Conradh na Gaeilge held its Ard-Fheis over the weekend with the event being opened by The President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins.
President Higgins speaking to the delegates at the opening ceremony in Dublin Castle said:
“With regard to the statistics I mentioned, they ought to be a pillar of hope for the Irish-speaking community in so far as we are going in the right direction. While there were fundamental weaknesses to be found in the various approaches taken by our governments as regards the language since the foundation of the State, it is obvious that the populace’s Irish-language ability, and the good will they feel towards Irish, is a strong foundation upon which we can strengthen and expand the use of the language. The language revival is happening and it is succeeding, and it will endure until we realise our aim.”
Cóilín Ó Cearbhaill, President of Conradh na Gaeilge, who welcomed the President at the opening ceremony and was later reappointed as President of Conradh na Gaeilge for another year told delegates following his unopposed election:.
“The President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, reminded the Conradh na Gaeilge 2016 Ard-Fheis in his speech that the language community ought to take heart from the work that is ongoing to promote Irish. That is not to say that there are not difficulties to overcome as the state system refuses to accept its rightful responsibility for the revival of the Irish language – it seems to me that the state has now adopted a policy of language preservation as opposed to language revival. One hundred years after Patrick Pearse stood his ground in the GPO, would anyone be confident of attempting to buy so much as a stamp there today through the medium of Irish?”
The Celtic League enjoys good relations with Conradh na Gaeilge and many Irish branch members are members of the body.
The Conradh HQ in Dublin off St Stephen’s Green has been the venue for many Celtic League AGMs and indeed the 2016 meeting will use that venue over this coming Easter.
Related links:
https://cnag.ie/en/
https://www.transceltic.com/…/worlds-largest-language-festiv…
Photo: Conradh na Gaeilge building Harcourt Street Dublin
BERNARD MOFFATT
Issued by: The Celtic News
03/03/16
THE CELTIC LEAGUE INFORMATION SERVICE.
The Celtic League established in 1961 has branches in the six Celtic Countries. It promotes cooperation between the countries and campaigns on a range of political, cultural and environmental matters. It highlights human rights abuse, military activity and socio-economic issues
