News

Crossways 2021, a major festival of writing from Ireland and Scotland, will take place online over the weekend of the 12th to 14th February 2021. Crossways is organised by the publisher Irish Pages and its editor Chris Agee. This year, in spite of the challenges of COVID, the festival has grown. Seán Ó Coinn, CEO of Foras na Gaeilge said, “We are delighted to provided funding to Crossways 2021 as part of Colmcille 1500, celebrating 1500 years since the birth of St Columba, a saint who unites Ireland and Scotland and is recognised as a poet and patron of poets.” Crossways 2021 is funded by the Foras na Gaeilge Colmcille programme, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, and the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin.

This year the majority of readings will be in Irish and Scottish Gaelic. Poet Simon Ó Faoláin is the Irish language curator, and poet Prof Meg Bateman is the Scottish Gaelic curator.

The festival normally takes place in Glasgow, but for the 2021 online festival Winnie Brooke Young, a Gaelic speaker from the Isle of Skye, travelled throughout Ireland and Scotland during breaks in lockdown to record high quality videos of poets reading from their work. The videos will go live on the 12th February at www.crosswaysfefestival.org. There will be a pair of writers in each session, for example Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill and Aonghus Dubh Mac Neacail, or Paula Meehan and Kathleen Jamie.

Irish Pages published Other Tongues, an introduction to writing in Irish and Scots Gaelic and Scots and Crann na Teanga/The Language Tree, a major collection of the poetry of Cathal Ó Searcaigh. Crossways 2021 contributes greatly on the fellowship between Irish language and Scottish Gaelic writers, building on the heritage of Turas na bhFilí and An Leabhar Mòr – The Great Book of Gaelic.

There is much to learn from Colmcille and the legacy of his communities. Maureen Curran of Loretto Community School, Milford, Donegal, has developed cross-curricular educational materials. It is linked to sites associated with Colmcille or Columba, and provides a model which can be adapted for use in many places. A competition based on the materials is being organised by Maureen with the Diocese of Raphoe, in conjunction with Claire Murray at the Church of Ireland National School in Gartan, birthplace of St Columba.

The material can be downloaded here.

Maureen and Claire have been part of a working group along with Gabrielle Fitzsimons and Gráinne Duggan who teaches at Rathdonnell National School near Gartan. Gráinne has compiled a range of other educational and heritage resources from a range of institutions and organisations which can be accessed online here.

Donegal County Council is developed a range of materials for other commemorative events, including the Flight of the Earls and 1916. The Council is preparing an educational pack and colouring book which will be available in the spring 2021.

A virtual museum of Colmcille is available online at

www.ccea.org.uk/colmcille/
www.ccea.org.uk/colmcille/gaeilge/index.php

Monday 7th December 2020 marks the beginning of Colmcille 1500, a year-long commemoration of 1500 years since the birth of St. Columba and of his legacy. The year will begin and end on the 7th December, the traditional birthday of the saint.

Colmcille 1500 is being sponsored and facilitated by the partnership programme ‘Colmcille’ run by Bòrd na Gàidhlig and Foras na Gaeilge linking Irish and Scottish Gaelic communities.

The monastic communities founded by Columba interacted over centuries with a wide range of peoples in Ireland in Scotland and northern England, and beyond, into continental Europe. The year will be celebrated in many different ways by diverse communities and organisations. Some will focus on the spiritual and religious legacy of the saint; some will be interested in the historical and archaeological angle; whilst others will celebrate the linguistic and cultural links between the Gaels across the globe.

Bòrd na Gàidhlig and Foras na Gaeilge will focus on the linguistic and cultural links between nations, with a range of events planned for launch week including:

• A series of video messages from individuals, groups and organisations celebrating Colmcille 1500 will be shared on the Colmcille Facebook page and on www.colmcille.net
•  An online cèilidh will be held on the Colmcille Facebook page to celebrate and showcase both languages, music and culture.
• Bòrd na Gàidhlig will launch their Colmcille fund.  This is an annual fund which is open to everyone and supports projects which look to strengthen ties between Gaelic speakers in Scotland and Ireland.

Shona MacLennan, Ceannard (CEO) of Bòrd na Gàidhlig said, “Saint Columba and his legacy have shaped the language, culture and history of Scotland and Ireland and as such, the year is an opportunity to strengthen the ties between the two countries.  We look forward to more events throughout the year, with a key event being planned around the Feast of St Columba on  the 9th of June 2021.  I encourage everyone to take part in these and celebrate in any way they can.”

Some of the events planned for the year of Colmcille 1500 include:

• Showcase Scotland will create a short promotional video about Gaelic in Scotland, with funding from Bòrd na Gàidhlig.  This will be aimed at promoters of festivals and cultural events from abroad.  There will also be an online reception/presentation (akin to the live Gaelic Showcase in years gone by). 
• Bòrd na Gàidhlig and Foras na Gaeilge will encourage Gaelic medium schools to connect through projects from both sides of the Irish Sea.
• Bòrd na Gàidhlig are in talks with delivery partners to create a new online resource for schools which will teach basic phrases in Scottish Gaelic and Irish so that children (and adults) can connect in the language.
• Throughout the year, CHARTS, the Argyll based Scottish culture & heritage organisation, will announce the winners of their monthly arts award scheme and online exhibition to profile and support Gaelic artists work, aligned to themes of Colmcille: https://www.chartsargyllandisles.org/ .

Seán Ó Coinn, Príomhfheidhmeannach Fhoras na Gaeilge said, “With so much emphasis globally on that which separates us, celebrating Colmcille’s legacy in 2021 presents us with a welcome opportunity to accentuate common linguistic and cultural linkages between Ireland and Scotland, and Ireland, north and south. The commemoration planned for 2021 will also allow us to follow in Colmcille’s footsteps and celebrate his linguistic and cultural legacy beyond these islands.

“I look forward to new partnerships between schools, to new contacts between all generations, to new discoveries about the legacy of Colmcille, and to using that legacy of to further revival of local communities.”

In addition to the annual schemes that foster connections between Irish and Scottish Gaelic, Foras na Gaeilge hopes, shortly to announce an additional community funding programme to heighten awareness of Colmcille and his contribution to the linguistic and cultural links between Ireland and Scotland.

Information for editors:

Colmcille (Latin form Columba) founded the monastery of Iona, and monasteries from Derry to Durrow in Offaly Lindisfarne in Northern England were part of a large families of monastic communities. Their legacy can be seen in:

• the origins of writing and literacy including the oldest Irish manuscript An Cathach.
• the earliest written records the annals, and therefore the beginning of recorded history in Ireland and Scotland
• Major works of religious art, specifically the illuminated gospels, the Book of Kells the Book of Lindisfarne and the Book of Durrow
• The first ringed high crosses now a symbol of Ireland and Celtic Christianity
• Innovation in diplomacy including Cáin Adhamhnán 697AD, an early Geneva Convention protecting women and children in time of war and ratified by kings and clerics from Ireland Scotland and Northern England.

Visit www.colmcille.net for details on events.

Join us on social media through the #Colmcille1500 and #Colmcille hashtags and connect with the diverse Colmcille community online. Follow us on Instagram @Colmcille and like @Colmcille1500 on Facebook to keep updated on all our latest news.