Trinity’s Irish language society, An Cumann Gaelach, has won the Glór na nGael national competition for best Irish language student society for the fifth time, having previously won first prize in 2012, 2013, 2014 and again in 2016. President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, presented the award to representatives of the society on April 22.
Commenting on the win, Reachtaire of the Cumann, Áine Haberlin, said: “I am so proud of the Cumann and what we have achieved this year. This award will add greatly to the Cumann’s work next year and I am sure that it will strengthen the Irish language on campus and around the city. The Irish language is hale and hearty, from what I’ve seen, I am sure of it.”
Trinity’s Irish Language Officer, Aonghus Dwane, said this latest award “along with the other prizes recently won by the Cumann, are testament to the exceptional passion, idealism and commitment of Trinity’s Cumann Gaelach, with whose leaders it is always a privilege to work. We are extremely proud of their achievements, which demonstrate that Irish is alive and flourishing in Trinity, and are delighted to be able to provide support and assistance to the Cumann each year.”
Coiste na Gaeilge Chairperson, Professor Joe Barry, commented: “It is a testament to our students’ passion for our native tongue that this award has gone to Trinity College’s students. Their energy, imagination and sense of what is important in our culture is an inspiration to all of us and we are privileged to work with them.”
Speaking to Trinity News, Gemma Caulwell An Cumann Gaelach’s Treasurer for 2017/18 said: “It’s amazing to see the committee’s hard work all year pay off, it’s been one of our most successful years ever having won awards from the CSC, USI Student Achievement Awards, Conradh na Gaeilge and now Glór na nGael. We are all so proud to see our hard work recognised, and it means we’ll be able to build on our success next year. Even more than that it just shows that Irish is alive in Trinity and will be for as long as Cumann is around.”
An Cumann Gaelach also won the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) Student Achievement Award for “Best Irish Language Campaign” this year in recognition of the success of Éigse na Tríonóide and were also awarded the Central Societies Committee (CSC) award for “Best Large Student Society”.
Trinity’s Cumann Gaelach was founded in 1908 and is one of the largest student societies in College.
