Council Celebrates Seachtain na Gaeilge 2025 – Arts and Music Workshops, Irish Language Career Fair and more.
Newry Mourne and Down District Council will celebrate Irish Language Week this year through a special programme of projects and events from 1 March to St. Patrick’s Day, 17 March. Seachtain na Gaeilge is the largest Irish Language festival in the world celebrating the native language and heritage of Ireland, with great events taking place across different countries every year.
This year, the Council will be running a number of key initiatives to mark the festival, including ‘Scoileanna Coille’, a nature, music and art workshop scheme in local primary schools; a careers fair aimed at secondary school pupils; and an Irish language training course for Council staff. The festival will also see the launch of the Irish Language Bursary Scheme – a funding scheme that helps children and adult learners to attend Irish Language and Gaeltacht courses.
It is hoped that people will be encouraged to use and learn the Irish language; and to enjoy it as a valuable part of our cultural heritage.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Pete Byrne said: ‘We are always happy to help the Irish speaking community and support their efforts to strengthen the Irish language in our district. Seachtain na Gaeilge encourages us all to use our cúpla focal and to celebrate Irish culture.
“No matter where you are on your learning journey, or if you have no Irish at all, Seachtain na Gaeilge is a great opportunity to learn about the Irish language and the Irish speaking community, and I encourage everyone to take part in this special festival.”
Key activities this year include:
Nature, Music and Art Workshops: Scoileanna Coille
This year, the Council will be providing art and music workshops for children in Irish-medium primary schools in the Council district. These workshops will be based on ‘Scoil Choille’, a new 12-part video series recently launched on TG4 Foghlaim – a programme that will captivate children aged 5-9 years old with the beauty of the natural world. This delightful series, produced by Corcra Media Teo and presented by Frainc Mac Cionnaith, Gráinne Holland, and their children Naoise and Síomha, takes viewers on a journey through the seasons of the year, revealing the hidden treasures of the forest. During Seachtain na Gaeilge 2025, Gráinne will bring the joy of this series into schools to celebrate nature, art, music and the Irish language itself.
Careers Fair: Deis sa Bhreis
The careers fair ‘Deis sa bhreis: an extra opportunity’ is being organised in St. Malachy’s High School, Castlewellan. The event will be aimed at Year 9 and Year 10 students, and it is expected that around 200 students attend the event. Cumann na bhFiann will provide activities and games; there will be information stands, guest speakers and representatives from various organisations and groups (e.g. BBC Gaeilge, TG4, Irish Language Broadcasting Fund, Raidió Fáilte, Foras na Gaeilge, Ulster University, Meon Eile and other community-based groups). The aim of this event is to showcase employment opportunities and the range of Irish language careers available to students.
Training Course for Council Staff: Professional Training in Irish Language (Level 1)
This professional training course is designed to provide Council staff with basic Irish language skills. By learning basic Irish language skills, employees can confidently deal with customers and the organisation’s internal communications. The course has been designed in partnership with Ulster University and reflects the Council’s commitment to creating an internal training pathway for Irish. Sixteen members of staff are currently taking part in this six-week course; and we are delighted that the course will culminate during Seachtain na Gaeilge. Certificates will be awarded to the cohort at an internal event in Downpatrick at the beginning of March.
Video content on the Council’s YouTube channel
In recent years, the Council has been creating video content for the community which is shared on the Council’s YouTube channel and on social media. Now in 2025, an online archive of video content is available for the community to enjoy.
Videos shared on the Council’s YouTube channel include series such as ‘Spreagadh’ and ‘Abair seo liom’ which highlight enjoyable primary school projects; ‘Dochreidte’ a special animation project; ‘Ar Leac an Dorais Agat’ which focuses on placenames in the area, ‘Dúchas is Dóchas’ which celebrates the musical and cultural talents of the local community and many more.
To access the Irish language video content, visit: www.youtube.com/@newrymournedowndistrictcouncil
Irish Language Bursary Scheme 2025-26
The Irish Language Bursary Scheme 2025-26 will open on Monday 10 March at midday. For more information and to apply, go to: www.newrymournedown.org/ssng
For more information on Seachtain na Gaeilge or the events mentioned above email [email protected] or visit www.newrymournedown.org/snag.
Local Groups and Online Resources
Irish language groups and individuals around the world are organising their own events, many of which will be available online. Fóram an Dúin & Oirialla (Down and Oriel Irish Language Community Forum) can keep you informed via facebook.com/Fóram-an-Dúin-Oirialla regarding online events and other resources during Seachtain na Gaeilge and throughout the year.
Many other Irish language groups are working hard behind the scenes to support people in celebrating the language. Below is a list of Irish language groups and their Facebook pages to help you find out more and get involved.
facebook.com/boirche.iochtar
facebook.com/CrotlieveIrishSociety
facebook.com/cumanngaelach.leathcathail
facebook.com/cumannGaelachNaomhMochai
facebook.com/Gaeláras-Mich-Ardghail
facebook.com/gaelphobalardmhachatheas
facebook.com/glor.uachtartire
facebook.com/milefailte15
Also, below are other great resources to help you find out about Irish language events taking place near you or on the other side of the world!
facebook.com/SeachtainnaGaeilge
instagram.com/snagaeilge
twitter.com/SnaGaeilge
www.peig.ie
Déanann an Chomhairle ceiliúradh ar Sheachtain na Gaeilge 2025 trí Cheardlanna Ealaíne agus Ceoil chomh maith le Lá Eolais ar Dheiseanna Gairme sa Ghaeilge.
Déanfaidh Comhairle an Iúir, Mhúrn agus an Dúin ceiliúradh ar Sheachtain na Gaeilge a cheiliúradh i mbliana trí chlár speisialta tionscadal agus imeachtaí ó 1 Márta go Lá Fhéile Pádraig, 17 Márta. Is í Seachtain na Gaeilge an fhéile Ghaeilge is mó ar domhan a dhéanann ceiliúradh ar theanga dhúchais agus oidhreacht na hÉireann. Bíonn imeachtaí iontacha ar siúl ar fud an domhain gach bliain.
I mbliana, reáchtálfaidh an Chomhairle roinnt príomhthograí chun an fhéile a cheiliúradh, lena n-áirítear ‘Scoileanna Coille’, scéim ceardlanna nádúir, ceoil agus ealaíne sna bunscoileanna áitiúla; aonach gairme a dhíreofar ar dhaltaí meánscoile; agus cúrsa oiliúna Gaeilge faoi choinne bhaill foirne na Comhairle. Le linn na féile, fosta, seolfar Scéim Sparánachta na Gaeilge – scéim maoinithe a chuidíonn le páistí agus foghlaimeoirí fásta freastal ar chúrsaí Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta.
Táthar ag súil leis go spreagfar daoine chun an Ghaeilge a úsáid agus a fhoghlaim; agus le sult a bhaint aisti mar dhíol luachmhar dár n-oidhreacht chultúrtha. Dúirt Cathaoirleach na Comhairle, an Comhairleoir Pete Byrne:
“Bímid sásta i gcónaí cuidiú le pobal na Gaeilge agus tacú lena gcuid iarrachtaí an Ghaeilge a threisiú sa cheantar seo againn. Spreagann Seachtain na Gaeilge muid lenár cúpla focal a úsáid agus leis an chultúr Ghaelach a cheiliúradh. Is cuma cá bhfuil tú ar an turas foghlama, nó mura bhfuil focal ar bith agat, is deis iontach í Seachtain na Gaeilge foghlaim faoin Ghaeilge agus faoi phobal na Gaeilge. Molaim do chách bheith páirteach san ollfhéile speisialta seo.”
Príomhthograí:
Ceardlanna Nádúir, Ceoil agus Ealaíne: Scoileanna Coille
I mbliana, cuirfidh an Chomhairle ceardlanna ealaíne agus ceoil ar fáil do pháistí sna bunscoileanna lán-Ghaeilge i gceantar na Comhairle. Bunófar na ceardlanna seo ar ‘Scoil Choille’, sraith nua 12 chlár a seoladh le déanaí ar Foghlaim TG4 – clár a chuirfidh páistí idir 5-9 mbliana d’aois faoi gheasa ag áilleacht na cruinne nádúrtha. Tugann an tsraith aoibhinn seo, léirithe ag Corcra Media Teo agus á chur i láthair ag Frainc Mac Cionnaith, Gráinne Holland, agus a gcuid páistí Naoise agus Síomha, lucht féachana ar thuras trí shéasúir na bliana, ag nochtadh seoda folaithe na coille. I rith Sheachtain na Gaeilge 2025, tabharfaidh Gráinne aoibhneas na sraithe seo isteach chuig na scoileanna féin chun ceiliúradh a dhéanamh ar an nádúr, ar an ealaíon, ar an cheol agus ar an Ghaeilge féin.
Aonach Gairme: Deis sa Bhreis
Tá aonach gairme á eagrú in Ardscoil Naomh Maolmhaodhóg, Caisleán Uidhilín. Díreofar an imeacht ar dhaltaí ó Bhliain 9 agus Bliain 10 agus táthar ag súil leis go ndéanfar teagmháil le 200 dalta ar an lá. Cuirfidh Cumann na bhFiann cluichí spraíúla ar bun; beidh seastáin agus aoichainteanna agus ionadaithe ó eagraíochtaí agus grúpaí éagsúla ann (m.sh. BBC Gaeilge, TG4, Ciste Craoltóireachta Gaeilge, Raidió Fáilte, Foras na Gaeilge, Ollscoil Uladh, Meon Eile agus grúpaí eile pobalbhunaithe). Is é aidhm an imeachta seo deiseanna fostaíochta agus réimse na ngairmeacha Gaeilge a thaispeáint do na scoláirí.
Cúrsa Oiliúna do bhaill foirne: Oiliúint sa Ghaeilge Ghairmiúil (Leibhéal 1)
Eagraítear an cúrsa gairmiúil seo le bunscileanna Gaeilge a thabhairt do bhaill foirne na Comhairle. Trí bhunscileanna Gaeilge a fhoghlaim, is féidir le fostaithe déileáil go muiníneach le custaiméirí agus le cumarsáid inmheánach na heagraíochta. Dearadh an cúrsa i gcomhar le hOllscoil Uladh agus seasann sé le tiomantas na Comhairle chun conair foghlama a chruthú go hinmheánach i leith na Gaeilge. Tá 16 ball foirne páirteach sa chúrsa 6 seachtaine seo; agus tá muid iontach sásta go dtiocfaidh an cúrsa chun buaicphointe le linn Sheachtain na Gaeilge. Bronnfar teastais ar an chohórt ag imeacht inmheánach i nDún Pádraig ag tús mhí an Mhárta.
Ábhar físe ar chainéal YouTube na Comhairle
Le blianta beaga anuas, tá an Chomhairle ag cruthú ábhair físe don phobal a roinntear ar chainéal YouTube na Comhairle agus ar na meáin shóisialta. Anois in 2025, tá cartlann ábhar físe ar líne ar fáil a mbeidh an pobal in ann taitneamh a bhaint aisti.
I measc na bhfíseán atá roinnte ar chainéal YouTube na Comhairle, tá sraitheanna ar nós ‘Spreagadh’ agus ‘Abair seo liom’ ar tograí bunscoile iad; ‘Dochreidte’ togra speisialta beochana; ‘Ar Leac an Dorais Agat’ i leith logainmneacha an cheantair, ‘Dúchas is Dóchas’ a dhéanann ceiliúradh ar bhuanna ceoil agus cultúir an phobail áitiúil agus go leor eile. Chun teacht ar na hábhair físe Gaeilge, féach: www.youtube.com/@newrymournedowndistrictcouncil
Scéim Sparánachta na Gaeilge 2025-26
Osclófar Scéim Sparánachta na Gaeilge 2025-26 Dé Luain an 10 Márta 2025 ag meán lae. Le tuilleadh eolais a fháil agus le hiarratas a dhéanamh, féach: www.newrymournedown.org/ssng
Is féidir leat tuilleadh eolais ar Sheachtain na Gaeilge nó ar na himeachtaí thuasluaite a fháil trí rphost a chur chuig [email protected] nó ar www.newrymournedown.org/snag.
Grúpaí Áitiúla agus Acmhainní Ar Líne
Tá grúpaí Gaeilge agus daoine aonaracha fud fad an domhain ag eagrú a gcuid imeachtaí féin, cuid mhaith acu a bheas ar fáil ar líne. Is féidir le Fóram an Dúin & Oirialla tú a choinneáil ar an eolas trí facebook.com/Fóram-an-Dúin-Oirialla maidir le himeachtaí ar líne agus acmhainní eile le linn Sheachtain na Gaeilge agus ar feadh na bliana.
Tá go leor grúpaí Gaeilge eile ag obair go dian sa chúlra chun tacú le daoine an teanga a cheiliúradh. Thíos faoi tá liosta de ghrúpaí Gaeilge agus leathanaigh Facebook s’acu chun cuidiú leat níos mó eolais a fhiosrú agus páirt a ghlacadh.
facebook.com/boirche.iochtar
facebook.com/CrotlieveIrishSociety
facebook.com/cumanngaelach.leathchathail
facebook.com/cumannGaelachNaomhMochai
facebook.com/Gaeláras-Mhic-Ardghail
facebook.com/gaelphobalardmhachatheas
facebook.com/glor.uachtartire
facebook.com/milefailte15
Chomh maith leis sin, thíos faoi seo tá acmhainní iontacha eile chun cuidiú leat fáil amach faoi imeachtaí Gaeilge atá ar siúl cóngarach duit nó ar an taobh eile den domhan!
facebook.com/SeachtainnaGaeilge
instagram.com/snagaeilge
twitter.com/SnaGaeilge
