Kildare County Council Announces First Recipients of Fáinní Gaeilge
18th May 2026: Kildare County Council, supported by Cill Dara le Gaeilge and Conradh na Gaeilge, were delighted to present Fáinní to Gaeilge to the sixth-class pupils in Caragh National School, as part of Scéim na bhFáinní 2026.
The students were the first to receive Fáinní under the scheme, which aims to encourage the use of Irish amongst sixth class pupils. To qualify, students must complete a project through Irish, after which they are awarded their Fáinne Gaeilge and their school receives a Scéim na bhFáinní Certificate. The Fáinne Gaeilge, developed almost 100 years ago by Conradh na Gaeilge, is a ring-shaped lapel pin signifying a connection to the Irish language. By wearing the Fáinne, people actively demonstrate an interest in speaking in Irish.
Presenting the Fáinní Gaeilge to the pupils in Caragh National School, Councillor Noel Connolly and Chair of Kildare County Council’s Irish Language Committee said: “I worry about our language but coming to Scoil Náisiúnta Cheárach today, meeting all of you and seeing your brilliant projects on Logainmneacha (Placenames), Méimeanna (Memes), Seanfhocail (Proverbs), and Aistí (Essays), it gives me hope for the future of the Irish language...that our language is in safe hands, that Gaeilge is alive and well, and that it will be part of our future. If I could give you some little bit of advice when it comes to Irish, it’s this: to use ‘Cúpla Focal Gaeilge’ (a few words of Gaeilge) gach lá, (every day), and that our language is not just for Seachtain na Gaeilge. Congratulations to you all. Comhghairdeas libh ar fad! Tá obair na gcapall déanta agaibh agus tá an-áthas orm na Fáinní Gaeilge a bhronnadh oraibh.”
To find out more about Scéim na bhFáinní and how primary schools across the county can participate in the scheme, visit:
Kildare County Council’s website at https://kildarecoco.ie/ga/
Alternatively contact Kildare County Council’s Irish Language Officer on 045 980941 or via e-mail at teangabheo@kildarecoco.ie or ogilo@kildarecoco.ie
