Tá Gaeilge labhartha ag na mílte daoine i gContae Chill Dara. De réir dhaonáireamh náisiúnta 2022, tá Gaeilge ag 95,484 duine i gcontae Chill Dara. Tá clainne i gContae Chill Dara go mbíonn an Ghaeilge mar theanga an tí, tá páistí gurb í an Ghaeilge a dteanga dúchais, bíonn grúpaí Gaeilgeoirí ag bualadh le chéile go rialta sa chontae agus tá fás agus forbairt ag teacht ar na seirbhísí atá ar fáil do lucht na Gaeilge.
Tá ard-spéis sa Ghaeloideachais sa chontae anois. Ó a osclaíodh an chéad Gaelscoil sa chontae i Léim an Bhradáin i 1979, osclaíodh ocht nGaelscoil eile agus dhá Ghael-Choláiste i gContae Chill Dara. Tá an Ghaeilge an-lárnach in Ollscoil Mhaigh Nuad – tá an roinn ollscoile Nua-Ghaeilge is mó sa tír in Ollscoil Mhá Nuad chomh maith le Lárionad na Gaeilge a eagraíonn scrúduithe TEG (Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge), Oifigeach Gaeilge lánaimseartha, Cuallacht Cholmcille (an cumann mac léinn don Ghaeilge is ársa sa tír) agus lárionad atá tiomnaithe don chultúr Gaelach.
Is í an sprioc atá ag Cill Dara le Gaeilge ná tacaíocht a thabhairt do ghrúpaí nó do ghníomhaithe sa chontae atá ag cur imeachtaí nó seirbhísí ar fáil trí mheán na Gaeilge. Ba mhaith linn gréasán a fhorbairt idir grúpaí éagsúla, scéalta a scaipeadh eatarthu agus go mbeadh pobal na Gaeilge ar an eolas faoi céard atá ar siúl ina gceantair. Ba mhaith linn go mbeadh réimse leathan d’imeachtaí ar fáil trí mheán na Gaeilge agus déanfaimid ár ndícheall grúpaí a mhealladh chun imeachtaí nua a chur ar fáil.
Bíonn ranganna Gaeilge ar fáil ar fud fad an chontae chomh maith le ciorcail comhrá, grúpaí sóisialta, Pop-Up Gaeltachtaí, grúpaí teaghlaigh, féilte agus go leor imeachtaí eile a chuirtear ar siúl don phobal.
Thousands of people speak Irish in Co. Kildare. According to the 2022 national census, 95,484 people in County Kildare have Irish. There are families in County Kildare where Irish is the language of the home, there are children whose native language is Irish, groups of Irish speakers meet regularly in the county and the services available to Irish speakers are growing and developing.
There is now a high level of interest in Irish-medium education in the county. Since the opening of the county’s first Gaelscoil in Leixlip in 1979, eight more Gaelscoileanna and two Gael-Choláiste have opened in County Kildare. The Irish language is central to Maynooth University – Maynooth University has the largest Modern Irish university department in the country as well as a Centre for Irish Language which organises TEG (Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge), a full-time Irish language officer, Cuallacht Cholmcille (the oldest student association for the Irish language in the country) and a centre dedicated to Irish culture.
The goal of Cill Dara le Gaeilge is to support groups or activists in the county who are providing events or services through Irish. We want to develop a network between different groups, to spread stories between them and to make the Irish language community aware of what is going on in their areas. We would like to see a wide range of events available through Irish and we will do our best to attract groups to provide new events.
Irish language classes are available throughout the county as well as conversation circles, social groups, Pop-Up Gaeltachtaí, family groups, festivals and many other events held for the public.
Tá lánfháilte romhaibh a bheith páirteach sna ciorcail chomhrá! Tá siad ar fáil do gach leibhéal. Déan teagmháil leo le tuilleadh eolais a fháil, agus tá níos mó eolais thíos freisin.
You are all very welcome to be part of the conversation circles! They are available to all levels. Contact them to learn more, there’s more information below.
Tháinig Scoil Gheimhridh Merriman chuig contae Chill Dara don chéad uair riamh an deireadh seachtaine seo caite. Deireadh seachtaine taitneamhach, spreagúil a bhí ann i Nás na Ríogh. Is in Óstán Lawlor’s a bhí formhór na n-imeachtaí ar siúl. Oidhreacht Bhríde an téama tráthúil a pléadh ag an Scoil i mbliana, ag teacht leis an gcomóradh ar 1500 bliain ó bhásaigh Bríd. Ba é an saineolaí teanga, Dónall Ó Riagáin, ball de bhord Chill Dara le Gaeilge, a d’oscail an Scoil go hoifigiúil. Cíoradh ábhair a bhaineann le saol Bhríde trí chainteanna, seimineáir, turais agus taibhléirithe a cuireadh i láthair ó bhéal, i bhfoirm ceoil agus le scannán nua ar Bhríd.
Seoladh an gearrscannán An Bhladhm Bheo: Mná Chill Dara le Bríd, a bhí á chur i láthair ag Cill Dara le Gaeilge, mar chuid d’imeachtaí na deireadh seachtaine. Léiriú d’ard-chaighdeán sa scannán, a thugann ardán do mhná Chill Dara scéal Bhríde a insint. Bhí Treasa Uí Riagáin, ball de bhord Chill Dara le Gaeilge i measc na rannpháirtithe. Tá an scannán ar fáil thíos.
Maoiníodh an gearrscannán faoin scéim Bríd 1500. Is clár imeachtaí é Bríd 1500 chun ceiliúradh agus comóradh a dhéanamh ar Naomh Bríd, a beatha agus a hoidhreacht, ar bhealach leathan agus saibhir. Tá tuilleadh eolais ar fáil anseo: https://brigid1500.ie/
Merriman Winter School arrived in County Kildare for the first time ever last weekend. It was an enjoyable and exciting weekend in Naas. Most events took place in the Lawlor’s Hotel. Brigid’s legacy is the topical theme discussed by the School this year, in line with the commemoration of the 1500 years since Brigid’s death. The school was officially opened by the Irish language expert, Dónall Ó Riagáin, a member of the board of Cill Dara le Gaeilge. Topics relating to the life of Brigid were explored through talks, seminars, tours and performances presented orally, in the form of music and by a new film on Brigid.
The short film An Bhladhm Bheo: Mná Chill Dara le Bríd, was launched, presented by Cill Dara le Gaeilge, as part of the weekend’s events. A high quality film which gives Kildare women a platform to tell the story of Brigid. Among the participants was Treasa Uí Riagáin, a board member of the Cill Dara le Gaeilge. The film is now available online below.
The short film was funded under the 1500 Bríd scheme. Bríd 1500 is a programme of events to celebrate and commemorate St Brigid’s life and heritage, in a broad and rich way. Further information is available here: https://brigid1500.ie/
