(English Translation Below)
Tá Wayne Mac Feilimí tofa ina Chathaoirleach ar Bhord Gael Linn. Rugadh agus tógadh Wayne i gContae Fhear Manach ach tá sé ina chónaí anois i Machaire Fíolta, Co Dhoire, lena bhean chéile, Melissa, agus an bheirt clainne atá acu. Is ag an chruinniú deireanach de Bhord Gael Linn a toghadh é agus tagann sé i gcomharbacht ar Phádhraic Ó Ciardha a chaith 5 bliana rathúla sa ról. Thosaigh Wayne amach le Gael Linn mar scoláire i gColáiste Gael Linn, Machaire Rabhartaigh, sa bhliain 1998. Phill sé mar cheannaire, mar mhúinteoir, mar leasphríomhoide agus níos moille mar phríomhoide i gColáiste Gael Linn, Bun an Inbhir. Ó 2010 tá sé ina chomhalta ar Chuideachta Gael Linn (Uladh) agus ina bhall ar Bhord Gael Linn ó 2015.
D'fhreastail Wayne ar Choláiste Mhichíl, Inis Ceithleann, agus ba ansin a spreagadh an tsuim atá aige sa Ghaeilge. Bhain sé céim onórach amach i dTeanga agus Litríocht na Gaeilge in Ollscoil Uladh, Cúil Raithin (2005) agus céim mháistreachta sa Cheannaireacht Chomhoibritheach ó Ollscoil na Banríona, Béal Feirste (2015).
Tá mórán taithí ag Wayne i dteagasc, i measúnú agus i gcur chun cinn na Gaeilge mar mhúinteoir scoile. Faoina chúram mar Cheann Roinne, thuill Scoil Ghramadaí Naomh Muire, Machaire Fíolta, Sciath Mhic Giolla Bhríde (2012), Gradam BASLA ó Acadamh na Breataine (2015) agus an chéad Gaelbhratach in earnáil an Bhéarla ó Thuaidh (2017). Bhí sé ina léachtóir páirtaimseartha le hOllscoil Uladh (2016 – 2019) agus tá beagnach cúig bliana déag caite aige le CCEA mar scrúdaitheoir, modhnóir, scríbhneoir agus sa bhliain 2018 ceapadh ina phríomhscrúdaitheoir é ar GCSE Irish . Suíonn Wayne ar Bhord Chlárúcháin na Nuatheangacha le CCEA chomh maith.
Dúirt Réamonn Ó Ciaráin, Príomhfheidhmeannach Gael Linn, ‘Tá muid an-bhuíoch de Phádhraic Ó Ciardha as an stiúir mhaith a thug sé do Gael Linn mar chathaoirleach. Is cinnte go mbeidh rath ar obair Bhord Gael Linn agus Wayne Mac Feilimí ina cheann fosta. Tá feith na ceannaireachta go smior i Wayne agus dílseacht as cuimse aige do luachanna bunaidh Gael Linn.’
Dúirt Mac Feilimí, ‘gur mór an onóir é a bheith sa chathaoir ar eagraíocht a bhfuil tionchar suntasach a imirt aici i gcuid mhór gnéithe de chultúr agus oidhreacht na nGael ar oileán na hÉireann agus níos faide i gcéin. Le díograis an bhoird agus tiomántas na foirne, tá Gael Linn suite go maith le tabhairt faoi na dúshláin atá roimh phobal na Gaeilge mar aon leis na deiseanna iontacha atá ar fáil dúinn a thapú.’
Fermanagh Man elected Chairman of Gael Linn Board
Wayne Mac Feilimí has been elected Chairperson of Gael Linn. He was born and reared in Fermanagh but now lives in Magherafelt, Co. Derry, with his wife, Melissa, and their two children. He was elected at Gael Linn's recent Board meeting and succeeds Pádhraic Ó Ciardha who had completed 5 successful years in the role. Wayne's connection with Gael Linn started as a student in Magheroarty College in 1998, after which he returned as leader, teacher, vice principal and later as Principal of Gael Linn's Bunaninvir College. Since 2010 he has been on Gael Linn's advisory group (in Ulster) and subsequently a member of the company’s Board since 2015.
Wayne attended St. Michael's College, Enniskillen, where he acquired his initial interest in the Irish language. He proceeded to Ulster University, Coleraine, from where he graduated with honours in Irish Language and Literature (2005) and later achieving a master's degree in Collaborative Leadership from Queen's University, Belfast (2015).
Wayne has extensive experience in teaching, assessment and promotion of Irish as a teacher. Under his leadership as Head of Department, his school, St. Mary's Grammar, Magherafelt, won the Mac Giolla Bhríde Shield (2012), a BASLA Award (2015) from the British Academy and the first Gaelbhratach to be awarded to a school in the English Medium Sector in the North (2017). He has been a part-time lecturer for the Ulster University (2016 - 2019) and has almost 15 years’ experience with CCEA as an examiner, moderator, writer and in 2018 he was appointed Chief Examiner for GCSE Irish. Wayne also sits on the CCEA Modern Languages Programming Board.
Gael Linn's CEO, Réamonn Ó Ciaráin, said, 'We are indebted to Pádhraic Ó Ciardha for his effective guidance as Chairperson. The work of the Board will continue to thrive under Wayne Mac Feilimí's leadership. Wayne possesses great leadership qualities and a deep commitment to Gael Linn's founding values also.'
Mac Feilimí said, ‘It is a great honour to chair an organisation that is having a significant impact on many aspects of the Gaelic culture and heritage in Ireland and beyond. With the dedication of the Board and the diligence of the team, Gael Linn is well placed to take on the challenges facing Irish language speakers and learners as well as availing of the tremendous opportunities open to us.’