Cairde Turas
Oirthear Bhéal Feirste
Friends of Turas
East Belfast
¢heofBbe
Annual Trustees Report
Statement of Accounts:
Year Ending 5th April 2023
Operating base address:
EBM Skainos Square
239 Newtownards Road
Belfast BT4 1AF
CO￿espOndenCe address:
Cairde Turas
EBM Skainos Square
239 Newtownards Road
Belfast BT4 1AF
Trustees:
Andrew Mccammon
Carmel Duggan
Elodie Ducloux
Rachel Carson
Cairde Turas
Registered Charity
Charity No. Nic103775

Main Activities
The objectives in the constitution of Cairde Turas are:
a) To promote leaming opportunities forthe historical languages of Ulster.
b) To encou rage reconciliation by promoting understanding of all aspects of shared
heritage.
c) To promote the h istorical languages and cu Itu res of Ulster through the Arts.
d) To supportthe establishment of an Irish language leaming community in East
Belfast.
The Charity's objectives ('the Objectives.) are to:_
(a)
Promote and offer practical support to Turas Irish Language Centre in its
efforts to establish an Irish language leaming community in East Belfast
(the area of benefit").
(b)
Promote leam ing opportu nities for the historical languages and cultu res
of Ulsterthrough the Arts and othercreative and imaginative means.
(c)
Encou rage and facilitate reconciliation by promoting acceptsnce,
u nderstanding and appreciation of all aspects of shared heritage.
Turas is once again meeting the increasingly high demand forlrish language events in
East Belfast. It has been encou raging th is year especially to see h igh profile
individuals and organisations from a variety of communities take an interest in our
charity. Leaming through social interaction, discussion, debates as well as classroom
teaching not only allows people to immerse themselves in the language and culture,
but also to meet people they wouldn't olherwise interactwith in their daily routine.
Through this we are building on social cohesion and reconciliation, not only locally in
East Belfast, but now across the city thanks to improved pu blic transport lin ks to ou r
centre. Engagement with other charities and su bject matter experts has allowed us to
put on bespoke events su ch as the bilingual boat restoration project in partnersh ip with
Silvery Light Sailing, the Great War Gaeilgeoiri exhibition at Linenhall Library and the
Gaelic Place names of East Belfast event. As always a huge Mile Bu iochas goes to
the efforts of the stsff at Tu ras. ou r su pporters. and the ever-willing band of volu nteers
at Cairde Turas. It is especially great to see regular Irish language social events
happening outside of the classroom setting such as Bum's night at Horatio Todds, St
Patrick's Day Parade in the City Centre and the now monthly Pop Up Gaeltachtai that
occur in Bou ndary Brewery. A big thanks goes out to those establishments that are
happy to host our slua mor. This helps with the vital work of improving visibility of the
Irish language in orderto prevent sidelining or marginalisation of it. It gives us an
opportu nity to show ou rselves off as the polite mery bu nch that we are and hopefu Ily
encourage others to take part with us. Finally these events can only happen because
people come along and l am extremely glad that there are so many of you with a heart
and desire make Irish language a part of your lives. I hope to see you all at the
upcoming events for the 202312024 year!
Events
Cairde Turas
Registered Charity
Charity No. Nic103775

Friday 6th May 2022: Cairde Turas with, funding from the Departhent of Foreign
affairs reconciliation fund, organised a trip to the Bunbeg Gaeltacht. The trip included
Irish lessons as well as a trip to Gola Island. This was a fantastic experience of the
Gaeltacht for ou r leamers.
Thursday 16th June: Oiche Cheiliurtha. This was an evening to celebrate the end of
the academic year at the Skainos Centre. There was refresh ments, music on the night
and opportu nities to use Irish and celebrate all our ach ievements for that academic
year.
Monday 27th June 2022: Trip to Ballycary to Leam about some of the fascinating
history regarding the 1798 Uprising, as well as some of the local history of Ballycarry,
told by a local poet.
Saturday 30th June 2022: Trip to Cushendall. This was a tour by Paul McAllister, a
local expert on the nature and history of the area.
Satu rday 17th September 2022: The Prince and Princess Fu n Day included a photo
booth, bouncy castles. hobby horse racing, face painting. arts and crafts. games and
dress up. This was a free event targeted at young families. Due to the ongoing
success of Naiscoil na Seolts we have increased the nu mber of events focussed on
Cairde Turas
Registered Charity
Charity No. Nic103775

young people in orderfor pupils to engage in leaming through play outside of the
classroom.
Su nday 18th September 2022: An aftemoon at Lisnabreeny Rath. Th is event featu red
music, drama, storytelling and a photo opportunity on the Clandeboye Stone chair
Friday 23rd September 2022: The Gaelic Placenames of East Belfast presentation
was an evening dedicated to leaming more about our locality and the origins of the
words we use everyday such as Lisnasharragh, Ballymacarrett and Ballyhackamore.
01 November - 30th November 2022 With su pport from the National Lottery Heritage
Fu nd, Cairde Tu ras researched lrish-speakers from east Belfast who en listed to fight
in the First World War. The exhibition highlighted the findings of the research. Over
seventy soldiers were identified. They lived in the working class communities that
evolved in east Belfast after the arrival of industry, and relied for work on the local
shipyards and factories. They included family members, workmates, and Catholic and
Protestsnt neighbours who fought alongside each other, mostly at the Somme.
They were drawn from all sides of the community and included some who had signed
the Ulster Covenant. Three years before the war, in the census of 1911, all had said
they were Irish speakers. The exhibition presents a snapshot of their lives before,
during and in some cases afterthe war. On Wednesday 2nd November2022 Dr
Carmel Duggan, who coordinated the research, gave a discussion on the project at
Linenhall Library.
Satu rday 26th November 2022: We organised a trip to the historical town of
Ballycastle, Co. Antrim where there was plenty of music, dancing, stories, craic and
company.
Thu rsday 15th December 2022: Turas Ch ristmas Event. This event, held at Skainos,
featured a Christmas themed Irish language lesson for all abilities, Irish language
Carols, a table quiz, and an opportunityto use the irish language in an informal setting.
It was attended by approximately 80 people.
Cairde Turas
Registered Charity
Charity No. Nic103775

25th January 2023: Cairde Turas organised a Bums Night supper at a local restaurant
Horatio Todds. A tradib'onal Bums Night programme was followed with an Irish
language ￿1st. There were Irish language poems and songs as well as bilingual
speeches and an nou ncements. Approximately 60 people attended the event allowing
for an excellent opportunity to use Irish in a public setting.
10th - 12th February 2023: Trip to the Bunbeg Gaeltscht. We were able to tske a small
grou p of leamers to the Bu nbeg Gaeltacht. The weekend consisted of Irish classes,
local tours, accommodation and meals.
Wednesday 1st March 2023: This was ourfirst pop up Gaeltscht held at Boundary
Brewery on the Newtonards Road. It was organised as part of Seachtain na Gaeilge
Approximately 35 people attended the event wh ich went very su ccessfu Ily. Following
the evening it was decided to ty and organise a similar event every month due to its
popularity.
Friday 1 Oth March 2023: As part of Seachtain na Gaeilge a special showing of An
Cailin Ciuin as well as a short film and talk by Linda Ervine was showcased at Strand
Cinema. This drew approximately 100 people and helped support this local enterprise.
Friday 17th March 2023: Cairde Turas took part in the Belfast St Patrick's day parade
along with Turas and Naiscoil na Seolta. We had banners and T-shirts to display. It
was an excellent day of celebration and a fantastic experience for the learners and
children.
Cairde Turas
Registered Charity
Charity No. Nic103775

Su nday 26th March: In collaboration with the maritime heritage project called Silvery
QrBne
I Caiide Turas
Light Sailing we organised a boat restoration day in Newry. This saw 12 of our
learners take part in the restoration of a traditional Irish fishing vessel. The shipwright
was a Connemara native which meant the day was undertaken bilingually. This was
an excellent opportu n ity to leam new words and to experien￿ someth ing completely
new.
Cairde Turas
Registered Charity
Charity No. Nic103775

.1 Ill
Wednesday 5th April 2023 was our second pop up Gaeltacht in Bou ndary Brewery.
This had even more people attending- approximately 40 and again was a very
successful n ight with attendees of all leam ing abilities.
Supportto our leamers
This year seven of our leamers are studying Irish at tertiary level. It is fantastic that
Turas is continuing to support leamers from complete beginner right up to tertiary
level. These leamers are then able to give back as tutors or teachers, completing the
circle of language development.
The mentoring programme which sees ou r more advanced leamers pass on their
knowledge to new beginners is in full flow with just under 40 leamers receiving direct
mentoring from 8 mentors. This scheme allows mentors sharpening up their grammar
and teaching skills and gives beginners further opportunities to leam and to use their
Irish.
Cairde Turas volunteers are continuing to staff the library on a regular basis. The
library is open every day and several evenings per week. Volunteers are available to
Cairde Turas
Registered Charity
Charity No. Nic103775

advise on choice of book I resources and even just to converse. Books that are used
for classes can be borrowed from the library.
Cairde Tu ras provides 'housekeeping' su pport for Turas classes - making tea, tidying
the social spaces and helping wherever is required. This is a huge to our classes as
individuals appreciate a cup of tea and a snack in a comfortable atmosphere to break
up the teaching sessions.
We also provide volunteers for the Naiscoil (Naiscoil na Seolta), helping to clean and
tidy away equ ipment for the teachers. Again th is is a symbiotic relationsh ip with
volunteers able to use their Irish in the Naiscoil while helping the teachers and it gives
the teachers more time to focus on administration of the Naiscoil after the ch ildren
h ave left.
Cairde Turas Volunteers
Membersh ip of Cairde Tu ras is open to any person aged eighteen years or over
irrespective of their gender, sexual orientation, ra￿, political affiliation, nationality or
religious persuasion who is interested in fu rthering the objects of the Charity.
Members of Cairde Turas, have continued to be active in fund raising and seeking out
sponsors for the many activities and projects being promoted by Tu ras and Cairde
Turas. All financial details are outlined in the treasures reportwhich will be presented
at theAnnual General Meeting (details of which will be circulated to the membership).
Our membership continues to provide a willing band of volunteers who fulfil various
roles in accommodating the smooth running of Turas including serving tealcoffee and
biscuits during the mid session breaks as well as greeting visiting speakers and
guests. Several members perfomi clerical tasks on behalf of Tu ras. Members are
active in fu nd raising and promoting the objectives and ethos of Cairde Tu ras.
Excellentwork is carried out by ourvolunteersto maintain ourlrish Language Lending
Library. Our collecb'on of books contin ues to grow providing a sou rce of knowledge
and reference forthe community here.
Cairde Turas
Registered Charity
Charity No. Nic103775

Cairde Turas volunteers help with the delivery of the Conn O'Neill bus tours which
allows visitors to see and experience the sites relating to the last Gaelic Lord of East
Belfast.
Fund-raising
We are grateful to all our sponsors and funders and we encourage you to examine the
Treasurers Reportforfull detsils. We also wish to thank those members of our charity
who have made generous donations.
All classrooms including the additional and refurbished rooms are well equipped with
whiteboards, suitsble tables and comfortable seating. A wide range of modem audio
visual equipmentis available to all our teachers for use in the presentation of lessons.
Modem AV and communication equipment is ever changing and Cairde Turas plays a
vitsl role by ensuring thatfunds are made available to keep our AV equipment fitfor
purpose.
Fu nding was received to su pport a trips to the Gaeltscht in 2022123. These took place
in Ju ly (Kerry), February (Donegal) and March {Cushendall) and were an excellent
opportu nity for some of our leamers to put saibhreas (richness) on their Irish.
Cairde Turas
Registered Charity
Charity No. Nic103775

Funding was also received to assist our mentoring scheme which enables peer-
learning. We believe that encouraging one to one conversation is the best way to get
people to use their Irish, which in tum solidifies what they have leamed in classes. It is
also a great way to foster new friendships and combat loneliness.
Public Benefit
Throughout 2022123 Cairde Tu ras has remained faithfu I to its stated objectives listed
in the preface to th is report.
Turas collects infomation to ascertain the religious affiliation of any member of the
public attending classes or activities held underthe auspices of Turas or Cairde Turas.
The cross commu n ity aspect of our work conts'n ues to increase, and sponsors are
interested to su pport us in this important role, therefore statistics can be provided on
request.
In 2022-2023, 17 weekly classes across a wide range of levels were provided to just
under500 registered leamers. This is an increase of 5 classes and approximately 130
learners more than last year.
In every report we feel it is important to reiterate the fundamentals, wh ich underpin ou r
desire as an organ isation to promote knowledge, understsnding, cross commu nity
Cairde Turas
Registered Charity
Charity No. Nic103775

cooperation, and tolerance. In doing so we do not claim to be exclusive or in any way
superiorto any individual or organisation which work to promote the same or similar
objectives. At Tu ras we did not set out to be a cross commu n ity project but we believe
it has evolved as part of a generic process to become a shining example of whata true
cross community project should be. Turas is notjust an Irish Language Centre, it is
much more. Turasl Cairde Turas is all aboutwhat knowledge and respect can and
does ach ieve. It enriches lives, softens attitudes, promotes knowledge and fosters
friendships. As members of Cairde Turas we have continued to fulfil our role in
su pport of Tu ras, promote its principles, ideals, objectives and foster love of, and
promote knowledge of, the Irish Language and other historical languages of Ulster.
We remained active in searching for other sou rces of fu nding to su pport future
ventu res so if you have knowledge of funding agencies, wh ich might be sympathetic to
the principles and objects of Cairde Turas, please make you rself known.
We will continue our support for the staff of Turas, the leamers of Turas and all that it
seeks to achieve in the fu rtherance of its objects. Cairde Tu ras and the members of
Cairde Turas will remain active in volunteering and fund raising to:
Maintsin, and where possible improve the quality of the facilities available to our
members and visitors.
Continue the development of the Lending Library,
Maintsin the Cairde Turas website,
Promote and participate in language based cross community projects and
continue our efforts in the futherance of the objects of our Charity.
Engage in projects which further knowledge and understanding of our shared
past and present and prepare us for a more tolerant and inclusive future.
In Conclusion the trustees of Cairde Turas express great thanks to the members of our
executive, ou r members and the Staff of Turas. Their continued hard work,
determination and innovation have seen Tu ras go from strength to strength. As both
learners at Turas and members of Cairde Turas we are privileged to offerour help and
su pport to th is truly un ique cross community project.
The Annual General Meeting will be conducted in Skainos on 25th May at 6.30pm
Notice of the meeting have been circulated along with the agenda.
SignedlProposed: Andrew Mccammon (Chairman)
Date 25th May 2023
Elodie Ducloux (treasu rer)
Date 25th May 2023
Rachel Carson (secretsry)
Date 25th May 2023
Cairde Turas
Registered Charity
Charity No. Nic103775