Cóisir Nollag

The classes got together for a Christmas party and seisiún on December 14th at the Hibernian hall in Danbury. Everyone brought something to share for dinner and to drink. For the seisiún there were a variety of poems, songs as Gaeilge and music on the tin whistle.

At left is Rita on the tin whistle.

Tá Eibhlín, Máire agus Megan ag baint sult as an gcóisreacht.

ATHBHLIAIN FAOI MHÁISE DAOIBH GO LÉIR!

 

Irish Language Classes Resume for Fall 09

Irish language classes will resume on Monday, Sept 28th for a 10 week term:

Sept. 28
Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26
Nov. 2, 9, 16, 30
Dec. 7

Classes will be offered at 2 levels:
1. Beginner level
2. Advanced Intermediate level (This class will now be held on the same night i.e. Monday night)

Registration is open now. Tuition: $120 plus cost of books. For information call 203 417-1700 or e-mail: jfeeney@kells-all.com.

Location: 161 Main St. Danbury, CT

Looking forward to seeing you all again and meeting some new ones.

le gach dea-mhéin

John

Irish Language Week - Daltai na Gaeilge

Daltai will hold their annual Irish Language Week this month from August 23-29th. A week of Irish language classes for all levels with workshops in dance, tin whistle and singing available. There will be interesting talks, films and music seisiúns also. The setting is the Marist Brothers Retreat Center located in a beautiful wooded area on the Hudson. There is time to enjoy the trails, inground pool and the area around Esopus, NY each day. This is great way to learn Irish with a friendly group and will certainly enhance your fluency. Registration details are on their website at www.daltai.com. Look for Events and follow the prompts. The deadline is August 15th so don't delay.

Lá na Gaeilge and Rebirth of An Gael Magazine

I had the good fortune to be teaching at the Lá na Gaeilge hosted by the Irish Cultural Center (ICC) at Elms College (Chicopee, MA) on Saturday, June 6th. An excellent program was put together by Elms former president Kathleen Keating, SSJ and Elms Professor Emeritus Thomas Moriarty. The setting was very inspirational in a Romanesque Manor house called Berchmans Hall with its stone fireplaces and stained glass windows. The members of the ICC ran a language program at 4 levels, workshops for dance, computer, drama and a film selection from Bibeanna. Bibeanna is a series of interviews of Irish women who have spent their entire lives in the Dingle Peninsula area. Filmed in Irish. The day ended with a fine seisiún. A Lá worth attending each year.

Last Friday I attended the second launch of the Irish Language magazine An Gael at the Irish Consulate in Manhattan. The first launch was in the 1800's and the magazine ceased publication in 1904. Now with the growing interest in an Ghaeilge and a resurgent Cumann Carad na Gaeilge (The Philo-Celtic Society), the first edition of the reborn An Gael was published in June. A beautiful magazine with good articles, poetry and photography and all in Irish. The magazine will be published quarterly and is available at http://angael.magcloud.com or www.litriocht.com. The website is: www.angaelmagazine.com.

Slán go fóill

Irish Classes in Danbury

The Spring term at the Irish Gaelic Circle was completed this week. Classes will begin again in the Fall at the end of September. Registration will begin in September and at the Danbury Irish Festival in the Cultural tent. Bain sult as an shamhradh! (Enjoy the summer).

Daltaí Weekend

Daltaí na Gaeilge had their May Irish language weekend on May 9-11 at the Marist Brothers Retreat Center in Esopus, NY. I was there for that Saturday to take part in the conversation classes, dance workshop, seisiún and céilí along with several students from our classes: Johanna, Katie and Christine. It was a sizeable group from the CT Irish classes including Danbury, East Haven and Westport. One of the scholarship recipients from last summer, Mattiú Tully, gave a slide presentation in Irish about his trip to the Oideas Gael school in Donegal. Speaking of scholarships, 3 one week scholarships were awarded during the céilí. Two for study in Ireland and one for study at Daltaí's Summer week program in August. All in all a very enjoyable weekend learning and using Irish with like-minded people in a cultural atomosphere.

Classes on Schedule Tonight

Tá na ranganna ar siúl anocht.  Feicfidh mé anocht sibh!

Classes Cancelled - Ranganna Curtha ar Ceal

Níl aon ranganna anocht mar go bhfuil stoirm ar siúl.

Bainigí sult as an sneachta!

Masses and Parades for St. Patrick

There will be Masses at St. Edward's in New Fairfield, CT on Saturday, March 14th at 9 AM and at St. Peter's in Danbury, CT on Tuesday, March 17th at 11 AM. Readings and some prayers will be done in Irish to honor St Patrick and our Irish heritage. The Masses are open to all.

On Sunday, March 15th, the Danbury Hibernians will have a parade down Main Street in honor of St. Patrick. Students of the Irish Gaelic Circle of CT will march as a group under the Daltaí banner. The parade ends up at the AOH hall for more festivities. Step off is 2 PM. Meet at Rogers Park at 1 PM.

For info see contact info at right.

Lá na Gaeilge - Irish Language Day

The Hedge School will have their annual Lá na Gaeilge on Saturday, March 21st. The school is located at IONA College in New Rochelle, NY. This all day program includes excellent classes for all levels, guest lecture (Seán Céitinn from Belfast), Poetry/Book Launch (Ailbhe Ní Ghearbhuigh from Tralee, County Kerry) and a seisiún. This Lá has always been outstanding. For additional info and registration see their blog at thehedgeschool.blogspot.com.
E-mail: thehedgeschool@gmail.com.

Silver Fainne Award!

Daltai na Gaeilge held their annual February Immersion Weekend this past weekend. It was their largest event ever with 120 people in attendance at all levels of fluency. An enjoyable weekend of language classes, workshops for music, dance and teachers, a seisiún and céilí.

A highpoint for the weekend is the awarding of Silver and Gold Fáinne for students in recognition of their speaking abilities. One of our own students, Ellen (Eibhlín) Stockbridge, was awarded a Silver Fáinne for her fluency. She is being awarded the Fainne (top picture) by Eileen Zurell and Ethel Brogan, founder of Daltai. In the other picture, she is joined by the other students who received Fáinne that evening. Maith thú, a Eibhlín. Comhghairdeas leat! Congratulations!

In addition to her skills in Irish, Eibhlín is a great supporter of the language and culture through her participation in various Irish cultural events in CT and NY.

Irish Language Weekend

Daltai na Gaeilge (Students of the Irish Language) will hold one of its annual weekends in Esopus, NY (just north of Poughkeepsie) on Feb. 13 -15th. This is a fabulous event for students and speakers of all levels from complete beginner to native speaker. There is a céilí and seisiún as well as classes, talks, and workshops on music, dance and singing offered. All in a friendly atmosphere among people sharing their common interest in the Irish language and culture. For info visit their website at www.daltai.com and go to Events. Its a great website also.

Weekly Classes Begin Again in Danbury

Classes will resume Monday, January 19th at the AOH hall at 161 Main St., Danbury, CT. The Intermediate class will start at 6:45 PM and the Beginners class at 8:00 PM. There will be 14 classes for the Spring term and the dates are as follows:

Jan. 19 & 26th.
Feb. 2, 9 & 23rd.
March 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30th.
April 13, 20 and 27th.
May 4th.

The cost of classes is $155. To register or for additional information e-mail: jfeeney@kells-all.com or phone: 203 417-1700. I look forward to seeing you all again.

Classes Resume

Classes will resume again in mid-January. Please check this blog again for time and dates shortly.

John