December 5, 2013

Friends,

As we approach Christmas, I would like to say a little about the year’s events, and give some idea of the current state of the organization. On St. Patrick’s Day, we celebrated our 40th. anniversary. It was an enjoyable event at which we awarded Mary Carty, Fr. John McLaughlin, and Jim West for their contributions through the years.

We organized a Lá Gaeilge at the Cultural Center in April and  another at Catholic Memorial high school in October. The second was one of our best yet. A special thank you to Kate Chadbourne, to the musicians, to Maureen McNally and her assistants for making the event lively and entertaining. Thank you, Brother Kirill and Máire Concannon for the use of the facility. More than 50 people attended this event.

A number of us made the journey to Canada for the Oireachtas in July, where Máirín Uí Chéide, Máire Ní Chlochartaigh and I took part in a short play produced for the occasion. This is always a fun-filled and spirited event, and it’s an honor to be a part of it.

The Cumann was also involved in the launching of Seán Ó Coistealbha’s poetry book, Stadhan, at the Goalpost in Quincy at the beginning of summer. This was a memorable night, so too the night Josie Sheáin Jeaic, the terrific sean-nós singer, was there. I regret to say that a fine poet in his own right, a singer and comedian who made those nights extra special, passed away recently. May your soul rest in peace, Dara Conneely from Inis Meáin.

We had a table at the Irish Heritage Festival in Dorchester on Veteran’s Day, and we got good publicity from it. I’m grateful to Máirín Uí Chéide and to the committee members who organized and attended the event on Sunday. Thank you all very much.

We awarded two scholarships to Esopus for a week to two of our students in August: Bill Allen and Jon Healy. They both enjoyed and benefitted from the experience. We have just concluded the fall classes, and they were very successful. 25 People were registered and the teachers Máire Concannon and Pat Clifford were outstanding as usual.

We expect to organize an event around St. Brigid’s Day in February, 2014. Don’t forget, and keep an eye on our website.

Thank you all for your support throughout the year.  We here at Cumann na Gaeilge wish you all a very Merry Christmas, and a healthy, happy new year.

Christmas party:

We will join our friends from Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann at the Cultural Center, 200 New Boston Drive, Canton, on Friday night the 13th. Dec. 2013 for a party, starting at 7 p.m. There will be food, plenty of music and craic. All are welcome!

Please e-mail us at info@cumann-na-gaeilge.org asap if you plan to attend.

Best Regards,
Mike Newell
President, Cumann na Gaeilge I mBoston

5ú Nollaig 2013

A Chairde,

Ó táimid ag tarraingt ar dheireadh na bliana, ba mhaith liom tagairt a dhéanamh de staid an Chumainn agus dár n-imeachtaí i gcaitheamh na bliana. Ar Lá Fhéile Pádraig cheiliúir muid bunú an Chumainn i 1973. Bhí lá breá siamsúil againn, agus bhronn muid gradam ar an Ath. Seán Mac Lochlainn, Mary Carty, agus ar Jim West de bharr a gcuid oibre ar son an Chumainn ar feadh na mblianta.

Reáchtáil muid Lá Gaeilge san Ionad Cultúrtha san Aibreán agus ceann i meánscoil Catholic Memorial i nDeireadh Fómhair. Ba é an dara ceann an lá ab fhearr a bhí againn fós, a bhuí do Kate Chadbourne, do na ceoltóirí, do Mháirín McNally agus na múinteoirí damhsa a chuir brí agus beocht sna himeachtaí. Buíochas freisin do Mháire Ní Choinceannain agus don Bhráthair Kirill as ucht úsáid na scoile. D’fhreastal suas le leathchéad duine ar an ócáid seo.

Rinne cuid againn an turas go Ceanada chuig an Oireachtas i mí Iúil, áit ar ghlac triúr againn–Máirín Uí Chéide, Máire Ní Chlochartaigh, agus mé féin–páirt i ndráma gearr a léiríodh don ócáid. Bíonn an-spraoi agus an-spiorad anseo chuile bhliain, agus is mór an onóir a bheith páirteach ann.

Bhí an Cumann páirteach freisin i láinseáil leabhar filíochta Sheáin Uí Choistealbha, Stadhan, sa nGoalpost i dtús an tSamhraidh. Bhí an-chraic an oíche sin ann, agus arís an oíche a raibh Josie Sheáin Jeaic ag gabháil fhoinn. Tá brón orm a rá gur bhásaigh Gaeilgeoir, file, agus fear grinn ó shin a chuir an cuimse leis an dá oíche sin lena chuid amhráin, dánta, agus spraoi. Ar dheis Dé go raibh anam uasal Dara Uí Chonaola as Inis Meáin.

Bhí bord againn ag an bFéile Oidhreachta i Dorchester ar an 10ú Samhain, agus fuair muid roinnt mhaith poiblíochta dá bharr. Táim buíoch do Mháirín Uí Chéide, agus do bhaill an Chumainn a d’eagraigh agus a d’fhreastal ar an ócáid an Dómhnach sin. Go raibh míle maith agaibh ar fad.

Bhronn muid scoláireacht seachtaine in Esopus le Daltaí na Gaeilge ar bheirt scoláirí sa Samhradh: Bill Allen agus Jon Healy. Bhíodar an-sásta leis agus bhaineadar an-tairbhe as. Táimid taréis ranganna an fhómhair a chríochnú agus d’éirigh go maith leo. Bhí cúig dhuine fhichead cláraithe don chúrsa, agus rinne na múinteoirí Máire Ní Choinceannain agus Pádraig Clifford sár-obair.

Tá súil againn ócáid a reáchtáil le haghaidh na Féile Bríde sa bhFeabhra, 2014,  le cúnamh Dé. Ná déanaigí dearmad air, agus connigí ag faire ar ár suíomh idirlín. Go raibh míle maith agaibh as ucht bhur dtacaíocht ar feadh na bliana, agus guímid ar fad anseo i gCumann na Gaeilge Nollaig faoi shéan agus faoi mhaise, agus athbhliain fholláin, shláintiúil oraibh.

Cóisir na Nollag:

Beidh cóisir na Nollag ar siúl san Ionad Cultúrtha, 200 New Boston Drive, Canton, oíche Dé hAoine, an 13ú Nollaig, 2013, ag a 7. Táimid á reáchtáil i bpáirt lenár gcairde as Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. Beidh bia le fáil agus neart ceoil, craic, agus amhráin. Fáilte roimh chách!

Cuir ríomhphost chuig info@cumann-na-Gaeilge.org go luath má tá fút a bheith ann.

Le gach dea-mhéin,
Mike Newell
Uachtarán, Cumann na Gaeilge i mBoston