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If you'd like to have a new insight into where you live and perhaps find out about the origins of your townland or village, a new series commissioned by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council could be just the job!
‘On Your Doorstep’ is a fourteen-part video series exploring some of the best and lesser known placenames to be found on your own doorstep. The series will be launched in Downpatrick later this month with an event in Newry 1 April.
The ‘On Your Doorstep’ video series will give an insight into the placenames to be found in the Newry, Mourne and Down distict area. Attending the two events are guest speakers with specific expertise and historical knowlegde of the placenames within our district. They will be able to answer questions on the day from members of the public. This project incorporates the contributions of local placenames experts, as well as spectacular aerial footage that highlights the beauty of the area that surrounds us.
If you are interested in finding out more about the origins of your own townland or village, or the roads around it, and where the names of places such as Annalong, Forkhill, Slidderyford or Newry come from, this series is for you. The online content offers people an additional opportunity to enjoy the language and learn more Irish through watching the subtitled series.
The initiative is part of the Council's Irish Language Strategy and Bilingualism Policy where the Council recognises the Irish language as an integral part of the heritage, identity and cultural life of the district.
The Chairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Councillor Michael Savage, said, “The history of our own area is written in the placenames and I'm really looking forward to seeing this new series of videos on our YouTube channel.”
In each short film, a local historian takes us on a journey of discovery, to visit the placenames that inspire them. Viewers get an insight into some of the most interesting placenames in the area. Some date back to pre-Christian times, while others are born from local mythology and lore, or physical features of our rich landscape.
The Events
- Down County Museum, Saturday 18 March at 11am with Máire Burns & Aodán Mac Ruairí
- Newry and Mourne Museum, Saturday 1 April at 11am with Dr Niall Comer & Úna Walsh
Although both events are free to attend, it is necessary to pre book tickets and a free lunch will be provided at both screenings. English and Irish will be spoken at both these events so that people will understand the content of the talks, regardless of their level of fluency in Irish. Additionally, the videos themselves will have English subtitles.
Tickets for these events are available at www.newrymournedown.org/gaeilge
During the pandemic, the Council began creating video content for the public which was shared on its YouTube channel, and social media. Now in 2023, there is an archive of Irish language video content online for the public to enjoy at www.youtube.com
For more information email gaeilge@nmandd.org or visit www.newrymournedown.org/gaeilge
The Irish Language Unit administers the Irish Language Bursary Scheme, and this year’s scheme is still open for anyone who wishes to complete an Irish language course before the end of March 2023. The Irish Language Bursary Scheme 2023-24 will be opening on Monday the 13 March and information on the coming year’s scheme will be circulated soon: www.newrymournedown.org/ssng
‘Ar Leac an Dorais Agat’: Taispeáintí Físeán ag Iarsmalann an Iúir agus Mhúrn, agus Iarsmalann Chontae an Dúin
Tá sraith nua ceithre pháirt déag réidh le seoladh ag Comhairle Ceantair an Iúir, Mhúrn agus an Dúin. Choimisiúnaigh an Chomhairle an tsraith, ‘Ar Leac an Dorais Agat’, le cuid de na logainmneacha is mó agus is lú aithne sa chomhairle ceantair a chíoradh. Seolfar an tsraith ag na himeachtaí seo a leanas:
- Iarsmalann Chontae an Dúin, Dé Sathairn 18 Márta ar 11am le Máire Burns & Aodán Mac Ruairí
- Iarsmalann an Iúir agus Mhúrn, Dé Sathairn 1 Aibreán ar 11am le Dr Niall Comer & Úna Walsh
Tabharfaidh ‘Ar Leac an Dorais Agat’ léargas ar na logainmneacha atá le fáil i gceantar an Iúir, Mhúrn agus an Dúin. Ag an dá himeacht thuasluaite, beidh roinnt aoichainteoirí i láthair a bhfuil saineolas acu ar na logainmneacha sa cheantar. Beidh siad sin sásta ceisteanna ón phobal a phlé ar an lá, fosta. Rinneadh an togra seo le cuidiú ó na saineolaithe siúd, chomh maith le scannánaíocht ón aer a chuireann áilleacht ár gceantair os ár gcomhair.
Más spéis leat tuilleadh a fhiosrú ar bhunús do bhaile fearainn nó do shráidbhaile féin, nó na bóithre atá thart air, agus cad as a dtagann logainmneacha cosúil le hÁth na Long, Foirceal, Slidderyford nó An tIúr, b’fhiú go mór an tsraith seo a fheiceáil. Tugann an t-ábhar ar líne deis bhreise do dhaoine sult a bhaint as an teanga agus níos mó Gaeilge a fhoghlaim.
Dúirt Cathaoirleach Chomhairle an Iúir, Mhúrn agus an Dúin, an Comhairleoir Michael Savage, “Tá stair ár gceantair féin scríofa sna logainmneacha agus tá mé ag súil go mór leis an tsraith físeán úr seo a fheiceáil ar ár gcainéal YouTube.”
I ngach gearrscannán, tabharfaidh staraí áitiúil ar aistear fionnachtana muid, chun cuairt a thabhairt ar na logainmneacha a spreagann iad. Gheobhaidh lucht féachana léargas ar chuid de na logainmneacha is spéisiúla sa cheantar. Téann roinnt logainmneacha siar go dtí aimsir na réamh-Chríostaíochta, agus tagann cuid eile acu ón mhiotaseolaíocht agus ón tseanchas áitiúil, nó ó ghnéithe fisiceacha dár dtírdhreach saibhir.
Cé go bhfuil na himeachtaí seo saor in aisce is gá do thicéad a chur in áirithe, agus beidh lón saor in aisce curtha ar fáil ag an dá sheoladh. Tá na himeachtaí seo fóirsteanach do dhaoine nach bhfuil Gaeilge líofa acu, mar go mbeidh Béarla in úsáid chomh maith leis an Ghaeilge sa dóigh is go dtuigfidh daoine ábhar na gcainteanna. Chomh maith leis sin, beidh fotheidil Bhéarla ar na físeáin féin.
I rith na paindéime, thosaigh an Chomhairle a chruthú ábhar físe don phobal a roinneadh ar chainéal YouTube na Comhairle, agus ar na meáin shóisialta. Anois in 2023, tá cartlann ábhar físe Gaeilge ar líne a bhfuil an pobal in ann taitneamh a bhaint aisti: www.youtube.com
Eolas: gaeilge@nmandd.org nó ar www.newrymournedown.org/gaeilge
