BEST RANG GAEILGE FINALIST - Craobh Uí Thuama

Your Name: Cuisle Nic Liam

Your Organisation/Company: Craobh Uí Thuama

Your favourite thing about West Belfast: An pobal - the community.

Your First Job: Rang Gaeilge is Fearr

What do you think are the key ingredients needed to make a person or organisation the Best of the West?
A dedicated team of volunteers who are passionate about the work they do and a welcoming, enthusiastic community who are eager to learn and who give up their time week in week out.

Craobh Uí Thuama is an Irish language group that was established in September 2023 to cater to the linguistic needs of the greater Anderstonstown area. We noticed that the Irish language was flourishing throughout the city and that demand for classes was through the roof, but that provision in the Andersonstown/Shaws Road area, where the first urban Gaeltacht, Gaeltacht Bhóthar Seoighe, was established, was scarce.

Craobh Uí Thuama was named in memory of Diarmuid Ó Tuama, a trailblazing Irish language giant that we lost in January 2023. Diarmuid was a committed language activist and a former principal of Bunscoil Phobal Feirste and the impact of his legacy is apparent through the work of Craobh Uí Thuama, given that each of the groups’s committee members are past-pupils of Diarmuid’s.

Craobh Uí Thuama facilitates Irish langauge classes and cultural events for adults. We are extremely committed to the continuous development of our leaners; we started our journey and are growing alongside our learners. What started as 12 week complete beginners course in September 2023 has developed into a comprehensive 3-term course, now catering for lower intermediate, advanced beginner and complete beginner levels. As our learners progress, so too do we.