Culture Minister in Castlewellan

Culture Minister in Castlewellan

16 May 2012

CULTURE Minister Carál Ní Chulín visited The Lodge at Castlewellan on Thursday to officially launch Líofa — a project which aims to increase awareness of the Irish language.

The Liofa 2015 project aims to encourage 1000 people from all walks of life across Northern Ireland to sign up to becoming fluent in Irish by 2015. This challenge has already been fulfilled as over 2000 people have currently signed up .

Earlier this year local cross-community Irish language group, Glór Uachtar Tíre joined up with Comhaltas Ceolteoirí Éireann, Newcastle Branch, to invite the minister.

Minister Ní Chulín was shown around The Lodge which was a hive of activity with hundreds of youngsters and adults involved in music and language classes. She also presented eight local Irish language learners with ‘Fainne’ awards for having achieved certain standards of fluency after sitting oral exams.

Anyone can sign up for ‘Líofa 2015’ either on-line, by going to the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure’s web-page, or by signing an application form.

Sinn Féin MLAs Caitriona Ruane and Chris Hazzard, accompanied by local Sinn Féin councillors, also attended the ‘Liofa’ launch on Thursday night.

“The local launch of the‘Liofa’ campaign by Culture, Arts and Leisure Minister Carál Ní Chuilín highlighted the enthusiasm for the Irish culture in the South Down area,” said Ms. Ruane. “Over 100 people turned up to hear the Minister outline her Department’s vision for the Irish language in the years ahead.

Chris Hazzard added: “The revival of the Irish language has sped up in recent years and I would like to thank the Comhaltas and Glór Uachtar Tíre for their dedication to ensuring that the Irish culture is thriving in South Down.”