Irish language book launch in Athlone this Thursday

Athlone Pop Up Gaeltacht are hosting a unique event in Athlone Library this Thursday night exploring the history of Gaelscoils in Ireland.

Fifty years ago, the organisation Gaeloideachas, or the National Joint Committee of Irish-medium Schools as it was known when it was founded in Coláiste Mhuire, Dublin in 1973, was established.

Mickey Moran Chairperson of Athlone Pop Up Gaeltacht commented: “Outside of the Gaeltacht, there were only a handful of Irish-medium schools at the time, and that number was steadily declining thanks to the state’s lip service in the south and the state’s outright hostility in the north. But voluntary language educators and activists managed to turn the tide and almost 200 Irish-medium schools have since been established. This book launch will examine the growth and development of this progressive decolonisation project over the past fifty years as well as the various challenges that activists, teachers and principals had to face in order for the movement to succeed.”

Dr Kerron Ó Luain, from Rathcoole, Co. Dublin, is a well known historian and Irish language activist.

This event will be bilingual and refreshments will be provided. All are welcome, so whether you are fluent in Irish or just curious to learn more about the history of the language in Ireland, please come along as the event will be bilingual. The event takes place Thursday night at 7pm in Athlone and is supported by Creative Ireland and Westmeath Arts.