Seachtain na Gaeilge le Energia will be celebrated from 1 - 17 Márta 2019. The festival was announced today at Wood Quay, Dublin, with a bright, bilingual panel discussion featuring this year’s ambassadors - Tracy Clifford, presenter with 2fm; Dublin footballer Michael Darragh Macauley; singer Sibéal Ní Chasaide from Ráth Chairn; and Linda Ervine, Irish Language Development Officer in East Belfast.
Today, the panel spoke openly about their own experiences with the Irish language, and the reasons they took on their roles as language ambassadors for this year’s international celebration of the Irish language.
Michael Darragh Macauley, Dublin footballer and ambassador for Seachtain na Gaeilge le Energia said; “Everyone has their own relationship with the language and their own story to tell, Seachtain na Gaeilge really encapsulates that and offers people the opportunity to develop or deep their connection with the language, which is really special.”
Orlaith Nic Ghearailt, Seachtain na Gaeilge and Awareness Campaigns Manager at Conradh na Gaeilge said; “Last year, over 750,000 people took part in over pubic and school events 3,000 across the country and across the world. Seachtain na Gaeilge is an international celebration of our language, and we are looking forward to another, even more successful, year.”
Last year’s events included Lá na Meán Sóisialta (Social Media Day), during which hundreds of tweets were sent using the hashtag #LNMS18, and the street festival BEO, which was held in Dublin and attracted a reported 7,000 attendees.
Amy O’Shaughnessey, Sponsorship Manager at Energia said; “We are so proud to be support Seachtain na Gaeilge le Energia for our third year. As an Irish company, it is important to us to support Irish organisations and campaigns, and Seachtain na Gaeilge is a wonderful example of an international festival that conveys pride and investment in our native language and culture."
The national launch of Seachtain na Gaeilge le Energia will take place next Saturday, 23 February in Monaghan, where there will be entertainment and street performances from 14.00. All are welcome, especially families.
The festival will be launched internationally on March 2nd in the London Irish Centre.
