The 7th annual Irish-language festival, Éigse Thomáis Uí Aodha, will be held by Oidhreacht an Chláir in Miltown Malbay on October 10th and 11th.
It is in memory of Tomás Ó hAodha (1866-1935), a major literary and cultural figure at the time of the Gaelic renaissance and a native of Miltown Malbay.
On Friday, October 10 at 8.00pm in Áras OaC (Flag Rd), Ciarán Ó Feinneadha will deliver the Éigse lecture, An Stát agus an Ghaeilge. Ciarán has been one of the major figures in the Irish Language movement for more than 50 years.
He will speak of the many fraught years he himself has spent in endeavouring to ensure that we can enjoy our rights as Irish-speakers throughout the State system – whether in relation to tax forms, the establishment of Gaelscoileanna, broadcasting affairs, the campaign for an Irish-language television station, or other. He will also give us a frank and personal insight into the life of an Irish-speaker in the Metropolis amidst suburban communities with no previous Irish-language heritage.
There will also be an exhibition of the personal archive of Tomás Ó hAodha, donated to Oidhreacht an Chláir by his family, as well as of the first Irish-language map of Ireland, produced by him, in association with Pádraig Ó hAichir of Dunsallagh, in 1906.
On Saturday, October 11 from 10.30am to 12.00 noon, also in Áras OaC, there will be a Ceardlann Amhránaíochta (Singing Workshop) by Dr Éamonn Ó Bróithe, a noted singer and authority on Munster traditional singing, in particular. He was the recipient of Gradam Shean-Nós Cois Life in 2022, an award given to those who have made an exceptional contribution to singing in the Irish language.
From 12.15pm to 1.00pm, there will be a visit to the Main St house where Tomás Ó hAodha was born and the Ennis Rd house where he later lived till he moved to Dublin.
From 3.00pm to 5.30pm, there will be Ceol agus Caint in Friel’s bar, featuring
A Pop-Up Gaeltacht as an opportunity for people to use their Irish in an encouraging and comfortable environment
Songs by Éamonn Ó Bróithe and Tim Dennehy
Music with Pádraic Keane (uilleann pipes) and Cillian Boyd (flute).
All events are free. Fáilte roimh chách. Further information from 085-1611443 or from eolas@oac.ie.
The Éigse is funded by a grant from Foras na Gaeilge and from Clare Co. Council under the Clare Local Areas Grant Scheme.
Beidh an 7ú féile Ghaeilge bhliantúil, Éigse Thomáis Uí Aodha, á reachtáil ag Oidhreacht an Chláir i Sráid na Cathrach ar 10-11 Deireadh Fómhair, i gcuimhne ar Thomás Ó hAodha (1866-1935), duine de mhórphearsain liteartha agus chultúrtha Athbheochan na Gaeilge ag tús an 20ú céad agus arb as Sráid na Cathrach dó.
Dé hAoine, 10 Deireadh Fómhair ag 8.00pm in Áras OaC (Bóthar na Leac), tabharfaidh Ciarán Ó Feinneadha léacht na hÉigse, An Stát agus an Ghaeilge. Duine de mhórlaochra na Gaeilge é Ciarán le breis agus 50 bliain anuas. Tabharfaidh sé cuntas ar na blianta achrannacha atá caite aige féin ag iarraidh ár gcearta mar Ghaeilgeoirí a bhaint amach ón Státchóras – bíodh sé sin maidir le foirmeacha cánach, bunú Gaelscoileanna, cúrsaí craolacháin, stáisiún Gaeilge teilifíse a lorg, nó eile. Lena chois sin, beidh léargas macánta, pearsanta á fháil againn ar shaol Gaeilgeora san Ardchathair i measc pobal sna bruachbhailte nach raibh aon oidhreacht Ghaeilge acu roimhe sin.
Beidh taispeántas speisialta de chartlann phearsanta Thomáis Uí Aodha, a dheonaigh a mhuintir féin d’Oidhreacht an Chláir, ansin freisin, chomh maith leis an gcéad léarscáil Ghaeilge d’Éirinn riamh, a rinne Tomás, i gcomhar le Pádraig Ó hAichir ó Dhún Saileach i 1906.
Dé Sathairn, 11 Deireadh Fómhair ó 10.30am go 12.00 meánlae in Áras OaC, beidh Ceardlann Amhránaíochta leis an Dr Éamonn Ó Bróithe, amhránaí aitheanta agus údar ar thraidisiún amhránaíochta na Mumhan go háirithe. Bronnadh Gradam Shean-Nós Cois Life ar Éamonn i 2022, gradam a bhronntar orthu siúd a bhfuil éacht déanta acu i leith na hamhranaíochta Gaeilge.
Ó 12.15pm go 1.00pm, tabharfar cuairt ar an teach sa Phríomh-Shráid inar rugadh Tomás Ó hAodha agus ar an teach i mBóthar na hInse ina raibh cónaí air ina dhiaidh sin go dtí gur bhog sé go Baile Átha Cliath.
Ó 3.00pm go 5.30pm, beidh Ceol agus Caint i dteach tábhairne Friel’s, ina mbeidh
Pop-up Gaeltacht, le seans a thabhairt do dhaoine a gcuid Gaeilge a chleachtadh i dtimpeallacht thacúil chompordach
Amhráin le Éamonn Ó Bróithe agus Tim Dennehy
Ceol le Pádraic Keane (píob uilleann) agus Cillian Boyd (fliúit).
Tá saorchead isteach chuig na himeachtaí go léir. Fáilte roimh chách. Tuilleadh eolais ó 085-1611443 nó ó eolas@oac.ie
Tá an Éigse á maoiniú le tacaíocht ó Fhoras na Gaeilge agus ó Chomhairle Contae an Chláir (faoina Scéim Deontas Áitiúil).