Noel Johnny Sheáin Ó Gallchóir honoured at reception in Dungloe

Noel Ó Gallchóir (Noel Johnny Sheáin) from Gaoth Dobhair was given special recognition at a Municipal Reception held in Ionad Seirbhísí Poiblí an Chlocháin Léith recently.

This Municipal Reception was organised by Na Gleannta Municipal District along with Coiste na Gaeilge and Rannóg na Gaeilge. The motion was proposed by Cathaoirleach Choiste na Gaeilge, an Clr Micheál Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig and was also widely supported by the local community.

Among those present were Noel's family, friends, neighbours, and former colleagues as well as elected members from Na Gleannta MD, officials from Donegal County Council, and representatives of Coiste na Gaeilge and Rannóg na Gaeilge.

Noel is widely known as a historian, author, playwright, and writer who spent many years teaching and was principal of Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair. He is a man of many talents, including an appreciation of literature, an appreciation of his local community and a man who contributes to both the Irish language and Gaeltacht communities alike.

Among Noel’s achievements to date are the following publications: 'Trasna an Ghaoith', a compilation of the writings of his father Johnny Sheáin, 'Aisteoirí Ghaoth Dobhair 1931-1981' and his most recent piece of work 'Tom a' Bhungaló – Tomás Mac Giolla Bhríghde 1923- 2013 ', which was recently published.

He has also penned and performed one-man plays in recent years, based on the lives and stories of Seosamh Mac Grianna, Pádráig Mac Piarais and Séamus Ó Grianna.

Clíona Ní Ghallachóir, Rannóg na Gaeilge and a former student of Noel’s, was Bean an Tí on the day. She described Noel as a man with a broad spectrum of achievements, a man who always puts the Irish language and heritage first and who has a deep understanding of his local community.

She recalled her memories of him as Principal of Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair – where she and other students were encouraged to participate in plays, debates and Irish language and cultural events by Noel.

Other speakers at the event included the Cathaoirleach of Na Gleannta MD, Cllr Anthony Molloy, and Cathaoirleach Choiste na Gaeilge, an Clr Micheál Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig.

An Clr Mac Giolla Easbuig congratulated Noel on his achievements and thanked him for the ongoing work in promoting the Irish language and arts. He said that he was delighted to be able to put this motion forward as Cathaoirleach of Coiste na Gaeilge and thanked members of the public who approached him with the suggestion.

He also referred to Noel’s character: “You’ll always hear students and former students of Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair talk about Noel, about the time he gave them and the respect he had for them but above all, Noel was there for young people when no one else was and I would like to thank him for that.”

In his speech, Noel reflected on the different aspects of his life attributed to this recognition - his time in Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair, Drama, Irish Events and Writing. “My heart is in books and in the pen, in local history, literature and the Irish language. I always think of the importance of books. My father once wrote “There is a certainty and permanence to the written word that is not found in the spoken word” and I believe that to be very true. I have enjoyed writing books, and I hope, if good health prevails and the means to do so, to publish a few more books in the years ahead.”

He recited a piece of poetry by An Piarsach and read a short extract of Ó Grianna’s well-known novel ‘Caisleáin Óir.’ He said that he had enjoyed everything he has done to promote the Irish language and culture. He expressed his heartfelt thanks to everyone who came to the event and recommended him for the honour. He particularly thanked his wife Olive and his family, who are his greatest support and who are often involved in his projects as well.

Noel has left his mark on numerous local and national committees and organisations over the years - such as Aisteoirí Ghaoth Dobhair, Aisteoirí Ghort a’ Choirce and Aisteoirí Óga Ghort a’ Choirce, An Comhlachas Náisiúnta Drámaíochta, Éigse Uladh, An Béal Binn and many more.

Noel’s devotion to his community was clearly evident at the event. Likewise, it was evident how much that respect is reciprocated by his local community and how important his contributions are to the promotion and preservation of the Irish language and heritage.

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Aitheantas tugtha ag Comhairle Contae Dhún na nGall do Noel Johnny Sheáin Ó Gallchóir

Tugadh aitheantas speisialta do Noel Ó Gallchóir (Noel Johnny Sheáin) as Gaoth Dobhair ag Fáiltiú Speisialta a bhí ar siúl in Ionad Seirbhísí Poiblí an Chlocháin Léith ar na mallaibh.

Is mórócaid de chuid na Comhairle Contae í seo ina dtugann Baill Tofa ó Cheantar Bardais, aitheantas do dhuine nó do ghrúpa ar leith as a bhfuil bainte amach acu ina bpobal féin nó ar son a bpobail féin – bíodh sin ar bhonn áitiúil, náisiúnta nó idirnáisiúnta. Bhí an Fáiltiú Speisialta seo eagraithe ag Ceantar Bardais na nGleanntach i gcomhar le Coiste na Gaeilge agus Rannóg na Gaeilge sa Chomhairle Contae. Ba é Cathaoirleach Choiste na Gaeilge, an Clr Micheál Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig a chuir an rún chun tosaigh le hionchur ón phobal.

Ina measc siúd a bhí i láthair bhí clann, cairde, comharsana agus iarchomhghleacaithe Noel chomh maith le baill tofa Cheantar Bardais na nGleanntach, stiúrthóirí ón Chomhairle Contae, agus ionadaithe ó Choiste na Gaeilge agus Rannóg na Gaeilge sa Chomhairle.

Tá aithne leitheadach ar Noel mar staraí, údar, drámadóir agus scríbhneoir a chaith blianta fada ag teagasc agus ina phríomhoide ar Phobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair. Fear ildánach, fear litríochta, fear mór pobail atá ann a chuireann go mór le pobal na Gaeilge is na Gaeltachta araon.

I measc na saothar atá curtha i gcrích ag Noel go dtí seo tá an leabhar ‘Trasna an Ghaoith’, eagar ar scríbhinní a athar Johnny Sheáin, an leabhar ‘Aisteoirí Ghaoth Dobhair 1931-1981’ agus an leabhar is deireanaí ‘Tom a’ Bhungaló – Tomás Mac Giolla Bhríghde 1923-2013’ a seoladh le gairid.

Chuir sé cúpla léiriú aonair ar an ardán le blianta beaga anuas, iad bunaithe ar shaol is scéalta Sheosaimh Mhic Grianna, Phádráig Mhic Piarais agus Shéamuis Uí Ghrianna.

Bhí Clíona Ní Ghallachóir, Rannóg na Gaeilge agus iarscoláire de chuid Noel mar bhean an tí ar an lá. Rinne sí cur síos ar Noel mar fhear a bhain idir ardéachtaí uaisle agus mhionéachtaí ciúine amach, fear a thugann tús áite don Ghaeilge agus dá dhúchas i gcónaí agus a bhfuil tuigbheáil mhaith aige ar a phobal.

Thrácht sí ar na cuimhní cinn atá aici air mar cheann feadhna ar Phobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair – áit ar spreag sé í féin agus go leor scoláirí eile le bheith rannpháirteach i ndrámaí, i ndíospóireachtaí agus in imeachtaí teanga agus cultúrtha.

I measc na gcainteoirí eile a labhair ag an ócáid, bhí Cathaoirleach Cheantar Bardais na nGleanntach, an Clr Antóine Ó Ludhóg, agus Cathaoirleach Choiste na Gaeilge sa Chomhairle, an Clr Micheál Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig. Thréaslaigh an Clr Mac Giolla Easbuig le Noel ar a chuid éachtaí agus as an obair leanúnach atá ar bun aige ó thaobh na Gaeilge is na n-ealaíon de. Dúirt sé go raibh lúcháir air go raibh sé ábalta an rún seo a chur chun tosaigh mar Chathaoirleach ar Choiste na Gaeilge agus ghabh sé buíochas leis an phobal a tháing chuige leis an moladh.

Lena chois sin, chuir sé béim ar nádúr Noel, “Chluinfeá scoláirí agus iarscolairí na Pobalscoile i gcónaí ag caint ar Noel, ar an am a chaith sé leofa is ar an meas a bhí aige orthu ach thar aon rud eile, bhí Noel ansin don aos óg in amanna nuair nach raibh aon duine eile agus ba mhaith liom an buíochas sin a thabhairt dó.”

Ina chuid cainte, chaith Noel súil siar ar na gnéithe sin a luadh leis an aitheantas seo – a sheal sa Phobalscoil, an Drámaíocht, Imeachtaí Gaelacha agus an Scríbhneoireacht. “Tá mo chroíse sna leabhair agus sa pheann, sa stair áitiúil, sa litríocht agus sa Ghaelige. Sílim i gcónaí go bhfuil na leabhair tábhachtach. Scríobh m’athair am amháin “Tá cinnteacht agus buaine ag baint leis an fhocal scríofa nach bhfuil leis an fhocal béil” is creidim sin go mór. Bhain mé sult as na leabhair a chur le chéile agus tá súil agam, má bhíonn an tsláinte agam agus na hacmhainní agam, cúpla leabhar eile a chur amach sna blianta atá romham.”

D’aithris sé píosa filíochta de chuid an Phiarsaigh agus thug blaiseadh beag de bhriathra binne Uí Ghrianna le sliocht gearr as an úrscéal clúiteach ‘Caisleáin Óir’. Dúirt sé gur bhain sé sult millteanach as rud ar bith a rinne sé leis an Ghaeilge is an cultúr a chur ar aghaidh. Thug sé buíochas ó chroí d’achan duine a tháinig chuig an ócáid agus a mhol é fá choinne na honóra. Ghabh sé buíochas ar leith lena bhean Olive is lena chlann atá mar chrann taca aige i gcónaí agus a bhíonn rannpháirteach ina chuid tograí go minic.

Is iomaí coiste agus eagras áitiúil agus náisiúnta a bhfuil lorg Noel fágtha orthu le himeacht na mblianta - leithéidí Aisteoirí Ghaoth Dobhair, Aisteoirí Ghort a’ Choirce is Aisteoirí Óga Ghort a’ Choirce, An Comhlachas Náisiúnta Drámaíochta, Éigse Uladh, An Béal Binn agus go leor eile.

Ba léir ó ócáid na hAoine a dhílse is atá Noel dá phobal, go bhfuil meas as cuimse ag an phobal chéanna air agus go bhfuil a shaothar de shíor ag cur le buanú agus le caomhnú na teanga is na hoidhreachta.

Fad Saoil is Sláinte duit, a Noel,

Is go mbuanaí Dia thú sna blianta romhat agus

tú ag leanstan do Bhealach Féin.