From Knots to Grá: Celebrating Seachtain na Gaeilge in Art and Language

15 Mar

**Seachtain na Gaeilge**

Have you heard about Seachtain na Gaeilge? It literally translates to ‘Irish Language Week’, but it is actually celebrated for about 2 weeks every year.
It's all about **spreading the love for the Irish language and culture**, not just in Ireland, but all over the world! It started way back in 1902 and in recent years has grown from strength to strength.
The festival is a vibrant and dynamic celebration, filled with music, dance, literature, and, of course, the beautiful Irish language, Gaeilge

Grá

The Irish word grá (pronounced 'graw') translates to "love" in English. It doesn’t just refer to romantic love, it encompasses passion, affection, and care in all forms.

You will find the spirit of grá during the Seachtain na Gaeilge festivities. Whether that’s in traditional music sessions in cozy pubs or lively céilís, in village halls, the love for Irish culture is everywhere as people come together to celebrate a shared heritage.

**My grá for Gaeilge** has certainly grown a lot in recent years. I reluctantly learned it as a child in primary school until we left Ireland when I was 13 years old. Then I was delighted that I no longer had to learn it anymore.

But now, in my late 40s I am voluntarily **learning Irish again** and I’m really enjoying it. I love that **Seachtain na Gaeilge** is a wonderful way to make it easier to **have fun with the language**.

Thanks to the grá of language lovers, teachers, and communities, their unshakeable passion is keeping the indigenous language of Gaeilge alive. The Irish language is going from strength to strength, and I'm so pleased to be a part of it.

I’m working my way through Irish with Mollie’s beginners’ course. Mollie is a shining example of this passion. Her grá for the language is contagious and she makes it much more enjoyable than I found it when I was in school. She also makes it much easier to understand and learn.

My Grá design

So let me tell you a bit about this drawing I made.

I was inspired by the **beauty of Celtic knots** and added my own **quirky line art style** to it. It’s a Celtic knot heart with a twist, quite literally, and I lovingly named it ‘Grá’ 😉

Adding my own spin to the design was the really fun part. When I’m working on the details is when I get into a flow state. I let my lines flow freely, and I love that I end up creating something that is **uniquely mine with a Celtic vibe**.

Naming the piece was a bit of a no-brainer. ‘Grá’ seemed like the perfect fit – short, sweet, and with the right meaning. It's a nod to the love and warmth that Seachtain na Gaeilge brings out in people, whether they're fluent Irish speakers or just have a ‘cúpla focal’ (a few words).