Tomhas na Teanga

March/April 2008

Tá Scoil Ghaeilge Ghearóid Tóibín fiche bliain d’aois i mbliana. The Gerry Tobin Irish Language School is 20 years old this year. Tá an scoil lonnaithe ag halla AOH rannóg a dó sa Bhablóin, ar Inis Fada. The school is located at the AOH division 2 hall in Babylon, on Long Island. Beidh ceiliúradh againn ag tús mhí na Márta (mar chuid de Sheachtain na Gaeilge). We will be having a celebration at the beginning of March (as part of Irish Language Week). Lá Gaeilge a bheidh againn. We will have an Irish language day. Seo an chéad uair dúinn a leithéid a reáchtáil. This is our first time running such a thing. Ach is minic a bhíonn a leithéid d’imeacht ar siúl ag grúpaí eile. But other groups often have such events going on. Bíonn Daltaí na Gaeilge i mbun imeachtaí mar dheireadh seachtaine Gaeilge agus fiú seachtain Gaeilge. D na G (students of Irish) has events like Irish language weekends and even weeks. Tarlaíonn siad in Nua-Eabhrac, Nua-Iorsaí, agus Coill Phenn. They happen in NY, NJ and PA. Tá siad ag déanamh amhlaidh le blianta, agus tá fios a ngnó acu. They’ve been doing this for years, and know what they are doing. Bíonn imeachtaí eile ag Scoil Chois Chlaí ag Ollscoil Í in New Rochelle, Nua-Eabhrac. Other events go on at the Hedge School Iona College, in NR NY. Déantar a leithéid ar an gcósta thiar, i dTexas, agus in Montreal, agus in áiteanna eile nach iad, freisin. Such things are done on the west coast, in Texas, in Montreal, and in other places, too.

Tagann scata nach beag daoine chuig gach imeacht den saghas seo, má tá siad cóngarach go leor. A significant flock of people come to all of these kind of events, if they are near enough. Bíonn daoine nua ann, ach bíonn croíghrúpa ann, agus mar sin, tá comhphobal fad-téarmach ann, cé nach mbíonn na himeachtaí seo ar siúl ach le seal, agus ó am go chéile. There are always new people, but there is a core group, and so, a long term community, even though these events are only there for a short time, and only once in a while. Bíonn daoine an-chairdiúil agus fáilteach i gcónaí. People are always friendly and welcoming. Má bhíonn seans agat riamh freastal ar ócáid mar seo, tapaigh an deis! If you have a chance to attend an occasion like this, jump at the opportunity!

Cén saghas rudaí a dhéantar ar na hócáidí seo? What kinds of things are done on these occasions? Bíonn comhrá as Gaeilge ar siúl, gan dabht. There’s always conversation in Irish, without a doubt. De ghnáth, bíonn ranganna agus ceardlanna ar siúl, de ghnáth ar gach céim. Usually there are classes and workshops at every level. Go minic, feictear scannáin as Gaeilge, agus tugtar léachtaí agus taispeántais. Often there are movies in Irish, and lectures and presentations. Bíonn amhránaíocht agus ceol ann, agus comhluadar den chéad scoth. There’s singing and music, and first class fellowship. Uaireanta tagann aíonna ó Éirinn, agus tagann cainteoirí dúchais atá ina gcónaí sna Stáit. Sometimes guests come from Ireland, and native speakers come who live in the states. Cruthaítear Gaeltacht sealadach gach uair a thagann daoine le chéile sa chaoi seo, agus is iontach an t-eachtra i gcónaí. A temporary Gaeltacht is created every time people come together in this way, and it’s always a wonderful experience. Go minic, tagann daoine ag a raibh Gaeilge le linn a n-óige, agus tugtar deis dóibh í a athbheochan. Often, people come who knew Irish in their youth, and a chance is given to them to revive it.

Uaireanta, tá deis ag na grúpaí mar seo bualadh lena chéile. Sometimes, groups like these have a chance to meet together. Níos minice, bímid ag plé lena chéile ar an idirlíon. More often, we interact with each other on the internet. Tá Cumann Carad na Gaeilge ann mar áis chun teagmháil a chothú idir na grúpaí seo go léir, maraon le duine ar bith a cuireann suim sa teanga. The Philo-Celtic Society exists as a resource to promote contact between all these groups, as well as any individuals with an interest in Irish. Mar ionadaithe ar Chumann Carad na Gaeilge, bhí deis agamsa agus ag mo chara Gearóid Ó Ceallaigh bualadh le déanaí le ionadaithe ar Ghlór na nGael, eagras Éireannach a oibríonn ar son na teanga. As representatives of Philo, I and my friend Jerry Kelly had a chance to meet recently with representatives of G na nG, an Irish organization that works on behalf of the language. Fuaireamar an duais idirnáisiúnta ina gcomórtas anuraidh. We won their international prize last year. I mbliana, beidh comhdháil na Gaeilge do Mheiriceá Thuaidh a reáchtáil acu i gCathair Nua-Eabhraic. This year, they will be having a North American Irish Language Conference in New York City. Beidh sé ar 16 – 18 Bealtaine ag an Óstlán Affinia. It will be from the 16^th to the 18^th in May at the Hotel Affinia. Má éiríonn leo, tiocfaidh daoine le chéile ó eagrais Ghaeilge as gach cearn den tír seo agus as Ceanada. If they succeed, people will come together from Irish language organizations from every corner of the country and Canada. Beidh eolas ar fáil ar a suíomh idirlín, www.glornangael.ie. There will be information on their web site.

Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine, deir an seanfhocal, agus is fíor sin. The people live in each others shadows, as the proverb says, and that’s true. Is féidir mórán a fhoghlaim i d’aonar, nó ar an idirlíon. It’s possible to learn a lot on your own, or on the internet. Ach is rud an-tábhachtach é caint a dhéanamh le daoine beo. But it is a very important thing to talk with live people. Tugaimid misneach dá chéile. We encourage each other. Agus bíonn spraoi ann! And it’s always fun!