Armagh win Irish Language Award
Ar an séú lá déag de mhí an Mhárta, bhronn Coiste Náisiúnta na Gaeilge Gradam Náisiúnta na Gaeilge ar Choiste Cultúir agus Teanga Ard Mhacha ag dinnéar in Óstán Regency Bhaile Átha Cliath. Ghlac Anne Quinn, rúnaí an choiste, agus Peter Murphy, an cathaoirleach, leis an duais seo ar son Bhord Chondae Ard Mhacha ó chathaoirleach Choiste Náisiúnta na Gaeilge, Willy Ring. Tar éis an bhronnta bhí siad ina n-aoíonna speisialta ag ceiliúradh do Sheachtain na Gaeilge i gclub Parnell, agus d’fhreastail siad ar chraobh Thráth na gCeist Boird i bPáirc an Chrócaigh ar Lá Fhéile Pádraig.
Bronntar an duais seo achan bhliain ar an choiste cultúrtha a bhfuil obair mhór déanta acu chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn i gContae s’acu féin. Roghnaíodh Coiste Cultúir agus Teanga Ard Mhacha mar gheall ar an leabhrán logainmneacha a chuir siad le chéile. Leabhrán é seo don Chumann Lúthchleas Gael i gContae Ard Mhacha le húsaid nuair a bhíonn siad ag tagairt dá gclub, dá bparóiste agus dá mbailte fearainn i nGaeilge. Míníonn an leabhrán an Ghaeilge ar gach baile fearainn agus ar gach paróiste óna bhfaigheann na clubanna a gcuid ball. Chomh maith leis sin, oibríonn sé mar imlíne don leagan Gaeilge d’ainm gach club agus ar ndóigh ba chóir úsáid a bhaint as, i ndóigheanna eagsúla eile. Tá treoir phraiticiúil san áireamh le giorrú a dhéanamh ar ainmnneacha na gclubanna as Gaeilge a bhíonn iontach tábachtach do na scórchláir. Ba chóir do leabhrán ainmneacha áiteanna mar seo a bheith ar fáil níos forleithne i ngach contae in Éireann agus bheadh sé luachmhar ag spreagadh úsáid ár dteanga náisiúnta sa Chumann Lúthchleas Gael. Le cur le liosta ainmneacha áiteanna Ard Mhacha, tá ailt an-suimiúla ar stair Ard Mhacha agus ar ghníomhaíochtaí an choiste cultúrtha agus Gaeilge in Ard Mhacha. Tá Cumann Lúthchleas Gael Ard Mhacha iontach bródúil as obair an choiste cultúrtha agus teanga in Ard Mhacha agus tá fíor-áthas orthu go bhfuair siad an t-aitheantas seo ag an leibhéal náisúnta.
On March 16th Coiste Náisiúnta na Gaelige CLG presented the prestigious Gradam Náisiúnta na Gaelige to Coiste Cultúir agus Teanga Ard Mhacha at a dinner in the Regencey Hotel in Dublin. Anne Quinn, rúnaí, and Peter Murphy, cathaoirleach, received this award on behalf of Coiste Cultúir agus Teanga Ard Mhacha from Willie Ring, chairman of Coiste Naisiúnta na Gaeilge. After the presentation they were invited guests at a Seachtain na Gaeilge celebration organized by the Parnell club, and the club finals of Tráth na gCeist Boird in Croke Park on St Patrick’s day.
This award is presented each year to cultural committees who have made an outstanding contribution to the promotion of the Irish language within their County. Coiste Cultúir agus Teanga Ard Mhacha was chosen because of the place names booklet they produced. This is a handbook for all Armagh County GAA clubs to use when referring to their clubs, parishes and townlands in Irish. The booklet explains the Irish language derivation of each townland and parish from which all the clubs draw their members. It also outlines the Irish version of each club name and how it should be used in various contexts. It includes a practical guide to shortening the club names in Irish which is very important for the scoreboards. A place names handbook such as this could be made available in each county in Ireland and would prove to be invaluable in encouraging the use of our native language within the GAA. Along with the list of Armagh place names the booklet contains a number of interesting articles on the history of Armagh and the activities of the cultural committee. CLG Ard Mhacha is very proud of the work of their cultural committee in Armagh and are delighted that Coiste Cultúir agus Teanga Ard Mhacha received this recognition at national level.
