Sruth na hÉirne, the Enniskillen-based Irish language grouping recently staged a conference on the history of Irish language in Fermanagh.

Held at Fermanagh House, the event attracted a strong cross-border interest from Co. Sligo where relationships have steadily developed between Fermanagh and Sligo Gaeilgeoiri attending each other’s Irish language, conversation circles within recent years.

Over 50 attendees heard keynote speaker Séamus Mac Annaidh recount the long heritage of Irish language usage before attendees turned their attention towards the Fermanagh County Museum.

On hand, was the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council’s Irish language officer Fiona Crudden and archivist Sinead O'Reilly who displayed many unseen items of Gaelic heritage and Irish language to the amazement of Gaelic scholars amongst the attendees.

The event entitled 'Meitheal' taken from the Irish word meaning 'a gather up' was a demonstration of Sruth na hÉirne’s ongoing commitment to furthering the growth of networking between gaeilgeoiri in border areas since 2022.

Taking inspiration from their headquarters organisation, Conradh na Gaeilge, Sruth na hÉirne secured funding for the event under Conradh’s 'Ciste Spreagtha' scheme aimed at spreading the language by voluntary, cultural groupings.

At the conference were a range of pop-up banners depicting the turbulent history of the Irish language and its revival from the late 1800’s onwards.

For Jim Ledwith, Sruth na hÉirne’s organiser, the first-ever Meitheal event represents the second step on the road of developing structured cross-border partnerships with a view of long-term support from the Shared Ireland funding administered by the government in the Republic of Ireland.