Revive the Feiseanna
The Irish Feiseanna around the world today are wonderful expressions of Irish dancing, but they used to be so much more. Art and poetry competitions, Irish language competitions to suit every level of ability, displays of Irish craft and musical skill, all of these were key parts of the Feiseanna organised by the Gaelic League, whose purpose was to invigorate Gaelic culture and by extension the Irish language.
The Irish government has failed in its solemn duty to engage with, encourage or support the Feiseanna in the manner envisaged by the founders of the state, those who gave their lives for our freedom.
This is not good enough and will no longer be considered acceptable.
We call on the Irish government to take the following steps as a bare beginning, to follow through with them enthusiastically, and to use them as seeds for new ideas to enrich the traditional Irish culture.
- Put full and generous state funding behind the Feiseanna such that not only their demonstrations of the art of dance but of all traditional Irish arts, skills and crafts may be plentifully encouraged. These are to include but not be limited to, Irish language competitions, poetry competitions, music and dance displays and competitions, folklore and storytelling, and more.
- To fund the creation of an app similar to Duolingo, whose sole purpose is to instruct people of every level of ability in the Irish language, and to make this app freely available.
- To put the full weight of the Irish media and state advertising apparatus at the disposal of the organisers of Feiseanna and other Irish language initiatives, at no cost.
- To found and fund new Feiseanna and restore traditional, historical local festivals regardless of their initial profitability or lack thereof.
We the undersigned call upon the Irish government to fulfil its duty to the people of Ireland, to the culture of Ireland and our long struggle towards nationhood – to take serious concrete steps to revive the Feiseanna and support traditional Irish culture!
12 have already signed!
Comments
Revive FeiseannaWe should be proud of our rich heritage and restore every aspect off it to our every day life. We are not .ongrels. We are a proud indigenous race.Give us back our Culture .We are NOT EUROPEAN . We are Gaels !
Its a shame that Irish Culture isn't promoted more in IrelandA fantastic initiative.i went to an Irish festival a few years ago in New York and it essence was the true spirit of a FeiseannaIs togra iontach é seo chun na hEalaíona go léir a chur chun cinn.Go n’éirí libh.
Revive FeiseannaAontaim libh ar son an obair seo fosta a chairde.Irish culture & history MUST be celebrated & preserved!Keep Ireland Irish for every generation.This would be wonderful even for we descendants I Irish immigrants in other countries!Dia duitAg Ghaeilge mar theanga #1 ag na feiseanna. Tabhair faoi.The project will follow in their footsteps along the path laid down by Hyde, O'Conaire, MacNeill, Cusack and many others through sharing news, ideas, articles of Irish cultural interest and more, as well as helping to support Irish language and cultural initiatives. You can find out more about An Claíomh Solais by clicking on the buttons below, or join our team as we begin the great Gaelic restoration!
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