Louth school launches Seachtain na Gaeilge celebrations

Louth County Council’s Seachtain na Gaeilge celebrations got underway with a vibrant showcase of music and song by students from Scoil Aonghusa, Drogheda at the Civic Offices, Fair Street on Monday 3rd March.

Scoil Aonghusa is a co-educational primary school in Drogheda where all subjects are taught through the medium of Irish (except for English) and Irish is the main language of communication. Eighteen of the school’s students displayed their talents by performing traditional Irish songs, instrumental solos and even an Irish brush dance for the dignitaries and parents in attendance at the Exhibition Room in Fair Street.

Cllr Paddy McQuillan, Mayor of Drogheda, praised the event and expressed his hopes that it will become a staple of Louth County Council’s Seachtain na Gaeilge calendar in the future, saying: “It’s fantastic to launch Louth County Council’s Seachtain na Gaeilge celebrations with such an impressive performance from the talented students of Scoil Aonghusa.

"The variety of talent on display was amazing, and this event perfectly demonstrates how we can use the Civic Offices as a public space for the community. I hope that every Mayor of Drogheda who follows me will embrace this and that it becomes an annual tradition in our Seachtain na Gaeilge programme.”

The event held extra significance for Scoil Aonghusa. Drogheda’s first Irish school was established in 1981 with the original classroom located in the same building where the Seachtain na Gaeilge celebrations took place.

_{Below: Students and teachers from Scoil Aonghusa, Drogheda, pictured with members of An Garda Siochana, Cllr Paddy McQuillan, Mayor of Drogheda, and Cllrs Michelle Hall and James Byrne at the Seachtain na Gaeilge event at the Civic Offices in Drogheda}

Scoil Aonghusa príomhoide Edel Ní Bhroin said it was nice to bring the current students back to the school’s roots: “It was such an honour for our school to perform in the Civic Offices. Back in 1981, when it was known as Villa Maria, the very first Scoil Aonghusa class of 10 students and one teacher was located in this building so it was lovely to come back here and celebrate all that is Irish and showcase our Irish culture.

"We are so grateful to Cllr Paddy McQuillan, the Mayor of Drogheda and Susan Deery, Louth County Council’s Irish Language Officer, for the invitation. Every child has a talent and at Scoil Aonghusa, we encourage them to flourish as Gaeilge and today was a perfect example of that.”

Seachtain na Gaeilge, which runs from March 1st to St Patrick’s Day, is an international Irish-language festival and one of the largest celebrations of Irish language and culture worldwide. For more information on Seachtain na Gaeilge, visit https://snag.ie/