Diaspóra na Gaeltachta
The new Dispóra na Gaeltachta website https://diasporanagaeltachta.ie
Was officially launched by Udaras na Gaeltachta, Chief Executive Mícheal Ó hÉanaigh on
Lá Fhéile Mhic Dara the 16th July 2022. The website was developed by Údaras na Gaeltachta in partnership with the Emigrant Commemorative Centre, in acknowledgement of the importance of the Gaeltacht Diaspora around the world. It gives us the opportunity foster stronger links with our Diaspora at home and all over the world.
Networking
We were delighted to welcome members of the Archival Services in Ireland, England, Scotland & South America to the Ionad Cuimhneachain na nImirceach.
The visit was organised by Marie Mannion, Galway County Council Heritage Officer. It was the first time the organisation had their annual get-together in Ireland & it was hosted by the Irish Community Archivists Network. Eileen Davis, Diaspora Officer at the Emigrants Commemorative Centre gave the group a brief synopsis of how the center was developed and future plans for an exhibition centre and the Emigrants remembrance Garden which will overlook the beautiful, rugged Connemara coastline. The group enjoyed lunch at the centre's Café Na Mara, while taking in the beautiful panoramic views of Chuan Chárna and the surrounding area.
Café na Mara
Is up and running, we would be delighted to welcome you to Café na Mara, take in the beautiful scenery of Cuan Charna, Muighinis, Mason Island, and the wonderful surrounding area while enjoying a freshly brewed cup of Tea/Coffee and not forgetting some delicious sweet treats.
Ba mhaith linn ár mbuíochas a ghabháil le ‘Ealaíon na Gaeltachta’ agus le ‘Ionad Cuimhneacháin na nImirceach agus Diaspóra Charna’ as a gcuid maoinithe chun an tionscadal iontach seo “Club na Máirte”, Ranganna Ealaíne a bhaint amach.
Ba mhaith linn ár mbuíochas a ghabháil lenár múinteoir ealaíne Éilís Ní Mhaoiláin as ucht a cuid cabhair agus treoir lenár bpictiúir álainn.
Tá suim mhór sna ranganna seo, agus tá súil againn leanúint ar aghaidh leis na Ranganna Ealaíne sa Chlub na Máirte.
Go raibh míle maith do chúile dhuine a ghlac páirt.
We would like to thank Ealaíon na Gaeltachta and The Emigrants Commemorative Centre Carna for their Funding in achieving this wonderful project The Tuesday Club, Art Classes.
We would like to thank our art teacher Éilís Ní Mhaoiláin for her help and guidance with our beautiful paintings.
There is a great interest in these classes, and we hope to continue and expand the Art Classes at The Tuesday Club.
Many thanks to all who took part.
Susan Uí Ghaora
Máiread Ní Cheannabháin
Bríd Ní Mhaoilchiaráin
Club na Máirte ------- The Tuesday Club
02/11/2023
The Connemara Patch
A dedication ceremony took place at the Emigrants Commemorative Centre, Carna and simultaneously in St Paul, Minnesota on Saturday evening the 20th August 2022, to commemorate the descendants of the Connemara Patch, the area in St. Paul in Minnesota which was home to many emigrants who left Connemara at the end of the 19th Century.
The idea came to fruition when some descendants of the Connemara Patch attended a conference in the Emigrant Centre in Carna in 2019. Údarás na Gaeltachta supported the event which highlighted the importance of the Gaeltacht Diaspora and the ties between those who stayed in Ireland and those who left. Former Chief Executive Mícheal Ó hÉanaigh unveiled a specially commissioned plaque in honor of the occasion. The event was broadcast live on the Diaspora na Gaeltachta facebook page.
Club na hAoine / “The Friday Club”
The Club na hAoine / “The Friday Club” takes place every Friday morning from 10:00a.m. to 12:00 noon in Café na Mara. Join us for live traditional Irish music, song & lively chat.
We were delighted to welcome Joe Connolly, former Galway hurler who captained his county to All Ireland glory in 1980 to the “The Friday Club”. We got to relive those magical moments & the unforgettable speech that Joe Connolly gave on that momentous day in 1980 and the rousing rendition of 'The West's Awake' sung by Joe Mc Donagh RIP when Joe Connolly raised the cup on behalf of the team & Galway diaspora all over the world.
Ministers Visit
Government Chief Whip & Junior Gaeltacht Minister Jack Chambers
Visited Ionad Cuimhneachain na nImirceach, Carna as part of his trip to Connemara & Aran.
Minister Chambers was welcomed by the Chairman, Committee & staff members, together with members of the public, representative of government, council & state bodies. Following refreshments at the Centres, Café na Mara, Máirtín O Catháin Chairman of the centre gave a brief synopsis of the history of the current facility & the plans for the development of the next phase.
Plans for the new phase of work for the Exhibition Hall and the Emigrants Remembrance Garden were unveiled.
Feile Seosamh Ó hÉanaigh / Joe Einniú / Festival
(1919-1984)
The Joe Heaney Festival of Traditional Singing takes place over the May Bank Holiday weekend in Carna. The festival commemorates the life and musical legacy of the renowned “Sean Nós”, folk singer and storyteller, who was born 1st October 1919 in Ard Thoir, Cárna.
Throughout the weekend, you can enjoy, and part take in traditional singing, music and dance sessions, art displays, cd & book launches hosted in various establishments in the locality, together with a visit to Joe’s final resting place, Moyrus cemetery.
As part of this years festival Ionad Cuimhneachain na nImirceach were delighted to host superb line of events that gives us the opportunity continue to honor, preserve & to contribute to the superb cultural legacy left behind by Seosamh Ó hÉanaigh and his compatriots from pobal Iorras Aithneach.
Book & CD Launch
Colm Ó Caodháin : An Irish singer and his world
by Ríonach uí Ógáin, Author and former Director of the National Folklore Collection
This autobiography as collected through Séamus Ennis and for the first time ever that a dedicated presentation celebrating the song, folklore, music & life of renowned Connemara singer Colm Ó Caodháin, father, farmer & fisherman from Glynsk, Carna, has been made available on CD & Book.
Unveiling of Plans for the Cnoc Buí Distillery & Heritage Centre
The plans for the Cnoc Buí Whiskey Distillery & Heritage Centre located outside the village Carna have been lodged by Údarás na Gaeltachta on behalf of Drioglann Iarthar na Gaillimhe Teoranta a multi-million euro whiskey distillery.
The brainchild of Joe Connolly, former Galway hurler who captained his county to All Ireland glory in 1980 together with member of his family.
The Cnoc Buí Whiskey Distillery & Heritage Centre will comprise of the distillery itself, bonded warehousing, a bottling hall and tasting bar – as well as the heritage centre, shop and café. The Plans for the Cnoc Buí distillery are currently on display at Ionad Cuimhneacháin na nImirceach in Carna.
