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DkIT celebrates Seachtain na Gaeilge

26 March 2019

1st – 17th March saw individuals all around Ireland come together to celebrate Seachtain na Gaeilge (SnaG), the biggest celebration of Irish language and culture in the world. Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) marked the occasion by hosting a series of events on campus.



These events included:

  • Violin-Making Workshop agus cupla focal 
  • Live performance from DkIT Music students in Starbucks 
  • Bodhráns for Beginners agus cupla focal
  • Irish Céilí Dancing

DkIT Lecturer in the Department of Creative Arts, Media and Music Dr Daithí Kearney commented on why it is important for DkIT to take part in SnaG:

SnaG is a wonderful opportunity for students to engage with the Irish language in whatever way they can. For music students, they learn Irish language songs in class and engage with concepts of identity and tradition and so SnaG brings learning to life and they get to share their learning with other students and visitors to campus.”

Daithí continued:

Music students have gained great experiences performing during SnaG and going out to visit local schools where they become examples and role models for younger children. The sense of worth in what they are learning, particularly in relation to Irish traditional music, is reinforced and they see a value and a purpose in their heritage, which includes the cupla focal. Music students have organised events related to SnaG for the past seven years and I hope that this continues. Through their performances, they raise the profiles of the events on campus and connect with the local community.”

As well as on campus events, students and staff organised off campus activities too. This allowed staff and students to fully engage with the local community. One of these events was a concert in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day (Lá Fhéile Pádraig) in St. Brigid's School, Dundalk. Two students from the BA (Hons) Applied Music who took part in the concert noted that;

It was a good experience to perform in a different setting, and nice to see that younger kids from the school were having a lot of fun listening to traditional music.”

Shane McKenna; 4th Year, BA (Hons) Applied Music

Gaeilge as a language and Irish music are both large parts of the Irish heritage. Events such as Seachtain na Gaeilge are an excellent way of bringing people together. I’m always happy to keep the tradition alive. Also I thoroughly enjoy performing live so that was another aspect that appealed to me.”

Conor Walsh; 4th Year, BA (Hons) Applied Music

We look forward to seeing what events DkIT Irish Language Officer Éamonn de Barra organises again next year for Seachtain na Gaeilge, and we hope that our staff and students continue to support the celebration.

Ceiliúrann ITDD-DkIT Seachtain na Gaeilge

Ón 1ú – 17ú Márta tháinig na sluaite le chéile timpeall na tíre agus na cruinne chun Seachtain na Gaeilge a cheiliúradh, an ceiliúradh is mó teangan agus cultúir ó thaobh na Gaeilge de ar domhain. Ba mhór d’Institiúid Teicneolaíocht Dhún Dealgan ócáidí dá cuid féin a láithriú.

San áireamh sna himeachtaí do bhí:

  • Ceardlann Déana Fidile agus cupla focal
  • Léiriú beo ceoil ag mic-léinn ceoil ITDD
  • ‘Bodhráns for Beginners’ agus cupla focal
  • Céilí

Cuireann  Léachtóír i Roinn na nEalaíon Cruthaitheach, Meán agus Ceoil an Dr Daithí Kearney síos ar thábhacht SnaG agus a bheith páriteach ann

Is deis iontach í SnaG do na mic léinn an teanga a úsáid in aon slí a oireann dóibh féin. Do na mic-léinn ceoil, foghlamaíonn siad amhráin Ghaeilge sa rang agus déileálann siad le coincheap na féiniúlachta agus an traidisiúin. Tugann SnaG an fhoghlaim chun beatha agus tugann sé deis dóibh an saíocht sin a roinnt le mic léinn eile agus le haíonna chun campais. ”

 Leanann Daithí;

“ Tá sár-thaithí faighte ag na mic-léinn tré bheith ag léiriú a gcuid ceoil le linn SnaG  ag cuartaíocht scoileanna áitiúla, áit a aithnítear iad mar eiseamláirí cultúrtha don aos óg. Treisíonn na heispéiris seo an luach foghlamtha iontu ach go háirtithe maidir leis an gceol traidisiúnta, áit a thugann sé brí dá n-oidhreacht, agus an teanga in úsáid acu. Tá imeachtaí bainteach le SnaG curtha i láthair ag na mic-léinn le seacht mbliana anuas agus tá súil agam go leanfar le sinn. Tríd a gcuid léirithe, ardaíonn siad próifílí na n-imeachtaí ar champas agus nascann siad leis an bpobal áitiúil. ”

Chomh maith le himeachtaí ar champas, do reachtáil mic-léinn agus baill foirne imeachtaí lasmuigh den champas. Thug sé seo deis don fhoireann agus do mhic léinn nascadh go hiomlán leis an bpobal áitiúil. B’í ceann de na himeachtaí seo ná ceolchoirm ceiliúrtha Lá Fhéile Pádriag i Scoil Naomh Bríd, Dún Dealgan.  Cuireann beirt mac-léinn (BA) sa Cheol Feidhmeach a ghlac páirt sa cheolchoirm síos air:

B’eispéireas maith a bhí ann léiriú a dhéanamh i suíomh éagsúil. Agus ba mhór dúinn páistí óga scoile a fheiceáil ag baint a lán taitnimh as bheith ag éisteacht le ceol traidisiúnta ”  Shane McKenna

Is dhá pháirt tábhachtacha oidhreachta na tíre seo iad teanga na Gaeilge agus ceol na hÉireann. Is sár-bhealach dúinn iad imeachtaí cosúil le Seachtain na Gaeilge chun daoine a thabhairt le chéile. Táimse i gcónaí sásta an traidisiún choimeád beo, agus is mór liom a bheith ag ceol go beo, gné eile a mheallann go mór mé. ”  Conor Walsh

Táimid ag súil go mór le na himeachtaí a láithróidh ár nOifigeach Gaeilge, Éamonn de Barra an bhliain seo chugainn mar pháirt de Sheachtain na Gaeilge, agus tá súil againn go gcoinnóidh baill foirne agus mic-léinn araon ag tabhairt tacaíochta dó.


Relevant Links:

School of Informatics, Creative Arts & Media

BA (Hons) in Applied Music

BA (Hons) in Audio & Music Production

 

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