Cavan’s Irish media star

Sheasfainn sa sneachta ag éisteacht leis’ - I’d stand in the snow listening to it.

It’s one of Rhiann Flemming’s favourite proverbs in Irish, and you really would stand in the snow and listen to her passionately speak about her native language, and how it led her down the Irish language media path.

The Ballyjamesduff native is a news reporter on this year’s Nuacht Cúla4, which is a news programme for young people covering local, national and international news.

Last year she edited the programme and produced a host of television programmes as Gaeilge for Fíbín Media, whom she has worked with for the past four years.

Now working and living in Galway, the 26-year old’s passion for Irish sparked in her home county.

She says it’s “hard to track” where her love for the language came from. There was no singular moment in time when she decided to become fluent, but more an accumulation of great teachers who inspired her down through the years.

“I had a brilliant Irish teacher,” she says of both of her Irish teachers in St Clare’s National School and St Clare’s College.

“The principal in St Clare’s NS who is Karl McCartin, he had a great grá for the language always and I remembered that and he always sticks with me. Aideen Fay was the Irish teacher that I had in secondary school.

“I was always just in awe of her and the fact the she could speak her native language.

It was in secondary school that she began thinking it was “such a pity” she couldn’t properly converse in her native language.

“I felt there was a disconnect between identifying as Irish but not really having a proper insight into Irish culture.

“It was just a goal I set out or myself, I said I want to be fluent in this one day.”

Following in her teacher’s footsteps, she decided to become an Irish teacher and went on to study a BA in Irish and Translation Studies and later a Master’s degree in Translation at the University of Galway.

“I realised it [Irish] wasn’t a school subject; it’s a living breathing language with a community of people who speak it every single day. I just fell in love with it, I was immersed in it, and I realised that there were so many more opportunities with it.”

“Teaching very quickly went out the window and I explored a bit more,” she laughs.

Four years ago, she applied for work experience with Fíbín Media, where she was brought in as a language consultant.

"That's just to make sure things are pronounced properly, like a dialect coach but it's more to check people's grammar and to make sure you're not throwing in the odd English word."

There she says her manager "recognised something in me" and "kept throwing opportunities" in her direction. This included being trained in as a producer, which she had "no background" in.

She now has various productions under her belt, including 'Pramsáil,' a song and dance show for children aged 3-6, which aims to teach Irish words through song and dance. 'Anfa,' a game show shot at the Black Box in Galway, was her "first big one" which she assistant produced for the first season and then produced for seasons two and three.

"We had schools come from all over the country to take part, it's a huge obstacle course game show. It was really really fun.

"We've made sixty-six episodes of that so that was a big one."

The most recent production 'Cois Cladaigh' was shot during the summer, and won't be out until next September "at the earliest."

"We we're going around the coast of Ireland, meeting with kids, people and find out more about what their jobs are and how they interact with and live off the sea."

They visited locations such as the Seal Rescue Ireland in Wexford, Hook Lighthouse, and The Titanic Museum in Belfast. Meanwhile, Nuacht Cúla4 returns for its third season every week from Tuesday to Friday on Cúla4 at 1:30pm and again at 5:30pm.

"I'm just constantly going; there is always another project coming up."

"I absolutely love it."

Last week, the Cavan woman was nominated for 'Réalta Óg na Bliana/ Young Star of the Year', and two of the shows she produced were also nominated under 'Best Children's Programme', at Oireachtas na Samhna which are Irish language media awards which will be held in October.

Rhiann's daily interactions take place in Irish, aside from speaking with the Celt on this particular day, she now rarely speaks English. She converses in Irish with her housemate, at work, when she speaks to herself and the Cavan woman even dreams in Irish.

"Most of the people I've met in my adult life was through Irish."

Asked if the Irish speaking scene is stronger in Cavan or Galway, she pauses.

"Well if there is an Irish speaking scene in Cavan I haven't witnessed it. You can't go very far in Galway without hearing somebody speaking Irish whether you're on the street in a shop or in a café. It's constant."

She points out the Cavan is home to only one gaelscoil, with no gaelcholáiste in the county.

"I think it's important that if kids start their education through the medium of Irish, that they would have an opportunity to continue.

"Parents are looking at it and thinking, why would I put them into a gaelscoil if they're going to struggle then when they go into secondary school to understand subjects?"

"It would be hard for them to transition back into English then.

"It's very very sad to think that anybody would think what's the point."

Rhiann herself has some experience of feeling lost in the classroom, she thought she was "very good" at Irish upon completing her Leaving Cert.

"When I went into NUIG and had my first lecture completely through Irish without any helpful English words, I panicked.

"It was a very very tough transition but you do just have to really immerse yourself, that's the only way.

"It did take me a few years but once it clicked it was there and I had it I was living out in Carraroe in the Gaeltacht and it was just so easy but it takes a long time."

"Irish is not just a subject, it is a language, it deserves the same respect as any European language. It is of the same importance as English in Ireland. It is our national language.

"I would urge anybody who's interested to take a course and to visit the Gaeltacht and to know that you are not limited if you choose Irish as a course in college. Irish has opened up so many doors and opportunities for me."

For those who are thinknig of learning the language, or for those who think it never click, Rhiann's second favourite proverb may provide you with some encouragement. 'Níor baineadh tada as an lá amárach fós, meaning 'nothing has been taken from tomorrow,' in other words "you've got time."