Skip to main content

From California To Carntogher - Irish Speakers Break A World Record

Non-stop 168-hour conversation in Irish completed by language groups worldwide!

Irish speakers from California to Carntogher have broken a world record today (Sunday, 6 October 2013) after spending a full week speaking Irish non-stop as part of the Comhrá 24/7 initiative from 29 September – 6 October 2013!

Julian de Spáinn, Bliain na Gaeilge 2013 Coordinator explains:

"Today is an incredible community achievement for the Irish language – Comhrá 24/7 has connected Irish speakers from Sydney, Australia with Kerry County Council, the Celtic Arts Center in California to UCD in Dublin, Sheffield, England with Athlone Community Station, the Beijing Foreign Studies University of China with Gaelphobal Cheantar an tSrath Báin in Strabane, Co. Tyrone, Glasgow with An Garda Síochána College in Tipperary, Líofa speakers in Stormont with a Joint Oireachtas Committee of Leinster House – all this as part of Bliain na Gaeilge 2013 and a non-stop Irish conversation over the course of 168 hours, it’s unbelievable!"

The longest continuous conversation in the Irish language ever began at the All Ireland Ladies' Gaelic Football Championship in Croke Park, Dublin at 1.30pm on Sunday, 29 September 2013, and Comhrá 24/7 used Google Hangouts to keep the conversation going, moving from one group to another non-stop across the world for the week, before coming to an end as part of the Rights & Revelry festival in Belfast at 2.00pm today, Sunday, 6 October 2013. Comhrá 24/7 is a Bliain na Gaeilge initiative, a year-long festival celebrating 120 years of the revival of Irish this year.

The interactive conversation was streaming live to the world via www.gaeilge2013.ie/comhra247 for the duration of the week and over 60 different groups* partook in this world record attempt. Irish- and English-speaking schools got involved in Comhrá 24/7, as well as community groups, houses of parliament north and south, libraries, third level institutions, arts centres, television and radio stations such as RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, BBC Uladh, and Raidió Rí-Rá, and lots more.

De Spáinn says:

"Everyone in Conradh na Gaeilge and in Bliain na Gaeilge in general would like to say a huge thanks to all the groups that took part in this incredible world record, and we hope Comhrá 24/7 has inspired the global community to talk in Irish, not only for this special week, but in life in general in the coming months and years!"

Information about Comhrá 24/7 can be found on the Bliain na Gaeilge website at www.gaeilge2013.ie in addition to images and videos from the world record attempt. Bígí Linn – Let’s Celebrate Our Language! END

FURTHER INFORMATION:

Julian de Spáinn
National Coordinator, Bliain na Gaeilge
+353 (0)86 8142757 / +353 (0)1 4757401

Rónán Mistéil
Coordinator, Comhrá 24/7
+353 (0)85 1461324 / +353 (0)1 4757401

NEWS RELEASE
Date: 6 October 2013
EMBARGO: 14.00, 6 OCTOBER 2013

EDITOR’S NOTE:

Conradh na Gaeilge, the democratic forum for the Irish-speaking community, coordinated Comhrá 24/7. 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 runs Irish courses in Dublin, Galway, Mayo and other places throughout the country as well. www.cnag.ie/courses

Bliain na Gaeilge is a year of festivities celebrating the Irish language and will include different fun and exciting events organised both locally and nationally throughout Ireland to inspire the public to use their Irish regularly. Join In - Bígí Linn - Let's Celebrate Our Language! www.gaeilge2013.ie

What can you do as part of Bliain na Gaeilge 2013?

  • Use Irish with your friends, your relatives, your colleagues and anyone else you can in 2013
  • Check out all the events on our website at www.gaeilge2013.ie & attend some of them
  • Take part in the competitions - there are great prizes to be won!
  • Make the decision to improve your Irish or learn it from scratch in 2013 - you could even take part in the Líofa 2015 initiative
  • Go on holidays to the Gaeltacht
  • Encourage friends from abroad to come to Ireland in 2013 to attend some of the Bliain na Gaeilge events and to take part in The Gathering Ireland 2013
  • Buy products made in Ireland to help support the environment in which we're promoting Irish

*Participants of Comhrá 24/7:

  • Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh
  • An Coláiste Ollscoile, Baile Átha Cliath
  • Ollscoil na hÉireann Má Nuad
  • Coláiste na Tríonóide
  • Coláiste na hOllscoile Corcaigh
  • Club an Chonartha, Baile Átha Cliath
  • Raidió Rí-Rá
  • Celtic Arts Center, Cathair na nAingeal, California
  • Uimhir 6, Baile Átha Cliath
  • Coláiste Phobal Chaoimhín, Cill Mhantáin
  • Foras na Gaeilge, Oifig Ghaoth Dobhair
  • Seachtain na Gaeilge
  • An Siopa Leabhar
  • Rang Gaeilge - Beijing Foreign Studies University
  • Bunscoil Bheanna Boirche, Co. an Dúin
  • Coláiste Mhaolmhaodhóg, Béal Feirste
  • Pobalscoil Charraig Ui Leighin, Co. Chorcaí
  • Gael Linn, Ard Mhacha
  • Coláiste Chois Life, Leamhcán
  • Scoil Sydney (19.00 san Astráil)
  • Is Leor Beirt, Gaillimh
  • Is Leor Beirt, Ceatharlach
  • Pobalscoil Naomh Mharcais, Tamhlacht
  • Gaecholáiste Chill Dara
  • Gaelphobal Cheantar an tSratha Báin, Tír Eoghain
  • Oifig na Gaeilge Comhairle Contae Chiarraí
  • Gael-Taca, Corcaigh
  • Is Leor Beirt, Sráid Fhearchair, Baile Átha Cliath
  • Comhchoiste um Chomhshaol, Cultúr agus Gaeltacht
  • Bunscoil an Iúir
  • Gaeilge Anseo, Craobh Dhún Garbhán
  • Líofa i Stormont, Béal Feirste
  • Glór na Ríogh, Cill Dara
  • Coláiste Pobail Naomh Mhichíl & Club Gaeilge Gaga
  • Conradh na Gaeilge, an tAonach
  • Coláiste Pobail Osraí, Cill Chainnigh
  • Sult na Sollán, Co. Chill Dara
  • Cearta & Ceiliúradh, Béal Feirste
  • Craobh TG4 i bPeil na mBan, Páirc Uí Chrócaigh
  • Meon Eile, Béal Feirste
  • Coláiste Notre Dame, Baile Átha Cliath
  • Áras Inis Gluaire / Belmullet Arts Centre
  • Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Bhaile Átha Cliath, Sráid Aungier
  • Is Leor Beirt, Maigh Eo
  • An Coiste Gaeilge, Cumann Lúthchleas Gael
  • Coláiste Feirste
  • Scoil Ghearóid Naofa, Cill Mhantáin
  • Coláiste Notre Dame, Baile Átha Cliath
  • Mater Críostaí, Fionnghlas
  • Dún Uladh, Tír Eoghain
  • St. Wolstan’s Community School, Co. Chill Dara
  • Institiúid Oideachais Marino, Baile Átha Cliath
  • Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, Gaoth Dobhair
  • Ardscoil Naomh Maolmhaodhóg, An Dún
  • Coláiste an Gharda Síochána, Tiobraid Árann
  • Comharchumann Forbartha Ghaoth Dobhair & Club 50
  • Gael Linn, Baile Átha Cliath
  • Beo Ireland, Co. Dhún na nGall
  • Ciorcal Comhrá Phort Laoise
  • Ionad Naomh Phádaraig, Dobhair, Gaoth Dobhair
  • Cormac ag a 5, Raidió na Gaeltachta
  • Coiste Forbartha Charn Tóchair, Co. Dhoire
  • Glór Bhéal an Átha Mhóir, Co, Liatroma
  • Ciorcal Comhrá Leabharlann Ráth Eanaigh
  • Comhluadar
  • Spleodar - Carn an Bhua, Loch Garman
  • Raidió - Tra Mhór
  • Sheffield Irish Language Group / Grúpa Gaeilge Sheffield
  • Conradh na Gaeilge, Glaschú
  • Coiste Forbartha Charn Tóchair, Co. Dhoire
  • Blas - BBC Raidió Uladh
  • Spleodar - Baile Átha an Rí, Gaillimh
  • Muintir na Gaeilge, Ongar, Baile Átha Cliath
  • Club C.L.G. Domhnach Mór / Cill Dhéagláin, Co. na Mí
  • Athlone Community Radio 88.4FM
  • Craobh Liam Bulfin, Baile Átha Cliath
  • Ciorcal Comhrá, An Trá Mhór
  • Glór Chluainín, Liatroim
  • Muintir na Gaeilge, Ongar, Baile Átha Cliath
  • Craobh Liam Bulfin, Baile Átha Cliath
  • Cairde Teo, Ard Mhacha
  • Gaeilge le Chéile, Ceatharlach
  • Gaeilgeoirí Cois Laoi, Co. Chorcaí
  • Glór Uachtar Tíre, Co. an Dhúin
  • Ciorcal Comhrá Ard Mhacha
  • Grúpa Comhrá C.L.G. Fhine Ghallainn
  • Cumann Gaelach, Port Láirge
  • Pobal Gaeilge Madison Wisconsin
  • Grúpa Comhrá C.L.G. Fhine Ghallainn

 

 

Conradh na Gaeilge

6 Harcourt Street, Dublin 2.
Phone: +353 (0) 1 475 7401, Fax: +353 (0) 1 475 7844, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.