Rugadh agus tógadh Ethel Brogan i gCathair Ard Mhaca i dTuaisceartna h-Éireann. Nuair a bhí sí ina cailín óg, chaith sí a laetheanta i measc an chultúir Ghaelach. B'in é an uair ar thit Ethel i ngrá leis an nGaeilge. Chuaigh sí ar imirce sa mbliain 1946, agus chaith sí na ceithre bliana ina dhiaidh sin i gCathair Nua-Eabhrac. Sa deireadh, d'aistrigh sí amach faoin tuaith i Stát Nua-Eabhrac lena fe
ar céile, Bill Brogan. Cé go raibh Ethel ag maireachtáil sna Stáit Aontaithe Mheirceá, ní raibh aon dearmad déanta aice ar na rudaí Gaelacha, go háirithe an Teanga. Thosaigh sí ag múineadh ranga Ghaeilge ar mhaithe a comharsan Mheiriceánach. Ní raibh na ranganna ar siúl aici ach oíche amháin sa seachtain, agus go gairid, thug Ethel faoi deara go raibh an-deachracht acu an Teanga a fhóghlaim ar an modh sin. Chuimhnigh sí go ceanúil ar an mbealach ar fhóghlaim sí fhéin an Ghaeilge. Chaitheadh sí mí iomlán gach samhradh sa nGaeltacht ag staidéar na Gaeilge, gan focal Bhéarla ar bith a labhairt. Bhí sé chomh héasca, chomh nádúrtha, an Teanga a fhóghlaim mar sin. Chinn Ethel ar an bhfaill céanna a thabhairt dena cuid mhic léinn. Shocraigh sí an chéad Deireadh Seachtain na Gaeltachta faoi Mhárta 1981. Tháinig daltaí as rang Ethel agus as na ranganna áitiúla eile. D'fhreastal breis is tríocha duine ar an gclár, agus d'éirigh sé go hán-mhaith leo. Chonaic na mic léinn go raibh siad in ann úsáid a bhaint as an nGaeilge mar theanga bheo, agus spóirt 'is spraoi a bheith acu ag an am céanna. Tá a fhios ag an domhan an scéal ó shin amach. Níor stad Ethel ag obair ar son na cúise ón uair sin, ague lean sí ar aghaidh breis 'is tríocha bliain. D'ullmhaigh sí Deireadh Seachtaine eile, agus ansin ceann eile, agus thar éis sin ceann eile fós. Chun cabhair a thabhairt di leis an misean seo, bunaíodh "Daltaí na Gaeilge" leis an t-aon chuspóir amháin - "Chun an Ghaeilge a mhúineadh agus í a chuir chun cinn". Sa lá atá inniu ann, bíonn sceideal lán réite ag Daltaí na Gaeilge i gcaitheamh na bliana ar fad. D'fhill cuid dena mic léinn abhaile agus bhunaigh siad a gcláir fhéin a bhí bunaithe ar shampla Ethel. I láthair na huaire, tá a gcláir ar siúl ar fud Mheiriceá Thuaidh. Ní gá a rá go raibh Ethel an-bhródúil go deo astu uilig. Bíonn cláir tairgthe ag Daltaí na Gaeilge i Stát Nua-Eabhrac, Nua-Gheirsí agus Coill Phenn. Agus bíonn ranganna le fáil iontu atá feiliúnach do chuile dhaoine, idir glan tosaitheoirí agus cainteoirí dúchasa. Deireadh Ethel go minic go raibh an obair iomlán déanta aici mar ba ghrá léi í. In a barúil fhéin, níorbh obair ar chor ar bith é ach comhlíonadh nuair a bheadh duine ag streachailt ar son na cúise. Bí linn agus leag a lorg iontach. Beidh fáilte Uí Cheallaigh romhat, cinnte! Ethel Brogan was born and raised in Armagh City in the north of Ireland. When she was a young girl she spent her days immersed in the Irish (Gaelic) culture. That was when Ethel fell in love with the Irish language. She emigrated to the United States in 1946, and she spent the following four years in New York City. Eventually, she relocated to the countryside of upstate New York with her husband, Bill Brogan. Although Ethel was living far away from her native home, she never forgot her Irish roots, especially the Irish language. She began teaching Irish language classes for the benefit of her American neighbors. Her classes were only held one evening each week, and Ethel soon noticed that it was very difficult for them to learn the language in that way. She fondly remembered the way in which she herself had learned Irish. She would spend a full month each summer in the Gaeltacht (Irish speaking district) studying the Irish language, and without speaking any word of English at all. It was so easy, so natural, to learn the language like that. Ethel was determined to give the same opportunity to her own students. She arranged the first "Gaeltacht Weekend" in March of 1981. Students came from Ethel's class as well as from the other local classes. More than thirty people attended that first program, and it proved to be a great success. The students saw that they were able to make use of the Irish language as a living language, while having fun and sport at the same time. The whole world knows what happened after that. Ethel worked tirelessly, and for the next 30 years she dedicated herself to advancing the Irish language. She arranged another Immersion Weekend, and then another one, and after that another one more. In order to help her in this mission, Daltaí na Gaeilge was founded with its one and only objective - "To promote and teach the Irish language". At the present time, Daltaí na Gaeilge has a full schedule of immersion programs throughout the entire year. Some of the attendees at these events have returned home and established their own programs which are based on Ethel's model. Presently, their programs are running throughout North America. Needless to say, Ethel was always extremely proud of them. Daltaí na Gaeilge operates immersion programs in New York State, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. These programs offer classes which are suitable for every level of ability, from true beginners to native speakers. Ethel often said that she did all of this work because she loved it. In her opinion, when people struggle on behalf of this noble cause they are not really doing work, but rather finding fulfillment. Join us in following her marvelous example; and you will be warmly welcomed, of course!
