Article III of the Cumann na Gaeilge i mBoston Constitution (originally adopted on April 9, 1974), states that “In order to preserve and extend the use of the Irish language, the Society shall develop and maintain an educational center including a school with curriculum, faculty and regularly enrolled student body, together with a library of books and recordings of Irish language; shall cooperate with and assist the Massachusetts Department of Education and/or colleges, universities or other educational organizations in enrollment, curriculum and faculty development for Irish studies; shall assist with and participate in Irish language programs in educational radio and television; shall be of general assistance to public education by providing or recommending a bureau of lecturers, tutors and panelists; and shall promote the use of Irish language by fostering Irish theater and other cultural activities that furnish opportunities for language practice.”
The development of an educational center may seem a rather ambitious goal, and indeed has not been achieved yet. The Irish Cultural Center in Canton, however, functions as an educational center, and is where most of our classes are held. In addition to classes, we organize a Lá Gaeilge frequently where our students can interact with native speakers and practice what they have learned in the classroom. Poetry recitation and singing is emphasized at these events, and once a year, we bring Jackie McDonagh an award-winning poet, and Joe John Mac an Iomaire the superb sean-nós singer, to Boston to entertain and inspire our students. Moreover, on several occasions, the Cumann has organized trips to Cill Chiaráin in the Connemara Gaeltacht so that students could experience the language where it is still spoken. Workshops are also organized on a regular basis.
We are not affiliated with any institutions of higher learning, and have minimal media exposure, but we do occasionally perform plays in Irish. The obvious difficulty with these is that the audience fluent enough to understand them is very limited, and the return on so much effort seems hardly worth it. It is worth noting, however, that Irish is now on the curriculum at Catholic Memorial High School in West Roxbury, where it is taught by long-time Cumann na Gaeilge teacher Máire Concannon.
We have plans to make better use of our greatest resource here in Boston: an abundance of native speakers. There are restaurants and bars where groups of native speakers regularly congregate and speak Irish to one another. These are not ideal conditions perhaps, but it's where real people speak the real thing, and no classroom or laboratory can better serve the student with a fundamental grasp of the language. For those students motivated enough to advance beyond beginner level, we will guarantee access to native speakers and natural conversations. We will set up conversation groups whose focus will be communicating and expressing oneself in Irish. And if we enjoy some success, we will organize day trips and social events where learners and native speakers can interact.
The aims set out in the Constitution then remain the aims today, with a little more urgency. Those of us who see our language as our defining feature are obligated to continue and to improve what the founders started. Irish is still in decline, particularly in the Gaeltacht, its recognition by the European Community notwithstanding. Therefore, we must renew our efforts here, since it seems that those of us who drift the furthest from our cultural origins, are often the most sensitive to the loss of a treasure such as a language. To those with an interest in this ancient and beautiful language, we extend a warm welcome. Come join us and embark on a spiritual journey and establish a linguistic connection with your ancestors.
