117 Years On - Seachtain Na Gaeilge 2020 Begins
Today (March 1) marks the start of Seachtain na Gaeilge 2020. The annual celebration of the Irish language will run until March 17th. Éirígí For A New Republic is marking Seachtain na Gaeilge 2020 with the production of two Irish language themed poster which will be displayed in communities across the country.
The very first Seachtain na Gaeilge (Irish Language Week) was held in 1903. Organised by Conradh na Gaeilge, it began on 15 March and ended on the 22nd. Since then, it has extended to a more than two week long affair involving numerous different types of festivities and events where the language is promoted.
The Kerry People newspaper carried a notice by Conradh na Gaeilge promoting the first ever Seachtain na Gaeilge in 1903. The notice stated how “the Irish language is the most vital element of our distinctive nationality; the one remaining link which connects the Ireland of to-day with the Ireland of the past”.
An important element of Seachtain na Gaeilge in the early years was fundraising via the National Collection over the two weeks and on St. Patrick’s Day in particular. According to the 1903 notice, for the collection to be “properly and thoroughly carried out, the earnest and immediate co-operation of all Craobaca (branches), Committees and friends of the Irish language is absolutely necessary”.
The first of two poster that Éirígí has produced for Seachtain na Gaeilge 2020, encouraging people to use whatever Irish they have.
The type of grassroots voluntarism which drove that collection, and the language movement at the turn of the twentieth century more broadly, ought to be revived. Currently, there is an over-reliance on state support and this has effected the level of protest that should be directed against the political establishment for its failure to preserve the Gaeltachtaí, among other issues.
In 1903, the Conradh further pointed out how “there are still very many districts in which no Branch of the Gaelic League exists”. Yet, “there may still be many who would co-operate in making ‘Irish Language Week’ a success. We appeal to our readers in such cases to secure even a temporary organizing committee, and to communicate with the General Secretary”.
Today, many towns, villages and parishes up and down the country, as well as Irish communities overseas, organize events on a similar ad hoc basis as occurred in 1903. Such events might include social nights, Pop-Up Gaeltacht nights, educational talks, children’s fairs, markets, language classes, film nights, and sports days – all to celebrate Seachtain na Gaeilge and promote our national language.
As the Gaels of Belfast say: “ná habair é, déan é!”, “don’t say it, do it!”.
Éirígí have produced two new posters to mark Seachtain na Gaeilge 2020, one featuring simple Irish language phrases (above) and another featuring Patrick Pearse (below). These poster will be displayed in communities in Athlone, Cork, Dublin and Wexford between now and St Patrick’s Day.
Patrick Pearse understood the critical place that the Irish language held in Ireland’s national liberation struggle.