Seachtain na Gaeilge: Connecting the Past and Future
Cork County Council has announced its Seachtain na Gaeilge 2025 programme, with Irish language events taking place in libraries, schools and online next month. Ireland’s largest annual celebration of our native language and culture, Seachtain na Gaeilge, runs from the 1st to the 17th of March.
Cork County Council’s Irish Office is teaming up with the Library and Arts Service to provide additional Irish language books across the library network. The Library Service will also highlight their Irish language book catalogue throughout Seachtain na Gaeilge, with something for everyone, including both fiction and non-fiction titles for adults and children.
Launching Cork County Council’s Seachtain na Gaeilge programme, Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Joe Carroll said,
Mayor
This year’s programme connects the past, present and future through story telling in its various forms, whether it is through reminiscence, folklore, comedy, music or artists talking about their relationships with Irish. The programme celebrates our unique culture and shows the variety of ways in which it can be expressed regardless of a person’s level of Irish, whether they are native speakers or learning their first cúpla focal.
Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Moira Murrell added,
Moira Murrell
Chief Executive
The variety of events for adults, children and young people across libraries and schools offers several ways to engage with our language and culture. Seachtain na Gaeilge is a way for people to come together to share, and most importantly, to enjoy Irish and celebrate how it can enrich our daily lives.
Storyteller Paddy O’Brien will present events for schools and Ciorcail Cainte groups in Charleville, Bandon, Skibbereen, Youghal, Clonakilty and Kinsale. Paddy is one of Cork County Council’s three storytellers in residence for the West Cork Islands.
Children and young people’s author Áine Ní Ghlinn will visit primary schools in Réidh na nDóirí, Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh, Baile Bhuirne, Cill na Martra, Cúil Aodha and Clondrohid. Áine held the prestigious title of Laureate na nÓg from 2020 – 2023 and was the first Children’s Laureate to write exclusively in Irish.
‘Torcán’ will perform in Gaelscoil Carrig Uí Leighin and Gaelcholáiste Carrig Uí Leighin as part of this year’s programme. ‘Torcán’, a new-style Trad band based in Cork, have a rich and complex sound with the piano accordion, whistle, saxophone, fiddle, bazouki, electric bass, guitar, and bodhrán.
‘Torcán’ will also take part in the ‘Creative Careers in Irish’ live webinar series for post-primary students. The programme runs from the 6th until the 27th of March. Post-Primary classes are invited to the webinars that will look at the variety of creative careers available to Irish speakers and those who are committed to promoting Irish traditional arts in a contemporary way. ‘Torcán’ will be joined by musician and artist Ceara Conway, broadcaster and teacher Ray Cuddihy, musician and drag artist Tadhg Griffin and writer and broadcaster Manchán Magan. Schools are invited to sign up for these free webinars by emailing [email protected] or calling 021 4285995.