Féile na Carraige – Lá 2 “Na hAbair é, Deán”
Mar chuid d’Fhéile na Carraige, léirigh muid an ghearrscannán aréir “Na hAbair é, Deán é” i dTeach na Móna. D’oscáil Pilib Mistéil, duine de na chéad daltaí gaelscolaíochta ó thuaidh agus cónaitheoir de chuid Ghaeltacht Bhóthar Seoighe agus anois príomhoide ar Bhunscoil an tSléibhe Dhuibh cur síos ar taithí s’aice and tionchar a bhí acu air ó thaobh na Gaeilge de.
Bheir an clár léargas agus comhthéacs ar thús na hathbheochana Gaeilge ag leibhéal pobalbhunaithe anseo i mBéal Feirste a bhuí leis na teaghlaidh ar fad a bhí croí-lár i mbunadh Ghaeltacht Bhóthar Seoighe. Díríonn an clár ar bhunadh Ghaeltacht Bhóthar Seoighe, bunadh an chéad bhunscoil Ghaeilge agus an ról lárnach a bhí ag mhuintir Seoighe in athógáil Shráid Bombay i 1969. Cuireadh an clár i láthair ag clann MhicSheáin.
Bhí clann MhicSheain in éineacht le chúpla clainn eile chun tosaigh i nGluaiseacht na Gaeilge agus ní féidir a sheánadh gur chur síos na bunchlocha síos d’athbheochan agus beocht na teanga an lae inniú. Labhraíonn Séamus Mac Seáin, Seán Mac Seáin, 
Bríghid Mhic Sheáin agus Máire Mhic Sheáin faoina dtaithí ag fás aníos i mBéal Feirste, ag dul isteach i ngluaiseacht na Gaeilge, ag bunú Ghaeltacht uirbeach Bóthar Seoighe, agus a ról sna chéad Ghaelscoileanna.
“D’obair muid faoi bhrú an t-am ar fad, i gconaí ag iarraidh anon go dtí an chéad chéim eile. Ní raibh am againn suí siar agus smaoineamh air.” Séamus Mac Seáin
Tar éis an scannáin, bhí greim, bia, píosa ceoil agus comhluadar ann. Maith sibh gach duine a bhí páirteach!
As part of Féile na Carraige, we showed the short film “Na hAbair é, Deán é” in Tinity Lodge last night. Pilib Milstéil opened the evening. As one of the first Irish medium primary school pupils in the North, growing up a resident in the Shaws Road Gaeltacht and now principal of Bunscoil an tSléibhe Dhuibh, Pilib shared a few personal experiences regarding the language and the impact they had 0on him.
“Na hAbair é, Deán é” (don’t say it, do it ) provides an insight and context in to the revival of the Irish language at grassroots level in Belfast through the establishment of the Shaws Road Gaeltacht. The programme looks at the founding of the Shaws Road Gaeltacht, the first Irish medium primary school Bunscoil Phobal Feirste and the rebuilding of Bombay Street in 1969, which the Shaws Road Gaels had a central role in. The programme is narrated by the MacSeáin family.
The MacSeáin were at the forefront of the Irish language movement and undoubtedly led the foundations for the revival and liveliness of the language today. Séamus Mac Seáin, Seán Mac Seáin, Bríghid Mhic Sheáin and Máire Mhic Sheáin talk about their experiences growing up in Belfast, becoming involved in the Irish language movement, founding the Shaws Road urban Gaeltacht, and their role in the first Irish-medium schools.
“The way we worked, we were always under pressure, wanting to take the next step forward, we never had the time to sit back and think about it.” Séamus Mac Seáin
A bite to eat, some music and good company followed. Well done everyone who took part!
