Ireland’s first ever digital hub Artist in Residence has been appointed as Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, renowned musician and singer, takes up the role in gteic@Gaoth Dobhair
Renowned musician Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh was inaugurated as Artist in Residence in gteic@Gaoth Dobhair at a music gathering on Friday. This is the first time there has been an Artist in Residence in this innovation and digital hub and indeed in the gteic network. This will be a unique opportunity to hear inspiring Irish traditional music in the gteic@Gaoth Dobhair enterprise environment on the Gaoth Dobhair Business Park and although the arts have been promoted for many many years, this will be a novel approach, linking both culture and enterprise on a new footing.
The gteic digital hub network is an innovative and creative concept that is being developed in over 30 different locations throughout the Gaeltacht. This appointment is an exciting new feature for the network whose moto is ‘a place where creativity is born from culture’. Irish culture will be at the heart of the gteic network bringing together people from different cultures and languages under one roof where its importance and meaning in an innovative coworking environment is acknowledged.
The gteic@Gaoth Dobhair environment and Mairéad’s approach to the appointment will inspire gteic visitors in terms of Gaeltacht culture, language and heritage. The role of Artist in Residence in gteic@Gaoth Dobhair will be central to supporting and creating links to the economy, the culture and the community.
Speaking at the appointment new gteic@Gaoth Dobhair Artist in Residence Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh said:
“I am honoured to be inaugurated as Artist in Residence here in the gteic in my place of birth in the Donegal Gaeltacht. It will be a great opportunity to showcase the Irish traditional music culture to all communities that come through the doors here and to share it with the next generation. This is a positive appointment to the arts community in the Gaeltacht areas and I am delighted to be the first gteic Artist in Residence.”
Anna Ní Ghallachair, Chairperson of the Board of Údarás na Gaeltachta spoke in relation to the appointment:
“This is an historic day for Údarás na Gaeltachta and for the gteic network, it also shows the rich tradition of music which is ingrained in Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, a musician and singer known both national and internationally and a woman who promotes both her home place and mother tongue. The role of Artist in Residence at gteic@Gaoth Dobhair will enrich the gteic@Gaoth Dobhair environment and the people who attend events, classes and other occasions there.”
Chief Executive of Údarás na Gaeltachta Mícheál Ó hÉanaigh welcomed the appointment:
“We are honoured that a musician such as Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh is the first Artist in Residence in gteic@Gaoth Dobhair. She will give the Irish music tradition a new platform through gteic members, the entire network and the public and will ensure that the economy, the community and culture, language and the arts are linked which is central to the work of Údarás na Gaeltachta.”
