North Mayo Gaeltacht team compete in Comórtas Reatha na Gaeltachta 2020

Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta didn't take place this year but inspired Irish language planning officers from all over the Gaeltacht came together during the Covid-19 lockdown and organised the inaugural Comórtas Reatha na Gaeltachta.

They would like to extend a bualadh bos mór to each and every participant that undertook this four-week exercise challenge to walk or run at least 10km per week for their Gaeltacht area.

Over 80 people registered for Foireann Ghaeltacht Iorrais (the north Mayo Gaeltacht team) and participated in this comórtas, which set out to determine the fittest Gaeltacht community in Ireland.

Participants were asked to log their mileage on their chosen fitness app on at least two walks or runs each week and also to check in with their team as Gaeilge on the comórtas WhatsApp group.

Laoise Ní Dhúda (Gaeilge Iorrais) and Pádraig Brogan (Erris parkrun) kept an account of the distances travelled each week. Foireann Ghaeltacht Iorrais walked and/or ran over 9,200km over the four weeks of the competition. According to Google Distance, this is roughly the equivalent of a journey from Béal an Mhuirthead to Boston Meiriceá and back!

Each participant clocked 30km on average per week. For some, the comórtas offered a great incentive to get off the couch, monitor distance and increase exercise on a weekly basis with the support and encouragement from WhatsApp group. Other, more seasoned walkers and joggers on the team logged in excess of 50km per week.

The comórtas also gave participants ample opportunities to use and practice their Irish in an informal friendly setting and also to become acquainted with other Irish speakers from different parishes in this vast Gaeltacht area.

Gaeilge Iorrais organised weekly challenges and raffle prizes to encourage participants and Irish language use. For example, participants were asked to share photos of where they like to run or walk on social media using the hashtag #seoíanGhaeltacht. The wider Gaeltacht community were then able to view beautiful unspoiled parts of the north Mayo Gaeltacht area through another lens. Montages of these fabulous photographs can be viewed on the Gaeilge Iorrais Facebook page (facebook.com/gaeilgeiorrais) and website (www.gaeilgeiorrais.ie). Míle buíochas arís to all that shared their photos during the comórtas.

Gaeltacht Iorrais came seventh overall in this all-Gaeltacht challenge, the third largest group to finish out of a total of 730 people that completed the entire challenge. Céim ar Chéim from the northwest Donegal Gaeltacht area took home the winner’s trophy, Corn Raidió na Gaeltachta. They were two points ahead of Reathaithe Rua from an Cheathrú Rua.

Buíochas speisialta arís le Gaeilge Iorrais and Pádraig Brogan. Bualadh bos eile to all the participants. They were awarded a Gaeilge Iorrais sports t-shirt and medal from Erris parkrun for their endeavours ar son na Gaeltachta seo.

Language planning officers have organised a virtual 5km walk/run in the Gaeltacht today (Tuesday). Plans are also afoot for Maratón na dTeaghlach, an event where households will be encouraged to complete a marathon distance over a four-week period in July. Keep an eye on the Gaeilge Iorrais Facebook page for further details about these Irish language events.