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Seán has gift of the gab
10.10.08
Robert Emmet’s provide
the opposition on Sunday
by Damian Dowds
SEÁN Sperrin is the toast of his classmates in
Buncrana after winning the best public speaker award
at the Rí Chéile Festival of Gaelic Culture in
Inverness, Scotland.
Seán, a second year pupil at Crana College, was the
youngest of the 24 speakers taking part in the
competition. He travelled to the Scottish Highlands
at the start of the month with pupils from the
Donegal, Kerry and Meath Gaeltachta, as well as
pupils from Newry, Armagh, Derry and Down. His
opponents included several students studying for the
Leaving Certificate and A Levels. |
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The pupils were
accompanied by their Irish teachers and
representatives from Gael Linn, who organised the
competition with their Scottish counterparts in
Comunn na Gaidhlig and the Highland Council.
The Scots pupils travelled from the Scottish islands
of Levis, Islay and Skye. On the Wednesday evening
the Irish students had a lesson in Scottish Gaidhlig,
while the Scots students were taught Gaeilge.
The competitive part of the festival took place in
Inverness Town Hall last Thursday morning. |
The 24 students (11
Scots and 13 Irish) spoke for four minutes each on a
topic of their choice.
Seán delighted both the adjudicators and the large
audience with his sharp wit, incisive points and his
mastery of the Irish language. His subject matter
‘Bás na tithe tabhairne in Éirinn’ (the death of the
Irish pub) was both topical and informative. Seán
was presented with a silver salver for his
outstanding performance.
The festival conclude on the Thursday night with a
grand ceilidh and musical renditions from the Gaels
and the Galls.
On returning to school yesterday, Seán was
congratulated by his teachers and classmates on his
wonderful success.
Congratulating Seán on his achievement, Sheena
MacLean of Comunn na Gaidhlig said: “Rí Chèile is
important for the linking of the two language
communities. It provides an opportunity for young
Gaelic speakers to develop their language skills
through their preparation for and participation in
the debate. It also gives them an opportunity to mix
with teenagers in a similar minority language
situation to themselves.” |
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