An Cultúrlann: A place for young people to broaden social and creative opportunities to use Irish

There is a palpable sense of pride in the accomplishments of the Irish-medium Education sector across the Derry City and Strabane District Council area to date.

There is also an unmistakable optimism about its future. Irish-medium Education is strong and it is growing. Look no further than September 2024 when Naíscoil an Phiarsaigh, Doire Trasna will open in the Waterside and Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh, Strabane, will move to its purpose-built school.

And supporting children and families involved in Irish-medium education is Derry’s Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin, which recently welcomed a new director, Siubhán Nic Amhlaoibh.

Speaking to Derry News, Siubhán described An Cultúrlann as a “catalyst encouraging the social side” of Irish-medium education.

“I’m thinking particularly of families who have sent their kids to Irish-medium Education and they might not have any Irish themselves,” said Siubhán. 

“There are also families that do have Irish. It is a wide and varied group and so part of the role of Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin is to try and cater to all of those families. The kids are at the centre of that, kids with different levels of Irish, so we try to make An Cultúrlann a really welcoming place for those wanting to come in and use their Irish, those wanting to come in and learn Irish and those wanting to come in and have a bilingual experience as well.

“It is about opportunities for socialising outside of the school environment that I see as really important for An Cultúrlann to be providing, that embraces the Irish-medium sector.

“We are a space for young Irish speakers in the city and their families. We try to broaden their curriculum, as well as being an arts centre.

“We do this when we have events and festivals, particularly those around the traditional Celtic festivals including Imbolc [February]. We also have Lúnasa events in August, tying in with the Féile Derry and our Hallowe’en events as well,” said Siubhán.

Another large programme of events run by An Cultúrlann is around Seachtain na Gaeilge in March.

Siubhán explained: “When we are looking at our programming, we are trying to figure out what we can add for the gaelscoileanna in particular. What would broaden their social opportunities to use Irish and broaden their creative opportunities to use their Irish as well?

“So for example around Hallowe’en, we bring them in to have sessions here in the Croí in An Cultúrlann looking at Hallowe’en traditions through the medium of Irish, old traditions like turnip carving and the little piseoga (superstitions) associated with the season. 

“Learning about those connects the kids into the continuation of the culture and how we are using the language to look to the future as well,” said Siubhán.

Originally from Loughbrickland in County Down, Siubhán came into post in An Cultúrlann in March past. 

She added: “I had been working in Liverpool for about 10 years. I studied music there and stayed. I was involved with all sorts of charities, mainly with arts and cultural organisations. I worked for a number of years with the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.

“I also got involved with the Irish Diaspora. I was on the board of the Liverpool Irish Festival. I worked with Comhaltas and Conradh na Gaeilge there too. 

“All of that gave me a really good grounding in the issues of people falling between the cracks, feeling a little bit Irish and a little bit English,” reflected Siubhán, who said she was “absolutely loving” working in An Cultúrlann with her team, which she described as “strong and very good at what they do”.