May Minister Lawless launches archive celebrating cultural heritage of Iorras Aithneach

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless T.D., has officially launched the archive exhibition Iorras Aithneach – Cliabhán an Chultúir.

The exhibition - curated by University of Galway’s Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge - is being hosted at Ionad an Acadaimh, Carna.

The archive highlights the contributions of distinguished local tradition-bearers in sean-nós singing, music, poetry and storytelling, who have made a lasting impact on the cultural heritage of Iorras Aithneach in Connemara and further afield and offers an insight into the region’s rich oral traditions while celebrating the role of community-led cultural preservation.

The exhibition and accompanying publication follows research undertaken at Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge and recognises the ongoing collaboration between staff of An tAcadamh and the local community in preserving and documenting cultural heritage.

The project is grounded in the understanding that culture is sustained through communities, where language, customs, and traditions are passed from one generation to another through lived experience, storytelling and song. These oral traditions remain central to the identity of Iorras Aithneach and the wider Gaeltacht region.

            Minister Lawless said: “Today’s exhibition honours the people of Iorras Aithneach not simply as subjects of history, but as active creators and custodians of culture. It highlights the enduring contributions of local tradition‑bearers, singers, storytellers and folklore collectors, whose work continues to shape our understanding of Irish‑speaking communities and enrich our shared national heritage.”

            University of Galway President Professor David Burn said: “This exhibition is a powerful testament to the living cultural heritage of Iorras Aithneach and to the deep knowledge held within Gaeltacht communities. Through the work of Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, we are preserving these traditions and developing new ways to share and study them. This initiative reflects our University’s commitment to the Irish language, to community partnership, and to ensuring that this rich cultural legacy continues to inform and inspire future generations.”

The archive exhibition underscores the strategic importance of Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge’s Gaeltacht infrastructure in supporting the University of Galway’s statutory role in delivering higher education through Irish, as well as advancing programmes in linguistics, culture, language planning and related disciplines.

Treasa Uí Lorcáin, Interim Head of Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, said: “Research-based teaching informs all of our programmes in the University’s Gaeltacht centres. We specialise in language acquisition in an immersive environment. This is achieved through partnership with local communities in Carna, Gaoth Dobhair and An Cheathrú Rua.”

Ionad an Acadamh in Carna is home to several archival collections, including the Seán Mac Giollarnáth Archive, the Éamon de Buitléar Archive, the Joe Heaney Archives, the RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta Archive, and the Pléaráca Archive, all providing unique insights into the heritage and culture of the Gaeltacht communities.

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