Ceol agus Craic as Seachtain na Gaeilge 2025 is Celebrated in style
The Atrium in County Hall Swords was filled with the sounds of traditional music at a ‘Ceol, Craic agus Gaeilge’ celebration for Seachtain na Gaeilge on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. Brought to you by Fingal County Council and the Seamus Ennis Arts Centre the concert was attended by Mayor of Fingal Cllr Brian McDonagh, Chief Executive AnnMarie Farrelly, Councillors Paul Mulville and David Healy as well as a hugely enthusiastic audience. The entertainment was provided by four wonderful musicians, Bernadette Nic Gabhann, Caitlín Nic Gabhann, Ciarán Ó Maonaigh and Seán McElwain.
The talented musicians each brought their own unique talents to the evening playing both as duets bringing haunting and lively traditional tunes to life or all together encouraging the audience to sing along. Some of the moments of the night were when Caitlín played tunes on a 100 year old concertina and when Seán McElwain spoke of James Whiteside, who collected music in the Sliabh Beagh region and Sean's book Our Dear Dark Mountain with the Sky Over It, which tells the his story. A wonderful evening celebrating our language tradition and culture was enjoyed by all.
Seachtain na Gaeilge was celebrated in style in our local Fingal libraries with music by Antaine Ó Faracháin and Nollaig Mac Carthaigh, Coimicí Gael with Aidan Courtney, Píosa Spraoi le Cupán Focail(s)! with Áine Gallagher, Folklore Stories with Róisin Murphy, Family Storytime with Seosamh O Maolalaí, a bilingual poetry evening and much more. The annual bilingual walk in Ardgillan Demesne with Head Gardener Dominica McKevitt and Irish Officer Bernie Kelly was blessed with sunshine as people chatted as Gaeilge ‘amuigh faoin aer’ in beautiful surroundings. The week finished with a Pop Up Gaeltacht in the Seamus Ennis Arts Centre on March 20 followed by a singing session.
Speaking about the festival Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. Brian McDonagh commented: “Irish is thriving in Fingal and Seachtain na Gaeilge is an opportunity for everyone to embrace our own unique language and try the Cúpla Focal. I was delighted to see the enthusiasm and positivity towards Irish during Seachtain na Gaeilge.''
Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly, said: “We are delighted to continue to support for the Irish language whether through the new Gaeilge365 project with the 4 Dublin Local Authorities or initiatives like our Fingal Gaeltacht Scholarship Scheme. Our language is very important, and it is wonderful to celebrate it in a fun and inclusive way during Seachtain na Gaeilge."
Fingal County Council is supporting the innovative Gaeilge 365 project putting the Irish language at the heart of local authority services and ensuring that communities are getting the most out of the Irish language on a social, cultural and economic basis. Six Fingal Staff members are involved in An Chomhairle Chraiceáilte, a project aimed at greatly increasing the number of opportunities for the public to use the Irish language which was showcased during Seachtain na Gaeilge in City Hall at Féile na bhFéidearthachtaí see: https://www.gaeilge365.ie/en/anchomhairlechraiceailte. The Cruthaigh initiative, a call to action for individuals and communities to launch their own Irish-language projects, whether in business, the arts, or social space, was also launched during the festival by Dublin’s Four Local Authorities The campaign is being highlighted on bus shelter advertising, on Social media and through podcasts. For further information see https://www.gaeilge365.ie/en/cruthaigh
