Seachtain na Gaeilge 2026 is Celebrated in style
A range of events including a fantastic concert in County hall, a range of Library events, bilingual walk in Ardgillan and attending the Fís event in the Convention centre contributed to a fantastic Seachtain na Gaeilge 2026 in Fingal.
A range of events including a fantastic concert in County hall, a range of Library events, bilingual walk in Ardgillan and attending the Fís event in the Convention centre contributed to a fantastic Seachtain na Gaeilge 2026 in Fingal.
A range of events including a fantastic concert in County hall, a range of Library events, bilingual walk in Ardgillan and attending the Fís event in the Convention centre contributed to a fantastic Seachtain na Gaeilge 2026 in Fingal.The wonderfully talented musicians Éamonn de Barra, Paudie O’Connor, and Aoife Ní Chaoimh performed on Wednesday 11th March in the Atrium County Hall Swords to a huge crowd of over 80 enthusiastic attendees. This free Seachtain na Gaeilge celebration with Ceol, Craic and Gaeilge was 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.
Our Gaeltacht Scholarship scheme which began in 2024 has been hugely popular again this year with over 500 applications. There were 15 successful applicants from schools across the county from Blanchardstown to Balbriggan and Swords to Sutton and some attended the celebration in County Hall on March 11th.
There were lots of events in local libraries including Seó Draíochta (Magic Show) le Quentin Reynolds Seisiún Spraíúil le Sarah Sparkles, 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. On Thursday March 5th Head Gardener Dominica McKevitt and Irish Officer Bernie Kelly led a bilingual walk in Ardgillan Demesne
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 which was showcased at FÍS 2026 - at The Convention Centre Dublin (The CCD) on Thursday 12th March where we highlighted the Irish Language in Fingal County Council and An Leabharlann Fháilteach at Fingal Libraries.
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 not just during Seachtain na Gaeilge. Remember a language lives by being spoken – Beatha Teanga í a Labhairt!"
