WHERE?
Uachtar Ard / Oughterard
WHEN?
17 February 2023
ORGANISER
Oughterard Courthouse and Geopark team
Ciorcal Comhrá / Pop up Gaeltacht in Oughterard
Oughterard Courthouse and the Joyce Country and Western Lakes Geopark team organised a very successful ciorcal comhrá event in the town last Friday the 17th of February 2023. One of the main objectives of the development of the Geopark is to promote the use of the Irish language throughout the region, whether inside or outside the Gaeltacht. The event was well attended with over 30 people present and kicked off with an introduction by Cepta Stevens of the Oughterard Courthouse organisation. Dominic Ó Móráin, tourism officer for the Geopark and fear an tí for the night, then did an interview of Bernie Ní Flatharta a freelance journalist and broadcaster from Moycullen with a long experience of reporting the news in both Irish and English. Stiofán Seoighe, the language plan officer for Dhúiche Sheoigheach agus Tuar Mhic Éadaigh, presented the ongoing language plan process in the gaeltacht and the type of events organised. This was followed by an introduction of the work of Glór na nGael by Seán Ó Cuirrín and how the organisation can help the development of Irish in a community outside of the Gaeltacht.
This event was put together to start a process of development of a group in Oughterard whose goal would be the promotion of Irish in the town. This could take the form of regular ciorcal comhrá meetings or or the development of a more in-depth language plan. The Geopark will organise similar events in the other two towns of the region, Headford and Ballinrobe, in the next few months and further events to link the various initiatives promoting Irish in the region.
Maith sibh agus lean ar aghaidh ag usaid ár dteanga.