A 12-day annual festival which aims to promote the use of Irish language across the world is set to start this weekend.
This year’s Seachtain na Gaeilge events include conversational evenings, children’s story readings, street céilís, blind dating, a table quiz and even surfing lessons ‘as Gaeilge’. All are aimed to encourage everyone to try their hand at the Irish language.
First held in 1903, Seachtain na Gaeilge has truly increased its global profile over the last century, with people in Britain and Europe and as far afield as the USA, Canada and Australia joining in the fun leading up to St Patrick’s Day, celebrated with parades the world over on Wednesday 17 March.
This year, prominent Irish speakers Aoibhínn Ní Shúilleabháin and Danny O’Reilly have been appointed ambassadors for Seachtain na Gaeilge 2010. Ní Shúilleabháin is a teacher, broadcaster and 2005 Rose of Tralee winner, while O’Reilly is a Dublin-born songwriter and musician with The Coronas.
“I’m thrilled to be involved with Seachtain na Gaeilge 2010 and feel very privileged to be an ambassador for the Irish language during the festival,” said Ní Shúilleabháin.
“It is such a great opportunity for everyone to experiment and have some fun with their ‘cúpla focail’ whether it be saying ‘Go raibh maith agat’ to the bus driver or gossiping with your friends over a cup of tea!”
Meanwhile, RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta has announced it is to run several special broadcasts during the festival.
The station said that starting from Saturday 6 March it will run a new series, Ar an gCoigríocht, until the summer. It follows the exploits of 15 non-Irish speakers with an interest in the language from around the world who relate their experiences of Ireland, and how their lives have changed since coming to live here.
RTÉ will also run a number of other themed programmes across its radio and digital platforms.
For more information about the Seachtain na Gaeilge festival, visit www.snag.ie
