SEACHTAIN NA Gaeilge is not really a ‘seachtain’ na Gaeilge, but a dhá sheachtain of events, featuring music, singing, dance, quizzes, speed-dating, heaps of fun, and positive ways to celebrate our native teanga and culture.
Seachtain na Gaeilge runs from Monday March 2 to Tuesday 17. It will be officially launched on Monday by TG4’s Síle Ní Bhraonáin in Club Áras na nGael, 45 Sráid Doiminic, at 1pm. Events culminate with the St Patrick’s Day parade on March 17.
Music
On Thursday March 5 John Spillane and Liam Ó Maonlaí will share the stage of The Black Box at 8pm. Tickets are €15 from www.wegottickets.com, through Ray/Jim on 028 - 90288818, or by emailing [email protected]
On Wednesday March 11 there will be a major sean-nós night in Tí Regan, Maigh Cuilinn, at 9pm.
The singers will be Johnny Mháirtín Learaí, Máire Pheter Uí Dhroighneáin, Jimmy Ó Ceannabháin, Treasa Uí Chonaill, Treasa Uí Cheannabháin, Joe John Mac an Iomaire, Máirtín Tom Sheainín, Josie Seán Jeaic agus Seosamh and Páraic Ó Fatharta. Music will be by Máirtín Mannion, Ollie Leahy, Tony Carey and Moycullen musicians.
On Friday March 13, the great banjo player Gerry O’Connor will play An Forge, Maigh Cuilinn, at 8pm.
To get Galway in the mood for St Patrick’s Day, the South Uist and Avel Dro Pipe Band from Scotland will play Club Áras na nGael on Monday March 16 at 9pm.
Theatre
Aisling Ghéar Theatre company will present An Triall by Mairéad Ní Ghráda in the Town Hall Theatre on Monday March 2 at 2pm and on Tuesday 3 at 11am and 2pm.
Taibhdhearc & Moonfish’s production of Namhaid Don Phobal, an Irish translation of Henrik Ibsen’s An Enemy Of The People, will be staged at the Black Box from Thursday March 5 to Sunday 8 at 8pm. There will be a preview on Wednesday 4 at 8pm. For tickets contact 091- 569777.
Puppet theatre company Fíbín will stage An Cearrbhach Mac Cába & Fiche Bliain ag Fás in the Black Box from Tuesday March 10 to Friday 13 at 10.30am and 1.30pm. For tickets contact 091 - 569777.
Branar Drámaíochta will tour Na Síoga agus an Gréasaí Bróg throughout out Seachtain Na Gaeilge. It tells the story of fairies Sé and Sí who help a shoemaker less fortunate than they are.
For more information contact Branar Drámaíochta, Áras na nGael, 45 Sráid Doiminic, on 091 - 500155, email [email protected], or go to www.branar.ie Dance
There will be sean-nós dancing classes for beginners and for improvers in Club Áras na nGael on Monday March 2 and Saturday 7. For more information contact 091 - 567824.
Other events
On Monday 2 there will be a table quiz for national schools in Gullanes Hotel, Ballinasloe, at 7pm; sean-nós dancing classes for beginners from 7pm to 9pm and for improvers from 9pm to 10pm in Club Áras na nGael. The cost is €8.
Tuesday March 3 will see Speed Gaeilge in the Eyre Square Shopping Centre (For more information contact 091 - 567824 ) and a Breton night in Club Áras na nGael at 8pm.
On Wednesday 4 the Cumann Óige Loughrea Radio Workshop with Davy Ó Coisdealbha will take place in Loughrea at 7pm. Oíche na bhFoghlaimeoirí i gClub Áras na nGael is a social night for Irish language learners, at 8pm.
On Friday 6 there will be story telling for children. Stories will be told in the Athenry Gaelscoil at 10am and in the Galway City Library from 11.15am to 12.15pm.
There will be a music session in Árus Uilinn, Maigh Cuilinn, at 8pm and in the Óstán Loughrea at 9.30pm; a young musicians’ session in Ionad Pobail Fearann na Coirce at 8pm; and in the Oa2 World Music Club DJ’s Will Softly and Ben Ó Faoláin will be on the decks from 10.30pm.
On Saturday 7 there will be a drama workshop, table quiz, and youth disco in Halla Pobail Chorr na Móna from 12.30pm. For more information contact Caitríona Ní Scolaí on 091 - 506014, 086 - 1742146, or email [email protected]
The Peatsaí Uí Cheannabháil Memorial Competition for under-18 sean-nós singers will take place in Coláiste Chonnacht, An Spidéal, at 12 noon.
The Tom Pháidín Tom Commemoration with Lilis Ó Laoire, Seán Ó Liatháin, Máire Ní Cheilleachair, Jimí Ó Ceannabháin, and Máire Pheter Uí Dhroighneáin, will take place at Bialann Bholuisce, An Spidéal, at 7.30pm.
There will be a gig with Ciarán Ó Maonaigh, Aidan O’Donnell, and Damien McGeehan on Óstán Loughrea at 6.30pm.
Monday 9 marks the start of Seachtain na nGiobal Gaelach (Irish rag week ); speed dating in Irish at the NUIG College Bar at 7pm; and a sean-nós and belly-dancing night in Áras na nGael at 9pm.
Tuesday March 10 sees the Ciorcal Comhrá (Circle of Chat ) in aid of Age Action West take place at 10.30am; and the Club Áras na nGael Rós competition takes place at 8pm. For more information contact 091 - 567824.
On Thursday March 12 in An Cheathrú Rua there will be a table quiz and fancy dress party in the Ógras youth club at 6pm and the Rag Week Céilí Mór in Tí Josie at 9pm.
Factor Chonamara Óige na Gaeltachta takes place on Friday 13 in Halla Pobail, Chorr na Móna, at 8pm. It is a talent show and disco for youth clubs in the Galway and Meath Gaeltachts. For more information contact Caitríona Ní Scolaí. DJs Will Softly and Ben Ó Faoláin will be in Oa2 from 10.30pm.
On Sunday 15 the Feis Ghaeilge na nÓg in Oranmore, poetry, singing, and music competition takes place in the Hala Pobail Maree. For more information contact 091 - 790737. A charity night in aid of Aware, takes place at Club Áras na nGael at 7pm.
For more information contact Conradh na Gaeilge on 091-567824 or [email protected]. See also www.snag.ie
