First festival na Samhna exceeds all expectations in Portlaoise
OPW display their 'An Tacú leis an Ghaeilge' signs outside Emo Court
THE first Irish language festival organised by Cumann Gaelach Chontae Laoise, Féile na Samhna 2026, exceeded its organisers’ expectations in terms of attendance and enjoyment. An estimated 200 people attended the festival’s various events in Portlaoise over the weekend of 23-25 October.
Topics of local and seasonal interest were prominent, including place names, the celtic origins of Halloween and stories and music for children. The successful weekend concluded with an enjoyable ‘Oíche cheoil, amhránaíochta agus chomhrá’ in Tadgh Óg’s function room.
An Cumann Gaelach Laoise, which is the local branch of Conradh na Gaeilge, is approaching its first birthday in December. Consequently, the Halloween festival, combined with its other activities, are viewed as a case of ‘Tús maith, leath na hoibre,’ â a good start is half the battle. The cumann has succeeded in creating additional local opportunities to empower Irish as a living language ‘an teanga bheo.’ The festival was officially opened to a packed gathering in Portlaoise Parish Centre by cathaoirleach an Chumainn Siobhán Uí Chuinn. In welcoming those present, she said: ‘‘Tá an t-ádh linn go bhfuil an áit lán go doras.’’ Introducing the evening’s speaker Dearbhla Ní Dhuinn, Siobhán highlighted two points of note; firstly, that Dearbhla is a local Laois Irish speaker from Mountmellick and, secondly, that her address on ‘Logainmneacha’ connects with Conradh na Gaeilge’s campaign ‘Athghaelú,’ to renew our original gaelic place names.
Dearbhla proceeded to provide an inspiring insight into the rich history of our original gaelic place names, connecting, as they often do, with landscape, nature and people.
Confirming the actual meaninglessness of the anglicised versions, she explained how a knowledge of Irish words, such as ‘cluain’ which means meadow and ‘ráth,’ which means ring fort, unlocks a door into a wonderful historical and linguistic experience. Such words resonate in Laois, which she provided examples of. Dearbhla explained that the name Laois itself is understood to have come from Loígis, the ancestral family of the O'Moores, who claimed to be descendants of a member of the legendary Red Branch Knights.
She concluded her talk with a reference to ‘Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam’ (a country without a language is a country without a soul), which succinctly summarised her historical analysis.
The following day in the Dunamase Arts Centre, Julie Anne de Brún provided a colourful workshop on ‘Ceol agus Scéalaíocht’ for children. Julie Anne is a primary school teacher who specialises in additional needs. Coming from Moycullen, she is dedicated to promoting the Irish language. At the workshop, Julie Anne was assisted by her puppet ‘Róise Rua,’ who captivated all present. Later that day, the well- known Irish language writer Réaltán Ní Leannáin explained the celtic origins of Halloween. The runaí of An Cumann Gaelach Laoise, Tomás Ó Maolagáin, thanked Réaltán at the end. He said that he was particularly interested in her explanation of the origin of the Irish names for the seasons agus ‘go raibh sé thar a bheith suimiúil nach raibh ach dhá shéasúr in Éirinn blianta ó shin.’ On Sunday, the final day, Liam Ó Culbáird from the OPW gave a guided tour, as Gaeilge, of Emo House. This engaging experience started in the grand entrance hall, where Liam explained the origins of the house. He then guided the visitors through the ornate living areas of the landlord class which once dominated Ireland, politically and economically. Next, the tour headed downstairs where the housekeeping and servant quarters were located. These contrasted starkly with upstairs. The kitchen, like the other rooms, contains fascinating items from the past. This tour will be repeated and is worth watching out for.
Féile na Samhna concluded with a celebration of ‘ceol agus comhrá’ in Tadgh Óg’s function room in Portlaoise. The night featured traditional Irish musicians and songs ‘as Gaeilge’ from several individuals present, as well as Irish conversation. Speaking afterwards, cumann caothaoirleach Siobhán Uí Chuinn expressed her thanks to the musicians and singers, the presenters of the events, as well as the parish centre, the OPW, the Dunamaise Arts Centre, Tadhg Óg’s and the sterling voluntary work of Cumann Gaelach Laoise.
Siobhán added that the cumann is delighted to have achieved its main aim in bringing people together through the medium of Irish in an enjoyable way. Dúirt sí: ‘‘An sprioc a bhí againn ná an Gaelphobal a thabhairt le chéile agus ócáid spraíúil thaitneamhach a chur ar fáil dóibh. Táimid iontach sásta mar Chumann Gaelach gur éirigh linn é sin a dhéanamh agus go raibh deiseanna ag muintir na háite, an Ghaeilge a chleachtadh, a labhairt agus a cheiliúradh le linn Féile na Samhna. Ní neart go cur le cheile.’’
