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The secrets of Leuven’s Irish connection This is the English version of the last Irish language blog, Cuairt ar Leuven. Monday night (23 March 2015) saw a great programme go out on BBC2 NI in which I learned an awful lot about the important role played by a Belgian town in the history of the Irish language. It was the second programme in the series, An ColáisteÉireannach/The Irish College and this episode dealt with the college in Leuven or Louvain or Lobháin, 25 kilometres outside Brussels. Presented by Dr Art Hughes, the programme described: how the College was founded in 1607 to facilitate the Gaels and not for the Old English who had allegedly been preferentially treated up to then (that’s a story in itself; how Leuven was a centre for the revival of Irish in the 16th an 17th centuries; How Leuven was part in the Counter-Reformation in Europe; that Leuven was “the first Irish language research institute”; that it was there that the Grand Project was begun to define and promote Irish identity; that the Irish were to the forefront in using the latest technology available at that time; Giolla Brighde Ó hEodhasa wrote the first Cathechism in Irish in 1611; that the old Irish font many of us know was based on the handwriting of Giolla Brighde Ó hEodhasa who did great work at Leuven; that Aodh Mac Aingil, from Saul in County Down, wrote an influential book, Sacraimint na hAithridhe that the famous history book Annála Ríoghachta Éireann or the Annals of the Four Masters was started in Leuven, where its main author, Michael Ó Cléirigh, was studying. And there is much more in this fascinating programme. The reason why I have written this blog (and the Irish version) is to let you know that there are tours available to Leuven/Louvain if you are interested in the Irish language, Irish history, religion, travel, languages or any number of subjects. If you involved in language promotion, you might be interested in learning about the success of the small German-speaking population of Belgium. We all know of the linguistic divide between Walloons and Flemings in Belgium but German speakers have won many rights for their language too. Are the lessons for the Irish? 400 years after the foundation of the Irish College in Leuven, the Irish language is still relevant in the heart of Europe – but is the presence of the language that Ó Maol Chonaire and Mac Aingil and Ó Cléirigh fostered in Leuven under threat from decisions made by a government in Dublin? But on top of all these worthy matters, Leuven is a beautiful town, only 15 miles east of Brussels – which of course is well worth a visit – and has a wealth of wonderful buildings, museums and galleries, fine restaurants and it isn’t without reason that Belgium is famous for its beers. Stella Artois is one of Leuven’s more popular products! I’ve been asked by the Leuven Insititute for Ireland in Europe to find out if people might be interested in visiting and staying at the Irish College in Leuven. Perhaps you might want to bring a group or organization this summer when costs are lowest. If you are interested, then please contact me at robert@robertmcmillen.ie or robert@comhramedia.com You can watch An Coláiste Éireannach on Leuven on the BBC iPLayer for the next five days (UK only). http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b05p29g8/an-colaiste-eireannach-2-lobhain
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Cuairt ar Leuven na nGael? Tá clár ag dul amach ar BBC2 anocht (Dé Luain, 23 Márta) ar a 10in agus sílim gur fiú go mór amharc air. Is é an dara clár sa tsraith An Coláiste Éireannach agus san eagrán seo, cuireann an Dr Art Hughes síos ar an Choláiste i Leuven nó Louvain nó Lobháin sa Bheilg. Is clár thar a bheith suimiúil é a chuireann síos ar: mar a bunaíodh an Coláiste in 1607 do na Gaeil amháin (agus ní do na SeanSasanaigh nó The Old English mar a tugadh orthu); mar a bhí Leuven mar lárionad athbheochan na Gaeilge sa 16ú agus 17ú céad; mar a bhí Leuven mar chuid den Fhrith-Reifeirméisean agus cogadh cultúrtha na linne sin; gurbh é Leuven “an chead institiúid taighde Ghaeilge” riamh; gur thionscain siad “An Tionscadal Mór” le cur síos ar fhéiniúlacht Éireannach agus an féiniúlacht sin a chur chun cinn; bhí na Gaeil chun cinn i gcúrsaí teicneolaíochta na linne; Scríobh Giolla Brighde Ó hEodhasa an chead saothar Gaeilge Caitliceach, (1611); An cló Gaelach a bhfuil aithne againn air inniu, bunaíodh é ar pheannaireacht Giolla Brighde Ó hEodhasa. D’fhoilsigh Aodh Mac AIngil as Contae an Dúin ó dhúchas saothar creidimh chomh maith An leabhar clúiteach staire, Annála Ríoghachta Éireann nó Annála na gCeithre Máistrí, tosaíodh i Leuven é, áit a raibh Michael Ó Cléirigh ag staidéar. Stair na hÉireann scríofa ag Gael – rud is annamh! Tá cuid mhór rudaí suimiúla eile sa chlár seo. An fáth go bhfuil mé á scríobh seo ná gur féidir turasanna treoraithe a fhail go Leuven má tá suim agat sa stair, sa Ghaeilge, sa chreideamh, sa taisteal, sa léinn, i dteangacha agus ar an iliomad cúiseanna eile. Má tá baint agat le cúrsaí teanga, bheadh sé suimiúil foghlaim faoin phobal beag Gearmáinise sa Bheilg. Tá a fhios againn go bhfuil an tír scoilte idir lucht labhartha na Fraincise agus lucht labhartha na hOllainnise ach tá ag éirí go breá le lucht labhartha na Gearmáinise cearta a bhaint amach do theanga s’acu. Ceachtanna do na Gaeil? 400 bliain i ndiaidh bhunú an Choláiste Éireannaí , tá na Gaeil fós i lár shaol na hEorpa – ach an bhfuil an Ghaeilge a chaomhnaigh na fir chróga, chliste sin sa chianaimsir faoi bhagairt ag cinní Rialtas na hÉireann? Anuas air na gnéithe tromchúiseacha seo, is cathair álainn í Leuven. Níl sé ach 15 míle thoir-thuaidh den Bhruiséil – áit ar féidir cuairt a thabhairt uirthi – agus tá sé lán foirgneamh galánta, iarsmalanna agus dánlanna, bialanna breátha agus ní gan fáth go bhfuil clú agus cáil ar an Bheilg as feabhas a bheorach. Déantar Stella Artois in Leuven! Má tá suim agat nó ag do ghrúpa/eagraíocht cuairt a thabhairt ar Choláiste na nGael i Leuven, mar ghrúpa nó mar dhaoine aonair, nó má tá tuilleadh eolais de dhíth ort, déan teagmháil liom ag robert@robertmcmillen.ie nó robert@comhramedia.com