Cumann Gaelach na hEaglaise (the Irish Guild of the Church) is delighted to announce that it has appointed Caroline Nolan as full-time Irish Language Development Officer for the Cumann. Many will be aware of Caroline, who hails from Carlow originally, from her work in the Irish language education sector in Northern Ireland, and she was the founder of the cross-border body Gaelscolaíocht Éireann. Caroline is a lawyer, with both national and international experience in the field of human rights. She undertook a Masters degree in Conflict Resolution in Kent University, and attended a postgraduate Diploma in Biblical Studies and Theology at Trinity College Dublin. She also spent some time in the United States participating in the Leaders for Tomorrow programme in Harvard University.
She has experience in community development in both Belfast and in the Muskerry Gaeltacht in West Cork. She was director of the West Belfast Economic Forum, and also worked as an executive with the West Belfast Partnership Board, developing links between the business community, government and the community.
She is patron of the Faculty of Energy as the cultural Institute Acadamh Fódhla, the informal academy founded by Peadar Ó Riada in Muskerry, where Caroline and her family currently reside.
Caroline Nolan will be working in the Church of Ireland community throughout the island to promote the language. Under the title "Towards 2014: Promoting the Irish language within the Community of the Church of Ireland", this project will secure the future of the Cumann as it approaches the 100th anniversary of its foundation in the year 2014. This project is being funded by Foras na Gaeilge.
Dáithí Ó Maolchoille, the Cathaoirleach (Chairman) of Chmann Gaelach na hEaglaise, welcomed Caroline’s Nolan’s appointment, saying cheapachán Charoline Nolan, ag rá: “I greatly welcome Caroline Nolan’s appointment as Irish Language Development Officer with the Cumann. This appointment will give new impetus to our efforts to increase the use of the Irish within the community of the Church of Ireland”.
FURTHER INFORMATION
The Irish Guild of the Church was founded in 1914 to (1) promote all that tends to preserve within the Church of Ireland the spirit of the ancient Celtic Church and to provide a bond of union for all members of the Church of Ireland inspired with Irish ideals, (2) promote the use of the Irish language in the Church, (3) collect from Irish sources suitable hymns and other devotional literature, (4) encourage the use of Irish art and music in the Church.
The Guild organises regular services as follows: The second Sunday each month (except July and August) at 8.30 am – Holy Communion in the chapel of the Church of Ireland College of Education, 96 Upper Rathmines Road, Dublin 6; the fourth Sunday each month (except June, July, August and December) at 5 pm – Holy Communion in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin 8. An interdenominational Service is also organised during the Octave of Christian Unity in January in Christ Church Cathedral. Services are organised in other places throughout the country from time to time – for example, St Patrick’s Day, festivals. The Irish Guild of the Church supports Irish language services in Christ Church Cathedral on certain occasions when Evensong is sung by the Cathedral choir
Website: www.cumanngaelachnaheaglaise.blogspot.com/
Contact: Aonghus Dwane, Hon Secretary Tel 087 6232841
Caroline Nolan, Irish Language Development Officer Tel 085 1632772
