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(Tá leagan as Gaeilge den alt thíos le léamh anseo.)
IRISH SPEAKERS AND enthusiasts will be heading in their droves to two festivals this weekend. In Gaoth Dobhair a local group has organised a festival which commemorates a broadcasting pioneer who inspired the likes of Kneecap and others to pursue contemporary Irish language music .
In the West Kerry Gaeltacht, Ceiliúradh an Bhlascaoid (A Blasket Celebration) will pay tribute to the rich creative heritage of the Blasket Islands and the wealth of literature and folklore that the people of those islands have brought to the world.
The Palestinian Ambassador, Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid, will open Dorn san Aer/A Fist in the Air in Amharclann Ghaoth Dobhair (Gaoth Dobhair Theatre) tonight (Friday evening) to kick off a weekend of concerts, seminars, workshops and other events aimed at celebrating Ronán Mac Aodha Bhuí, RTÉ RnaG broadcaster and pioneer in many ways.
Mac Aodha Bhuí passed away two years ago at this time of year after a long battle with cancer. He was remembered by several speakers at a major protest in Dublin last weekend, having been the man of the house at the last language rights protest in the capital in 2014.
While Mac Aodha Bhuí’s friends and colleagues were left in mourning following his death, they decided to celebrate his life with a festival that commemorated his catch phrase, Dorn san Aer, a battle cry he would often broadcast on his RTÉ RnaG programme, Ronán Beo.
Among the bands taking to the stage tonight are Huartán, Cigire na bPuntaí and Ramper. On Saturday night Bréag, the Belfast band who have earned a reputation for marrying Irish and reggae together, will top a bill which also includes Grooveline.
A new film produced by veteran US documentary-maker Michael Moore, From Ground Zero, about the siege being carried out in Gaza, will be shown on Sunday and a heartfelt Conallach finale is assured with a performance by Ceoltóirí Thoraigh on Sunday night.
There will also be interest in the Battle of the Bands competition being held over the weekend. Mac Aodha Bhuí was passionate in his encouragement of new musicians and groups. Festival goers may well be the first to see emerging talent in this competition that they hope may emulate the likes of Kneecap.
In the Blasket Centre in Dún Chaoin this evening Éamon Ó Cúív, President of the Oireachtas Irish language arts festival and former Minister for the Gaeltacht, will open the Blasket Celebration. The ‘The Creativity of Our People from Yesterday to Today’ will be celebrated and there will be events to discuss the island’s song and music tradition.
In addition, there will be a panel discussion on Saturday morning to discuss the life and work of poet and publisher, Pádraig Ó Snodaigh. Participating in this panel will be the writers, Cathal Poirtéir, Pádraig Ó Cíobháin and Pádraig Mac Fhearghusa, authors whose works have been published by Ó Snodaigh,
The Journal’s Gaeltacht initiative is supported by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
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