Keeping the tradition alive with Gaelphobal Ard Mhacha Theas

Gaelphobal Ard Mhacha Theas was founded in 2016 to promote Irish throughout South Armagh, to create opportunities for the Irish speaking community to come together to speak the language and for begginers to learn. A group of local Irish speakers came together in 2016 to found a committee, to add to the work already happening in the area and to create an comprehensive network in the area.

From 2016 on, Gaelphobal Ard Mhacha Theas organised events such as ‘Lá mór na Gaeilge’ and even ‘Feile Sean-nós Ard Mhacha Theas’ online during the pandemic. GPAMT appointed a Irish Language Development Officer at the beginning of 2022, a first for South Armagh. From then Gaelphobal Ard Mhacha Theas have been able to move on with our development plan and building our website.

We launched our website as part of the MJ Murphy Winter School in November. The website was on of the most important parts of building an Irish Language network in south Armagh. On the website you can find information and a calender of GPAMT’s events. There is a news section with the latest stroies about Irish and Irish speakers in the area, for example the recent success of at the Oirecahtas agus the Senior Scór final. Of course there will be information about the classes, events, youth club (Ógras) and schemes that GPAMT provide but there will be lot more as well.

The vision we have for the website is that all the information regarding Irish in the area will be available in one place, not only our work. The website is a community resource for the whole area, this is why it’s called ardmhachatheas.com.

South Armagh is situated in the historic area of Oriel,home to the Gaeltacht area of South-East Ulster, famed for it’s poets, writers, singers and centuries old literary traditions. Therefore, having an archive of traditional singing on the website was very important, there are over 70 singing videos on the website currently; this resource will be very useful for anyone learing these songs or with an interest in the tradition. I don’t think such a resource exists for the area at the minute and we will be able to add to it for year to come to continue to grow and strengthen the tradition. The traditional singing in the area is going from strength to strength in the area and this can be seen at our biligual singing circle, Glórtha gCuilinn, each month.

There will also be a collection poetry, poets, local publications and folklore from South Armagh on the website. Even though we have launched the website we are always adding to it. If you have any suggestions or items to add to the collection please send them to gaeilge.ardmhachatheas@gmail.com