This week in Trinity will mark Éigse na Tríonóide 2018, a celebration of the Irish language hosted by TCDSU and An Cumann Gaelach. Appropriately themed “An Phobal ag teacht le chéile” or “The community comes together” for those non-irish speakers amongst us, this week long festival focuses on a variety of events aimed at celebrating and promoting the Irish language and culture to all Trinity residents, regardless of nationality. With that said, here’s a run through of all the events which will be taking place.
Tuesday is a packed day, beginning with a tin-whistle workshop hosted by TradSoc, who are kindly providing all instruments. Whether an experienced player or just looking for something new to try simply head over to the Seomra na Gaeilge from 12pm to 1pm for a bit of craic. Following this is the Bram Stoker Club in the Phil Convo room at 2pm, where Míde Ní Ghríofa will be speaking on the topic, “An bhfuil cead agam dul go dtí an leithreas?: The Potential of Bilingual Education”.
The next event is Turas Siúil an Champais with ArcSoc, a walking tour hosted by the architectural soc, a great way to learn about the history of campus and improve your irish speaking skills. Meet at the Campanile at 4pm to begin this adventure. The day concludes in the atrium at 6pm, where LitsSc and TradSoc will be combine forces to host a poetry gathering, including readings and even an Irish writing workshop, an event not to be missed by any budding young writers.
As the mid-week crisis sets in, what better way to start your day than in The Buttery at 10:30am for Caife, Comhrá agus Craic sa Bhutrach leis an Scéim Chónaithe, where coffee and chats over the Irish Residency Scheme will take place. And if you’re feeling slightly peckish after, head upstairs to the Seomra na Gaeilge at 1pm for lunch! And if you want to burn those calories, head over to the College Park at 3pm for the long puck competition, where international students can really see what all the fuss about GAA is over.
But if you prefer something a little calmer, DU Meditation are hosting a meditation session guided through Irish in the GSU common room from 5pm, so kick back and release all the stress about your end-of-week deadlines. At 7pm, Cumann Gaelach will be hosting their very own Dúrún Dúnmharaithe aka Murder Mystery in the Seomra na Gaeilge, the perfect opportunity to learn some Irish in the funniest possible setting. To end your night, pop over to the Cat and Cage in Drumcondra at 8pm for a ‘Know your Neighbour session’, the perfect way to get to know the Irish community.
Meanwhile on Thursday, the event begins with a conversation circle in the staff room of St. James Hospital at 1pm for anyone on placement looking for a cultural escape. For those of us on campus DU Gendersoc will be discussing the role of women in Irish folklore at 1pm in room 3051 of the Arts Block, an event intriguing for anyone interested in Irish mythology. At 4pm Tradsoc and An Cumann Gaelach will be coming together in the Global room to give a taster of Irish music and dance, a brilliant opportunityfor international students to learn more about Irish heritage, and get a dance out of it too. This will be followed by one of Trinity’s most controversial debates with UCD yet ‘Are Boojum burritos the best in the world?’. Head over to Seomra na Gaeilge at 7pm to see who triumphs and remember to choose your side wisely. And in preparation for the weekend, head over to the Pav for some pints and “C(r)aiceoke” with TFM at 8:30pm.
To conclude the five day fun, a Ceardlann Rince Gaelach or Irish dancing worksop will take place Friday morning at 10am in the Players Theatre in association with TAF, an amazing chance to try one of Ireland’s most beautiful art-forms for yourself. This will be followed by another Irish breakfast in the Seomra na Gaeilge from 11am, the perfect reward for a long week in college. And thus the celebration ends that night in the East dining hall at 6pm with a celebration dinner, marking 111 years of Cumann Gaelach in Trinity. After all, mar a deir an seanfhocal, ‘Is maith an t-anlann an t-ocras’.
