Cúrsa Cuimhneacháin Shéamuis de Faoite 2016
Bhí an 28ú Cúrsa Cuimhneacháin Shéamuis de Faoite ar siúl sna Dúnaibh ón 18ú go dtí an 22 Iúil. Tá an chúrsa urraithe ag Comhairle Uladh den CLG agus i mbliana bhí an slua is mó ar feadh tamaill le 125 cláraithe.
Bhí uachtarán an CLG – Aogán Ó Fearghail i láthair don oscailt oifigiúil. Chomh maith leis sin i láthair i rith na seachtaine bhí uachtarán Comhairle Uladh – Michael Hasson chomh maith leis an leas -chathaoirleach – Oliver Galligan, Comhairle Uladh OCP – Michael Geoghegan agus iar uachtarán Comhairle Uladh – Martin McAviney.
I measc na baill de CLG Dhún na nGall ar bhoird na contae, i láthair bhí an chathaoirleach Seán Dunnion , rúnaí Aideen Gillen , Oifigeach chultúrtha agus teanga Fergus Mac Aoidh agus toscaire Chomhairle Uladh Pat Connaghan.
Bhí bun rang amháin, dhá meán rang agus ard rang amháin achán lá ó 10.30rn – 3.30in. agus achán tráthnóna bhí ranganna amhránaíocht agus rince céilí.
Oíche Luain bhí ceisteanna agus freagraí le Fergus Mac Aoidh mar chathaoirleach agus ar an painéal bhí an Aogán Ó Fearghail – Uachtarán an CLG, An Dr. Seosamh Ó Ceallaigh, Martin Monaghan agus Séamus Mac Giolla Phádraig
Ghlac amhránaithe , ceoltóirí , scéalaithe agus damhsóirí ó gach cearn de Dhún na nGall agus Doire páirt sa cheolchoirm Scór ar an oíche Mháirt agus bhí cuid mhór as achán pháirt do Dhún na nGall i láthair ag an céilí oíche Dheardaoin
Bronn Michael Hasson – Uachtarán Comhairle Uladh corn cuimhneacháin Shéamuis de Faoite ar Cuan Ó Seireadáin ó Chonradh na Gaeilge indiaidh an Léacht oíche Cheadaoine.
The 28th cúrsa cuimhneacháin Shéamuis de Faoite took place in Downings from the 18th until the 22nd July. This course is sponsored by the Ulster Council of the GAA and this year saw the largest attendance for some time with 125 registered attendees.
The president of the GAA, Aogan Ó Fearghail was in attendance for the opening ceremony. Also in attendance during the week were the president of the Ulster Council Michael Hasson along with the Vice-Chairman Oliver Galligan, Ulster Council PRO Michael Geoghegan and former President of the Ulster Council Martin McAviney.
The ecumenical blessing of the course was performed by Fr. Charlie and the Reverend Brian Smeaton.
Amongst the executive members of the Donegal GAA county board in attendance were Chairman Seán Dunnion, Secretary Aideen Gillen, Ulster Council delegate Pat Connaghan and Irish Language and Cultural Officer Fergus McGee.
This year there was one class for beginners, two classes for those with a reasonable level of Irish and one Ard Rang for those with a higher level of conversational Irish.
Singing and céilí dancing classes took place each evening followed by entertainment every night.
On the Monday night there was a questions and answers session which was very well attended and the theme of the legacy of the 1916 rising along with other subjects were debated with a great deal of audience participation. Singers, musicians, story tellers and dancers from all over Donegal and Derry took part in the Scór concert on the Tuesday night. On the Wednesday night there was a lecture by Cuan Ó Seireadáin, Conradh na Gaeilge as well as an excellent presentation by Caitríona Nic Seoin, Glór na nGael. Mass in the Stella Maris Church preceded the Céilí Mór on the Thursday night with the music provided by the Duntally Ceilí Band. In addition to those on the course, many céilí dancers from all parts of Donegal came along and enjoyed a great night.
The course ended with the banquet, presentation of the certificates and a night of music, song and dance on the Friday at the Beach Hotel in Downings. The Paddy McFlynn memorial trophy was presented to Teresa McCormack from Co. Sligo by Pat Connaghan on the Friday night also.
Great credit is due to the Downings GAA club who host the event every year and the level of co-operation this year was exceptional with club members doing everything possible to add to the enjoyment and smooth running of the course.
The Séamus de Faoite Irish language course which is sponsored by The Ulster Council of the GAA takes place in Downings every year and always begins on the Monday after the Ulster senior football final.
