Fúinn
About
Conradh na Gaeilge LA is the Los Angeles branch of the Ireland-based registered charity Conradh na Gaeilge, or Irish league. Conradh na Gaeilge is the democratic forum for the Irish-speaking community. It has over 200 branches and numerous individual members registered around the world, all of whom contribute to promoting the use of Irish as the standard language in Ireland. Conradh na Gaeilge's primary mission is to promote the use of Irish as the standard language in Ireland. It was established by Douglas Hyde, Eoin Mac Néill, and their colleagues on the 31st of January 1983.
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The organization runs Irish language courses; advocates for the rights of Irish speakers; raises awareness about the language; hosts the international Irish language festival Seachtain na Gaeilge le Energia; manages the Irish language information hub PEIG.ie as well as the Irish language bookshop An Siopa Leabhar; supports the Irish language radio station Raidió Rí-Rá; and much more We are supported through grants from Foras na Gaeilge, the Consulate General of Ireland, and other publicly funded programs as well as the generosity of our private community donors. Learn more about Conradh na Gaeilge at www.cnag.ie.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Arge O'Neal (President)
Arge is one of the founding members of the Los Angeles branch of Conradh na Gaeilge and is currently serving as its Vice President. Giota ar ghiota (bit by bit) Arge has been studying Irish for the last 20 years and over that period has spent some time in Gaoth Dobhair and Oideas Gael in Gleann Cholm Cille (not to mention many a Deireadh Seachtaine Gaeltachta here in the US) advancing his understanding of the language and culture. He originally began studying the language out of his own personal curiosity and to share it with his children, but has recently been given the opportunity to teach the introductory and lower intermediate classes in Culver City. Since the pandemic hit, he teaches online. A television editor by trade, Arge looks forward to sharing his enthusiasm and learning from each and every one of you!
Caitríona Weafer (Vice-President).
Born and raised in Ireland, Caitríona is a qualified primary school teacher (B. Ed. H.Dip) and Irish dance teacher (TMRF). She taught in an elementary school in Ireland and in the summer, took her students to Connemara where she taught summer classes. She lived in Japan for four years and taught Japanese in Dublin when she returned. In the States, she got a degree in Spanish (MA) and taught Spanish and Japanese in elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as Spanish at Community College level. With her experience teaching various languages, Caitríona decided it was time to focus on her own language and co-founded the L. A. branch of Conradh na Gaeilge (The Gaelic League). A proud moment was when the first TEG exam was held at the LA Immersion Weekend in 2019. Caitríona truly loves sharing the beauty of Irish and how to get fun out of learning with people all over the world.
Ramona Reeves (Treasurer)
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Ramona is the pioneer who brought the Irish Immersion Weekend to Los Angeles even before Conradh na Gaeilge in LA was born. Ramona learned Irish both in America and in Ireland and then learned first-hand how immersion weekends worked in San Francisco. Working with Oideas Gael, she got the best of advice and teachers from Ireland to run immersion courses. It was Ramona who co-founded the LA branch of Conradh na Gaeilge and it was she who was instrumental in getting it Non-Profit status. She has previously served as Treasurer and brings a wealth of experience, talent, and inspiration to the board.
Kristin Bodt (CTO - Chief Technology Officer)
Previously the Secretary for the Gaelic League of LA, Kristin now serves the Board as the CTO. Coming from a background in design and customer service, Kristin has since pivoted to a career in information technology. Her future professional goals include becoming a Cloud Engineer and cybersecurity expert. She also uses her B.A. in Art as the lead product designer and brand strategist for CNAG LA.
Kristin has been studying Irish in LA since 2015 and successfully passed her TEG exam in 2018. She spends her spare time with her partner and their two dogs, Mango and Eggo; picking up heavy objects at the gym; and in front of her PC switching between any of her 75 open tabs.
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Aoife O'Connor (Social Media Manager)
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Aoife was raised in Belfast and is a Berkeley graduate in Music. She performs traditional Irish music as well as working with Broadway and film and TV, including music for the Oscars. She is here to bring us up to date with engaging with the best of LA and promoting Irish here as best we can.
With language, music, and social media skills, she is our newest addition to the CnaG LA team and planning new social media projects for the club.
Ní neart go cur le chéile.
There is no strength until we put [our efforts] together.
Our Mission
The Constitution of Conradh na Gaeilge
This English copy of the Costitution is currently being updated. The most recent version of this document is available in Irish at cnag.ie/bunreacht.
(a) Name, Aim and Objectives of the Organisation:
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Conradh na Gaeilge is the name of the organisation
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The aim of the organisation is to revive the Irish language as the common language in Ireland
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The objective of the organisation is to encourage people to work on behalf of the aim by, including the following:
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increase the amount of Irish language speakers;
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increase the number of families raising their children through Irish;
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provide support, services and facilities to enable people to live their live through Irish;
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increase the status of the Irish language de jure and de facto in Ireland and abroad;
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add to the number of organisations, institutes, educational institutes, companies and events that operate through Irish;
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stand by the supremacy of the Irish language as the community language in Gaeltacht areas and create new Gaeltacht areas;
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lobby on behalf of the Irish language;
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represent the Irish language community;
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Disseminate the aim and objectives of the organisation with promise and action
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The main characteristics of the organisation are: democracy; openness; involvement; equality; inclusivity; dignity; and personal rights.
Our Vision
Our vision is to keep the Irish language alive and thriving in Los Angeles and beyond!