Development group in Leinster House to meet ministers

A group from the Carna/Cill Chiaráin area is meeting two Ministers in Leinster House this Thursday evening. The  deputation which has been organised by an Fóram do Phobal lorras Aithneach - the Carna Community Forum - is meeting  Justice Minister Michael McDowell in connection with the establishment of an Irish language creche in the area.

    Historic link is recalled in book

    COUNCILLOR Seosamh Ó Cuaig from Connemara rekindled history in the Dáil last Thursday when he presentedf a copy  of a book written by his granduncle, CoIm Ó Gaora from Ros Muc, to the Minister for Justice and Law Reform, Michael  McDowell TD.

    The book written in Irish d1and entitled "Mise" is an account of CoIm Ó Gaora's life and times during 'The Troubles', and  in the Irish language movement. CoIm Ó Gaora was a leader in the fight for Independence in Connemara, and was also a Timire Gaeilge (an Irish language teacher) for Conradh na Gaeilge.

    His life and times also linked him to Minister Michael McDowell'sgrandfather, Eoghan MacNéill.

    Eoghan MacNéill was the leader of the Volunteers in 1916 and it was he who gave the 'Countermanding Order' calling for the postponement of the Easter Week Rising because he had doubts about the effectiveness of the operation.

    CoIm Ó Gaora was arrested after the Rising and so was Eoghan Mac Néill and both were together at the same holding centre in Dublin. CoIm was then brought to Dartmoor Prison in England and some time after that, Eoghan Mac Néill was also  brought to Dartmoor.

    Colm Ó Gaora relates in his book about how Mac Néill arrived at the Jail yard among the other republican prisoners. "On  seeing him, Éamon de Valera called the other prisoners to attention in a salute to their leader, Eoghan Mac Néill," Ó Gaora says.

    They paid a price as all were put back to their cells and received punishments for their actions. Councillor Ó Cuaig said there were a certain number of parallels in the Dáil last Thursday. "Eoghan Mac Néill was to the  fore in Conradh na Gaeilge and my granduncle, Colm Ó Gaora, was a language teacher for the organisation in Connemara.

    "Nowadays, Mac Neill's grandson, Minister McDowell, has responsibility for funds for creches and we are here to try and get these facilities established in Connemara in order to give children a chance to speak Irish together from infancy."

    Seosamh Ó Cuaig said that Minister McDowell was immediately familiar with the stories about Dartmoor and de Valera.

    "He was very thankful for my granduncle's book and he said he would read it soon"

The group is also putting a case to Health Minister, Mary Harney, for an augmentation of the doctor services in rural areas in  Connemara, rather than any extension of the WestDOC system to the region.

The Cill Chiaráin and Carna Group is being accompanied by Dail Deputy Noel Grealish from Galway West, as the Carna Forum has been in constant contact with Deputy Grealish about the establishment of the Irish language creche and about concerns that some model of the WestDOC system would be extended to rural areas in west Connemara.

The Carna/Cill Chiaráin group includes - Tómás Ó Nidh. Máire Aine Uí Mhaoilchiaráin Máire Ní Uaithnín, Susan Uí Chatháin amid County Councillor Seosamh Ó Cuaig.

Councillor Ó Cuaig said that he was glad to get the opportunity to meet Government Ministers to discuss these issues "issue's that are vital to communities like our own on the western seaboard. I know the community Forum have fought away quietly for this creche for a long time; indeed I was with them. This is what we need in our efforts to keep the Irish language vibrant - positive and real developments rather than phoney negative debates and I must compliment Minister McDowell and  Deputy Grealish for their efforts."

Tomás Ó Nídh, one of the leaders of the Carna Community Forum said that the battle for west Connemara Gaeltacht  communities had to go on year after year. "It is a long road but I hope we can turn the ailing fortunes of our outlying communities around,"  Mr Ó Nídh said.

An Curadh Chonannachtach - 10-12-2004

NEW ROAD PLAN

    The proposal that a new top class road be developed from west Connemara to Galway city appears to be getting a foothold in County Council thinking. It is now understood that the proposal may come up for discussion at meetings of the County

    Council's Roads Policy committee soon. Pressure may also come soon to get some details on paper, such as possible routes  for the road.

    Connemara Councillors have backed the proposal for the new road and Seosamh Ó Cuaig, who is Chairman of the Council's Roads Committee, has championed the cause "I have heard suggestions that the route that has been picked out for the new EBS lines from Galway could be the route for the road too", Councillor Ó Cuaig said. "We have not reached that stage yet, but it seems to me that it could be a good idea."