Glór Cheatharlach launches Irish language badge

MEMBERS of Carlow’s burgeoning Irish language community attended a very special event recently when a new pin was launched in Lambert’s Café on Dublin Street.

The pin, which says Tá Gaeilge Agam, is a badge of honour for local Gaelgeoirí who gather on a weekly basis in the popular café for a conversation, or comhrá, where they exchange a cúpla focal.

The specially-designed badge is the latest initiative by Glór Cheatharlach in the promotion of Irish as a spoken language in the community. Bríde de Róiste and Emma Uí Bhroin of Glór Cheatharlach explained the significance of the new Tá Gaeilge Agam lapel badge, saying it’s a way of showing that one has a certain amount of Irish and wishes to use it with other speakers in normal day-to-day life such as shopping, in the café, at work or on the street. The newly-launched pin is the modern version of the gold and silver fainne that Irish speakers wore with pride for decades.

“The pin is ideal for a town such as Carlow where people are so supportive of the language and they wish to avail of more and more opportunities to use whatever Irish they have in informal and natural settings,” said Bríde.

The introduction of the pin happened in the middle of an Irish language festival called Féile an Fomhair in County Carlow, which aims to encourage people to speak as Gaeilge.

Local TD Catherine Callaghan launched the pin and is an enthusiastic supporter of the language herself. Catherine has a good command of Irish but aims to improve her confidence to use it more frequently in political as well as social settings. And she has plenty of support as her own children are fluent having been educated through Irish.

“Tá an-áthas orm an biorán nua seo a sheoladh inniu agus anseo in Café Lamberts áit a bhfuil fáilte roimh an teanga gach lá”, said Catherine. “I’m so delighted to launch this badge and I will wear it myself with pride. I’m also delighted to be part of the vibrant Irish language community in Carlow now that my new constituency office is open on Dublin Street and I hope to drop into this weekly gathering as often as possible. It’s such a welcoming environment where learners get the opportunity to continue to improve their Irish as they converse with others who are fluent in the language.” Bríde and Emma are keen for Irish language speakers to wear the badge, including the many past pupils of the local Gaelscoil and Gaelcholáiste fluent in Irish and who would themselves be delighted to use Irish with their customers. Full details and badges available from Glór Cheatharlach on 085 1340047, 087 2857048 or email emma@glorcheatharlach.ie