AS PART of the promotion of the Irish language during Seachtain na Gaeilge (Irish language week), the Enniskillen-based language group, Sruth na Heirne (the river Erne) celebrated its recent membership as a registered branch of Conradh na Gaeilge, an all-Ireland, Irish language advocacy body.

Welcoming the Sruth na Heirne membership, Sean O'Murchadha, Awareness Officer, congratulated the group's work in helping to grow the use of Irish language both in conversation and learning through its weekly holding of ciorcal comhrá meetings.

From humble beginnings and meeting an unmet need for conversation by Irish language attendees of the Council’s Irish language classes, the Sruth na Heirne’s weekly conversation circles have proved consistently popular.

Having met in the county library in recent years after a trial run in the Devenish community house (Kilmacormick), the conversation circle had to transfer its weekly conversation circle to Fermanagh house upon the onset of Covid-19.

Attracting attendees from Boho, Lisbellaw, Kesh, Ballinamallard and Enniskillen, the conversation circle has proved to be a more informal format for the practical learning and use of the language in face-to-face group conversations.

The success of the weekly meetings organised by Jim Quinn stems from the open nature of the conversation circle in welcoming all levels of abilities of both the written and spoken word in Irish.

With the onset of Covid, Sruth na Heirne has resorted to the use of Zoom online meetings, which has slowly grown in membership, attracting members now from Tyrone and even Wales.

However, the overwhelming consensus is for a return of face-to-face interaction when restrictions on group gatherings relax.

One offshoot of the Enniskillen-based conversation circle – which is the best example of community-driven, cost-effective promotion of the Irish language in the county – is the range of its members taking up Gaeltacht, Council-funded bursaries, and those enlisting on further studies of the language despite the travel time involved in attending Cookstown for the University of Ulster, Diploma course.

As a participant on the Fermanagh and Omagh-based Irish language forum organised by Council officers, Sruth Na Heirne has consistently lobbied that the Council must extend its remit in exerting its statutory influence to have locally-based Irish Language courses held in Enniskillen.

For further information about the group, contact Jim Quinn at Jim.Quinn@btinternet.com.