Seachtain na Gaeilge 2010.

Plenty of Fun in Loughrea

Seachtain na Gaeilge held a wide range of events for all ages in Loughrea up until Lá Fhéile Phádraig on 17th March.

Some of the events were aimed directly at schoolchildren such as ‘Spraoicheist’ with Gael Linn, music workshops and concerts, ‘Spraoi’ with the pre-school children in Loughrea’s Naíonra Tigh na Sí. Irish language drama and singing workshops were preparing for ‘Féile Raifteirí 26-28 Márta’ as visits were organized with ‘Branar’ drama group and Treasa Ní Cheannabháin, amhranaí sean-nós. There were also be a number of competitions open to schools including Art and poetry competitions.
Cumann Óige Locha Riach were working with Irish language drama company, Branar, as they prepared for ‘Féile Raifteirí also.
Ciorcail Comhrá, Irish conversation circles were organized while others were sitting ‘Scrúdaithe Cainte’ for ‘Fáinne Ór’. Other social events were organized in the evenings as Senior Citizens were celebrating with an ‘Oíche Ghaelach’ and Comhaltas Bhaile Locha Riach were having seisiúin ceoil is amhránaíochta Friday nights in the Lough Rea Hotel & Spa with special guests… Meaitie Jó Shéamais Ó Fatharta among them.

 The national run (www.rith.ie ) came through Baile Locha Riach Monday 15 March with schools, local business and community groups playing their part in the national relay run of 1600 km.
The business folk were invited to take part in a window display competition not forgetting their cúpla focail with a prize of € 150 sponsored by the local branch of Conradh na Gaeilge. The winner was announced Lá Fhéile Pádraig during the parade.
Of course,  schools, community and business groups were busy making preparations for Mórshiúil Fhéile Pádraig under the theme ‘Ár Nádúr ..(Our Nature)’. Smarter Travel for Loughrea was also one of the main sponsors.

Seachtain na Gaeilge 2009

Plenty of Events in Loughrea

The Gaels were very busy about Loughrea during Seachtain na Gaeilge. Events began with the Club Leabhar (book club) coming together celebrating their great win in Glór na nGael with a prize of € 1,000 worth of books to collect.
The Spraoicheist (Funquiz) was a great success with 14 teams from 5 local primary schools taking part. Naomh Breandáin Credit Union organized this event in conjunction with Gael Linn and everyone had the opportunity to perform for those gathered. There was music and song before the winners were announced; a team from Scoil Éanna, Bullaun. Of course, there was plenty of prizes distributed to everyone taking part including trophies, hats, toys etc.
The teenagers gathered at Cumann Óige Locha Riach (Loughrea’s Irish language Youth Club) had plenty of craic working at a radio programme with Máirtín Davy Ó Coistealbha from RTÉ RnaG. The parents of Gaelscoil Riabhach organized Maidin Caife agus Spraoi (Coffee and Play Morning) as the school community came together in Play Town in the Lough Rea Hotel.
There was music galore with a singing circle coming together at St. Brendan’s hospital as both young and old went over traditional songs ‘as Gaeilge’. Gaeilge Locha Riach organized a special concert with Donegal fiddlers FIDIL. There was also an oíche scéalaíochta (storytelling night) and plenty of seisiúin organized that produced many music and singing styles. There were also a number of other events and concerts organized by local natiuonal schools in addition to the official programme.
A great crowd came together for the lecture ‘Léacht Sheachtain na Gaeilge’ by Máirtín Ó Fathaigh on the heritage of East Galway music as he accounted some of the charachters of local music over the years. There were a number of special visits organized to schools in the area with talks on various occupations and art. Loughrea was very lucky to bring Branar back for drama workshops and for the show ‘Na Síoga agus an Gréasaí’.
The children in the naíonra pre-school performed a little concert for the Gaelscoil community as parents and friends gathered for Spraoi i dTigh na Sí. Also a number of youth groups came together with the support of Cúla 4 to create Pictiúrlann Ghaelach (an Irish language Cinema) in the Loughrea library.
Yes, plenty of folk were busy and it seems that everyone enjoyed Seachtain na Gaeilge in Loughrea.

As this year is dedicated to the Olympic games, the topic of the day was chosen to be ‘Sport and Spree’.  It was clear that everybody honored the Gaelic topic and celebrated it in various ways.
There were more than 30 community groups taking part in the exciting occasion.  The host of the day was Paidí Ó Lionaird (TG4) who kept the crowed in great humor throughout the event.  Members of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann provided wonderful music while local kids entertained themselves in bouncing castles.  The weather was also in favour of a successful day.
As this event was organised for all community groups, it was decided that every participating group should receive a prize.  It was surely one of those few occasions when everybody was a winner.

Seachtain na Gaeilge 2008
Irish language week: Loughrea
The Irish language week commenced on 3 March with a happy prospect of much entertainment for the week.  The series of events began with the Galway School Drama Festival, which attracted about 3000 people to the town.  The musicians of Buíon Ceoil Scoil Íde Naofa played in the school yard, which lifted the hearts of students already enchanted by the morning show.

At the very same time the Celebration of Potato, Féile na bPrátaí, was held in the Educational Unit of Saint Brendan, where teachers, students, officials and friends of the County Galway Vocational Education Committee gathered together to celebrate the potato, which happened to be the subject of international celebration of the year.  The atmosphere of the event was enhanced by the music of John Joe Forde and soon people were inspired to participate in vivid set and line dancing.  There were many short verses and historical stories about the potato and every visitor got a chance to taste a wide range of spuds.   The Chief Executive of the committee, Seosamh Mac Donncha, took his chance to express his gratitude to the organisers and paid special tribute to the educational unit.

A special music concert was organised by School Íde Naofa, which offered a chance to the whole community of the school to take part.
The music session in Áras Naomh Máirtín of Saint Brendan’s Hospital was very successful and both patients and visitors took place in singing an poetic sessions.
The Loughrea Mummers gathered in their heartland in Woodford on a Friday evening 7 March performing a special show in honour of the poet.