Folklore society returns to
Glencolmcille for Tionól

Attending the Folklore Society of Ireland’s Tionól 2003 in Glencolmcille 2-4 May: Dr Úna Uí Bheirn (Teelin, Co Donegal), Royal Irish Academy; Dr Conall Mac Cuinneagáin (An Spidéal, Co Galway), author and historian; Professor Seosamh Watson, Dept of Modern Irish, conference convenor; Máire bn Uí Cheallaigh (An Coimín, Co Donegal), author and broadcaster; Anraí Ó Braonáin (Dublin), Society President; Dónal Mac Giolla Easbaig (Dublin), Oifig na Logainmneacha; Éamonn Ó Díoraí with his son (Dublin); and Áine Ní Dhíoraí (An Coimín, Co Donegal), Raidió na Gaeltachta.

The proceedings, (open to the public) were attended by members from various parts of the country and were officially opened by Liam Ó Cuinneagáin, Chairman of Údarás na Gaeltachta, at a reception on Friday 2 May. The programme featured a number of distinguished speakers, scholars and performers from throughout the county and received coverage in the local media. 

Ar maidin Shathairn 3 Bealtaine labhair an Dr Conall Mac Cuinneagáin ar ‘Gnéithe de Stair Ghleann Cholm Cille sa 19ú hAois’. Is staraí áitiúil é Conall a bhfuil leabhar toirtiúil foilsithe aige le déanaí ar stair an cheantair. Ar ‘Oidhreacht na gCruach Gorm’ a labhair dara léachtóir an lae, Máire bn Uí Cheallaigh, an mháistreas bhunscoile dheiridh a bhí ag obair sa cheantar iomráiteach úd a bhfuil mórán i gcló cheana aici faoin ábhar céanna. I gcaitheamh an tráthnóna bhí léachtóir agus eolaí áitiúil, mar atá Séamas Mac Giolla Chearra, ina threoraí ag baill an Chumainn le linn dóibh cuairt a thabhairt ar An Clachán, iarsmalann dúiche cháiliúil an Ath. Séamas Mac Daidhir; agus cuireadh críoch cheolmhar le himeachtaí an lae ag coirm cheoil de chuid seanamhrán Thír Chonaill. Ba í Gearóidín (Neidí Frainc) Bhreatnach, iníon seanchaí chlúitigh Rinn na Feirste a bhfuil Corn Uí Riada an Oireachtais buaite aici, a chuir amhránaithe an chontae i láthair don ócáid. Tháinig clabhsúr ar an Tionól an lá dár gcionn, Dé Domhnaigh 4 Bealtaine, nuair a thug Dónall Mac Giolla Easpaig, Ceann Oifig na Logainmneacha, an seisiún scoir ar ‘Oidhreacht Logainmneacha an Chondae’, léacht a tharraing an lucht éisteachta is mó ag na himeachtaí. 

The Folklore of Ireland Society celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2001 when Her Excellency, President Mary McAleese, Uachtarán na hÉireann, addressed members and invited guests at a commemorative lecture and reception in University College. In addition to an annual lecture series and the celebrated journal Béaloideas, the Society holds this annual Tionól which aims to acquaint members each year with the heritage of a different part of Ireland and, equally, to inform local people of the Society’s achievements and objectives. In accordance with previous tradition, each second year the Tionól takes place in a Gaeltacht region. This year, members were pleased to be in Glencolmcille and the Society’s President, Anraí Ó Braonáin -together with the symposium’s convenor Professor Seosamh Watson, Department of Modern Irish - wish to express thanks to Údarás na Gaeltachta and Foras na Gaeilge who provided financial support for the event.