Seachtain na Gaeilge 2022

We’ve decided to do something a bit outside of our norm here at the NEIC Initiative, in celebration of Seachtain na Gaeilge (SNaG) 2022!!

Throughout SNaG 2022, we will be shining a spotlight on a very special group of ladies who have come together to learn (and in some cases re-learn!) Irish dancing over the next 3 weeks.

Our brave ladies come from the NEIC and surrounding areas and were very welcoming when we spoke to them at the Barbara Ward Community Centre on Tuesday, March 1st, which marked the first day of 2022’s Seachtain na Gaeilge.

Staff at the centre were also very accommodating, with a healthy amount of tea and biscuits supplied to both the group and the reporters present.

Our fearless group were led by Cathleen Clarke-Ennis, who told us that she was delighted to give back to the community. During conversation, we established that Cathleen had also taught the children of a number of the ladies present too, many years ago, also in the locality. Cathleen had also taught dancing in the area in the late 80’s and early 90’s at the old handball alley, right in the shadow of Croke Park. I’m sure Cathleen will have many more stories for us in the weeks to come!

Cathleen is an excellent teacher and the ladies present were up on their feet and learning steps in no time at all. Among those present on March 1st were Monica Power, who told this reporter that she was delighted to be out socialising and exercising after two years of pandemic restrictions. Monica was joined by Ann Quinlan and Ann Govern, two other ladies who were very quick to pick up the steps on the day.

The enthusiasm and smiles on the day were infectious, and we cannot wait to join the ladies again next Tuesday at the Barbara Ward Centre.  All of the hard work will pay off for the ladies on March 19th, where they will be the guests of honour for a Céilí Mór at the centre. We will be following their progress each week, with plenty of smiles, memories and photographs to come.