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Armagh and Down were well represented at Croke Park on 14 November when an amazing twelve clubs from the counties received awards recognising their work towards promoting the Irish language.
The Fondúireacht Sheosaimh Mhic Dhonncha awards were presented to 53 clubs from counties all over the country, with awards also presented to five county boards who took part in a special development strand of the Fondúireacht.
agus Siobhán Mhic Raois ó Naomh Pádraig CLG, Coilleach Eanach i gcontae
Ard Mhacha ag glacadh le bonn airgid de chuid Fhondúireacht Sheosaimh
Mhic Dhonncha ó Lorcán Mac Gabhann, Ceannasaí Ghlór na nGael, Ciarán
Mag Uidhir, Oifigeach Gaeilge CLG Uladh agus an láithreoir spóirt Gráinne McElwain
. Maria Nic Fhearchair and Siobhán Mhic Raois from St Patrick’s GAC, Cullyhanna
in County Armagh receiving a silver Seosamh Mac Donncha Irish language award
from Lorcán Mac Gabhann, Chief Executive of Glór na nGael, Ciarán Mag Uidhir
, Ulster GAA Irish language officer and sports broadcaster, Gráinne McElwain.
Fear Manach / Fe
The local Down clubs honoured were Naomh Eoin Bosco CLG/St John Bosco GAC - Bonn Cré-Umha and Cumann Pheadair Naofa GAC Warrenpoint - Bonn Cré-Umha
Other Down clubs that received awards included Baile Mháirtín/Ballymartin - Bonn Cré-Umha, Naomh Pádraig CLG Sabhall/St Patricks GAC Saul - Bonn Cré-Umha, Tulach Lís CLG/Tullylish GAC - Bonn Cré-Umha, Toigh Chonnachta CLG/Teconnaught GAC - Bonn Airgid, Achadh Dearg agus Baile Uí Mhearlaigh CLG/Aghaderg and Ballyvarley GAC - Bonn Airgid, and Droim Ga CLG/Drumgath GAC - Bonn Cré-Umha.
Locally Armagh clubs that received awards Cumann Sheáin Ui Neill, CLG/ Shane O'Neill's – Bonn Airgid and Naomh Pádraig CLG, Coilleach Eanach/ St Patrick's Cullyhanna – Bonn Airgid
Also awarded were Naomh Pól an Lorgain/ St Paul's Lurgan – Bonn Cré-Umha and Cumann Iománaíochta Sheáin Uí Threasaig/ Sean Treacys – Bonn Cré-Umha
agus Fionn Mac Cathmhaoil ó Naomh Eoin Bosco i gContae an Dúin ag glacadh
le bonn cré-umha de chuid Fhondúireacht Sheosaimh Mhic Dhonncha ó Lorcán
Mac Gabhann, Ceannasaí Ghlór na nGael, Ciarán Mag Uidhir, Oifigeach Gaeilge
CLG Uladh agus an láithreoir spóirt Gráinne McElwain. Máire Nic Chathmhaoil and
Fionn Mac Cathmhaoil from St John Bosco GAC in Newry, County Down receiving
a bronze Seosamh Mac Donncha Irish language award from Lorcán Mac Gabhann,
Chief Executive of Glór na nGael, Ciarán Mag Uidhir, Ulster GAA Irish language
officer and sports broadcaster, Gráinne McElwain.
Sports presenter Gráinne McElwain, who was bean an tí for the occasion, announced the three clubs that achieved Boinn Óir (gold), the 13 clubs that achieved Boinn Airgid (silver), and the 37 clubs that achieved Boinn Cré-umha (bronze) this year. Three county boards received Boinn Cré-umha (bronze) and two boards received Boinn Airgid (silver).
Fondúireacht Sheosaimh Mhic Dhonncha (FSMD) is a partnership scheme between Glór na nGael and the CLG dedicated to increasing the presence and use of Irish in GAA clubs throughout the country. The awards are evidence of the clubs' ongoing efforts to integrate Irish into their activities and to foster its growth among their members and communities.
After the ceremony, Cáit Ní Choirbhín, FSMD Manager, said: "Putting Irish at the heart of club life is a long-term project, and these awards are a recognition of that work. We are seeing more clubs every year planning carefully, using Irish on a daily basis, and bringing people with them. This success would not be possible without the strong partnership between the clubs themselves, Glór na nGael and Croke Park."
Ó Carra agus Aodh Ó Carra ó Chumann Pheadair Naofa LG Naomh Seosamh
i gcontae an Dúine ag glacadh le bonn cré-umha de chuid Fhondúireacht Sheosaimh
Mhic Dhonncha ó Lorcán Mac Gabhann, Ceannasaí Ghlór na nGael, Ciarán
Mag Uidhir, Oifigeach Gaeilge CLG Uladh agus an láithreoir spóirt Gráinne
McElwain. Eoin Ó Carra from Cumann Pheadair Naofa GAC, Warrenpoint in County
Down receiving a bronze Seosamh Mac Donncha Irish language award from Lorcán
Mac Gabhann, Chief Executive of Glór na nGael, Ciarán Mag Uidhir, Ulster GAA
Irish language officer and sports broadcaster, Gráinne McElwain.
Speaking from the stage, Cathaoirleach of the GAA Coiste Náisiúnta na Gaeilge, Áine Uí Choinn, expressed heartfelt thanks to the people working in the clubs, especially the oifigigh Gaeilge (Irish Officers), saying: "You are the ones doing the really vital work on the ground, encouraging Irish in every activity from the games to the meetings, from social media – and there is fantastic work happening on social media – to the community events you organise."
Jamie Ó Tuama, Oifigeach Forbartha Gaeilge an CLG (GAA Irish Language Development Officer), said the GAA is extremely proud of what the clubs are achieving as they promote the language in a strategic way, adding: "It is truly wonderful to see the clubs here together, celebrating the fruits of their work in nurturing the language through sport."
The event was not just an awards ceremony but the culmination of a year in which the presence and status of Irish were actively promoted in the clubs and the communities where they are based. More information about the criteria, the levels and how to register for the next round is available at www.glornangael.ie/clg.
