Culture Minister Carál Ní Chuilín has launched the Líofa campaign in Croke Park, with the help of the GAA.
Líofa aims to encourage every citizen, regardless of their background or level of expertise, to embrace the Irish language.
The Minister said: “This launch is linked to the GAA’s objective to promote the Irish language within their clubs. Through the GAA, I want to increase the number of people speaking Irish, to improve fluency levels and to broaden the appeal of the language.
“The Irish language is for everyone and forms a vital part of the island’s shared cultural heritage. Through this link with the GAA, I want to increase the reach of the Líofa campaign through sport. It is a real pleasure to be here in Croke Park to speak about the Irish language and I thank the GAA and its President Aogán Ó Fearghail for this opportunity.
“When I launched the Líofa campaign in the North, I initially set a target of 1,000 people signing up to the campaign by 2015. This was quickly met and I have revised the target several times since then. The current target is 20,000 people signed up by 2020.
“Líofa looks forward to working with the GAA’s Irish Language Officers and members to encourage Irish as a spoken language in the club and on the pitch. I look forward to developing a programme of co-operation with the GAA which builds on existing successes. You can sign up in the Líofa website”.
The Minister also used the occasion to reiterate her strong commitment to the provision of an Irish Language Act in the north of Ireland.
She said: “Earlier in the year, I held a very successful public consultation on proposals for an Irish Language Bill and I remain committed to Acht na Gaeilge for the north.
“I remain committed to the promotion of the Irish language, heritage and culture, and I trust that tonight’s event will inspire many others to begin using the cúpla focal in everyday conversation.”
The President of the GAA Aogán Ó Fearghail said: “One of the core aims and aspirations of the GAA is to promote the Irish language through the medium of our games and activities and this is a commitment we take seriously.
“The language has a presence at all of our games and many of our units run their activities using Irish as an everyday language.
“We are pleased that Minister Ní Chuilín chose Croke Park as the venue for this latest announcement regarding the Líofa project, and as an organisation that is committed to the ongoing promotion of the language we wish the initiative every success, no doubt bolstered by many of our members who will actively support what is a most worthwhile initiative.”
To date, 13,114 people have signed up to the Líofa campaign.
Líofa seolta ag an Aire i bPáirc an Chrócaigh
Tá feachtas Líofa seolta ag an Aire Cultúir i bPáirc an Chrócaigh, le cuidiú ó CLG. Tá sé mar aidhm ag Líofa gach saoránach a spreagadh – beag beann ar a gcúlra ná leibhéal saineolais – leis an Ghaeilge a ghlacadh chucu féin.
Arsa an tAire: “Tá an seoladh seo ceangailte le cuspóir CLG maidir leis an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn laistigh dá chuid clubanna. Trí CLG, tá mé ag iarraidh cur le líon na ndaoine a labhraíonn Gaeilge, leibhéil líofachta a fheabhsú agus an teanga a dhéanamh níos tarraingtí do níos mó daoine.
“Tá an Ghaeilge ann faoi choinne gach duine agus is cuid riachtanach d’oidhreacht chomhroinnte chultúrtha an oileáin í. Tríd an nasc seo le CLG, tá mé ag iarraidh cur le héifeacht an fheachtais Líofa tríd an spórt. Is pléisiúr ceart atá ann a bheith anseo inniu i bPáirc an Chrócaigh le labhairt faoin Ghaeilge agus gabhaim buíochas le CLG agus lena Uachtarán Aogán Ó Fearghail as an deis seo.
“Nuair a sheol mé feachtas Líofa sa tuaisceart, leag mé síos sprioc de 1,000 duine a bheith cláraithe leis an fheachtas faoi 2015. Baineadh an sprioc sin amach go gasta agus tá an sprioc sin athbhreithnithe agam arís agus arís eile ó shin i leith. Is é an sprioc reatha ná 20,000 duine a spreagadh le clárú faoi 2020.
“Tá Líofa ag súil go mór le hoibriú le hOifigigh Ghaeilge agus le baill CLG le daoine a spreagadh leis an Ghaeilge a úsáid mar theanga labhartha sa chlub agus ar an pháirc. Tá mé ag tnúth le clár comhoibrithe a fhorbairt le CLG a thógfaidh ar an rath atá ann cheana féin. Tig leat clárú le Líofa ar an suíomh gréasáin – http://www.liofa.eu”
Thapaigh an tAire an deis fosta lena tiomantas láidir a athdhearbhú maidir le soláthar Acht na Gaeilge i dtuaisceart na hÉireann.
Ar sise: “Ní ba luaithe i mbliana, reáchtáil mé comhairliúchán poiblí ar thograí faoi choinne Bille Gaeilge agus d’éirigh go geal leis; tá mé fós tiomanta d’Acht na Gaeilge don tuaisceart.
“Tá mé an-tiomanta go fóill do chur chun cinn theanga, oidhreacht agus chultúr na nGael agus tá súil agam go spreagfaidh ócáid na hoíche anocht a lán daoine eile le tús a chur le cúpla focal a úsáid i ngnáthchomhrá an lae.”
Dúirt Aogán Ó Fearghail, Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael go bhfuil sé “ar aidhmeanna agus mianta lárnacha Chumann Lúthchleas Gael an teanga Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn trínár gcluichí agus trínár ngníomhaíochtaí, agus is dualgas é seo a bhfuil muid dáiríre faoi.
“Bíonn an Ghaeilge le mothú ag ár gcluichí uilig agus reáchtálann cuid mhór d’ár n-aonaid a ngníomhaíochtaí trí Ghaeilge mar theanga laethúil.
“Tá lúcháir orainn gur roghnaigh an tAire Ní Chuilín Páirc an Chrócaigh don fhógra seo is deireanaí maidir le Líofa. Mar eagras atá tiomanta i leith chur chun cinn leanúnach na Gaeilge guíonn muid gach rath ar an fheachtas. Níl amhras ach go neartóidh cuid mhór d’ár mbaill an feachtas trí thacaíocht ghníomhach a thabhairt do thionscadal ar fiú go mór é.
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