An Cosantóir

www.military.ie the defence forces magazine | 15 By CAPt CIllIAn DE BRún, 2 BAR S eimineár gaeilge 2017 took place in the national Maritime College of Ireland (nMCI), Ringaskiddy, Co Cork, on 8th December under the auspices of An Comhairle gaeilge. As gaeilge becomes more and more popular and prevalent on social media sites such as twit- ter and Facebook, An Comharile gaeilge decided that the theme of Seimineár 2017 would be 'An Ghaeilge agus na Meáin Sosíalta' (Irish and Social Media). the event was open to all personnel of Óglaigh na hÉireann with an inter- est in the language and featured four speakers from inside and outside the organisation. Oifigeach Sinsearach Gaeilge and Cathaoirleach, An Chomhairle Gaeilge, Coirnéal Séamus de Búrca, welcomed the attendees, before inviting Ceann Foirne Leas-Aimiréal Marcus Ó Méalóid, to give the opening address, in which the chief of staff reasserted his support for Irish and the work of the Comhairle in its promotion and stewardship of the language within Óglaigh na hÉireann. Leifteanant Cheannasaí Caoimhín MacUnfraidh then gave an account of the Naval Service's use of social media as a PR tool during Operation Pontus. As reports of the Naval Service's operations in the Mediterranean increased, particularly on social media, the Naval Service Facebook page reached a massive audience. As a gaeilgeoir, Lt Cdr Ma- cUnfraidh also used this as an opportunity to incorporate abairtí as Gaeilge into his Facebook posts. Cuan Ó Seireadáin (Conradh na Gaeilge) gave a brief his- tory of his organisation from its inception in 1893. Conradh is also using social media on a daily basis to engage with the growing presence of Gaeilge online, and now operates Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and Snap- chat accounts. Osgur Ó Ciardha and Peadar Ó Caomhánaigh, the organis- ers of the original and still hugely popular Pop-Up Gael- tacht in Dublin then gave the Seimineár an account of their experience of using Gaeilge on social media to publicise an event. As gaeilgeoirí as Baile Átha Cliath and still living in Dublin they found little op- portunity to speak Gaeilge in a comfortable setting where everyone else was also using the cúpla focal and organised the Pop-Up Gaeltacht as a means to do so. They immediate- ly received an enormous response to their idea and found a huge community of gaeilgeoirí of all standards and fluency happy to have any excuse to socialise as Gaeilge, including An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar. In the afternoon session Seimineár 2017 broke up into two separate working groups to discuss various topics and come up with recommendations as to how na meáin sosíalta could be used to promote Gaeilge more effectively throughout Óglaigh na hÉireann. 2018, announced as Bliain na Gaeilge, provides an oppor- tunity for all of us to engage with our native language, so give it a go with your colleagues. As the saying goes, 'bain triail as' (have a go!) and don't be concerned about your grammar or vocabulary, mar 'is fearr Gaeilge briste ná Béarla cliste' (broken Irish is better than smart English).

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