Today, 25^th January, Úna Uí Lachtnáin was inaugurated as President of Oireachtas na Gaeilge 2011 in the headquarters of Foras na Gaeilge in Dublin. Úna, who is originally from Cootehill in Co. Cavan and now lives in Clontarf, Dublin will represent Oireachtas na Gaeilge for the coming year. This inaugural ceremony kicks off the Oireachtas calendar of events for 2011. The highlight of the year, the Oireachtas na Samhna festival will be held in Killarney again this October.

A home economics teacher, Úna has taught in schools in Churchtown and Glasnevin in Dublin. She developed her grá for Irish when she attended an all-Irish secondary school in Monaghan, but it was when she moved to Dublin and became active in several committees of Oireachtas na Gaeilge that she immersed herself completely in the language. She has been a very active member of the Oireachtas na Gaeilge committee and over the past fifty years she has acted as chairperson of the National Committee, the Arts Committee and the Dublin Branch of the Oireachtas.  

“I’m delighted and honored to assume the Presidency of this great national institution” said Úna as she accepted her chain of office.  “Having been a long-term member of Oireachtas na Gaeilge, I’m very proud to be representing such a wonderful organization which is pivotal in promoting and preserving our native language and culture” she said.

The Oireachtas will host a very busy Calendar of Events again this year – amongst the events are the Gradaim Chumarsáide, which are the Irish language media awards that will take place in Farmleigh in Dublin in May and the Oireachtas Literary Awards which will take place in September.

“We’re delighted to have Úna on board as President of Oireachtas na Gaeilge for 2011” said Liam Ó Maolaodha, Director of Oireachtas na Gaeilge.  “She’s been attending Oireachtas events for over fifty years and is committed to being an ambassador for the Oireachtas in the coming year. We’re also delighted to be returning to Killarney for the Oireachtas na Samhna festival in October after the huge success of last year” he said.