Delegates pass motions directing Conradh na Gaeilge upcoming programme of work, including immediate action regarding the current north south funding crisis, the Gaeltacht housing crisis, the implementation of new language legislation north & south, the crisis in the education system, as well as increased solidarity with ‘oppressed communities’ across the world, amongst other resolutions
The Conradh na Gaeilge Ard-Fheis took place this weekend in Whites Hotel, Loch Garman. Branches, members and guests have convened over three days to discuss and debate the organisation’s priorities for the year ahead.
Minister for the Gaeltacht, Social Protection and Rural and Community Development, Dara Calleary, TD. addressed the Ard-Fheis on Friday night as part of Ard-Fheis proceedings.
Over 80 motions were proposed by branches and members, with many of those passed this morning, Saturday 22 February. Amongst the most pressing motions debated and passed by delegates, included:
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Motion 1(a) and 1 (b) recommending a national ‘Lá Dearg’ procession and day of action following the ‘failure of both governments’ to keep their commitments to the Irish language proposed by Craobh Ghlór na Móna and Craobh Comharchumann Forbartha Chorca Dhuibhne
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Motion 1(c) recognising that, whilst progress has been made to amend the funding structure behind north-south body Foras na Gaeilge, the proposed new ‘framework’ may not resolve the fundamental funding issues, even if it receives the necessary cross-party support in the northern Executive.
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Motion 1(e) recognises that very little progress has been made to adequately resolve the housing crisis in the Gaeltacht, and calls for an immediate meeting with the Taoiseach on the issue.
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Motions 2(a&b), and Motions (5a,b&c), recognises the need for solidarity with ‘other oppressed communities across the world struggling for justice’, calling for increased ‘solidarity’ and ‘alliances’, and condemns the ‘genocide and apartheid’ in Palestine, recommending Conradh na Gaeilge to adopt a BDS policy, amongst other similar policies;
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Motions calling for the immediate and comprehensive implementation of newly adopted Irish language legislation north and south, including the appointment of an Irish language commissioner in the north, and the target of 20% of new employees in the státseirbhís in the south;
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Motions calling for new policies to promote, protect and develop Irish and Irish Medium Education across our education sectors north and south, in every county; and to implement the Gaeilge4All policy to address the growing number of exemptions from learning Irish and provide fairness in the educational system,
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An emergency motion was also passed directing Conradh na Gaeilge to begin legal proceedings (via a third Judicial Review) against the northern Executive due to their continued failure to adopt an Irish language strategy as set out in law since 2006;
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(Information and wording of all motions and their passage through the Ard-Fheis can be accessed at the bottom of this release).
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Mar chuid den Ard-Fheis, bíonn deis ag teachtaí vóta chaitheamh ar son Uachtarán Chonradh na Gaeilge agus ar son ionadaithe (12) ar an Choiste Gnó. Ar maidin toghadh Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin, gníomhaí teanga ó Iarthar Bhéal Feirste, ina Uachtarán úr ar Chonradh na Gaeilge. (Tá nóta beathaisnéise maidir le Ciarán ag bun an ráitis seo).
A central part of the Ard-Fheis is to elect the President of Conradh na Gaeilge and the election of 12 members of the organisation’s Business Committee. This morning, Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin, an Irish language activist from West Belfast, was elected as President of Conradh na Gaeilge, the first Belfast president of the organisation since Gearóid Ó Cairealláin (recently deceased) was elected to the position in 1995.
Speaking today, Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin, newly elected President of Conradh na Gaeilge, said:
“I am personally delighted to be elected President of Conradh na Gaeilge at this weekend’s Ard Fheis. Firstly, I wish to thank Paula Melvin, outgoing President of Conradh, for her work on behalf of the Irish language over the past 3 years as President of the organisation. I have a longstanding connection with Conradh na Gaeilge, going back around 20 years. I was first elected to the Conradh’s Coiste Gnó in 2005, and in 2015, I began a 5 year post as Advocacy Manager in the north as the organisation opened a new provincial headquarter in Belfast. I look forward now to the next steps in my journey with this incredible organisation and I believe that Conradh na Gaeilge has both a central role, and an important voice, on the biggest questions and challenges facing us as a society, both north and south, in the years ahead.”
“I think everyone present at this weekend’s Ard-Fheis will be thinking of the huge losses we have felt in the organisation over the last year, especially former presidents, including Pádraig Ó Snodaigh and Gearóid Ó Cairealláin. Gearóid was the most recent Belfast native to become President of Conradh na Gaeilge, 30 years ago this year, a giant of the Irish language world who set out a radical, energetic and empowering vision for the development of the Irish language and the Gaeltacht. I now look forward to beginning the next chapter of that same journey and, at a time where the Irish language is booming in popularity across the world, with historic new legislation north and south, it is more important now than ever that we make sure we have a movement capable of meeting the challenges and crises of today head on, be that our current funding crisis, or our every-growing housing crisis in the Gaeltacht, as well as all of the other issues, and ambitions of our community moving forward.”
Following today’s business, Julian de Spáinn, Ard-Rúnaí, Conradh na Gaeilge, said:
“Conradh na Gaeilge’s programme of work has been confirmed through the democratic process of the Ard-Fheis by our membership for the coming year. We will now set out to achieve the resolutions agreed by delegates today. It was very clear to me today, through the range and tone of motions passed by the Ard-Fheis, that we are at a critical juncture regarding the future of our native language and the Gaeltacht. The word ‘géarchéim’ (crisis), came up time and time again during discussions on the motions, between the current north south funding crisis, the ongoing housing crisis in the Gaeltacht, and the constant delays to the implementation of commitments and legislation north and south, as well as the development of new, innovative and effective policies for Irish and Irish Medium Education in our schools across Ireland.”
“Motions regarding the future of north south funding were central to today’s business. We have to be very honest in our assessment of the current crisis. Conradh na Gaeilge believes that the funding structure underpinning Foras na Gaeilge is broken, as both Governments have not funded it fairly over the last 20 years. One year on and there is a ‘new framework’ on the table. Will that new proposal fix the Foras na Gaeilge funding crisis? We don’t know, because we haven’t seen the details. It is essential that any amendment to the Foras funding formula enables a long-term resolution to the long term funding problems that have led us to this crisis. And, in the scenario where the DUP continue to refuse to pass that new framework, we will need a new resolution, and it will be for the Irish Government to take decisive action to ensure the funds they currently have to invest in the Irish language community can reach that community, one way or another. One thing is even clearer now than ever before, we cannot keep doing the same things time and time again and expecting different results. We finally need a resolution, and we need it now.”
Gradam an Uachtaráin, The President’s Award, will be announced at 9pm tonight, Saturday 22 February as part of the Conradh na Gaeilge Ard-Fheis. This year’s Gradam an Uachtaráin will be awarded to Éamon Ó Cuív. The National Voluntary Worker’s Award will also be presented to Donegal’s Dónall Ó Cnáimhsí.
MEDIA
Official pictures from the Ard-Fheis are available here: https://tinyurl.com/afcnag25
A report of all motions presented and voted on are included online here: www.twitter.com/cnag
The full programme for the Ard-Fheis, including motions, reports and agenda, can be accessed in full https://tinyurl.com/afcnag
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