The Irish Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Éamon Ó Cuív, will re-open the historical head-office of Conradh na Gaeilge in Dublin tomorrow following recent repairs.

Some of the most important figures involved in the 1916 Easter Rising had connections with the Conradh and with the building at Number 6, Harcourt Street; six of the seven signatories of the Declaration of Independence were members of Conradh na Gaeilge, and the tunnel through which the likes of Michael Collins and other commanding officers of the IRB escaped from the British forces are still to be seen under the Conradh's head-office.

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Conradh na Gaeilge received €238,186 through the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs from the Irish-Language Fund, Ciste na Gaeilge, which is part-funded by the National Lottery, towards restoring the historical building in Dublin, with further contributions coming from other branches of the organisations.

Pádraig Mac Fhearghusa, President of Conradh na Gaeilge said: "On behalf of Conradh na Gaeilge, I would like to sincerely thank both the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and all the branches of the Conradh that donated generously to the repair-fund to date to help restore the head-office at Number 6, Harcourt Street to its proper condition. The Conradh is also delighted to have Minister Éamon Ó Cuív re-open this hugely historical head-office for us when the Department’s contribution to fund these essential repairs was so great."

(NS/BMcC)