Monaghan County Council have picked up a national award at this year's Heritage Council Awards. The Irish Language Award is given to an event that promoted the use of the Irish language, encouraging engagement through Irish in activities that celebrate heritage.
Monaghan's 'In Search of Airgíalla', was a guided bilingual exploration of the Oriel landscape. The kingdom of Airgíalla or Oriel encompassed a large area of Monaghan and south Tyrone as well as further east into Louth etc.
The event was guided by two Gaelgeoirs, however it was a builingual event. The two guides was Brian Mac Domhnaill, a native of Clones and a local historian, and Déaglán Ó Doibhlin, an Irish language officer with Mid Ulster District Council.
The event was advertised in Irish and English and throughout the day both were spoken freely. The Heritage Council commended the event for creating a very relaxed atmosphere where people were comfortable using either English or Irish.
