CUIMHNIGH AR LUIMNEACH!
A LOVE for Limerick, and a grá for the Irish language are among the criteria being sought in applicants for an exciting new Irish language role which is being advertised this week.
Comhluadar Luimnigh, an Irish language network based in Limerick city and county has just been awarded substantial funding from Foras na Gaeilge and they are advertising a three-year contract for a full time Irish language Development Officer for the network, which operates in the city and county. Chairperson of the committee Breandán Ó hAnnaidh, who works at Analog Devices, explains that Comhluadar Luimnigh are now at a very exciting stage of development where they are ‘ready to grow and make an even bigger impact, in a more structured way. That’s why we are looking for someone with energy and passion to ‘Cuimhnigh ar Luimneach/ think about Limerick’ and take up this exciting role – creating more opportunities for engaging with the Irish language in beautiful Limerick by helping us enact our three-year plan’.
Comhluadar Luimnigh is a Limerick-based Irish language social network which offers opportunities to use Irish in daily life. It organises events for both individuals and families throughout the county, and, during restrictions, online. Popular events provided by the network since its founding in 2017 have included sports days, coding workshops, coffee meetups for adults as well as annual Christmas,Halloween and St Patrick’s Day parties for families and individuals.
Today upwards of two hundred people are members of the network, from all age groups and from different areas of Limerick city and county, and many more attend events on an informal basis. Several committee members are also involved in providing opportunities to engage with the Irish language in GAA, camogie and Ladies Football clubs in Ahane, Adare, Pallasgreen and Mungret.
Committee member Áine Ní Lafáin (Ahane) is proud of the network’s achievements to date. ‘Social restrictions have been so challenging for many people’ says Áine. ‘So we are really delighted that so many new people accessed our on-line coffee get togethers during restrictions. We even had an online cocktail tasting night!’. More recently, members have been meeting up safely outdoors at a Sunday morning coffee meetup at Limerick Milk Market organised by member Fionán Coughlan of “ReStory”.’
For parents such as committee members Joanne Ní Challanáin, a librarian, and Aoife Uí Láimhin, a teacher in An Mhodhscoil, the network has provided friendship, support and a social context for parents who wish to use Irish in the home with their young children. Joanne is particularly proud of the growing series of events provided as Gaeilge by the county library services. ‘There have been events in the Granary, in Dooradoyle and Adare.’ she notes. ‘It’s great to work with others in the community- ní neart go cur le chéile.’ We have something for everyone, says Éilín de Grás (Pallasgreen): for me the network is a constant support which recharges my batteries!
In addition to the GAA, Comhluadar Luimnigh has also partnered with other organisations including Conradh na Gaeilge, the GAA, the library service, the University of Limerick and Mary Immaculate College. ‘We are looking for someone with excellent social and organisational skills’, says committee member Denis Kelly, of Globalization Partners. ‘This is a proactive role, in the community; the new officer will be building partnerships and planning and running events of all kinds- sporting, cultural and social events’.
The newly appointed officer will have access to mentoring from national organisation Glór na nGael. Meanwhile, an exciting new collaboration with the Limerick city branch of Conradh na Gaeilge means that the newly appointed Development officer will have their own office in the Conradh’s beautiful Georgian building in Thomas Street in the city centre.
‘We are so proud to be working with the Conradh who have such a strong tradition of supporting Irish’, says committee member Róisín Ní Ghairbhí, a native of Rathkeale who is a lecturer in Roinn na Gaeilge in Mary Immaculate College. ‘And the new officer will be right in the centre of things here in Limerick- and available also to support Irish language projects throughout the county.
It’s such an amazing opportunity for someone to make an impact. We believe that Limerick has so much to offer and the new officer will be able to tap into all the positive energy in our city and county.’ More information on this opportunity is available at [email protected]
