Glór Cheatharlach recognises Irish speakers at awards
James and David Rath accepted the Glór Cheatharlach posthumous award from Dave Sheridan in recognition of the support that their late father Willie Rath gave to Irish in Carlow
IRISH speakers from across Co Carlow gathered for an evening of celebration and recognition when Glór Cheatharlach hosted its annual awards recently.
The Irish language organisation wanted to acknowledge some incredible achievements by many people in the promotion of the language and all things Irish in Carlow.
Awards were presented to organisations and establishments for the work they did during the year to promote the native language, beginning with Gradaim Gnó na hÉireann in recognition of their promotion and use of Irish in business. These business awards went to highly respected journalist Eimear Ní Bhraonáin, who offers a complete bilingual media service and consultancy, as well as to Feargal Máirtín for his work with the company Súil Siar, designing and providing materials and examination publications to support students being educated through Irish.
Laoise Ní Mheachair, Michaela Ní Dhonnchú and Seán Mac Eochaidh of Myshall were delighted to accept the award presented to Naomh Bríd in the Joe McDonagh Foundation for the promotion of Irish in GAA clubs.
Members of Aisteoirí an Lóchrainn, the local Irish language drama group, were celebrated for their staging of the popular comedy An Dealg a Tharraing at the All-Ireland Drama Festival, where Cathal Ó Catháin and Mairéad Ní Shúilleabháin picked up gongs for their acting roles.
There were drama gongs also for Gaelscoil Cheatharlach for their magnificent staging of the musical Aladdin as Gaeilge at the All-Ireland Féile Scoildrámaíochta, where they picked up first prize, as well as being declared overall festival winners.
Local Irish enthusiast Cormac Breathnach was lauded for his amazing work with the delivery of the new online Irish dictionary Foclóir.ie, while Caitlín Mhic Cárthaigh was congratulated on receiving the Bene Merenti or papal medal for her contribution to education, including 21 years as principal of Gaelcholáiste Cheatharlach, where she spearheaded the college’s development from its infancy to an enrolment of over 400 students.
Glór Cheatharlach awards were presented to Msgr Breandán Ó Broin to mark 50 years of dedication to the Irish language movement in Carlow and to An tAthair Conn Ó Maoldomhnaigh in recognition of his ministry as Gaeilge as chaplain at Gaelscoil and Gaelcholáiste Cheatharlach, as well as celebrant of the Mass in Irish twice monthly at Carlow cathedral.
Máire Uí Hutáin was honoured for introducing thousands of young children to Irish traditional music and encouraging them to become accomplished musicians, with many of them now among the best in their chosen instruments and carrying on the legacy to the next generation. Seán Ó Broin was honoured for his role in raising the profile of Irish in creative and film circles, including premiering the latest film Aontas, which was recently nominated for a number of IFTA awards, including best actor for Carrie Crowley.
A special posthumous award to mark over 35 years of support for Irish culture and traditional music in Carlow by the recently departed Willie Rath was presented to the Rath family by fiddler Dave Sheridan, who leads the weekly seisiún at Teach Bar. Awards for their lifelong support of Irish in Carlow were presented to Mícheál Mac Eochaidh, Deirdre Brennan and Áine Uí Fhaoláin, while the ceremony finished with the presentation of the new lapel badge Tá Gaeilge Agam to everyone.
Congratulating everyone on their awards, Bríde de Róiste and Emma Uí Bhroin of Glór Cheatharlach thanked everyone for their ongoing support and said they were delighted to organise the event in celebration of the healthy state of Irish in Carlow, saying the pride and optimism for the future of the language in Carlow is encouraging.
