Press Releases
Open door welcome to Cumann Gaeilge Na hEaglise at the General Synod
There was no lack of passionate engagement for Cumann Gaelach na hEaglaise at the General Synod. It was the first time that the Cumann had a stand at the General Synod and the response was overwhelmingly positive. The Irish language is certainly an area that arouses people’s passion and emotion.
Caroline Nolan, Oifigeach Forbartha Gaeilge, & Aonghus Dwane, Rúnaí Oinigh, Cumann Gaelach na hEaglaise, General Synod Armagh
The level of emotion in people’s voices as they described their feelings about the language was palpable.
“It was not easy for me to learn Irish in the 1960’s in Belfast but I felt it was important to me. Two of us in the office would go to classes together.”
“I grew up in England so I did not have a word of Irish but I felt it important to me, as part of my ministry, that I should be able to speak to my parishioners in the language that means most to them, especially when they are ill or low. I’m still terrible at it but I keep trying”.
“Oh my Irish is rusty but I should use it. I feel guilty but now that I see these bilingual prayer sheets I have no excuse.”
“I have no Irish. Any chance that you would set out the prayers phonetically as I would love to be able to say some prayers, at least Our Lord’s Prayer, in Irish.
To download the bilingual Irish/English prayer sheet as a PDF, please click here.
Rev. Máirt Hanley, a committee member of Cumann Gaelach na hEaglaise commented:
“We were absolutely delighted with the response to the stand at the General Synod. It is clear that that we are facing an open door in relation to promoting the greater use of Irish – our stock of 1000 copies of the bilingual prayer sheet was almost depleted in two days! It is clear that the church community is behind this initiative and that they are willing to go the extra mile to make it happen. The Church is proud of the role played by members in the past to preserve and revive the language. It is clear that these links are deep and still alive and flourishing today.
Tuilleadh eolais maidir le seirbhísí i nGaeilge, foilseacháin do Chumann Gaelach na hEaglaise, nó teagmháil a dhéanamh linn, [email protected] nó www.cumanngaelachnaheaglaise.blogspot.com nó telephone Caroline Nolan, 026 45741 or 085 1632 772