CULTÚRLANN MCADAM Ó FIACH
Tron an 20mh linn, bha Beul Feirste air a sgaradh eadar diofar cultaran, creideamhan, agus fèin-aithneachaidhean. Bha e gu math doirbh a’ faotainn chothroman a bhith a’ bruidhinn Gàidhlig na h-Èirinn aig an àm seo air sgàth adhbharan prataigeach agus poilitigeach. Ach bha Gàidhlig na h-Èirinn air a teagaisg uaireannan mar chuspair sgoile. Cuideachd, bha an cànan air a cumail beò ann an teaghlaichean agus coimhearsnachdan ann an Doire agus ann am Beul Feirste. Ged nach rachadh Gàidhlig na h-Èirinn aithneachadh mar chànan oifigeil ann an Èireann a Tuath san 20mh linn, cha robh an riaghaltas ann an Lunnainn cho dian an aghaidh a’ chànain is a bha an riaghaltas aig an àm ann am Beul Feirste. Uime sin, dh’fhosgladh a’ chiad sgoiltean a’ solar foghlam tro mheadhan Gàidhlig na h-Èirinn anns na 80ean.
Dh’fhosgladh Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiach ann an 1991 ann an sean eaglais chlèireach. Ged a chaidh a’ Chultúrlann a stèidheachadh anns a’ Cheathrú Ghaeltachta ann an taobh siar Bheul Fheirste, chùm a’ Chultúrlann a-mach gum b’ e co-ionad neo-phoilitigeach a bh’ ann a bha fosgailte dhan a h-uile duine ge be an creideamh, no fèin-aithne a bh’ aca. Thugadh ainmean dithis neach-labhairt Gàidhlig na h-Èirinn air a’ Chultúrlann, Raibeart “Shipboy” MacÁdhaimh agus Càirdineal Tomás Ó Fiach, airson sealltainn gun ann do gach cultar is creideamh a bha a’ Chultúrlann.
Dh’fhosgladh àrd-sgoil sa Chultúrlann aig an toiseach, ach mean air mhean, thòisich goireasan agus buidhnean cànain eile ann. Ghluais an stèisean rèidio Raidió Fáilte, am pàipear-naidheachd An Lá, am buidheann-cluiche Aisling Ghéar, am buidheann leasachaidh foghlaim Gaeloiliúint, agus Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta uile a-steach.
Leis cho soirbheachail is a bha e, bha feum aig a’ Chultúrlann air a bhith a’ leasachadh an togalaich thairis 2010-2011 airson a chur am meud. Bhon a dh’fhosgladh a’ Chultúrlann ann an 2011, thòisich bùth-leabhraichean agus taigh-bidh ann. Tha iad fhathast a’ solar chlasaichean Gàidhlig na h-Èirinn agus a’ cur air dòigh tachartasan ealain agus cultarach, uile tro mheadhan Gàidhlig na h-Èirinn. Thèid gu https://www.culturlann.ie airson barrachd fios.
Belfast for most of the 20th century was a city bitterly divided by culture and identity. In this context finding breathing spaces for the Irish language was not only practically complicated but also politically complicated. However, Irish continued to be taught as a school subject and Irish speaking families and communities continued to grow in cities such as Derry and Belfast during this period. Moreover, while the British Government did not officially recognise Irish as a formal language of Northern Irish in the 20th century, attitudes towards Irish language schooling softened so that the first Irish language schools opened in the early 1980s.
Against this backdrop, Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich opened in a former presbyterian church in 1991. Although situated in the Gaeltacht Quarter, the centre remained committed to being non-political and an Irish language breathing space accessible to both faith-based communities. This was demonstrated through many important gestures such as choosing to name itself after figures from both communities Robert Shipboy McAdam and Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich.
Initially opened to accommodate the Irish medium secondary school Coláiste Feirste, other Irish language services and organisations such as Raidió Fáilte, An Lá, Aisling Ghéar, Gaeloiliúint, and Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta all moved in shortly after.
Due to its success, the Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich expanded in 2010/11. Since then, the centre has opened an Irish language bookshop and restaurant and continues to offer classes, artistic other cultural activities. To find out more, go to https://www.culturlann.ie.
Image rights:
CC BY-SA 2.0, Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich.jpg, Created: 22 April 2012.