Derry Feis welcomes all Irish speakers

With Seachtain na Gaeilge well underway, Irish speakers of all abilities are being encouraged to take part in this year’s Feis Dhoire Cholmcille.

This year marks the 101st birthday of Derry Feis and the co-organisers of the An Teanga competitions, Kathleen McGlinchey and Míċeál-Piaras Ó Ceallaiġ, are hoping to build on last year’s success.

This year’s Feis takes place from Tuesday, April 11 to Friday, April 14.

Speaking to Derry News, Kathleen said: “This is our one hundred and first year, and after such a successful centenary celebration I would like to extend a very warm invitation to all schools in the North West to participate in the An Teanga competitions.

“Why not join us on Feis Dhoire Cholmcille's first step on the journey into the next century?”

Míċeál-Piaras said: “Details of all of the competitions can be found online at: https://www.derryfeis.com/syllabus/an-teanga and we are still accepting entries.

“Everybody in Derry remembers the Irish poem they did at Derry Feis. 

“This year’s primary school poems include: Bogha Báisti (R1 or U5); Mo Cháitin (R2 or U6); Prionsa na bhFrog le Art Ó Súilebháin (R3 or age 6 to 7); An Ghaoth Aduaidh (R4 or age 7 to 8); Liathróid i bPáirc an Chrócaigh Le Éamonn Ó Riordáin (R5 or age 8 to 9); Mo Sheanathair le Séamus Ó Céilleachair (R6 or age 9 to 10); and  Bó sa Chlós le Art Ó Súilleabháin (R7 or age 10 to 11).

“For post-primary schools the poems are: Mise Éire le Pádraig Mac Piarais (Y8 or age 11 to 12); Tri Tréithe na Féinne le Osborn Ó hAimhirgin (Y9 or age 12 to 13); Valparaiso le Pádraig de Brún (Y10 or age 13 to 14); and Fáinne Geal an Lae (Y11 to Y13 or age under 14). 

“We also have the Bunscoil Irish Choral Verse - Feis Cup & Bursary, with  competitors to perform two contrasting poems and the Meánscoil Irish Choral Verse, with  competitors to perform two contrasting poems,” said Míċeál-Piaras.

Derry Feis is continuing its long-standing tradition of awarding the winners of the various Comhrá competitions bursaries for further tuition or towards fees to a Gaeltacht summer school.

“We have various Comhrá competitions, for students of different ages,” said Kathleen. “These are broken down into competitions for children who have gone through Irish Medium Education and those who have not. All the details are available in our online syllabus.

“Comhrá Competitors have to maintain a simple dialogue with the adjudicator and the questions will be provided in advance. 

“The other competitions include: Bunscoil and Meánscoil Irish Storytelling, where competitors recite a story that they have written or read; Irish Media Presentation; and Bunscoil and Meánscoil Irish story writing, where competitors write a story of their own choice and present it to the adjudicator for reading on the day; and the Cur i Láthair presentations, a three  minute speech on topic of the student’s own choice,” said Kathleen. 

Schools can also enter the Bunscoil and Meánscoi Irish Drama competitions, where competitors present a group performance using dialogue in Irish with optional : music/songs/dance. Not to exceed 10 minutes.

Feis entries can also be made online at: https://www.derryfeis.com/page/enter-online.

For more information, or to get copies of the poems, please email: teangafeisdhoire@gmail.com