Spotsolas: Conradh na Gaeilge Boirche Íochtair

As part of a series of interviews with community groups across the country, Ruairí Ó Donnáin spoke with us about the work being carried out by Conradh na Gaeilge Boirche Íochtair in County Down. Ruairí is an Irish Language Development Officer with the organisation that achieved third place in Comórtas Náisiúnta Ghlór na nGael 2024.

Question: Tell me about how your group was established – what year was it founded and why?

Answer: The “Lower Mourne Gaelic League” has been operating since 1981. We established this community group because of the rich heritage in the area in terms of culture and language, and the trustees felt there was a need to establish a group to protect it in the coming years.

Q: Tell me a little about the place where you’re located

A: We’re located in Páirc na Mara, our own Irish language and cultural center since 2013, which is situated in the area where we operate – “Lower Mourne.” That said, we started out making use of kitchen tables around the place to provide classes and storytelling sessions. Primarily, it’s the Lower Mourne area that’s under our care, but recently, we’re looking after the entire Mourne area because of the interest and demand there is for the language.

Q: What is the aim of the group?

A: Our main aim is to encourage Irish among young people, adults, families, organizations, and the entire community by creating opportunities for them to learn and use the language. “Life through Irish is what we want” is the motto behind the group.

Q: Tell me a little about the people involved with your group

A: Because we’re a community group, we don’t have membership as such – there’s a warm welcome for anyone who has an interest in promoting Irish positively. There’s a committee behind the group that works hard throughout the year to ensure that Irish language opportunities are provided for everyone all the time. We’re fortunate to have an Irish Language Development Officer working full-time to support us in achieving these language goals.

Q: Tell me about some projects you’ve completed

A: We have a full program every week between events located in Páirc na Mara and in the community. We have 10 Irish classes weekly serving every level, as well as that, we have 4 sessions of our youth club bilingually, parent and toddler groups, set dancing in Irish for children as well as plenty more. We’ve opened a public library and Community Café in the center that’s open every week as well. Between that and the other projects we have running, we do our best to serve every aspect of the community.

Q: How do you get the local community on board to help you?

A: The community we have is incredibly supportive of us all throughout the year. They do their best to attend all the events and help us when they can. It helps us that we serve the general public between learners and Irish speakers. Everyone recognises because of this that they are part of the Lower Mourne community and that we’re making every effort to do as much as we can to provide a life through Irish for them and their children. Suggestions regarding new events and projects are always welcome and when we can, they’re usually provided free of charge or for value for money. The Irish-speaking community is a special community and it’s clear to everyone that there’s always a welcome for everyone.

Q: How do you ensure that enough money is always coming into the organisation?

A: That’s an ongoing struggle for us and for the Irish-speaking community in general. Although the sector is growing significantly year after year, the resources aren’t keeping up and because of that we always have a challenge in finding funding schemes to complete our work program and to keep the doors open. Although there are specific schemes available to us from Foras na Gaeilge, unfortunately they’re not enough. Our development officer has to work hard with the committee to get value for money on all the resources we need. As well as that, we’re a social enterprise and through the café and goods shop we have, we’re able to make an investment from the profit they make to help us with our running costs.

Q: What are the biggest challenges you’ll face going forward?

A: The biggest challenge facing us at present is getting enough support to serve the demand there is from the community. With the Irish-speaking community growing and the number of learners increasing every year, it’s very difficult for us to serve them all and provide all the services they want. We’re always doing our best to find additional funding and additional resources to provide more services for the community between young people and adults. Because we’re operating in the voluntary sector, it’s difficult to find people who have the time to help us with the work program.

Q: What’s in store for your group in the years ahead?

A: We’re hoping that we’ll be able to provide more services for the community and that we’ll be able to add to Páirc na Mara as an Irish Language Center for them. To do that, our main goal in the years ahead is to be able to employ more staff members to help us achieve our goals and our work program.

Q: If anyone out there wants to help your group or be involved in the work you do, how can they do that?

A: All they have to do is contact us through social media, Facebook or Instagram, send us an email at boircheiochtar@gmail.com, call us at 02843768784 or drop in to us at the center here to show interest. We’re always looking for people who will be able to help us achieve our goals.