Cumann Gaelach

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An Cumann Gaelach (English: The Irish Society) is a student society typically found in most colleges and universities in Ireland. Many of the groups were founded in the early 1900s as part of a wider revival of the language, which saw the establishment of national groups such as Conradh na Gaeilge (English: Gaelic League). Although the groups are not formally linked, they operate in a similar manner through the facilitating of Irish classes (usually free), céilís and trips to the Gaeltacht (Irish speaking areas), while many hold special events during Seachtain na Gaeilge (English: Irish Language Week), which takes place the fortnight before St Patrick’s Day. Many of the societies also take part in the annual 'Glór na nGael' (English: The Voice of the Gael) competition, which gives awards to third level groups for their work in the promotion of the Irish language within their institutions. The competition is coordinated partly by Foras na Gaeilge (the body charged with promoting the language) and has existed for several decades. It included a specific category for colleges and universities for the first time in 2006.

1 Membership
2 See Also
3 External Links
4 References

[edit] Membership

Since 2003, the Irish language daily, Lá Nua, has published an annual survey of the country’s main 'Cumainn Ghaelacha' (plural form) and their membership. The 2007 edition features a total of eleven groups, with the Trinity College, Dublin Cumann cementing its position as the largest, gaining more than 50%, with Queen's University Belfast Cumann the largest in Northern Ireland.

University	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08
Dublin City University	-	50	140	160	149
Dublin Institute of Technology	-	30	31	132	188
NUI Galway	-	-	-	360	155
NUI Maynooth	30	60	70	150	122
Queen's University Belfast	25	46	85	88	168
St Mary's University College	-	-	-	-	30
Trinity College, Dublin	330	520	525	700	1,060
University College Cork	-	600	400	520	950
University College Dublin	-	230	370	312	812
University of Limerick	-	-	74	110	100
University of Ulster, Coleraine	-	-	60	60	50
Total	385	1,536	1,755	2,592	3,784