‘Beidh píosa craic againn’

Cavan is set for its biggest and best ever Seachtain na Gaeilge

Cavan is set for its biggest and best ever Seachtain na Gaeilge as local groups and organisations launch their programmes of events for the coming fortnight.

The annual celebration of the Irish language, which takes place from March 1-17, was opened in the Johnson Central Library in Cavan Town last Thursday.

This ‘seoladh oifigiúil’ marked the official launch of ‘Gaelphobal an Chabháin’ as a new ‘craobh’ (branch) of national Irish language advocacy organisation, Conradh na Gaeilge, the democratic forum for the Irish speaking community across the island.

Gaelphobal an Chabháin’s primary objective is to push the revival of Irish across the county. The group began organising events such as Ciorcail Comhrá and Pop-Up Gaeltachtaí a number of years ago, to give local people an opportunity to use their Irish and to increase the visibility of the language in the community.

They established a WhatsApp group in 2023 for people to ‘bí ag caint as Gaeilge’ and to share information. Now with over 150 members, this WhatsApp group has been a catalyst towards creating a local community of Irish speakers and encouraging people to attend Irish language events.

More regular events are planned, suitable for all age groups and for a wide range of interests.

Speaking at the event in the library last Thursday, Cathaoirleach of Gaelphobal an Chabháin, Lucy Ní Laifeartaigh said that the official launch of the group was a significant milestone for the language in Cavan.

An ócáid

The launch was hosted by councillors Stiofán Conaty and Aine Smith, who are Rúnaí (secretary) and Leas-Cathaoirleach (vice-chairperson) respectively of Gaelphobal an Chabháin.

Local elected representatives in attendance included Cavan councilors and Senator Pauline Tully, who spoke in Irish in the Seanad last week and encouraged those with a cúpla focal to embrace the language this Seachtain na Gaeilge.

“I am not fluent”, said Senator Tully. “But I gave it a go.”

Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council, Cllr John Paul Feeley, addressed the crowd at the event and congratulated the new group.

Among the other speakers was Chief Executive of Cavan County Council, Eoin Doyle who spoke highly of efforts to promote the language in Cavan. The Oifigeach Gaeilge of Cavan County Council, Ciarán Mac Giolla Phádraig, also spoke and thanked the local authority for its support since he took up the role in 2025.

Cavan County Council has been busy organising a wide range of fun and interesting activities to promote the language over the next fortnight. The County Library Service has been central in this, organising free workshops for Leaving Cert students to prepare for their oral exams, talks, Irish language book readings for children, and ‘caife agus comhrá’ coffee mornings for the community.

“We are building a community of Irish speakers and of those who want to speak more Irish, more regularly”, said Seán Ó Murchadha, who was representing Conradh na Gaeilge and is also Cathaoirleach of Monaghan branch, Muineachán Le Gaeilge.

Irish unity

Delegates from Gaelphobal an Chabháin recently attended the annual Conradh na Gaeilge ArdFheis in Belfast, alongside members of Cootehill-based Gaeil Mhuinchille. The Ard-Fheis saw the passing of a historic motion to support Irish Unity, which means the organisation will amend its constitution to include “ag gníomhú ar son Éire Aontaithe” as a working objective.

Welcoming the move, Cllr Stiofán Conaty encouraged organisations and groups in border counties such as Cavan to follow a similar approach and to begin plans and preparations for the aftermath of a referendum on a United Ireland.

“Tá an cheist mhór ag teacht”, arsa Cllr Conaty, “agus caithfidh muid a bheith réidh.”

Among the other noteworthy motions passed at Ard-Fheis Chonradh na Gaeilge 2026 was the need for more Gaelscoileanna, which is a particular issue in County Cavan. With only one Gaelscoil in the county, Cavan is consistently ranked among the counties with the lowest percentage of children attending Irish-medium education; while Monaghan is among the highest.

Clár Sheachtain na Gaeilge 2026

This year, Gaelphobal an Chabháin has coordinated with other community groups around Cavan, as well as Cavan County Council, to put together a county-wide programme of over 50 Irish language events for Seachtain na Gaeilge, running up to March 17.

Further information on all these events can be found on Gaelphobal An Chabháin and Cavan County Council social media pages.

“Bigí linn agus bígí ag caint. Beidh píosa craic againn as Gaeilge,” said Cllr Conaty, encouraging everyone to use their Irish during Seachtain na Gaeilge and attend some of the events.

“Agus tá fáilte roimh gach duine,” added Cllr Smith.