MEATH COUNTY COUNCIL GAELTACHT SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS 2023

Thirty-eight students from seventeen secondary schools in the county have been awarded Gaeltacht scholarships by Meath County Council. The scholarships were presented by Cllr. Nick Killian, Cathaoirleach of Meath County Council to students at a special ceremony in Buvinda House, on Thursday 25th May.

The scholarship scheme was set up in 2018 to honour Máire Nic Shiubhlaigh a founder actress of the Abbey Theatre and a leader of Cumann na mBán in Jacob’s Biscuit Factory during the 1916 Rising. Máire was also an employee of Meath County Council where she worked as a branch librarian in Laytown during the 1950’s. The scheme was extended in recent years with new scholarships introduced for students attending DEIS schools.

The new scholarships honour the memory of two other

Irish language activists from the county, Mother Columba Gibbons, Loreto Navan and Máire Ní Raghallaigh from Drumconrath.

Guest speaker Manchán Magan thanked Meath County Council for honouring the memory of these revolutionary women, “We know that many of the women who participated in the events of the revolutionary period were forgotten and I am delighted that they are now re-emerging from the shadows and taking their place alongside the more well-known names associated with that period in our history.”

Commenting on the scholarship scheme, Jackie Maguire, Chief Executive of Meath County Council said that the organisation was delighted to be able to offer these scholarships to students with the support of the Creative Ireland

Meath programme, “This is a wonderful way for the Irish Language office in Meath County Council to demonstrate commitment to our native language.

I am delighted to see so many schools represented, and I hope the pupils have a wonderful time in the Gaeltacht this summer. Ar aghaidh libh!”

Welcoming the expanded scholarship scheme

Cathaoirleach of Meath County Council, Cllr. Nick Killian added, “I’m delighted to see Máire Ní Raghallaigh honoured this year. The Drumconrath native dedicated her life to the Irish language movement, established an Irish language bookshop at 87 Dorset Street and was the sole wholesale agent for books printed by the Gaelic League. It is fitting that these scholarships named in her honour will provide the recipients with a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the Irish language.”