DkIT Celebrates Seachtain na Gaeilge 2020
1st – 17th March saw individuals all around Ireland come together to celebrate Seachtain na Gaeilge (SnaG), the biggest celebration of Irish language and culture in the world. Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) marked the occasion by hosting a series of events on campus.
The Department of Creative Arts, Media and Music hosted a series of Irish singing and dancing workshops for local primary schools for Seachtain na Gaeilge as part of the Department’s schools outreach programme. Funded by Seachtain na Gaeilge le Energia, the young guests engaged in active learning of the language through music, song and dance.
Following the workshops, the students participated in a lunchtime concert in the Fr McNally Recital Room in the Carroll Building. Amongst the performers at the concert with the primary school students was Erasmus student Alexander Peters from the University of Hildesheim, Germany. Alexander is a cultural studies student who has taken a specific interest in Irish traditional music and is developing his performance skills on mandolin in addition to learning about Irish culture and history while at DkIT.
Another performer was Angel Chen Jia Ng, an international student from Malaysia who is on the BA (Hons) Music programme. A classical violinist, Angel has begun learning Irish traditional music as part of her coursework and is enjoying learning about Irish culture.
Speaking about the success of the event Head of Department of Creative Arts, Media and Music, Dr Adèle Commins commented:
‘The Department of Creative Arts, Media and Music is committed to the promotion of all aspects of our Irish culture, including language, song and dance. Integrating Irish language songs into the learning of our undergraduate students is an important part of their learning process.’
