Pupils and teachers throughout County Louth are eagerly preparing for Féile Dhún Dealgan, the annual Irish language Scoildrámaíocht festival.
Twelve plays will be performed at this year’s festival on Monday March 9th, with local schools at both primary and secondary level taking part. The festival gives students the opportunity to act, gain confidence and have fun all as Gaeilge.
Schools partaking in this year’s festival include Kilsaran National School, St Joseph’s Muirvenamor, St Patrick’s Kilcurry, Bellurgan National School, Gaelscoil Dhún Dealgan, St Oliver’s Drogheda, Scoil Aonghusa Drogheda, St Mary’s College Dundalk, St Vincent’s Dundalk, Coláiste Rís and Coláiste Lú. Winners at the competition will go on to represent the region in Féile Laighean / the Leinster Provincial Festival.
An Cumann Scoildrámaíochta was first established in 1934 and is now over 80 years old with thousands of students from throughout the country taking part each year. The Dundalk festival was reformed last year after a gap of a number of years and its popularity has grown rapidly with great interest shown from local schools.
This year’s event will be held in DkIT’s Mac Anna Theatre from 9am to 5pm as part of Seachtain na Gaeilge in the town. The Mac Anna theatre is a fitting venue as the original founder and chief organiser of Féile Dhún Dealgan for many years was Mai Nic Anna, a sister of the famous director and playwright Tomás Mac Anna, after whom the theatre is named.
Entrance is open to the public throughout the day and will be €1 for pupils or €4 for adults in what is sure to be a fulfilling and exciting day for all those involved. As the Irish proverb says, “Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí!”
For further details check out the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/FeileDhunDealgan
