Eithne Dunbar from the Brockville Irish Cultural Society on the impact of the Famine on the Irish language and the establishment of Gaeltacht Thuaisceart on Oileáin Úir or the Permanent North American Gaeltacht – Irish speaking area – near Tamworth and Erinsville, Ontario.

Interior shot. Woman seated and viewed from shoulders up with short brown hair, glasses, and a purple top. She is smiling and speaking to camera. Grey bricks and a display board are visible in background.

My name is Eithne Dunbar. I am living here in Brockville, Ontario, Canada, since 1972.

I am very proud to be part of the Gaeltacht project where we are renewing our knowledge of the Irish language, given that a lot of the Irish language was lost during the time of the Famine when people’s attention was just to stay alive.

So if this is a way to say to all of the Famine victims: we have not forgotten the language, we have not forgotten you. Through our refreshment of our knowledge of the Irish language, we are paying honour to the Famine victims who did not survive to pass on the language to their offspring.

Eithne Dunbar starts to speak in Gaelic or “Irish”, which is translated here.

It’s my great honour to take part in the "Canada Gaeltacht" project, because I think that it’s a good thing. It’s in honour of the people of the Great Famine, who had the language in their family, and amongst their people. We ourselves are speaking Irish today in order to honour those of the Faminewho did not have the opportunity to give the language to their family.

Final image of water with onscreen Ireland Park Foundation logo. Celtic style music playing.