Students from Colaiste na bhFiann colleges taking part in the Spraoi Parade, Longford, Wednesday 12th August. The event was attended by the Town and County Lord Mayors and over 500 pupils from Colaiste na bhFiann Summer Irish Language colleges.

Town and County Longford Mayors to attend Sproai - Colaiste Na bhFiann parade in Longford, Wednesday, 13th August, 2008

Town Mayor of Longford, Cllr. James Keogh and County Mayor, Cllr. Sean Farrell are to attend the second Sproai-Colaiste an bhFiann parade at St Mel's College, Longford on Wednesday 13th August at 3.15pm. Sproai is a fun-filled, action packed parade to celebrate the fun and activities enjoyed by students of Colaiste na bhFiann Irish Language summer courses. It is organised by Cumann na bhFiann, an after care programme for students attending the summer courses. The aim of the day is to inform students of how they can use their Irish once their summer course is over by joining a Cumann Na bhFiann Youth Club in their local area and getting involved in exciting activities such as concerts, discos and weekends away through the Irish language.

Colaiste na bhFiann colleges taking part in this SPRAOI parade, the second and largest to be held in Longford this Summer are Naomh Mel, Longford, Ros Muc, Galway, Sligo and Warrenstown College, Meath. In total over 500 students will take part and the theme for this parade is "craic"! The students will parade through the town singing Irish songs they have learned on the course and showing all who watch it that it is a fun and "living" language.

Commenting on the event, Mayor of Longford said,
"I am delighted to be part of this exciting event for young people and to see the passion and positive energy they bring to this day and to the Irish language. They are a great example of what can be achieved when the teaching of Irish by Colaiste na bhFiann colleges is presented to students in a fun, exciting and worthwhile way."

This year Colaiste na bhFiann is celebrating 40 years running their successful Irish language courses for young people nationwide; Ros Muc, Galway, Rath Cairn and Warrenstown, Co. Meath, Sligo, Longford, Cnoc Beag, Carlow, Baile an Sceilg and Killarney in Kerry.

People from all walks of life have attended theses courses in their youth, and include well known personalities such as broadcaster and entertainer " Hector" and RTE's Afternoon show presenter, Blaitnaid Ni Chofaigh, to name but a few.

Hundreds of former Colaiste na bhFiann past pupils are planning to get-to-gether for a special celebratory Dinner and Ceili in Croke Park Convention Centre on November 29th. to mark the significant achievement of Colaiste na bhFiann in teaching and fostering the Irish language in a positive way.

Information for tickets for this dinner and for all Colaiste na bhFiann summer courses and Cumann na bhFiann youth clubs is available on www.colaistenabhfiann.ie

Information on the Sproai parade in Longford is available from Colaiste na bhFiann, Monkstown, Dublin; T: 01-2808091, M: 087-9882180, E; eolas@colaistenabhfiann.ie

The Sproai parade is not to be missed; it's a shining example of all that is positive about our native Irish language and our young people!

Download Irish language Press Release

Caitriona Ni Cheallaigh, CEO Colaiste na bhFiann T: 01-2808091, M: 087-9882180, E: eolas@colaistenabhfiann.ie

Cristina Ni Mhorain, T:01-2808091, M:087-9882180, E: cristina@colaistenabhfiann.ie

Or Mary FitzGerald-PR Consultant Colaiste na bhFiann T: 016694759, M: 086-2520181, E: info@maryfitzgeraldpr.ie