In recent months, Oscars buzz and well-known names flexing their 'cúpla focal' breathed a new life into an teanga Ghaeilge both at home and abroad. That momentum continues on Sunday, April 30th with Lá Mór na Gaeilge 2023.
Lá Mór na Gaeilge is ‘an Irish-language street festival’ right in the heart of Dublin City. The day promises to be a compelling celebration of the Irish language for those with a cúpla focal and those who are completely fluent, there will be ceol, cultúr, caint agus craic for all.
The theme of this year’s Lá Mór na Gaeilge is ‘Irish Revival – 130 years’ and what better way to celebrate 130 of language revival than to get out and engage with it? The great mix of events and activities at the festival will cater to young and old ranging from Dance Workshops, ‘a giant street céilí’, Óga Yoga for kids and parents and even some of our favourite 80s and 90s hits translated as Gaeilge. An ‘Lá Mór’ will be a show of how we can still engage with traditional activities in a modern way.
The events are free but spaces are limited so booking is encouraged. All information about the wide range of events can be found here Info & Events.
The family event which is run by Baile Átha Cliath le Gaeilge, a branch of Conradh na Gaeilge in partnership with Dublin City Council will run between 12 and 5 pm. in and around Parnell Square and there will be no traffic access to the area between those times . An ‘Lá Mór’ is a great way for everyone to enjoy their bank holiday Sunday afternoon and for those of us who’d ‘love to speak some Gaeilge’ to connect with the Irish language while getting into the party mood! There’ll be no need to worry about an scrúdú béil or an modh coinníollach here, this is an opportunity to get out with friends and family of all ages and celebrate the rich culture and heritage of the Irish language in an interactive, exciting and contemporary way.
Is muid in am ina bhfuil an Ghaeilge chomh mór i mbéal an phobail, tá sé in am dúinn an deis seo a thapú agus ár dteanga a cheiliúradh seachas í a cháineadh mar atá déanta go mór thar na blianta. Tógfaidh Lá Mór na Gaeilge an teanga amach ón seomra ranga chun í a chur i measc na daoine arís mar theanga bheo, bhríomhar, spleodrach ina bhfuil féidearthachtaí den scoth ar fáil ó thaobh siamsaíocht agus cruthú pobal de.
It's not just the attendees who are looking forward to the festival, the acts and participants are also buzzing for the big day. Roxanna Nic Liam, well known for her acting role in Fair City and her spoken word poetry, will be teaching audiences about the poems as Gaeilge of Brendan Behan. She says she is ‘really excited to have a chance to read and discuss Behan’s work with the public. ‘He was a prolific writer and has a deep history’ Roxanna, who admits to still being new to writing as Gaeilge, is loving her own journey with it. In her own ways she’s trying to ‘find her own space in Irish poetry.’ She thinks that Lá Mór na Gaeilge will ‘give us a chance to bring together new, old and different voices in that world of poetry’. The festival will also give people a chance to meet Roxanna and hear her share her passion and talent for poetry.
Also on the day, people will have the chance to hear some of their favourite 80’s and 90’s hits translated into Irish. Bandia are a new-formed group who are changing the way we listen to music as Gaeilge. Jill McMahon from the band says they’re looking forward to reaching ‘a wider audience this weekend especially families and their kids. We love the reactions when people hear us for the first time’. In terms of the Lá Mór itself, she thinks that ‘People will come for the festival but will stay for the craic and to get in touch with An Ghaeilge.
Everyone can go to an event like this, no matter their level of fluency.’
This Sunday’s festival is set to have the whole city celebrating our language in a whole new way.
Rud mór a sheasann amach idir na rannpháirtithe bheirt ná a bpaisean don ealaíon trí Ghaeilge atá ar siúil acu. Deir Roxanna ‘Is mé ag scríobh i mBéarla, úsáidim mo ‘slang’ agus mo ghuth fhéin agus is é an rud chéanna le Gaeilge, caithfidh mé scríobh ó mo chroí’. Dar le Jill ó Bandia, is tábhachtach an rud é traidisiúin an cheoil a choimeád bheo ach níos nó ná sin ‘nach deas é traidisiúin nua a thosú?, rud a bhfuil píosa bheag níos nua-aimseartha". Tá Roxanna, Bandia agus dar ndóigh na rannpháirtithe eile, tar éis nathanna arsa agus seanbhunaithe a thógáil agus iad a tharraingt leo isteach sa chéad aois is fiche. Ná chaill an deis teagmháil a dhéanamh leis an nGaeilge sa phríomhchathair an deireadh seachtaine seo. Cláraigh d’imeachtaí Lá Mór na Gaeilge!
Lá Mór na Gaeilge takes place Sunday 30th April from 1-5 around Parnell Square, Dublin.
