The new Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, Pat Carey, TD, will speak about the opportunities for Conradh na Gaeilge in the Government's 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language at the official opening of their Ard-Fheis in the Strand Hotel, Limerick ag 9.00pm Friday night, 16 April 2010.
Pádraig Mac Fhearghusa, President of Conradh na Gaeilge says: "The community must have a central role in the implementation of the Government's 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language if we are to successfully achieve the goals set out in the Strategy, and as a democratic forum for the Irish-speaking community, friends and supporters of the Irish language, Conradh na Gaeilge's role will be central in putting the Strategy into effect.
"Conradh na Gaeilge and the Irish-speaking community must co-operate in strengthening and achieving the goals laid out in the Draft 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language: the Draft Strategy must, for example, be implemented as part of the National Development Plan (NDP); improved bilingual road signage should be included in it; and a proper fully integrated and graded course for the teaching of the Irish language in English-medium primary schools should be developed as a matter of urgency, like the course for Irish-medium and Gaeltacht schools, Séideán Sí.
Julian de Spáinn, General Secretary of Conradh na Gaeilge: "There should also be a continuous, independent evaluation of the Strategy's progress in the years to come, and Conradh na Gaeilge recommends that An Coimisinéir Teanga, the Language Commissioner, takes responsibility for that role.
"It is worth noting that the Government agreed with Conradh na Gaeilge's recommendation that Irish-language planning should be undertaken within the community by county, and having begun this work in Co. Kildare in conjunction with Glór na nGael agus Comhluadar, we hope that Minister Carey will provide adequate resources to extend this initiative to other counties as part of the Strategy."
Conradh na Gaeilge's 2010 Ard-Fheis will be held in the Strand Hotel, Limerick, from the 16th - 18th April 2010 and information regarding this year's Ard-Fheis is available on-line here. Minister Pat Carey, TD, will officially open the Ard-Fheis at 9.00p.m. in the Strand Hotel on Friday night and all are welcome to attend the talks which Minister Carey and Lorcán Mac Gabhann, head of Glór na Gaeilge and an individual member of the Conradh, will give as part of the nights events. Conradh na Gaeilge's 2010 Ard-Fheis will also be broadcast live online at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ard-fheis-chonradh-na-gaeilge-2010.
MORE INFORMATION:
Pádraig Mac Fhearghusa
President, Conradh na Gaeilge
066 7124169 / 087 2901154
Julian de Spáinn
General Secretary, Conradh na Gaeilge
01 4757401 / 086 8142757
ARD-FHEIS CHONRADH NA GAEILGE 2010 ONLINE:
Conradh na Gaeilge's 2010 Ard-Fheis will be broadcasting live online at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ard-fheis-chonradh-na-gaeilge-2010 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 the democratic forum for the Irish-speaking community working to promote the language. There are 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. www.cnag.ie
CONRADH NA GAEILGE ARD-FHEIS PROGRAMME 2010:
Friday, 16 April 2010
19:00 Seachtain na Gaeilge AGM
20:30 President's Welcoming Speech
- Ard-Fheis Business
21:00 Official Opening of the Ard-Fheis
- Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, Pat Carey, TD
21:10 Deiseanna don Chonradh i Straitéis 20 Bliain an Rialtais don Ghaeilge
(Opportunities for the Conradh in the Government's 20 Strategy for the Irish Language)
Ard-Fheis Talks
- Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, Pat Carey, TD
- Lorcán Mac Gabhann, head of Glór na nGael and Individual Member of the Conradh
22:15 Reception and local musicians
organised by the Limerick City Branch, Craobh Chathair Luimnigh
Saturday, 17 April 2010
09:30 Debate between candidates for the Presidency
10:00 Ard-Fheis Business
13:00 Lunch
14:15 Branch-Development Workshop
- Domhnall Ó Loingsigh of the Ennis branch, Craobh na hInse
- Niall Ó Catháin of Carntogher Development Committee, Coiste Forbartha Charn Tóchair
14.45 Ard-Fheis Business
17:30 Close of business
20:00 Ard-Fheis Dinner
22:00 Ard-Fheis Club
- Seó an Oireachtais and Pádraig Ó Sé
Sunday, 18 April 2010
10:30 Mass in St. Michael's Church (live on Raidió na Gaeltachta)
11:30 Close of the Ard-Fheis in Halla Íde, Thomas Street
12:00 Historical tour from Halla Íde, Thomas Street
- Proinsias de Priondargás
