Danilea Pukite (Latvia), Santa Berzina (Latvia), Arnas Paulauskas (Lithuania), Domantas Kiausis (Lithuania), Eva Varaniviciute (Lithuanian), Gabi Chmielewska (Poland), Wiktoria Wictorowicz (Poland), Anthony Dimitrov. (Bulgaria)
With Ruairí Quinn giving himself sleepless nights about “restrictive practices at some all-Irish schools, which are prohibiting some pupils from entry”, this little story from Gael Linn adds a little context to the idea that Gaelscoileanna are dens of bigotry against foreign nationals.
“This year’s Feis Ard Mhacha was very well attended and the adjudicators, Seán Ó Maoiltsté and Dónall Mac Giolla Chóill, were delighted with the high standard in the various Irish language competitions of poetry recital, dialogue, conversation, public speaking and Gaeltacht scholarships.
The adjudicators were particularly impressed by the students whose parents have settled in Armagh in more recent years from various countries. These children all attend Mount Saint Catherine’s Primary School which has won awards in recent years from Foras na Gaeilge’s ‘Gleo’ competition.
The Feis was held over two days and received full support from the host venue of Armagh’s Market Place Theatre and Arts Centre. Réamonn Ó Ciaráin, Gael Linn’s Regional Manager said that it was great to see these young boys and girls achieving so highly in what must be their third language at least and that they were enjoying Irish so much. Gael Linn also organise Gaeltacht colleges and you can get more information from www.gael-linn.ie