Tonnta - Galway’s newest festival, celebrating the Irish language and Galway as a bilingual city will run from today February 1 to Feb 4. Given the weekend that is in it, there are a number of themes, but the primary one is to celebrate Galway’s status as a bilingual city.
Throughout the weekend and particularly at the free Céilí Mór and fire shows in Eyre Sq and at the workshops, cartoon exhibitions and family events in the Portershed, there will be opportunities to (re ) awaken your interest in the Irish language by speaking with helpful and empathetic language ambassadors who will chat to you at whatever level of Gaeilge you are comfortable with.
That word you’re looking for will be right above you on the overhead bunting as you stroll through the Latin Quarter - just reach up and grab a few and use them.
Many workshops and events will be bilingual including the Food and Whiskey Tours, the Dirty Circus in the Taibhdhearc and Story Time in conjunction with the Moth and Butterfly Festival in the City Library .
On St Brigid’s Day and indeed all weekend they will celebrate women and Tonnta is delighted to bring you a live presentation of the Beo ar Éigean podcast, the Mnásome Geeze comedy performance in the Róisín Dubh and Seisiún Ceol na mBan at the Crane.
The programme also celebrates the Culture of the Gaeltacht and who better to embody that than Altan, in the Town Hall Theatre on Friday 2; Liam O’Maonlaí in the Taibhdhearc on Saturday 3; Ceoltóirí Óga Chonamara In the Eyre Sq Centre also on Saturday and the Trad Rave in the Róisín Dubh on February 1.
A big part of the Tonnta Festival programme is free including talks, workshops, the Irish Language Cartoon Exhibition presented by the Galway Cartoon Festival and Lá na bPáistí all taking place in the PorterShed a Dó on Saturday and Sunday.
Also on Saturday Feb 3 Tonnta takes over Eyre Sq with a free Céilí Mór (2pm to 5pm ) and two fire shows presented by the renowned Rogu at 5.15pm and at 7pm.
Most importantly, the festival will provide plenty of opportunities to practise your Irish, regardless of how much or how little you know.
Gaillimh le Gaeilge, which works to enhance the visibility and audibility of the Irish language in Gaillimh Galway has planned the new festival and is co - funded by Galway City Council, Fáilte Ireland, Plean Teanga Chathair na Gaillimhe and Gaillimh le Gaeilge.
As part of the designation of Galway as a city of culture and as an official bilingual city, a partnership is also being formed with the Galway Culture Company.
Bríd Ní Chonghóile, CEO Gaillimh le Gaeilge explains:“Is féile dhátheangach a bheidh i gceist le Tonnta ina mbeidh béim ar an nGaeilge. With the help of Irish speakers and a variety of bilingual cultural activities, we aim to introduce more non-Irish speakers to the Irish language. It will also celebrate and showcase our vibrant and unique Gaeltacht culture over the weekend, as well as the legacy of St Brigid.”
