Seachtain na Gaeilge is a great reason to embrace the Irish language and all that it can offer and in St Fanahan's College, Mitchelstown the students and staff got creative recently, looking at new ways to embrace their native tongue and explore the history of their cultural heritage.

Organised by Lily Cashman and Elaine Clfford with the rest of the Irish department, the week's events stressed the importance of spoken Irish. Every student who made a concerted effort to speak Irish was rewarded with a T-shirt that read 'Is fearr Gaeilge briste na Bearla cliste' - meaning broken Irish is better than clever English.

ORAL EMPHASIS

“Our aim with Seachtain na Gaeilge was to focus on the spoken language of Irish. With 40% of the Leaving Cert examination dedicated to the spoken word, it is essential that a specific emphasis is placed on the oral literacy development of students," principal Tadhg Long explained. He added that the week gave students the chance to explore Irish as a language and also the traditions attached to it.

Students also took part in an Irish quiz, a workshop with a seanchai, a ceili and their own version of the X Factor 'as Gaeilge'. This was the highlight of the week for many and it allowed the students to be creative with their native tongue and also use Irish to transform some well known chart hits.

The acts varied across the board, with short plays, sketches and songs. There were renditions of Irish versions of Pompeii by Bastille and Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke, as well as Avicci Wake Me Up and Fun Some Nights, as well as Garth Brooks' classics, One Direction hits and much more from the 17 acts who took to the stage for the Fionnchua Fachtoir. Well done to everyone concerned.

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