Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin launches call out for memories of the Irish language in Derry

Did you go to Irish classes as an adult in Derry in the 1950s, ‘60s or ‘70s? What do you remember about them? And what was it that inspired you to learn Irish?

As part of their latest project ‘Céim ar Chéim’ (Step by Step), the Derry city-centre Irish language and cultural centre, Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin, is exploring the history of the Irish language in Derry.

Over the coming months, the team of volunteers, led by the passionate historian and Derry woman, Mary Delargy, will be piecing together the story of how the Irish language came to be revived in the city through the community-led efforts across the 1950s-’70s, and which continues today. 

This will conclude in the form of a self-guided audio tour, as well as a printed resource that will be available to both visitors and the public alike. For a period that is naturally dominated by the troubles, the project will also add depth to the narrative of what it meant to live in Derry during that difficult period.

To do this, An Chultúrlann are collecting news articles, photographs, written records, as well as personal testimonials from those who were there. If you would like to share your memories or volunteer with the project, please get in touch with the project coordinator, Mary Delargy at mary@culturlann.org or 028 7126 4132.

Two children observing the time line of the Irish language An Chultúrlann recently produced

The project has been generously funded through the Heritage Lottery Fund.