was in convulsions watching their antics on the stage.

The Dubhlinn Riabhach School Band made a great impression on those present with their songs and tunes. This group had a great presence on stage and their mix of musical instruments was remarkable. They will be seen again in the St. Patrick's Day procession in Carraig Airt.

Caoimhín Mac a’ Baird came to the rescue when required to do so on the night. He entertained the audience with upbeat songs together with helping out with other tasks along the way.

Bri Carr, the musician, composer, dramatist, amongst other things, started and ended the night's events.  She sang a newly composed song 'Is tú mo chúis' followed by a number of her own songs, finishing off the night with ‘Amhrán na bhFiann’.

A collection of €1,200 was taken for the Mevagh Fire Service and a presentation will shortly be made. 

It would be remiss to conclude without making a special reference to the Welcoming Committee and to extend a special thank you to the ladies who provided refreshments throughout the night. And likewise, to the caretakers, Micheal, and Donnelly, who ensured that, under their watchful eye, all was in order. 

It is hoped that events like this will encourage the local people to embrace the Irish language once again or to set about learning the language from the start.  Póilín Uí Ghallachóir, Language Planning Officer invited those interested in the language to contact her and offered all the support that she can give. 

Mar a deirtear ‘ar scáth a chéile …’