Get ready to Celebrate our culture during Seachtain na Gaeilge 2026 in Fingal

Fingal County Council is getting ready to celebrate our language and culture during Seachtain na Gaeilge 2026 which runs from 1-17 March. Irish has experienced a great revival recently so why not get involved as we encourage everyone to use whatever Irish they have – Bain Triail Aisti. Council events are taking place in County Hall Swords, in partnership with the Seamus Ennis Arts Centre, in Local Libraries and Ardgillan Demesne as well as many other events being organised by Irish language groups throughout the County.

Irish isn’t just for Seachtain na Gaeilge as we celebrate the language with activities in our Libraries and Community and Arts centres and at events. Our Gaeltacht Scholarship scheme which began in 2024 has been hugely popular again this year with over 500 applications. The 15 successful applicants from schools across the county from Blanchardstown to Balbriggan and Swords to Sutton have been informed and have been invited to attend our Seachtain na Gaeilge celebration in County Hall on March 11th.

Éamonn de Barra, Paudie O’Connor, and Aoife Ní Chaoimh are the wonderfully talented musicians who will perform on Wednesday 11th March in the Atrium County Hall Swords. This free Seachtain na Gaeilge celebration with Ceol, Craic and Gaeilge from 7 to 9pm is brought to you with support from The Seamus Ennis Arts Centre. Éamonn de Barra is a renowned Dublin-born traditional Irish musician, master flautist, pianist, tin whistle player and vocalist known for winning the TG4 Young Traditional Musician of the Year. Paudie O Connor and Aoife Ní Chaoimh are an accordion and fiddle duet from County Kerry whose music is heavily influenced by the Sliabh Lauchra musical tradition of East Kerry and North Cork. This annual celebration which brings together Irish language enthusiasts from the county is always very popular so don’t miss out.

Fingal County Council is a participant in the innovative Gaeilge 365 project with the aim of putting the Irish language at the heart of local authority services as well as its promotion on a community, social, cultural and economic basis. Fingal Staff members are involved in An Chomhairle Chraiceáilte, a project which will be showcased at FÍS 2026 - at The Convention Centre Dublin (The CCD) on Thursday 12th March where we will also be highlighting the Irish Language in Fingal County Council and An Leabharlann Fháilteach at Fingal Libraries.

Speaking about the festival Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. Tom O’Leary commented: “Irish is thriving at the moment and Seachtain Na Gaeilge is an opportunity for everyone, whether new to the language or fluent, to celebrate own unique language and try the Cúpla Focal."

Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly, said: “We are delighted to continue to support and celebrate the Irish language within the Council and the County and encourage everyone to try it in a fun and inclusive way with the many events taking place during Seachtain na Gaeilge. The continued popularity of our Gaeltacht Scholarship Scheme shows how young people continue to embrace the language and recognise its value including for employment opportunities particularly in the Public Sector."

There are lots of events taking place in local libraries including Seó Draíochta (Magic Show) le Quentin Reynolds in Skerries Library on 7 March at 2pm-3pm. There will be Seisiún Spraíúil le Sarah Sparkles, Thursday, 12th March at Malahide Library 10am-11am and Baldoyle at 12-1pm

Píosa Spraoi le Cupán Focail(s)! Fun with a Cup of Focals!) with Áine Gallagher, Folklore Stories Scéalta agus Spraoi (Stories and Fun) le Seosamh Ó Maolalaí, a bilingual poetry evening and much more See: https://www.fingal.ie/spring-fingal-libraries-2026

On Thursday March 5th Head Gardener Dominica McKevitt and Irish Officer Bernie Kelly will lead a bilingual walk in Ardgillan Demesne, Balbriggan where you can chat as Gaeilge ‘amuigh faoin aer’ in beautiful surroundings. Meet in front of the Castle (facing the sea) at 11am. There will be a Pop Up Gaeltacht in the Seamus Ennis Centre on March 19 at 5.30pm followed by a singing session.

Bernie Kelly Irish Language Officer said: "Our beautiful native language is one of the oldest surviving and is all around us whether it is in our placenames or our songs. I would encourage everyone to try a few words of Irish during Seachtain na Gaeilge and attend some of these events if you can. Remember a language lives by being spoken – Beatha Teanga í a Labhairt!"

For further information see https://www.fingal.ie/seachtain-na-gaeilge-2026 or please contact: [email protected] For further information on Seachtain na Gaeilge event see https://sceal.ie/imeachtai/