The local Irish language and culture groups, together with the Good Relations Office at CCGB Council, and the Culture Officers of N. Antrim GAA invited North Antrim to celebrate Seachtain na Gaeilge with a Tob-Ghaeltacht! POP-UP Gaeltacht!

An evening of amhrán (song), ceol (music), damhsa (dance) and comhrá (conversation) was held in Glen Rovers GAC, Armoy for the whole community to enjoy.

Deirdre Goodlad, Irish Language Development Officer in the area, acted as Bean a’Tí, organised the evening’s entertainment and sang a few songs for us during the evening. Skilled musicians, from 8 years old to 80, played some wonderful music. Delicious sandwiches and buns were provided by the Nora O’Kane and family on behalf of the Glen Rovers Hurling Club and were enjoyed with a cuppa or a drink from the bar.

There were jigs, a brush dance and more songs with the audience joining in and singing along. All evening, people were talking in Gaeilge (Irish) and Béarla (English) and enjoying the company of old friends and meeting new ones.

The evening certainly lived up to the aims of the Foras na Gaeilge scheme, of nurturing a lively Irish language community here in the north Antrim area – in our towns, on Rathlin island, in our rural areas and in our glens.

If you would like to get in contact visit www.glinnti.net  or feel free to contact Deirdre with any questions about classes, activities or Gaeilge and we’ll do our best to help you. Ríomhphost/Email: deirdre@glinnti.net , Phone 07935514343

You can also contact the Culture & Oifigeach Gaeilge in your local GAA club or Comhaltas Group.