Niall Mac Giolla Bhrighde Commemoration Festival set for Creeslough this month

In March 1905, Mac Giolla Bhrighde was fined for having his name in Irish on his cart

placeholder image — In March 1905, Mac Giolla Bhrighde was fined for having his name in Irish on his cart

Niall Mac Giolla Bhrighde was a farmer, a poet, an author and a songwriter who lived in An Fhaiche Mhór, An Craoslach from 1861 - 1942

The Niall Mac Giolla Bhrighde Commemoration Festival will take place between May 16 and 18 in the village of An Craoslach.

Niall Mac Giolla Bhrighde was a farmer, a poet, an author and a songwriter who lived in An Fhaiche Mhór, An Craoslach from 1861 - 1942.

In March 1905, Mac Giolla Bhrighde was fined for having his name in Irish on his cart and on a point of principle decided against paying it.

Details of the case became known to Patrick Pearse who decided to represent Mac Giolla Bhrighde in the case, pro bono. It was the only case that Pearse ever took in a court of law and despite the fact they lost it added momentum to the Irish language movement in the country.

Later, Patrick Pearse wrote in An Claidheamh Soluis, he said: “…. It was in effect decided that the Irish is a foreign language on the same level with Yiddish…”

Doctor Seosamh Ó Ceallaigh will officially open the festival at 7 o’clock in The Hub, An Craoslach, on May 16. A question and answers session will take place after and refreshments will be provided.

On Saturday, May 17, there will be a music and singing session in the Hub from 6.30pm. This will be followed by a sketch titled ‘An Sceitse nár Scríobhadh’ from Aisteoirí Ghaoth Dobhair. To end the evening there will be a showing of ‘An Trucailín Donn’.

On Sunday, May 18, an oration will take place at the graveside of Niall Mac Giolla Bhrighde in Doe Cemetery. There will be a display from two marching bands on the day.

Organiser say they would very much enjoy your presence during the course of the weekend.

The festival is organised by Donegal County Council, the Creeslough Community Association and LPT Thuaisceart Dhún na nGall. The Creative Ireland Programme has granted funding for this event.

Further information at [email protected] nó 083 8127294

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Beidh Féile Chomórtha ar Niall Mac Giolla Bhrighde ar siúl ar an Chraoslach idir 16-18 Bealtaine.

Feirmeoir, file, údar, agus scríbhneoir amhrán a bhí i Niall Mac Giolla Bhrighde a raibh cónaí air ar an Fhaiche Mhór, An Craoslach idir 1861 agus 1942.

I mí Márta 1905, bhain sé clú agus cáil amach as agóid a rinne sé in aghaidh fíneáil a gearradh air de bharr a ainm a bheith scríofa i nGaeilge aige ar a chairt. Ba é Pádraig Mac Piarais a sheasaigh an fód dó mar abhcóide sa chás. Dúradh gur seo an t-aon chás amháin a sheas Mac Piarais mar abhcóide agus cé gur cailleadh an cás, chuir sé faobhar leis an ghluaiseacht náisiúnta i dtreo na Gaeilge.

In alt a scríobh Mac Piarais do An Claidheamh Soluis, dúirt sé: “... It was in effect decided that the Irish is a foreign language on the same level with Yiddish…”

Déanfaidh an Dochtúir Seosamh Ó Ceallaigh an oscailt oifigiúil, sa Hub ar an Chraoslach, ar an Aoine 16 Bealtaine ag a 7 a chlog. Beidh plé suimiúil agus sólaistí i ndiaidh na hócáide.

Beidh ceol agus amhránaíocht ar siúl sa Hub ar an Chraoslach ón 6.30in Dé Sathairn, 17 Bealtaine. Beidh sceitse dar teideal ‘An Sceitse nár Scríobhadh’ le haisteoirí Ghaoth Dobhair á léiriú i ndiaidh an cheoil agus beidh an scannán ‘An Trucailín Donn’ á thaispeáint fosta.

Ar an Domhnach 18 Bealtaine, beidh óráid á tabhairt ag imeall uaigh Néill Mhic Ghiolla Bhrighde i Reilig na dTuath. Beidh bannaí ceoil Dhuibhleann Riach agus an Chraoslaigh i láthair. Ba mhór dúinn dá mbeadh an pobal i láthair ag ócáidí an deireadh seachtaine.

Tá an fhéile á reáchtáil ag Comhairle Contae Dhún na nGall i gcomhar le Cumann Pobail an Chraoslaigh agus LPT Thuaisceart Dhún na nGall. Thug Clár Éire Ildánach maoiniú don tógra seo.

Tuilleadh eolais ag [email protected] nó 083 8127294