An inclusive space to celebrate the Irish language
Westmeath Independent Community & Sports Awards in association with Westmeath County Council
Athlone Gaeltacht: Group of the Year finalist
Athlone Gaeltacht first began as a grassroots initiative in 2019 with the hope of getting people using their cúpla focal and to play a few tunes together.
Since then, the pop-up Gaeltacht has gone from strength to strength, working hard over the last several years to promote the Irish language in Athlone, growing from a small conversation circle to a resource hundreds of people have made use of to engage authentically with the Irish language.
The group meets on Thursday evenings in the Snug Bar Athlone, offering Irish language classes at beginner and intermediate levels, followed by an informal pop-up Gaeltacht conversation circle. This gives members the chance to use their Irish in a relaxed, natural and supportive environment.
Athlone Gaeltacht are also eager to collaborate with other initiatives in the locality when possible, and the group offered events at both the Uisneach and Croílár Festivals earlier this spring, which were a hit with many attendees.
In addition, Athlone Gaeltacht has also run a number of immersive cultural experiences over the last year, including a course of Irish singing classes with the celebrated Anne Marie Hynes, Céilí dance nights, workshops, family events and Irish reading groups.
The group also regularly hosts larger events that celebrate Irish culture as a whole. In June, Athlone Gaeltacht hosted an evening in conversation with Ronán O’Snodaigh, a renowned musician, singer, poet and founding member of Ireland’s most celebrated world music band Kíla.
Following on from this, the group, in association with Athlone Library, aided in the launch of historian and Irish language activist Dr Kerron Ó’Luain’s new book in July. Most recently, the pop-up Gaeltacht welcomed Dr Aengus Finnegan, for a bilingual talk on 'The Field Names of Athlone', an event which saw a significant turnout at Athlone Library this September.
Athlone Gaeltacht has received support from Athlone Family Resource Centre, Westmeath Arts Office, and Creative Ireland to date and has become an important resource for the promotion of Irish in the midlands and in strengthening community spirit. The group is being honoured for its dedication to creating an inclusive space in which people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities can come together to celebrate the Irish language and culture in the heart of Ireland.
The Group of the Year finalists are Athlone Gaeltacht, Connaught Street and Environs Community Group and Athlone Athletics Club.
The Westmeath Independent Community & Sports Awards are in association with Westmeath County Council