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Maintaining pride in our native tongue
Sunday, November 30, 2008 By Carol Hayes
Caitriona Ni Cheallaigh’s family tree has a strong historical link to the Irish language - her grandfather, JJ O’Kelly, was minister for Irish in the first Dail. The chief executive of Colaiste na bhFiann has continued the tradition, spending most of her adult life helping to keep the Irish language alive.

‘‘My life has been spent looking at different ways of keeping the Irish language interesting for young people. The language has to be alive and fun. At Colaiste na bhFiann,we try to keep it central to their social lives and base it around music, sport, weekends away and technology,” said Ni Cheallaigh.

Colaiste na bhFiann organises summer Irish courses for students all around the country, at locations as diverse as RosMuc in Galway, Rath Cairn and Warrenstown in Meath, Sligo, Longford, Cnoc Beag in Carlow, and Baile an Sceilg and Killarney in Kerry.

This weekend, it is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a function at Croke Park, which will be attended by 600 past pupils. ‘‘This year has been a very successful year for Irish language summer courses, with a significant increase in attendance in all our courses, and we look forward to 2009.What makes us different is that we keep the language alive all year round by providing an aftercare service, Cumann na bhFiann, which is part funded by Foras na Gaeilge.”

Ni Cheallaigh grew up and still lives in Glasnevin,Dublin. Although they did not speak Irish at home, her parents were interested in the language.

‘‘My mother discovered Colaiste na bhFiann in 1972 and sent my brother and sister there. When they arrived home speaking Irish confidently, she sent me in 1977. I’ve never looked back.”

Ni Cheallaigh became involved with the organisation as a leader and worked there full-time after leaving school. ‘‘From 1982 to 1989, I worked at a variety of levels in the organisation and was eventually appointed overall manager of the summer colleges. This entailed being responsible for course development and staff training, along with managing the admin function.”

In 1991, she attended the College of Commerce in Rathmines (now DIT) on a part-time basis and completed a three-year business studies course. A year later, she was appointed to the position of managing director of Colaiste na bhFiann at the age of 29. In 1998,when the organization was 30 years old, she was appointed executive chair.

‘‘This year, as we celebrate our 40th year, and 50,000 pupils later, I look to the future with great expectations. As long as I am learning and contributing to the development of Colaiste na bhFiann, I will stay a while longer.

‘‘With positive ambassadors like Glen Hansard, who used a few words as gaeilge when accepting his Oscar, it makes people feel proud to be Irish,” she said.

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