State of the art £2.3m Irish language centre opens its doors | Latest Newry News, Newry Sport and Newry Business for Newry City

State of the art £2.3m Irish language centre opens its doors

A new Irish language centre was officially opened in Armagh recently following more than a £1 million investment by the Department for Communities.

Attending the official opening of Aonach Mhacha in the city’s Upper English Street, Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey said, “I am delighted to see the completion of this iconic new cultúrlann in Armagh city at a cost of over £2.3 million.

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“I am very proud to say that my Department has contributed almost £1.2 million.”

 

 

The Minister, who has responsibility for the Irish language, added, “Aonach Mhacha shows how the Irish language can provide a very positive force and influence.

“It is a social enterprise which will offer a wide range of facilities that include a permanent home for Irish language classes, office space for Irish language community groups and organisations and for up to six businesses.

“Above all it can provide a place in this great city, where people from across the whole community, whatever their background, can engage with the language and culture, perhaps for the first time,” she added.

 

 

Réamonn Ó Ciaráin, Chairman of Aonach Mhacha commented, “It means a great deal to everyone involved with Irish language in Armagh city and district to have this new state of the art centre with a performance area, meeting rooms, conference space, a Celtic gift shop and cafe.

“We have been working towards this opening for 12 years.

“The Department for Communities is the main funder with over £1 million; without that funding we would not be able to realise our vision of building a home for Irish language in the centre of the ancient city of Armagh, close to Navan Fort,” he added.

 

 

 

 

For more of today’s top stories in Newry and beyond, click here.  

 

 

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Posted by on Mar 16 2020. Filed under Community. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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