Dr Niall Comer re-elected as President of the organisation for another year
Dr Niall Comer, the current President of Conradh na Gaeilge, has been re-elected as President of the democratic forum for the Irish language community at Conradh na Gaeilge's first online Ard-Fheis which was held today, Saturday 27 February. The Ard Fheis began with a speech and questions from Catherine Martin TD, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and then Conradh na Gaeilge members from around the world discussed the motions of the Ard Fheis.
Dr Niall Comer, President of Conradh na Gaeilge says:
“I thank the members of Conradh na Gaeilge for showing confidence in me again this year as my term as President of the organisation comes to an end next year. We bravely took on the challenge of this year of the pandemic and I have no doubt that Conradh na Gaeilge, the staff, the branches and the individual members near and far will come through the crisis of this pandemic. ”
Catherine Martin TD, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, opened the Ard Fheis and among her remarks on the day, she said:
“We are making significant progress in Government with the agenda set for us. It is being done on a phased basis and in partnership with Gaeltacht communities, State bodies and the voluntary sector in particular. We have, and will, face difficulties and challenges as we work on behalf of the language community but we will work together to find solutions to those difficulties. ”
Julian de Spáinn, General Secretary of Conradh na Gaeilge says:
“Our membership has now set the agenda for the next year and we will work to achieve the motions agreed today. Deputies agreed that there is a need to speed up the implementation of Irish language legislation and strategy in the North. We will have the opportunity to do so when the Treaty goes before the Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement next Tuesday and when we meet the Minister of State for Northern Ireland Robin Walker.
In addition, Conradh na Gaeilge will act on the concerns expressed at the Ard Fheis regarding the Irish language in the southern education system. The new consultation launched by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) this week is very concerning. The NCCA does not appear to have recommended the new Leaving Certificate specifications to properly cater for both the native or weak speaker. The Government now needs to step in, put aside that consultation and focus on the commitment made in the Programme for Government to further develop a policy for Irish in the pre-school * to the third-level education system delay. ”
Seán Ó Sé was presented with the President's Award and Seán brought the morning's proceedings to a close with an beautiful version of Oró Sé do Bheatha ‘Bhaile.
* in line with our # Gaeilge4All campaign, such a policy should cover the development of the current Gaeltacht education policy, the development of a policy for Irish-medium education and the development of a policy for Irish in English-medium schools in one major policy.
