An bhfaca sibh na mórchláir a bhí in airde in Ard Mhacha ar an tseachtain seo caite?
Bhí grianghraf breá gealgháireach de Ghaeilgeoirí óga ag baint sult as an ghrian agus as an chomhluadar. Agus bhí dhá theachtaireacht ar an fhógra féin. “Anois ar theacht an tsamhraidh” – líne ón amhrán meidhreach mór le rá Óró ‘Sé do bheatha ‘bhaile a léirigh an nasc idir Ard Mhacha, an ceol, na hamhráin agus an Ghaeilge. Agus “Tá an Ghaeilge beo in Ard Mhacha” – líne a léirigh go bhfuil neart Gaeilgeoirí in Ard Mhacha ag freastal ar an naíscoil, ar an bhunscoil agus ar an sruth meánscólaíochta, mar aon leis na daoine fasta a labhraíonn Gaeilge gach lá nó a bhfuil spéis acu sa teanga agus sa chultúr a bhaineann léi. Ba mhór an t-ardú croí do phobal na Gaeilge in Ard Mhacha na comharthaí móra seo bheith in airde nó thaispeáin siad do mhuintir Ard Mhacha go bhfuil pobal muiníneach teanga againn sa chathair agus sa chontae seo agus gur gluaiseacht atá á dtreorú ag daoine óga fórasacha.
Did you notice the Irish langauge billboards in Armagh recently?
They featured a bright and cheery picture of young Irish speakers enjoying the sun on the Mall. The billboard portrayed two messages. “Anois ar theacht an tsamhraidh – Now that summer’s coming” is a line from the popular lively Irish language song Óró ‘Sé do bheatha ‘bhaile and it shows the link between Armagh and music, song and the Irish language. The line “Tá an Ghaeilge beo in Ard Mhacha – The Irish language is alive and well in Armagh” demonstrates that there are plenty of Irish speakers in Armagh attending Irish medium education, as well as adults who use Irish as part of their jobs or who have an interest in the Irish language and culture. The billboard campaign was another boost to the morale of the Irish language community in Armagh and they showed the public that Irish speakers in the city, and indeed throughout the county, are confident and proud of the language and of the revival in fortunes brought about through the Irish medium education and youth movement.
Sa phictiúr thíos, tá beirt Gaeilgeoirí eirimiúla a sheol na mórchláir ar an tseachtain seo caite. Tá Áine agus Fionnóla Ní Mhealláin beirt ina mbaill de shárghrúpa Gaeilge Phíobairí Ard Mhacha, Macha agus tá siad in éineacht leis an Oifigeach Forbartha Gaeilge, Seán Ó Maoilsté.
Two young and very talented Irish speakers are pictured below launching the billboards in Armagh. Áine and Fionnóla Ní Mhealláin are members of Armagh Pipers Club Irish language group, Macha, and they are pictured with Irish language development officer, Seán Ó Maoilsté.
