Éigse na Tríonóide, Trinity’s Irish language festival, took place in College last week (31 Jan – 4 Feb), celebrating Irish language and culture with a wide range of events being held on and off campus.
300 red balloons were released from Front Square on Monday to kick off the week to the applause of the large crowd gathered. Singer Máirtín Tom Sheánín was the guest at the official launch reception of Éigse na Tríonóide later that evening.
There was a wide range of events for all levels of Irish speakers with all kinds of interests. From beginners’ Irish lessons to knitting as Gaeilge; from sean-nós dancing lessons to Harry Potter as Gaeilge; there was undoubtedly something for everyone.
An Cumann Gaelach was at the center of proceedings and their pub crawl on Tuesday night was a roaring success. Those who attended An Gig Mór on Thursday night, with Aslan and the Bonnymen playing in The Workman’s Club, could only give rave reviews of a memorable night.
“The best gig since An Cumann Gaelach’s last gig”, proclaimed one jovial character. The highlight for many was Christy Dignam, lead singer of Aslan, delighting the crowd with a timeless rendition of ‘Crazy World’.
Religious services celebrating the Éigse were held in the chapel for both Catholic and Protestant denominations. Irish-speaking students were in strong attendance at ‘Gairmeacha le Gaeilge’, a talk on the possibility of a career working with the Irish language.
The book club held on Tuesday created great discussion and interest with regards to Máirtín Ó Cadhain’s classic of Irish literature, ‘Cré na Cille’.
On the academic side of things, a debate was held in conjunction with the Hist with the motion “Tá muintir na hÉireann faoi chomaoin Fhianna Fáil / The Irish people are indebted to Fianna Fáil”. After over an hour of debating, the GMB voted narrowly in favour of the motion.
Two tours as Gaeilge were held during the week, one of the college campus, the other a historic walk around Dublin city.
The week concluded with a busy Friday that included a victorious Colours soccer match against the Cumann Gaelach of UCD, a very entertaining audience with poet Gabriel Rosenstock and Máirín Nic Eoin, and an Irish language musical which took plae in Players’ Theatre.
The play was very well-received by the large crowd in attendance, much to the delight of the cast and director Meadhbh O’Connor.
A free bricfeasta was provided by An Cumann Gaelach each morning, and the energy provided by those pancakes and tea was very much needed for what was one of the busiest and most successful Seachtain na hÉigse in recent years.
