Hundreds of people from across County Clare are expected to participate in Seachtain na Gaeilge 2008, which will be launched with a concert by Kíla in Glór Irish Music Centre this coming Friday (29th February).The seven-piece band (pictured left) will participate in the annual celebration of the Irish language and culture along with a number of other high profile participants. They include Éanna Ní Lamhna, botanist, writer, radio personality and President of An Taisce; Ceoltóirí na Mainistreach, an Ennis-based Ceilí band; Ré Ó Laighléis, the biggest selling contemporary writer in the Irish language; Theo Dorgan, award winning Cork-born poet and broadcaster; Pádraig Mac Fhearghusa, Poet, Editor of Feasta magazine and Chair of the Joint Committee on the Irish Language; Bríd Ní Mhóráin, poet and author of an acclaimed study of Iveragh peninsula Irish; and artist Ceara Conway.
The wide-ranging programme of events will feature bilingual readings, storytelling sessions for children at various library branches, lunchtime music sessions organised in association with Clare Arts Office, a ‘Shop Window Treasure Hunt’ organised by Oifig na Gaeilge in Clare County Council and Ennis Chamber of Commerce, and interactive workshops on writing fiction, Irish Mythology and Traditions, the art of Puppet Making, and climate change and energy conservation.
Events will be held in various towns and villages throughout Clare, including Ennis, Inagh, Ennistymon, Kildysart, Killaloe, Kilrush, Miltown Malbay, Newmarket-On-Fergus, Feakle, Tulla, Sixmilebridge, Scariff and Kilkee. For the second consecutive year, Fóram Ghaeilge an Chláir, which comprises members of various Irish language organisations throughout the county, has taken on the role of co-ordinating a countywide programme for the annual festival.
