Mícheál remembered as a great friend of Ceatharlach

THE LEGACY of Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh was remembered fondly in Carlow this week following his passing.

It was with deep sadness and a heavy heart that news of the death of the great Mícheál filtered through to Glór Cheatharlach and the Irish-speaking community in Carlow.

Mícheál has been treasured as a great friend and supporter of all things Irish and cultural in Carlow for over 40 years and especially in relation to the development of education through Irish.

Indeed, way back in 1981, when the idea of children being educated through Irish was just a dream, it was decided that a big personality should be called to address a public meeting to start the conversation and get the ball rolling. Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh was that big personality and he gladly accepted.

“His enthusiasm and encouragement as he spoke to the large assembly in the Seven Oaks Hotel on that November night in 1981 was, as always, infectious and in itself almost a guarantee of success,” recalls Bríde de Róiste of Glór Cheatharlach and founding principal of the Gaelscoil.

“Before the meeting ended, an ad hoc committee was set up and nobody was more proud than big Mícheál himself on the occasion of the opening of Gaelscoil Eoghain Uí Thuairisc a few months later on 1 September 1982,” she added.

“It was a great source of joy to Mícheál on hearing that from such small beginnings in 1982 that now, some 40 years on, that no less than 1,000 young people aged from two-and-a-half years to leaving certs are educated through Irish every day from preschool to post-primary at Naíonra Áras na nÓg, Gaelscoil Cheatharlach, Gaelcholáiste Cheatharlach and the after-school service,” said Bríde.

“He took pride in Carlow’s success in being awarded the national Glór nan Gael award in 1983 and again in 1995. His most recent and sadly now his final visit to Carlow was to officially launch the exhibition titled ‘70 Years of Irish in Carlow, 1944-2014’ in Carlow Museum on 5 June 2014.

“He may be gone, but 40 years of amazing support, friendship and encouragement from Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh will not be forgotten in Ceatharlach,” said Bríde.