On The Town:A festival to celebrate Irish culture and arts, which was first held in 1897, continues this year with writer and broadcaster Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáinas its newly inaugurated president.
The secret of the enduring success of the Oireachtas na Gaeilge festival is that "it transcends generations", said festival administrator Máirín Nic Dhonnchadha. "Even though the festivals are competition-based, those taking part all bring their own followers, their own fan clubs. They come from all the Gaeltachts. It's a great celebration . . . It's a huge event."
There were 10,000 visitors to Derry city when last year's Oireachtas na Gaeilge was held there.
"It's a roaming or nomadic Gaeltacht," added Nic Dhonnchadha.
"Is Gaeltacht í an tOireachtas." "It's a social thing like all good things in life. It's the pleasure you get out of good company," explained Eamonn Ó Donnchadha, the winner of the much-coveted Corn Uí Riada award for sean-nós singing at three different Oireachtas na Gaeilge festivals.
Friends and followers of the festival gathered at Foras na Gaeilge this week for Mac Dhonnagáin's inauguration.
They included Colm Ó Torna, editor of Saol; the young piper, Éanna Ó Cróinín; Caoimhín Ó Cadhla, of the youth club body, Ógras; writer and biographer Liam Mac an Iomaire; Pádraig Mac Fhearghusa, editor of Feasta; primary school teachers Deirdre Nic Éanruigand Lelia Ní Chinnéide; and outgoing president Risteard Mac Gabhann.
Writer and musician Mac Dhonnagáin, who is a former RTÉ broadcaster, is co-creator with Paul Mercier and Micheál Ó Domhnaill of the TG4 teenage drama series, Aifric, which was recently nominated for two Ifta awards.
"He is one of the most creative writers working through the medium of Irish," said Liam Ó Maolaodha, national director of theOireachtas festival. "His greatest achievements to date lie in the accessibility of his writings and recordings, particularly his works for children."
• Oireachtas na Gaeilge 2007comprises two festivals: Oireachtas n Cásca in Letterkenny, Co Donegal, running from Thur, Apr 12 to Sun, Apr 15, and Oireachtas na Samhna in Westport, Co Mayo, from Wed, Oct 31, to Sun, Nov 4