Ferdie Mac an Fhailligh, Chief Executive of Foras na Gaeilge; Páidí Ó Lionáird, presenter of Irish-language current affairs programme, 7 Lá, and columnist with the national Irish-language paper Gaelscéal; and Maolsheachlainn Ó Caollaí, past President of Conradh na Gaeilge, will give their insight into a combined and interactive all-Ireland strategy for the Irish language at the official opening of the Conradh na Gaeilge 2012 Ard-Fheis in the Auburn Lodge, Ennis, Co. Clare at 9.00pm on Friday night, 30 March 2012.
Donnchadh Ó hAodha, President of Conradh na Gaeilge says: "Conradh na Gaeilge is an all-island organisation and the democratic forum for the Irish-speaking community; as such, our Ard-Fheis is a very opportune time to discuss a strategy that would comprise The 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010 - 2030 in the south, an Irish-language strategy in the north and any future funding model of Foras na Gaeilge. We all need to have an active and coordinated role in the long-term planning for the Irish language, in every part of the country."
Julian de Spáinn, General Secretary of Conradh na Gaeilge says: "We hope the Conradh na Gaeilge Ard-Fheis will give the Gaeltacht and Irish-speaking community a chance to focus on setting out agreed goals for the language, on an all-Ireland basis, as well as an active plan for achieving those same goals."
Conradh na Gaeilge is putting greater emphasis on interactive training, co-operation, and exchanging information and ideas with one another at this year's Ard-Fheis. There will be a networking meeting and training session with the Irish-language community schemes on Friday afternoon; the principal of local Gaelscoil Mhichíl Cíosóig, Dónal Ó hAiniféin, is the breakfast speaker for Saturday morning; and following official Ard-Fheis business, Saturday afternoon will give branches and individual members of Conradh na Gaeilge a choice of training workshops and a 7-a-side football competition organised by Na Gaeil Óga CLG.
There is a dinner and céilí organised for Saturday night and a historical walk around Ennis town on Sunday will bring the Conradh na Gaeilge 2012 Ard-Fheis to a close. You can book accommodation for the Ard-Fheis with Máiread Seoighe in the Head Office at
All information on the Conradh na Gaeilge 2012 Ard-Fheis can be found online at cnag.ie/index.php?page=feachtais&campaign_id=24. All are welcome to attend the Ard-Fheis Talk on Friday night and the final of the football competition on Saturday afternoon.
MORE INFORMATION:
Donnchadh Ó hAodha
President, Conradh na Gaeilge
087 2421267
Julian de Spáinn
General Secretary, Conradh na Gaeilge
01 4757401 / 086 8142757
CONRADH NA GAEILGE 2012 ARD-FHEIS ON-LINE:
The Conradh na Gaeilge 2012 Ard-Fheis will be broadcasting live online at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ard-fheis-chonradh-na-gaeilge-2012 for anyone who cannot attend, and people can also take part in Ard-Fheis business on Twitter by writing the characters #afcnag at the end of each message, and the Twitter stream will be shown on a screen at the Ard-Fheis.
EDITOR'S NOTE:
Conradh na Gaeilge is the democratic forum for the Irish-speaking community working to promote the language. There are over 200 branches of Conradh na Gaeilge and since its foundation in 1893, members of the Conradh have been actively promoting Irish in every aspect of life in Ireland and especially its use in their own areas. Conraitheoirí are at the forefront of campaigns to secure and strengthen the rights of the Irish language community. It is also possible to register as an individual member of the Conradh. Conradh na Gaeilge run Irish courses in Dublin, Galway, Mayo and in other locations around the country. Ard-Fheis Chonradh na Gaeilge 2012 will be held at The Auburn Lodge, Ennis, Co. Clare, from 30 March - 01 April 2012 and the local branch of Craobh na hInse deserve many thanks for helping us to organise the Ard-Fheis programme. www.cnag.ie/courses
Aontas Phobal na Gaeilge (APG) is an alliance of Irish-language organisations working to promote Irish across Ireland and the world through more strategic language-planning. Aontas Phobal na Gaeilge consists of Comhaltas Uladh, Comhluadar, Conradh na Gaeilge, Glór na nGael and Seachtain na Gaeilge, organisations dealing with different aspects of the promotion of Irish in the community that came together to form a working alliance that would ensure a better provision of services and more value for money. www.aontaspg.ie
CONRADH NA GAEILGE ARD-FHEIS PROGRAMME 2012:
Friday, 30 March 2012
11.00 Networking meeting with the Irish-Language Community Schemes
14.00 Training for the Irish-Language Community Schemes
20.00 Official Opening of the Ard-Fheis
20.30 Ard-Fheis Talk: A Combined All-Ireland Interactive Strategy for the Irish Language, which will comprise The 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010 - 2030 in the south, an Irish-language strategy in the north and any future funding model of Foras na Gaeilge
- Ferdie Mac an Fhailligh, Chief Executive of Foras na Gaeilge
- Páidí Ó Lionáird, presenter of Irish-language current affairs programme, 7 Lá
- Maolsheachlainn Ó Caollaí, author and past President of Conradh na Gaeilge
22.00 Music and reception
Saturday, 31 March 2012
08.00 Breakfast
08.30 Breakfast Speaker
- Dónal Ó hAiniféin, Prinicipal of Gaelscoil Mhichíl Cíosóig
09.30 Financial Accounts of Conradh na Gaeilge
10.00 Motions to be discussed according to priority
12.15 Motions not yet discussed to be agreed or rejected
12.30 Reports from organisations in association with Conradh na Gaeilge
Conradh na Gaeilge 2013 Ard-Fheis
13.00 Presidential Election
Lunch
13.15 Irish-Language Conference of the Union of Students in Ireland (USI)
14.00 Start of the 7-A-Side Football Competition, organised by Craobh Na Gaeil Óga CLG (GAA branch)
14.15 Training Workshops for Branches and Individual Members
- a) How to use social media to promote the branch's work - Facebook, Twitter, etc.
- b) Foras na Gaeilge funding schemes for local committees and how to fundraise
- c) How to promote the Irish language in the education systems north and south
15.15 Elections for the Executive Committee
Tea and Coffee
15.30 Training Workshops for Branches and Individual Members
- a) How to organise events in the community - Seachtain na Gaeilge, classes, An Bailiúchán Náisiúnta, Is Leor Beirt, etc.
- b) How to plan at a local level
- c) How to deal with local media
- d) The latest news on Aontas Phobal na Gaeilge (APG)
17.00 Final of the 7-A-Side Football Competition - all welcome!
20.00 Welcoming Speech before the Ard-Fheis Dinner
20.30 Ard-Fheis Dinner and Céilí
Sunday, 1 April 2012
10.30 Ard-Fheis Mass, Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul, O'Connell Street, Ennis
12.00 Historical walk around Ennis Town
The local Craobh na hInse branch deserve many thanks for helping to organise this programme.
