San eagrán seo de Gaeilge Thar Lear, labhraím le Caoimhín Mac Uilín ó Chill Chainnigh, atá anois lonnaithe i Londain. Is é Caoimhín bunaitheoir an chlub reatha Rí Rá agus Rith, tionscnamh a thugann deis do Ghaeilgeoirí sa chathair teacht le chéile, dul ag rith agus an Ghaeilge a úsáid i suíomh sóisialta agus gníomhach.
Pléimid bunús an smaoinimh, cé atá páirteach ann agus conas atá an club ag fás. Labhraímid freisin faoin tionchar a bhí ag an gclub CLG Gaeilge Na Gaeil Óga i mBaile Átha Cliath air agus é ina mhac léinn, agus mar a spreag an taithí sin é chun pobal Gaeilge dá chuid féin a chruthú i Londain.
Tagann an comhrá ar a chuid maratón freisin, lena n-áirítear an scéal faoin ngeansaí O’Neills gan choinne a chabhraigh leis na ciliméadair dheireanacha a shárú. Déanaimid machnamh chomh maith ar an gcaoi a bhféadann siúl agus rith trí chathair léargas nua a thabhairt ar stair, ar charachtar agus ar scéalta ceilte na háite.
Thosaigh an comhrá seo tar éis dom postáil ó Chaoimhín a fheiceáil ar Cogar faoi Rí Rá agus Rith, agus bhí orm tuilleadh a fháil amach faoin tionscnamh. Bhí Caoimhín flaithiúil lena chuid ama agus ba mhór agam an deis a scéal a chloisteáil agus a roinnt.
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In this episode of Gaeilge Thar Lear, I speak with Caoimhín Mac Uilín from Kilkenny, who is now based in London. Caoimhín is the founder of Rí Rá agus Rith, a running club that brings Irish speakers together to run, socialise and use Irish in an active and welcoming environment.
We discuss where the idea came from, who is involved, and how the club has developed since it began. We also talk about the influence of the Irish-speaking GAA club Na Gaeil Óga in Dublin, where Caoimhín played hurling while studying in the city, and how that experience inspired him to create a similar Irish-language community in London.
The conversation also touches on the marathons he has completed, including the story of how an unexpected O’Neills GAA jersey helped carry him through the final kilometres of a race. We reflect on how running and walking through a city can reveal so much about its history, character, and hidden stories.
This conversation began after I came across Caoimhín posting on Cogar about Rí Rá agus Rith — and I wanted to find out more about the idea behind it. Caoimhín was generous enough to give me his time, and I really appreciate the opportunity to hear and share his story.
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