A special evening in memory of the late Sinn Féin representative Gráinne Mhic Géidigh will take place this Saturday 21st September 2019 at 6pm at the party’s constituency office in Derrybeg.
The gathering, which is being organised by Deputy Pearse Doherty, will see a number of special events take place as friends, family and all those who knew Gráinne come together to pay tribute to the party’s first ever female elected representative in Donegal.
Speaking ahead of this Saturday’s occasion, Teachta Doherty said “I am delighted and hugely humbled to be able to announce that this Saturday will see friends, family and loved ones of Gráinne Mhic Géidigh gather together for a special event taking place in dedication to her memory.
“As many people will recall Gráinne sadly passed away just a few days before Christmas in 2017 following a battle with cancer.
“To all who knew her, it’s in no way cliché to say that Gráinne was simply one of a kind.
“To her family she was a sister, a mother as well as a loving wife. As for the rest of us she was a truly remarkable woman: a dedicated Republican, a passionate Gaeilgeoir and – speaking personally – a wonderful friend and confidant.
“She is someone who will always be foundly remembered for, amongst other things, her inimitable wit, her beautiful singing voice and knowledge of traditional Irish folklore and tradition.
“During her lifetime Gráinne made history when she became the first woman elected to the board of Údarás na Gaeltachta, making her Sinn Féin’s first woman elected representative in the county.
“Considering the many worthwhile contributions she made over the years to promote the Irish language and the Gaeltacht region, it’s only fitting that a special event like this takes place to celebrate the mark she left on the lives of all who knew her.
“On the night a commissioned portrait of Gráinne by local artist Annette Curran will be unveiled, while the ‘Gráinne Mhic Géidigh Scholarship’ will be launched which aims to assist young people attend Irish Colleges in the Gaeltacht to learn the language.
“Separately, the ‘Corn Ghráinne’ award for participants of the ‘An Beál Binn’ recitation festival will also be launched while food and drinks will be served on the night.
“I’d therefore like to extend an open invitation to everyone who knew Gráinne to ask that they join us this Saturday in Gaoth Dobhair for an evening of celebration, conversation and refreshments all in loving memory of a true patriot, Gráinne Mhic Géidigh.”
Ócáid Speisialta á Reachtáil i gCuimhne Gráinne Mhic Géidigh
*Leagan Béarla Thíos / English Version Below*
Cuirfear ócáid speisialta ar bun i gcuimhne an tIar-ionadaí Shinn Féin Gráinne Mhic Géidigh ag 6 i.n. ar an Satharn 21ú Meán Fómhair 2019 in Oifig Shinn Féin, Doirí Beaga.
Tá an tionól á éagrú ag Teachta aitiúil Pearse Doherty agus beidh roinnt imeachtaí ar súil ar an oíche mar a dtiocfaidh cairde, baill dá teaghlach agus daoine a raibh aithne acu ar Gráinne le chéile chun ómós a thabhairt don chéad ionadaí ban an pháirtí i nDún na nGall.
Ag caint roimh an ócáid, Dúirt Teachta Doherty:
“Is mór an ónóir dom a rá go dtiocfaidh cairde, gaolta agus daoine muinteartha Ghráinne Mhic Géidigh le cheile Dé Satharn chun freastáil ar ócáid speisialta atá á reachtáil i ndilchuimhne uirthi.
“Cuimhneoidh daoine go bhfuair Gráinne bás le hailse go brónach cúpla lá roimh Nollaig i 2017.
“Ní haon áibhéil a rá nach mbeidh leithéid Ghráinne ann arís.
“Ba bhean chéile ghrámhar í, máthair gheanúil agus deirfiúr iontach. Bean iontach ab ea í gan amhras: bhí sí ina Poblachtánach an-díograiseach, Gaeilgeoir paiseanta agus – ag caint go pearsanta – cara dílis agus rúnchara.
“Bhí féith an ghrinn inti leoga agus bhí clú agus cáil uirthi de bharr a guth álainn agus an t-eolas leathan a bhí aici ar an bhéaloideas agus an seantraidisiúin.
“Rinneadh stair nuair a thoghadh Gráinne mar bhall de bord Údarás na Gaeltachta: an chéad bean a bhí tofa air agus an chéad ionadaí ban Shinn Féin sa chontae.
“Chuaigh Gráinne go mór i bhfeidhm ar achan duine a raibh aithne uirthi agus silím gur comhartha ómóis cuí é go mbeidh ócáid speisialta mar seo ar súil chun comóradh a dhéanamh ar a saol go háirithe nuair a chuimnítear go ndéarna sí obair mhór ar son na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta.
“Nochtfar portráid choimisiúnaithe do Ghráinne le healaíontóir aitiúil Annette Curran ar an oíche, agus seolfar ‘Scoláireacht Ghráinne Mhic Géidigh’ atá á bhonnadh d’fhonn cuidiú le daoine óga freastail ar Choláistí Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht.
“Chan amháin sin ach beidh an ‘Corn Ghráinne’ lainseáilte agus é atá le bronnadh ar rannpháirtí sa chomórtas aithriseoireachta, An Beál Binn agus cuirfear bia agus deoch ar fáil fosta.
“Mar sin ba mhaith liom cuireadh oscailte a thabhairt d’achan duine a raibh aithne acu ar Gráinne chun a bheith inár gcuideachta Dé Sathairn i nGaoth Dobhair fá choinne tráthnóna ceiliúradh, cainte agus sólaistí i ndilchuimhne ar fíor-thírghráthóir, Gráinne Mhic Géidigh.”