Chair’s Corner: Notes from the CCÉ Ottawa Chair, August-September 2015

A very heartfelt thank you also to all of our branch members who volunteered in many ways in the preparing of the site of the Oireachtas Gaeilge Cheanada, which we did not use because of rain, setting up the hotel venue, printing certificates, directing  people and answering their questions. CCÉ members from the Ottawa, Kingston, Toronto, Hamilton and Sudbury branches attended and competed in the event this year.

Also a huge thank you again to the Ottawa CCÉ dancers who came out for twice weekly practiced for the set dancing competition. It paid off again in another gold medal performance!  Dancers were C. McFee, P. Avendano, D. Clement, A. Mayrand, S. Proctor, L. Hay, C. Bowers and S. Scott. Kudos also to CCÉ members A. Mayrand, M.  Comerton for participating in the signing competitions.

Several Ottawa CCÉ members attended the Irish language immersion weekend at the Gaeltacht, August 10th to 16th. These were Deirdre Dooley, Jim Downey, Helen Finn, Bridget Guglich, Margaret Moriarty, Joan O’Donoghue, Oscar Mou, Sheila Scott, Patrick Scott, Seimh Willoughby. Bridget and Sheila also taught during the week. Many thanks for your active participation in the classes, workshops and evening activities!

The Chair has been in touch with the ICUF scholar who will be with us this year. Her name is Kate Jordan.  She is from Cork also.  She is happy to teach for us this year.

The chair also have been in touch with the English Intensive Program directors and teachers, some of whom were at the May ceili. Hopefully we will have more students in attendance next fall.

Preparations are underway for the Irish language Immersion weekend in Arnprior run by Caint ‘is Comhrá. I attended a planning meeting in late July where we discussed the schedule, publicity, and fees. The weekend will be held at Galilee House in Arnprior on the last weekend of September, Friday 25th to Sunday 27th. 

Kate Jordan, the ICUF from Cork has arrived. Feedback from the students is that she is very good. Thank you also to Bridget Guglich, Joan O Donoghue and Barry Cronin for teaching the Beginner, High Advanced and Advanced classes respectively.

The Chair have met Austin Comerton and other representatives of other Irish cultural groups here in Ottawa re his Fund raising project based on the card game 25, as a way to help save the Irish card game. Present were the Gaels, the Rose of Tralee, the IWN the Irish Society and CCÉ.  We will be meeting on the 25th of each of the following months Nov, Jan, Feb, March, April and possibly May. Austin is looking for a spot like the Residence for us to run this. 

https://youtu.be/8P-aK5yMfw4 

S. Scott has been working with Joan O Donoghue, Toni Forsythe and Bridget Guglich on the organising of the Irish language Immersion weekend in Arnprior run by Caint ‘is Comhrá. The weekend will be held at Galilee House in Arnprior on the last weekend of September, Friday 25th to Sunday 27th.  Kate Jordan (ICUF Ottawa) and the ICUF scholar from Montreal, Siobhan O Maoilaigh will be teaching.

Also the Ottawa CCÉ Branch will hold its AGM on Wednesday, October 7 at 18:30 - 20:30 at the Sunnyside branch of the Ottawa Public Library (that's 1049 Bank St in Old Ottawa South, and there's free parking available, or it's also accessible via bus routes #1 or #7). We hope you can join us to elect a new executive, and get an update on what we're up to. If you are interested in running for any of the Executive positions, please contact M. Maher. Remember you must have your membership up to date (expires on 30 September) to be able to vote and to run for office.

Respectfully submitted, Cathaoirleach