Have your say on the new strategy for the Irish-language oral arts
ARTISTS working in Irish in everything from song and spoken-word poetry to drama and storytelling are urged to make their voices heard as part of a consultation process informing the new National Strategy for the Irish language oral arts.
The strategy is being devised to provide a planning framework for the Irish language oral arts to direct the State’s support of a sector that encompasses as broad a range of art forms as the title suggests.
A special interinstitutional research team from the University of Limerick and Mary Immaculate College has been appointed by the Department of Culture, Heritage and Gaeltacht Affairs to devise the strategy and, indeed, determine as comprehensive a picture as possible of all activity in the area in the country – within the Gaeltacht and far beyond.
To that end, the team is asking everyone invested in any way in the oral arts as Gaeilge to make submissions under the Strategy – before the deadline of Friday, January 31.
The Irish language arts that form the basis of the research project are Irish language theatre and drama, amateur and professional, traditional and contemporary; singing, traditional, contemporary and choral; storytelling; lúibíní (a form of traditional song) and agallaimh beirte (a form of poetic dialogue) as well as spoken word poetry.
Those invested in the oral arts are asked to send a written submission and complete a questionnaire by visiting the website www.ealaionteangabhunaithe.ie (link bit. ly/38jHLOi).
It will be the first strategy of its kind when it is published later this year in what is expected will provide a ‘clear vision for the Irish language oral arts and [the] specific actions to achieve that vision’. The work of the group follows on from the publication of the Irish Language Action Plan 2018-2022, meanwhile.
The research and Strategy will encompass:
• The importance and impact of the oral Irish language arts.
• The national, international and regional organisations that are active in these areas or who are charged with responsibilities related to these areas of practice.
• Education, training and development opportunities.
• Current funding sources and potential funding sources.
• Questions of access and inclusion and services available for the public.
• Professional practitioners and the opportunities available to them.
• Potential for growth and development. Research group member Dr Róisín Ní Ghairbhí – of Roinn na Gaeilge at Mary Immaculate – said that public input is absolutely vital to the veracity of the whole project.
“A key element of the Strategy will be the contribution of stakeholders. This is a unique opportunity for practitioners, participants and attendees to take part in the public consultation process,” Dr Ní Ghairbhí said.
The research is already providing a fascinating glimpse into the world of the Irish language oral arts, not least in showing how its audience consists of surprisingly many non Irish-language speakers.
“Our research to date shows that some of those who take part in Irish language based arts, or who attend events, are not necessarily Irish speakers themselves,” researcher Dr. Sorcha de Brún said, adding: “Our research methodology aims to capture those nuances. For this reason, we invite submissions in English as well as in Irish, for those involved in Irish language arts who perhaps do not speak Irish.”