Irish language and cultural hub, Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin, have purchased the former Great James Street Presbyterian Church in Derry with plans to bring it into use as part of their plans for an expanded cultural complex in the city.
The Church, also known as the Scotch Church, operated from 1837 until the congregation moved to Kilfennan in 1982. The building has been derelict now for many years and considered to be at risk.
Welcoming this new development, Cultúrlann C.E.O Gearóid Ó hEára thanked all of those who had helped and supported the new initiative. He particularly thanked the NI Environment Agency and Ciste Infhestíochta Ghaeilge who had contributed towards the purchase. He said that the future development of Irish language and culture in Derry and the North West would be secured for generations to come.
“The idea of a Cultural Quarter based in Great James Street is fast becoming a reality and I am pleased that we will be able to restore two listed buildings and bring them into cultural use.”
“Some of our staff have been in touch with members of the Presbyterian Congregation in Kilfennan and we would hope to build links with them and make them welcome if they wish to visit the Church.”
Mr Ó hEára said that when they moved into the Cultúrlann in September 2009 they thought that they would have enough classroom and performance space for many years to come but that within the first twelve months the demand for classes had exceeded the available space. This year there are over 400 people every week attending Irish classes, mornings, afternoons and evenings. An Chultúrlann also has two teachers who are bringing the language and culture to approximately 1,500 pupils in English-language primary schools in the Derry area.
Gearóid Ó hEára.
The local branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann have been using the Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin since it opened and are teaching over 200 people each week in traditional instruments, céilí and sean-nós dancing, with the number of people seeking tuition spiralling since the city’s historic Fleadh Cheoil in 2013.
“It is our intention, to locate an Acadamh Ceoil, a traditional Music Academy, in the refurbished Manse and to free up more space in the Cultúrlann for additional Irish classes. The quality and enthusiasm of our young musicians is exceptional and in partnership with the School of Music at the University of Ulster at Magee we hope to create a career path of excellence for traditional musicians in the city. Our plans include the development of a programme of Festivals through the year and the Church will be central to that.
“The acquisition of the Church and Manse will allow us the space to increase the range and numbers of classes and courses and will create for artists, performance space and for our Irish language youth club Club Óige Setanta.”
He said that they will be working with Derry City Council, the NorthWest Development Office and the Arts Council to develop the building and its activities to their maximum potential.
Fréamhacha athbheochan na Gaeilge i nDoire
Tá mol Gaeilge agus cultúrtha, Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin tar éis an tseanEaglais Phreispitéireach ar MhórShráid Shéamais i nDoire a cheannach agus pleananna ag an eagras í a úsáid mar chuid dá straitéis do cheathrú leathnaithe cultúrtha sa chathair.
Bhí an Eaglais, a raibh Eaglais na nAlbannach uirthi roimhe, i bhfeidhm ó 1837 go dtí gur bog an pobal chuig Cill Fionáin in 1982. Tá an foirgneamh in anchaoi le blianta agus measadh é a bheith faoi phriacal.
Ag fáiltiú roimh an fhorbairt nua seo, ghabh Príomhfheidhmeannach na Cultúrlainne buíochas leo siúd uilig a chuidigh agus a thacaigh leis an tionscnamh seo. Ghabh sé buíochas ar leith le Gníomhaireacht Timpeallachta TÉ agus le Ciste Infheistíocht na Gaeilge a rannchuidigh le ceannach an fhoirgnimh. Dúirt sé go slánófaí forbairt na Gaeilge agus an Ghaelachais don ghlúin atá le teacht.
“Tá fís Ceathrú Cultúrtha lonnaithe thart ar Mhórshráid Shéamais ag teacht chun réalachais go tapaidh agus tá áthas orm go mbeidh muid ábalta dhá fhoirgneamh liostaithe a athchóiriú agus úsáid chultúrtha bhaint astu.
“Tá foireann s’againne i dteagmháil le baill an Phobail Phreispitéirigh i gCill Fionáin agus bheadh súil againn nascanna a thógáil leo agus fáilte a chur rompu más mian leo cuairt a thabhairt ar an Eaglais.”
Duirt An tUasal Ó hEára nuair a bhog siad isteach sa Chultúrlann i mí Mheán Fómhair 2009 gur cheap siad go mbéadh go leor spáis ranga agus taibhithe acu ar feadh blianta fada le teacht ach laistigh den chéad dhá mhí dhéag bhí an t-éileamh ar na ranganna níos mó ná an spás a bhí ar fáil. I mbliana tá níos mó ná 400 duine ag freastal ar ranganna Gaeilge, ar maidin, sa tráthnóna agus san oíche. Ina theannta sin, tá beirt mhúinteoir fostaithe ag An Chultúrlann agus iad ag teagasc an Ghaelachais do thart ar 1,500 dalta i mbunscoileanna Béarla i ndúiche Dhoire.
Gearóid Ó hEára.
Ón am a d’oscail an Chultúrlann, tá sí á húsáid ag craobh áitiúil Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann agus iad ag teagasc níos mó ná 200 duine gach seachtain. Cuirtear ranganna sna huirlisí ceoil, céilithe agus damhsa ar an sean-nós ar fáil agus tá líon na ndaoine ag lorg teagaisc ag fás go tapaidh ó bhí Fleadh Cheoil stairiúil 2013 sa chathair.
“Is é an aidhm atá againn ná Acadamh don Cheol Traidisiúnta a aimsiú sa Mhansa athchóirithe chun níos mó spáis a chur ar fáil sa Chultúrlann le haghaidh tuilleadh ranganna Gaeilge. Tá caighdeán agus díograis ár gceoltóirí óga eisceachtúil, agus tá muid ag súil le conair ghairme sármhaitheasa a chruthú do cheoltóirí traidisiúnta sa chathair i gcomhpháirtíocht le Scoil an Cheoil ag Ollscoil Uladh. Tá sé de rún againn clár Féilte a fhorbairt i rith na bliana agus beidh an Eaglais lárnach sa phlean sin.
“Tabharfaidh ceannach na hEaglaise agus an Mhansa an deis dúinn níos mó ranganna agus cúrsaí a chur ar fáil. Cruthóidh sé seo spás do cheoltóirí, d’ealaíontoirí agus do Chlub Óige Setanta.”
Duirt sé go mbeidh siad ag obair le Comhairle Cathrach Dhoire, Oifig Forbartha an Iarthuaiscirt agus Comhairle Ealaíon Thuaisceart Éireann chun an foirgneamh agus a ghníomhaíochtaí a fhorbairt don uas-acmhainneacht.
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