The Gaeltacht is crucial to the survival of the Irish language - Pádraig Ó Baoighill

Well known Donegal writer, journalist and historian Pádraig Ó Baoighill was honoured at a special reception in the Dungloe Public Service Centre on Friday last.
Pádraig Ó Baoighill is known for the varied and extensive roles he played in Gael Linn in both Ireland and Scotland over the course of decades.
An accomplished Irish language writer, he has penned, to date, twenty-six books. His work is varied and consists of short stories, historic works and biographies. His work is viewed as being of exceptional historic value.
Over many decades Mr Ó Baoighill wrote for The Hogan Stand, the Irish Press and An tUltach and many other Irish language publications.
The reception was hosted by the Glenties Municipal District of Donegal County Council and Councillor Micheal Choilm MacGiolla Easbuig who was the event proposer as Cathaoirleach of Coiste na Gaeilge.
He said he was delighted to be hosting the event in honour of Pádraig Ó Baoighill’s outstanding contribution as a writer, journalist and historian and in particular to acknowledge his enduring contribution to the Irish language.
“It is a great pleasure and honour for me coming from the same Gaeltacht community and being a close personal friend of Pádraig’s to be in a position to host this special event along with my colleagues in the Municipal District of Glenties to honour Pádraig’s extraordinary literary and cultural work and in particular his valuable contribution to the promotion and development of the Irish language and his work towards Irish unification.
“Pádraig has continued the wonderful tradition of writing in our native language building on the rich legacy of our heritage in the Rann na Feirste community.
“Pádraig was inspired to write in his own native dialect by Séamus and Seosamh Mac Grianna,Eoghan Ó Domhnaill, Niall Ó Domhnaill and Tadhg Ó Rabhartaigh. He has written numerous books and is renowned throughout the island of Ireland as a wonderful and distinguished writer.” he said.
Other speakers at the event included Róise Ní Laifeartaigh, Donegal County Council , Niall Mac Eamharcaigh, Réamonn Ó Ciaráin, CEO of Gael Linn, Seán Ó Murchadha, Conradh na Gaeilge and Michaeline Ní Dhonnaile, Tánaiste Conradh na Gaeilge.
Speaking at the reception, Pádraig Ó Baoighill thanked Clr Micheál Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig,Donegal County Council and members of the Municipal District of Glenties for hosting the reception in his honour.
Mr Ó Ciaráin recalled that he began to work with Gael Linn as Mr Ó Baoighill was retiring.
He described how Mr Baoighill continued in his work, unwaveringly, and helped at every opportunity in the Irish language organisation.
Actor, writer and director, Niall Mac Eamharcaigh described growing up in the Gaeltacht where Mr Ó Baoighill was born. He painted a vivid and colourful picture of times gone by in his native Ranafast.
Seán Ó Murchadha of Cornadh na Gaeilge spoke of his friendship with the writer. A Monaghan native, Mr Ó Murchadha is a frequent visitor to the home of Ó Baogihill.
He told those gathered he had hoped, in earlier days, that Mr Ó Baoighill may become an adopted native of Monaghan but on entering his home and seeing a painting of his native Ranafast resigned himself to excepting that Mr Ó Baoighill will always be a Donegal man.
Mr Ó Baoighill thanked all those who had organised the event.
He spoke of the important role that the Gaeltacht has in terms of the preservation and life of the Irish language.
He told those present that the role the Gaeltacht is crucial to the future of the language and must never be underestimated.
Ó Baoighill was born in 1932 to parents Bhidí Tharlaigh Phaidí and Séamus Ó’Baoighill.
There are few writers in both the Irish and English language that has accomplished as much as the Ranafast writer who is now aged in his 90’s.
Never one to be idle, Mr Ó Baoighill told those gathered he has more work to do and outline a project he hopes to begin in the near future.