A HOST of special events are planned in Rann na Feirste this weekend where the local Irish college, Coláiste Bhríde, will hold its centenary celebrations.
The college, which was founded in 1926, is one of the oldest, biggest and most prestigious summer Gaeltacht colleges in the country.
Indeed, the celebrations started three weeks ago when Uachtarán na hÉireann, Catherine Connolly visited the college and met schoolchildren, teachers, college landladies, locals and the college authorities.
Deputy Pat ‘the Cope’ Gallagher will officially open the centenary ceremonies in Áislann Rann na Feirste on Friday night and John Anne Ó Dónaill, chairman of the Rann na Feirste Development Committee and one of the Directors of Áislann Rann na Feirste will speak on behalf of the local community as did his uncles at the Silver Jubilee and Golden Jubilee many years ago.
Michelle Nic Grianna will be the MC at a special concert of past pupils and locals that will follow.
College staff climb Errigal mountain on one balmy Summer Saturday afternoon in the early 1980s.
An art exhibition, curated by local artist, Mórog Mhic Eachmharcaigh will open in the college at 11am on Saturday morning.
Donnchadh Ó Baoill and Niall Mac Eachmharcaigh will lead a guided tour around Rann na Feirste, departing from the college at 11am taking in such talking points as Cloch an Amharc, Gleann Eoghain Mhuiris and Cloch an Phlúir. The Rann na Feirste Museum, which incorporates a wealth of material from the renowned Mac Grianna literary family, will be open to locals and visitors alike also from 11am.
On Satuday afternoon at 2pm in Áislann Rann na Feirste, Brendan Ó Dufaigh will deliver a lecture, entitled “Lóistéirí agus Scoláirí” giving an account of some key areas of the history of the college.
This will be followed by the launch of Ó Dufaigh’s book entitled ‘Ar Theacht an tSamhraidh’ by Feargal Ó Coigligh, Secretary General in the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport and former Secretary General of the Department of the Gaeltacht and past pupil of Coláiste Bhríde.
There are 538 pages, 230,000 words and 900 photographs in the book describing the college since its inception. The book will be on sale immediately after the launch for €25. Brendan Ó Dufaigh has been coming to Rann na Feirste since 1978, he is a Course Headmaster for over 20 years and is a college committee member for 15 years. He was Principal of Coláiste Oiriall, the post-primary Gaelcholáiste in Monaghan town, for 21 years.
Niall Ó Sluáin will then deliver a lecture on aspects of the life and work of Fr Lorcán Ó Muireadhaigh, the college founder. Ó Sluáin edited the minutes of college committee meetings and an abridged version of them appears in the book. He was college secretary between 1988 and 2022 and is the current chairman of the college committee.
A Landladies Discussion Panel will be held in Caisleáin Óir Hotel, Anagaire at 7pm with the following former mná tí taking part: Nóirín Sheáin Uí Dhufaigh, Annie Mhicí Jimí Uí Dhuibheannaigh, Síle Bhidí Mhaggie Uí Dhochartaigh, Róisín Dónaí Mhic Giolla Cheara agus Caitlín Nora Frainc Uí Dhubhchaoin.
Former landladies in Rann na Feirste (mná tí). Back row: Róisín Dónaí Mhic Giolla Cearra, Ita Bhidí Mhaggie Uí Dhónaill, Bríd Feda Uí Dhónaill, Anne Pheadair Uí Dhónaill (deceased), Margaret Antain Neidí Mhic Ruairí, Nora Bhán Mhic Gairbhigh, Frances Fanny Phadaí Uí Rabhartaigh, Bríd Stephen Anne Uí Dhónaill who died a fortnight ago and kept up to 20 students for the 20 years between 1985-2005. Middle row: Eileen Dhónaill de Brún (deceased), Anne Sandra Mhic Giolla Chomhail, Síle Ita Mhaggie Uí Dhochartaigh, Nora Frainc Chonaill Uí Raghallaigh, Sandra Uí Dhuibheannaigh (deceased), Caitlín Phatrick Uí Dhuibheannaigh (deceased), Anne Celine Uí Bhaoill. Front row: Sarah Pheadair Uí Cholla (deceased), Bridie Mhuiris Pheadair Uí Cholla, Seán Ó Labhra, former College President (deceased), Mary Charlie Coll Mhic Garibheith agus Sarah Mhéidí Uí Chlacáin (deceased). Photo: Denis Mac Gairbheith.
The Centenary Dinner will follow and the guest speaker will be former Minister for the Gaeltacht, Eamonn Ó Cuiv, Galway.
Raidió na Gaeltachta will broadcast a concelebrated Mass from Coláiste Bhríde on Sunday morning with Dr Dónall McKeown, Bishop Emeritus Derry as chief celebrant.
Among the other concelebrants will be Dr John McAreavey, Bishop Emeritus Down and Connor and Dr Philip Boyce, Bishop Emeritus Raphoe.
Fr Lorcán Ó Searcaigh, PP Gleann Fhinne, will give the homily as he did 50 years ago when the college celebrated its Golden Jubilee – two years after his ordination.
The two local bands, Druma Mór Rann na Feirste and Buíon Ceoil Rann na Feirste will give a musical recital in the college yard immediately after the Mass and this will conclude the celebrations.
Coláiste Bhríde festooned with bunting awaits the arrival of Taoiseach Éamonn de Valera at the Silver Jubilee in 1951
Since 1926 over 100,000 students have attended the college during the summer months. Some famous names who have attended include TK Whitaker, Bernadette McAliskey, Nell McCafferty, Pádraig McNamee, Phil Coulter, Pádraig Ó Uallacháin, Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich, Caitríona Balfe, Johnny Wilson, Dr Rory O’Hanlon and Paul Brady.
Four Rann na Feirste natives who taught in Coláiste Bhríde in 1988. From left; John Ghráinne Ó Duibheannaigh, Frances Mhary Phatrick Ní Dhónaill, Denis Sarah Rua Ó Baoill agus Caitlín Anne Ní Dhónaill.