#40 Diarmaid Ó Maolagáin - The Gaeltacht in Canada

Is iarr Thánaiste do Ghaeltacht an Oileáin Úir é Diarmaid Ó Maolagáin - Diarmaid Ó Maolagáin was the Vice-President of the "New Island" Gaeltacht in Tamworth, Ontario.“A small community is drawn here, to a small patch of land in a tiny Ontario town where Gaelic acts as a lifeline to their history, their culture and to the Emerald Isle itself. This is the Canadian Gaeltacht.”

— Susan Krashinsky, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

www.gaeilge.ca

D'fhoghlaim sé a chuid Ghaelainne i gCeanada chun ceangal a dhéanamh len' dhúchais - He learned his Irish in Canada to make a link with his heritage. Fuair sé pobal láidir Gaelach agus d'fhoghlaim sé as bheith páirteach le himeachtaí tumoideachas agus sa tighe tabharnaí ag labhairt le cainteoirí líofa - He found a strong Irish community and he learned being part of immersive activities and in the pub speaking with fluent speakers. Nuair a ghlac sé ról an Tánaiste bhí sé mar chuspóir aige an Ghaelainn a spreagadh - When he took up the role of Vice-President it was a goal of his to spread the language, agus mar sin thar aon rud éile bhí fonn múinteoireachta air - and therefore above all the desire to teach was on him. Thosnaigh sé ag múineadh tríd an Ghaeltacht agus théis tamaill thosnaigh sé ag múineadh ar a shon fhéin - He started to teach through the Gaeltacht agus after a while, for himself. Anois tá sé ag múineadh agus ag freastal ar scoil chun céim a fháil sa Cheol Ceilteach - Now he is teaching and attending school to get a degree in Celtic Music. Oibríonn sé fós leis an nGaeltacht chun imeachtaí a eagrú - He still works with the Gaeltacht to organise events. Cuireann sé gliondar ina chroí go bhfuil sé in ann tacaíocht a thabhairt do fhoghlaimeoirí agus gur féidir leis cairdeas a dhéanamh tríd an teanga - It puts delight on his heart to be able to give support to learners and make friends through the language, agus tá sé ag tnúth le coinneáil ar aghaidh ag foghlaim agus ag labhairt na Gaelainne - and he is looking forward to carrying on learning and speaking Irish!

Connect with Diarmaid here :) @gael_ceanadachGo raibh míle maith agat, a chara! Thanks a million, friend. Thaitin ár gcomhrá go mór liom - I really enjoyed our conversation!