Bhí an Ghaeilge le cluinstin go soiléir in Ard Mhacha le cúpla seachtain anuas, fad is a bhí campa samhraidh bliantiúil an bhaile faoi lánseoil, mar atá Campa Mhacha. Bhain 80 páiste ó ghaelscoileanna an cheantair an-sult as an champa, a bhí lonnaithe in Áisionad Bhóthar na hArdeaglaise. Tá tábhacht ar leith ag baint leis an champa seo nó go minic is é an t-aon deis a bhíonn ag na páistí Gaeilge a úsáid taobh amuigh den scoil agus bhí lúchair ar na ceannairí agus ar lucht a eagraithe go ndearna na páistí ar fad an-iarracht a dteanga féin a úsáid i rith laethanta saora an tsamhraidh. D’fhreastail an chéad seachtain ar pháistí idir 4 bliain agus 7 mbliain d’aois agus ar na himeachtaí a cuireadh ar siúl dóibh, bhí turas chuig príomhionad ársa Uladh ag Eamhain Mhacha, turas ar zú Bhéal Feirste agus spraoi agus cluichí ag Kool Kidz. Bhí an t-ádh ar na páistí go raibh Rannairí Ard Mhacha istigh ar cuairt acu ar an Aoine, grúpa a bhfuil cáil dhomhanda bainte amach acu. D’eagraigh na ceannairí neart imeachtaí eile dóibh ag an ionad, idir ealaín, spórt, rince, amhránaíocht agus déanamh ceibeabanna torthaí.
Bhí páistí idir 8 mbliain agus 12 bliain i láthair don dara seachtain a bhí chomh pacáilte céanna. Cuireadh tús leis an tseachtain le turas chuig Plainéadlann Ard Mhacha le hionc ar an seó iontach Gaeilge atá acu. D’imigh siad ar thuras ar an Mháirt le turas a fháil i nGaeilge thart ar cheann de na staideanna is mó agus is fearr san Eoraip, mar atá Páirc an Chrócaigh i mBaile Átha Cliath. Bhí lá spraoi speisialta ag na páistí ag an Ionad Allamuigh i mBuíochar, Contae Muineacháin agus bhain na páistí an-sult ar fad as an sleamhnú ar chlabar. Bhí ceardlann damhsa ar siúl Déardaoin leis an Ghaeilgeoir Siombábach, Tura Arutura. Cuireadh deireadh leis an dara seachtain den champa ar an Aoine le mórcheiliúradh agus lá spraoi teaghlaigh. Dúirt tuismitheoirí agus cuairteoirí gur cheap siad go raibh siad sa Ghaeltacht nó níor labhair na páistí ná na ceannairí ach i nGaeilge, rud a thaispeánann go bhfuil an Ghaeilge beo bríomhar sa cheantar. Léiríonn rath an champa seo go bhfuil an Ghaeilge faoi rath agus bláth agus go bhfuil éileamh forásach ar theanga dhúchais Ard Mhacha agus na hÉireann.
D’éirigh go hiontach le Campa Mhacha a bhuí le Naíscoil Ard Mhacha agus CAIRDE Teo a d’eagraigh an choicís mar chomhimeacht agus a bhuí leis na ceannairí agus cúntóirí a d’éascaigh na himeachtaí le linn na dá seachtaine. Gabhann Naíscoil Ard Mhacha agus CAIRDE Teo buíochas leis na maoinitheoirí, Athnuachan Comharsanachta faoi Chomhairle Chathair agus Cheantar Ard Mhacha agus an Rannóg Óige de Bhord Oideachais agus Leabharlainne an Deiscirt agus gabhann siad buíochas fosta lena gcuid pairtnéirí i gComhthionól Ard Mhacha Thiar.
The Irish language could be heard loud and clear in Armagh over the past two weeks during the town’s annual Irish language summer camp, Campa Mhacha. The camp, based in the Cathedral Road Complex, is now in its fifth year and was enjoyed by up to 80 children from the local Irish medium schools, some of whom described this year’s scheme as the best one yet. The camp is particularly important as it is often the only opportunity the children get to use their Irish outside of the school and it was great to see all the children make a special effort to use their own language during the summer holidays. The camp was jam-packed full of events for the kids who had a fantastic time. The first week included trips to Ulster’s ancient capital at Eamhain Mhacha, a trip to see all the animals at Belfast zoo and fun and games at Kool Kids as well as a visit from the world famous Rannairí Ard Mhacha, the Armagh Rhymers. The children also had a great time taking part in the activities organised by the fantastic leaders in Sherry’s Field. The kids took part in art, sport, dancing and singing and they had a great time making fruit kebabs on Thursday.
The second week was just as packed with a trip to Armagh Planetarium to watch the fantastic Irish language show. Tuesday saw an Irish language tour of one of Europe’s biggest and best sports stadia, Croke Park in Dublin. Wednesday saw a fun day at Tannagh Outdoor Education Centre with a combination of canoeing and mud sliding. Thursday saw a visit from Zimbabwe native and famous Irish speaker, Tura Arutura, who took the children for a dance workshop, teaching African dances, hip hop and traditional Irish sean-nós dancing. Friday saw a family fun day and celebration for the final day of the second week of Campa Mhacha. Parents, visitors and passers-by commented that it was like visiting the Gaeltacht, with all the children and leaders speaking only in Irish, proving that the language is alive and well in the area. The success of this camp shows that the Irish language is thriving and that there is a huge and growing demand for provision through the native language of Armagh and indeed Ireland.
The success of the summer camp is down to the organisation of Naíscoil Ard Mhacha and CAIRDE Teo and the fantastic leaders and assistants who helped out during the week. We wish to thank our funders, Neighbourhood Renewal under Comhairle Chathair agus Cheantar Ard Mhacha and the Youth Division of the SELB and also our partners in Comhthionól Ard Mhacha Thiar, the West Armagh Consortium. Go raibh míle maith agaibh uilig.
