Nuala’s Artfarm project explores Irish in East Galway
Lettermore artist Nuala Ní Fhlathúin will spend the month of August working with Irish speakers in the rural community of Newbridge in East Galway for an unusual arts project that is being organised by Oireachtas na Gaeilge as part of its Glór agus Fís 1916 series.
The project is being run in conjunction with Artfarm, a local artists’ residence in Cloonkeen, Newbridge. It will examine Irish as a living language outside of the Gaeltacht, and look at the personal and cultural importance of the language in everyday life, 100 years after the1916 Rising.
“The project will provide a unique opportunity for Irish speakers in East Galway to reflect on the role that Irish has played in their lives,” according to Majella Ní Chríocháin of Oireachtas na Gaeilge. “It will also give us the opportunity to recognise the role played by these people in keeping Irish language and culture alive.”
The project is being facilitated locally by Sheila Flanagan, who owns and operates Artfarm, and who feels the project fits in perfectly with the centre’s ethos.
“The area of Newbridge and Ballaghlea was known as a Breac-Gaeltacht at one time so it will be interesting to uncover this lost identity,” she remarks. “I believe this project can ignite conversations and perhaps be the starting point to re-examine and embrace an aspect of ourselves too long forgotten.”
Nuala will meet local Irish speakers and work with them on creating a new piece of art, which will be exhibited locally in the Autumn.
As a first step, she will have a stall at the annual Ballygar Fair Day, which will take place next Monday, August 1, Bank Holiday Monday.
Anyone who is interested in finding out more about the projects is invited to come along and chat with Nuala on Monday, and she is waiting to hear their ideas.
"I'm really looking forward to meeting Irish speakers in the Cloonkeen and Ballygar area and I hope this will be an enjoyable and creative experience for all involved.”