*** Cuireadh (Invitation to July 1997 Congress) *** (fwd)

[Andrew Carnie]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 23 Jan 1997 15:57:43 +0000
From: Marion Gunn <mgunn at ucd.ie>
To: CELTLING at mitvma.mit.edu, Gaelic-l at listserv.hea.ie,
    welsh-l at listserv.hea.ie, gaeilge-b at listserv.hea.ie,
    gaidhlig-b at listserv.hea.ie, celtic-l at listserv.hea.ie
Subject: *** Cuireadh (Invitation to July 1997 Congress) ***


----------------- 
Beginning this message in English, as it is addressed, in the first
instance, to members of Celtling, Gaeilge-B, Celtic-L, Welsh-l and
Gaidhlig-B. Finishing with a few lines in my own language, meant for
GAELIC-L members only (the content of which is  an appeal for voluntary
teachers of Irish, to mix socially during Congress week with native
speakers of the other Celtic languages, and help them learn/practise basic
conversation in Irish).

Once every six years, the Celtic Congress comes to Ireland. 1997 happens to
be our year, and we intend to make a success of it. Last year we were in
Wales, where we enjoyed the usual hearty Welsh hospitality, including free
breakfast time lessons in their language. The year before that we were in
Brittany, where Michael Everson's first book (Breton Grammar) was launched.
The year before that again we were in Cornwall, where my third book (Da
Mihi Manum) was launched. The year before that again the Congress was held
in Scotland, where we were happy to dump our return flight tickets to
Dublin in favour of an offer from the Welsh of free seats on their homing
bus, and free accommodation for the week of the Eisteddfod -- mmm, memories
of sunshine and showers, and nights in borrowed sleeping bags under an
awning in a muddy field by crystal waters!:-)

I should stress that the main focus of An Chomhdháil Cheilteach is on the
bringing together of the peoples of the six Celtic countries, to listen to
papers, share social events, and get to make cross-cultural and even
cross-generational contacts, as some families regularly come in force, in
groups consisting of three or four generations. During the week, some Irish
classes (brief, basic, and very informal in nature) will be given. Although
these will be conducted in English, you will, if you decide to join a
class, find yourself outnumbered by  people whose native languages are
other than English. Last year, for example, in Bangor, I sat in  class with
an eighty-four-year-old Breton woman and a four-year-old Cornish boy.

Although English is the main business language of the Congress, native
English speakers are expected to behave with discretion, to at least to be
polite enough not to use that advantage to dominate debates, to realise
that there is much to learn (and not just about language) from letting
other people have their say in peace, to not target fellow attendees as raw
material for books or theses, photograph us without our permission, or use
us in any other way, beyond the making of friends, if that can be achieved.


So there you have it, an invitation to be one of the crowd at the next
Celtic Congress, which will be held in University College, Dublin, the week
of 21-26 July, about which more information is to be found at URL
<http://www.indigo.ie/egt/celtcong/cc-97.html> including booking forms and
where to return them, which is NOT to EGT, providers of web page design and
storage to the Congress. Bord na Gaeilge (see URL
<http://www.indigo.ie/egt/lghlin/bnag/g96.html>) is handling ALL conference
bookings and ALL accommodation queries). Bord na Gaeilge's direct e-mail
address is bnag at iol.ie.

Should perhaps also point out that this is also by way of being a fairly
cheap holiday, as holidays in Ireland go, as we are renting out student
accommodation for the week -- warning, book now, as there are only so many
places available, after which it means competing with other holidaymakers
for beds in Dublin (easily done at this time of year, five months in
advance of the event, but well nigh impossible after March 17).

Anois, a chairde Gael, ba mhór agam do chúnamh chun na hoibre. Dá mhéid
múinteoirí Gaeilge is féidir linn a mhealladh go Belfield i gcomhair na
hócáide seo, is amhlaidh is fearr. Cumas labhartha, seachas cáipéisí
múinteoireachta, a theastaíonn chun na hoibre seo. Fiú munar féidir leat
níos mó ná lá amháin a chaitheamh ár dteannta, nó cúpla uair a chloig,
cuirfidh tú le feabhas imeachtaí na Comhdhála. Má tá fonn ort cuidiú linn,
cuir scéala chugamsa go pearsanta (mgunn at ucd.ie) ina thaobh seo.

Cuin vees oo çheet?
Cuin a bhìos tu a' tighinn?
Pegoulz e teuot?
Pa briy y byddwch chi'n dod?
P'eur fydhydh ow tos?
Pana vynta dos?
Puna termen vedno why doaze?

Wela i chi yn UCD!
mg


--
Marion Gunn
mgunn at ucd.ie