Republican News · Thursday 30 January 2003

Slógadh ar siúl i gceantar stairiúil Sliabh gCuillinn

Na daoine atá ag freastal ar an Slógadh, is é an chéad rud ar a dtiocfaidh siad air i ndeisceart Ard Mhacha ná cloch cháiliúil Chill na Sagart, atá ann leis na céadta bliain. In aice léi tá Caisleán na Maighre agus `Bearna Uladh', ceann de dhúnta cnoic Árm na Breataine, an chéad cheann a tógadh i ndeisceart Ard Mhacha.

Is é an t-ionad do Shlógadh Shinn Féin i mbliana ná Clós Shliabh gCuillinn, agus beidh sé ar siúl i rith an deireadh seachtaine 21-23 Feabhra. Is clós cúirte athdheisithe é Clós Shliabh gCuillinn spás taispeántais, agus tá ceardlanna ceirde, bialann agus lóistín féinfhreastail. Tá bealach isteach ann go dtí Páirc na Foraoise ann agus casain go barr Shliabh gCuillinn. Is fiú iarracht a dhéanamh barr an tsléibhe a bhaint amach mar go bhfuil radharc den scoth ann.

Tá daoine ina gcónaí i gCompall Shliabh gCuillinn le 6,000 bliain anois agus tá cliú ar an cheantar i miotaseolaíocht agus finscéalíocht na hÉireann. Deirtear sa scéal `Táin Bó Cuailne' gur chosain Cú Chulainn Uladh in éadán na Banríona Méabh i mBearna Uladh.

Foilsíodh torthaí an daonáirimh ar na mallaibh a nochtaigh méadú suntasach ar líon na ndaoine i gceantar an Iúir agus Mhoirn a bhfuil an Ghaeilge acu. De thairbhe seo cinneadh Slógadh Shinn Féin a chur ar siúl sa cheantar seo.

Roinn Cultúir Shinn Féin a eagraíonn an Slógadh agus tá fáilte roimh gach aon duine ar suim leo cultúr na hÉireann a chur chun cinn. Déanfar gnó an tSlógaidh trí mheán na Gaeilge, ach beidh aistriúchán comhuaineach ar fáil ach é a iarraidh. Ón Slógadh deireanach i Ráth Cairn is iomaí athrú atá tagtha ar an saol cultúrtha agus polaitiúil a raibh tionchar mór acu ar shaoil laethiúil mhuintir na hÉireann.

Beidh réimse leathan d'imeachtaí ar siúl le linn an tSlógaidh a mheallfaidh daoine le freastal ar an mhórchuid acu, tá muid cinnte. Beidh Clós Shliabh gCuillinn ar oscailt maidin Dé hAoine, 21 Feabhra agus beidh clárú ar siúl ó 6 i.n. ar aghaidh. Gearóid Mac Adamh, Uachtarán Shinn Féin a osclóidh an Slógadh go hoifigiúil ar 12 i.n. Dé Sathairn agus druidfear é thart faoi am lóin dé Domhnaigh.

Mar is gnách, beidh imeachtaí stairiúla spóirt chomh maith le imeachtáí comhaimseartha cultúir san áireamh. Ach braitheann an rath agus chomh rathúil a bheidh ar na himeachtaí seo ar an ionchur ó gach aon duine a bheidh páirteach sa deireadh seachtaine. Tá muid cinnte go mbeidh díospóireacht bheo shuimiúil ar siúl tráthnóna Dé hAoine agus í bunaithe ar chúrsaí póilíneachta sa tsochaí. Pléifear príomhthéama an tSlógaidh i mbliana ar oíche Dé Sathairn. Is é an teideal atá air ná:

"2016 - Gan Teorann, Gan Teanga"?

Beidh seans ag daoine a bheidh ag freastal ar an díospóireacht seo plé a dhéanamh ar pleananna faoi fhorbairt na Gaeilge agus an Chultúir in Éirinn, Éire a bheidh an-difriúil leis an tír a bhí in aigne an Phiarsaigh agus daoine eile ón tréimhse sin. Sa tsochaí ilchultúrtha atá á bhunú in Éirinn anois agus i dtíortha eile ar fud na hEorpa cad é mar a fheiceann muid aisling na hÉireann mar thír atá `Aontaithe, Gaelach agus Saor', ach ag an am chéanna athruithe móra ar ár sochaí a chur san áireamh de thairbhe na ngrúpaí eitneacha a mbeimid ag chur fáilte rompu chuig an tír seo sna blianta atá le teacht.

Beidh roinnt aoi-chainteoirí ag na díospóireachtaí. Is orthu sin a bheidh páirteach ann, áfach a bheidh an bhéim agus ar an dóigh is praiticiúla leis na cinntí a dhéanfar ag an Slógadh a chur i gcrích. Caithfidh sé a bheith mar chuspóir againn a chinntiú go n-éiríonn cultúr agus úsáid laethúil na Gaeilge chomh fairsing agus is féidir mar atá déanta ag an CLG maidir le cur chun cinn ár gcluichí dúchasacha agus iad a bhunú mar ghnáthchuid laethúil de shaol ár bpobail. Tá muid ag dúil le buaileadh le gach aon duine, agus tá súil againn go mbainfidh sibh taitneamh as an `cheol agus craic' le linn do chuairte ar Ard Mhacha Theas.

Más mian leat páirt a ghlacadh in imeacht nó in imeachtaí an deireadh seachtaine déantar teagmháil le:

Oifig Camloch, Ard Mhacha Theas. Fón/Facs: 30 839 423

nó Ard Oifig, Baile Átha Cliath Fón: 872 6100

roinncultuirshinnfein@hotmail.com

o Caithfear clárú a dhéanamh leis an Roinn roimh ré. Is féidir dul i deangmháil le Lucilita Bhreatnach chun lóistín agus béiltí a shochrú

Historic Sliabh Gullion hosts Slógadh

For anyone attending this year's Slógadh from the south, their first encounter with south Armagh will be the famous landmark of Kilnasaggart. This is a tall granite pillar with a lengthy inscription dating back many centuries. Nearby is Moyry Castle, which can be seen from the passing Dublin to Belfast train. This was built by Lord Mountjoy to secure the English position and command the vital "Gap of the North", a forerunner to the many British hilltop forts in south Armagh.

The venue for this year's Sinn Féin Slógadh will be Slieve Gullion Courtyard in South Armagh and will take place during the weekend of 21 to 23 February. Sliabh Gullion Courtyard Centre is a converted courtyard building housing an exhibition area, craft workshops, restaurant and self-catering accommodation. It provides access to the Forest Park and walkways to the summit of Sliabh Gullion mountain. There are many cairns and ruins of castles nearby. The view from the summit cairns on Sliabh Gullion make the effort to reach the top worth the climb.

The Ring of Gullion has been inhabited for over 6,000 years and many historic monuments have survived right up to the present day. In fact, many of these are now considered as landmarks in the area. Monuments such as the Black Castle at Annaghmare, the King's Ring at Clontygora and the tomb at Ballymacdermot are some of the finest examples of court tombs in the north of Ireland. The Ring of Gullion is featured prominently in Irish legends and myths. It is reputed that during the Táin Bó Cuailgne, Cúchulainn defended Ulster against Queen Maeve at the Gap of the North.

The publication of the recent census figures has revealed a welcome growth in the number of people in the Newry & Mourne area who use the Irish language. This information was a contributing factor to the decision to hold the Slógadh in this area.

The Slógadh is organised by Sinn Féin's Cultural Department and we welcome everyone interested in the promotion of Irish culture to attend. All business will be conducted "as Gaeilge" but instantaneous translation facilities will be available for anyone on request. Since the last Slógadh in Rathcairn, County Meath, many changes have taken place in the cultural and political sectors which have impacted hugely on the daily lives of people on the island of Ireland.

The Slógadh promises a wide and varied programme of events, which we are certain will attract people to attend all or some of them. The Courtyard will be open on Friday morning 21 February and registration will take place from 6pm onwards.

The Slógadh will be officially opened by Gerry Adams, President of Sinn Féin, on Saturday at 12 noon and will reach its closing stages round about Sunday lunchtime.

As always, the Slógadh will include sporting, historical and up to date topical cultural events. These, however, will only be as interesting or successful as the input from everyone participating during the weekend. We are assured there will be a lively discussion on Friday evening surrounding the issue of policing in our society. The main theme of the Slógadh this year will be debated on Saturday night. This is entitled: "2016 - Gan Teorann, gan Teanga".

Those attending the díospoireacht will have the opportunity to discuss the future development of the Irish language and culture in an Ireland which we are all certain will be totally different to that envisaged by Padraic Pearse and others of his time. In the inevitable multicultural society being established in Ireland and practically every other country in Europe, how do we envisage the dream of an Ireland "united, Gaelic and free" and yet allow for the sea-change in our society because of its increasing cultural diversity.

There will, of course, be a number of guest speakers at the debates but the emphasis must surely be on those taking part and how we implement in a practical fashion decisions taken at the Slógadh. Our objective must be to ensure that the culture and daily use of our language becomes as widespread as the success achieved by the GAA in the promotion of sport and establishing itself as an everyday part of the fabric of life in our communities. We look forward to meeting everyone and hope that you enjoy the "Craic agus Ceol" during your stay in south Armagh.

yone wanting to participate in all or any of the weekend of events should contact:

Oifig Camloch, Ard Mhacha Theas. Fón/Facs: 30 839 423

Ard Oifig, Baile Átha Cliath Fón: 872 6100

roinncultuirshinnfein@hotmail.com