Thousands of young people across Ireland will take part in Gaeilge24 tomorrow, a national challenge encouraging young people to speak only Irish for 24 hours – at home, at school, in shops, at sports clubs and with friends.
The challenge aims to immerse young people in the Irish language, encouraging them to use it in every aspect of their lives for an entire day. The challenge demonstrates that Irish is not confined to textbooks or classrooms, but is a living, vibrant language that belongs in every part of everyday life.
This year’s theme, ‘The Future of the Irish Language’, puts young people at the heart of the conversation, encouraging them to explore the role Irish can play in their lives, careers and communities, as well as the opportunities available to them through the language. From social media and technology to careers, music and activism, Gaeilge24 aims to show students that Irish is a language full of opportunities and that they have a vital role to play in shaping its future.
Reflecting on his experience with Gaeilge24 over the years, Aodhán Ó Deá, Director of Development with Conradh na Gaeilge, said: “Gaeilge24 continues to go from strength to strength every year and has now become one of the highlights of the annual Irish-language calendar. We in Conradh na Gaeilge are delighted to see 22,000 students from every corner of the island taking part. We’ve sent thousands of support packs to schools across the country, providing everything they need to embrace the Irish language for the day.
“The future of the Irish language is in the hands of the next generation, and Gaeilge24 is a fantastic reminder of the energy, enthusiasm and passion that young people have for our language.”
Primary and secondary schools across Ireland, including English-medium, Irish-medium and Gaeltacht schools, are taking part in this year’s challenge, with students of all levels of Irish-language proficiency encouraged to get involved.
A full programme of exciting activities has been organised for students throughout the day, including a live quiz, an interactive panel discussion, a TikTok competition, live Crazy Bingo and a series of workshops exploring careers through Irish.
At 11:30am, a special live panel discussion on Zoom will explore the future of the Irish language, bringing together voices from the worlds of entertainment, social media, advocacy and broadcasting. The panel will feature Pauric O’Meara, musician and star of RTÉ’s The Traitors; John Prendergast, Advocacy Manager with Conradh na Gaeilge; and EamonSpeaksIrish, Irish-language content creator and founder of the HeyRua app. The discussion will be chaired by Emma Ní Chearúil, Manager of Raidió Rí-Rá.
Emer Uí Fhrighil, a teacher in Loreto Secondary School, Leitir Ceanainn said: “Gaeilge24 is always a very special day in our school. The atmosphere is always electric, and students of all levels take part, from beginners to fluent speakers. It’s a fantastic opportunity for students to use their Irish outside the classroom, build their confidence and have some fun along the way. We look forward to it every year!”
The Irish-language community around the world is also encouraged to take part in the challenge online by using the hashtag #Gaeilge24 on social media.
For more information about Gaeilge24, visit cnag.ie/gaeilge24.
Tá na mílte duine óg ar fud na hÉireann ag glacadh páirte i nGaeilge amárach – dúshlán náisiúnta a spreagann daoine óga chun Gaeilge amháin a labhairt ar feadh 24 uair an chloig – sa bhaile, ar scoil, i siopaí, i gclubanna spóirt agus le cairde.
Tá sé mar aidhm ag an imeacht daoine óga a thumadh sa Ghaeilge, iad a spreagadh chun an teanga a úsáid i ngach gné dá saol ar feadh lá iomlán. Léiríonn an dushlán nach bhfuil an teanga teoranta do théacsleabhair nó do sheomraí ranga, ach gur teanga bheo, bhríomhar í a bhaineann le gach gné den saol laethúil.
Cuireann téama na bliana seo, ‘Todhchaí na Gaeilge’, daoine óga i gcroílár an phlé. Spreagann sé iad chun iniúchadh a dhéanamh ar an ról a d’fhéadfadh a bheith ag an nGaeilge ina saol, ina ngairmeacha agus ina bpobail, chomh maith leis na deiseanna atá ar fáil dóibh tríd an teanga. Ó na meáin shóisialta agus an teicneolaíocht go gairmeacha, ceol agus gníomhachas, tá sé mar aidhm ag Gaeilge24 a thaispeáint do dhaltaí gur teanga í an Ghaeilge atá lán de dheiseanna, agus go bhfuil ról ríthábhachtach acu i múnlú a todhchaí.
Ag tagairt dá thaithí le Gaeilge24 thar na blianta, dúirt Aodhán Ó Deá, Stiúrthóir Forbartha Chonradh na Gaeilge:
“Tá Gaeilge24 ag dul ó neart go neart gach bliain, agus í anois ar cheann de na buaicphointí i bhféilire bliantúil na Gaeilge. Tá lúcháir orainn i gConradh na Gaeilge 22,000 dalta ó gach cearn den oileán a fheiceáil ag glacadh páirte. Tá na mílte pacáiste tacaíochta seolta againn chuig scoileanna ar fud na tíre, ag soláthar gach rud a theastaíonn uathu chun an Ghaeilge a chuimsiú don lá.”
“Tá todhchaí na Gaeilge i lámha na chéad ghlúine eile, agus is meabhrúchán den scoth é Gaeilge24 ar an bhfuinneamh, ar an díograis agus ar an paisean atá ag daoine óga dár dteanga.”
Tá bunscoileanna agus meánscoileanna ar fud na hÉireann – idir scoileanna Béarla, scoileanna Gaeilge agus scoileanna sa Ghaeltacht – ag glacadh páirte i ndúshlán na bliana seo, agus spreagtar daltaí de gach leibhéal inniúlachta teanga chun páirt a ghlacadh ann.
Tá clár iomlán d’imeachtaí spreagúla curtha le chéile do dhaltaí i rith an lae, ina measc tráth na gceist beo, plé painéil idirghníomhach, comórtas TikTok, Biongó Craiceáilte beo agus sraith ceardlann ina bpléifear gairmeacha le Gaeilge.
Ar 11:30 r.n., beidh plé painéil speisialta beo ar Zoom a dhíreoidh ar thodhchaí na Gaeilge, agus a thabharfaidh guthanna éagsúla le chéile ó shaol na siamsaíochta, na meán sóisialta, na habhcóideachta agus na craoltóireachta. Beidh Pauric O’Meara, ceoltóir agus réalta an chláir ‘The Traitors’ ar RTÉ; John Prendergast, Bainisteoir Abhcóideachta le Conradh na Gaeilge; agus EamonSpeaksIrish , cruthaitheoir ábhair Ghaeilge agus bunaitheoir an aip ‘HeyRua’ ar an bpainéal. Déanfaidh Emma Ní Chearúil, Bainisteoir Raidió Rí-Rá, an plé a stiúradh.
Dúirt Emer Uí Fhrighil Múinteoir i Meánscoil Loreto, Leitir Ceanainn
“Is lá an-speisialta é Gaeilge24 inár scoil Meánscoil Loreto Leitir Ceanainn gach bliain. Bíonn an t-atmaisféar leictreach i gcónaí agus bíonn daltaí de gach leibhéal páirteach, ó thosaitheoirí go cainteoirí líofa. Is deis den scoth í do dhaltaí a gcuid Gaeilge a úsáid lasmuigh den seomra ranga, a muinín a chothú agus spraoi a bheith acu ag an am céanna. Bímid ag tnúth leis gach bliain!
Bíonn deis ag pobal na Gaeilge ar fud an domhain páirt a ghlacadh sa dúshlán ar líne tríd an haischlib #Gaeilge24 a úsáid ar na meáin shóisialta.
Is féidir tuilleadh eolais a fháil faoi ‘Gaeilge24’ ag cnag.ie/gaeilge24.