Bhí scaifte breá bailithe istigh sa Pháirc Lúthchleasaíochta Dé Luain 27 Bealtaine ag ócáid a reáchtáil Coiste Cultúir CLG Ard Mhacha le páirt-scoláireachtaí Gaeltachta a bhronnadh ar dhaoine óga ó chlubanna ar fud an chontae. D’éirigh le 71 duine óg páirt-scoláireacht a bhaint amach i ndiaidh dóibh agallaimh chomhrá a dhéanamh le baill den choiste chultúir níos luaithe i mí Bealtaine. Dúirt Cathaoirleach CLG Ard Mhacha, Pól Ó Dougáin, go raibh sé iontach bródúil an tacaíocht seo a chur ar fáil do bhaill an CLG sa chontae atá ag iarraidh cur lena gcuid Gaeilge agus tréaslaigh sé leis na daoine óga as suim a léiriú inár dteanga dhúchais. Beidh na daoine óga ag dul chuig coláistí samhraidh i Machaire Rabhartaigh, i mBun an Inbhir, i Loch an Iúir agus i Rann na Feirste agus tá súil againn go mbeidh am ar dóigh acu, go bhfoghlaimeoidh siad neart Gaeilge agus go mbeidh siad sásta an Ghaeilge a úsáid nuair a philleann siad ón Ghaeltacht.
Tá ról tábhachtach ag an Ghaeilge sa CLG nó tá mar bhunsprioc i dTreoir Oifigiúil an Chumainn go gcuirfear an Ghaeilge chun tosaigh. Tá CLG Ard Mhacha ag déanamh a seacht ndícheall le cothrom na féinne a thabhairt dár dteanga féin. Léiríonn rath an imeachta go bhfuil muintir Ard Mhacha fíorbhródúil as teanga dhúchais na hÉireann.
There was a large attendance in the Athletic Grounds on Monday 27 May at an event organised by the Armagh GAA Culture Committee to present Gaeltacht part-scholarships to young people from clubs throughout the county. Part-scholarships were awarded to 71 young GAA members after members of the Culture Committee held Irish conversation interviews earlier in May. Armagh GAA Chairperson, Pól Ó Dougáin, said that he was very proud that Armagh GAA was providing this support to young GAA members who wish to improve their Irish and he commended them for their interest in our native language. The young people will be going to summer colleges in the Donegal Gaeltachts of Machaire Rabhartaigh, Bun an Inbhir, Loch an Iúir and Rann na Feirste, and we hope that they have a great time, learn plenty of Irish and gain the confidence to use their Irish when they return to Armagh.
The Irish language has an important role in the GAA, with the Official Guide stating that “the Association shall actively support the Irish language”. Armagh GAA are doing their utmost to promote the Irish language and promote equality for Irish speakers. The success of the young people demonstrates the pride that the people of Armagh have in the Irish language.
