An Litir / The Letter

We asked 20 Gaeltacht teenagers what they would like to say to the world leaders meeting at COP28 in Dubai. They expressed their hopes and fears about climate change, and described its impact here in the west of Ireland. They shared this message with the University of Galway researchers attending COP, pictured above.

A Dhomhain Mhóir - léigh an litir i nGaeilge

A Dhomhain Mhóir,

Ón bpobal beag seo ar imeall na hEorpa, tá bhur gcuid cúnaimh á éileamh againn.

Tá cónaí orainn ar chósta thiar na hÉireann, idir portach agus cladach, áit a raibh meas riamh ann ar an bhfarraige. Nuair a bhíonn sí socair téimid ag snámh agus ag iascaireacht. Ach le teacht an athrú aeráide, tá na rudaí is luachmhaire linn ag éirí ina mbagairt.

Léiríonn an taighde go bhfuil leibhéal agus teocht na farraige ag fás go leanúnach. Feicimid go bhfuil stoirmeacha an Atlantaigh níos cumhachtaí, níos coitianta. Tá líon na báistí ag méadú gan stad. Is cosúil go bhfuil na séasúir féin as a riocht.

Táimid buíoch as an trá, na garrantaí, an portach agus gach a mhaireann ann. Ach táimid buartha freisin. Fiú le linn ár saoil, feicimid taisce na timpeallachta ag dul i léig.

Ní hé an t-aos óg a dhóigh an ola, a bhain an mhóin, a leag na crainnte. Ach is muid a bheas thíos leis. Tá an ghlúin seo réidh le tabhairt faoin athrú aeráide le fonn agus fuinneamh. Ach an bhfuil sibhse?

Seasaimis le chéile, mar phobal daonna domhanda, is déanaimis beart de réir ár mbriathar.

Is muide le dóchas,

Déagóirí Chois Fharraige.

Dear World - read the letter in English

Dear World,

From this small community on the edge of Europe, we’re asking for help. 

We live on the west coast of Ireland, between peat bogland and the shore, in a place that has always had respect for the sea. When it’s calm, we go swimming and fishing. But with the advent of climate change, the things we value most are turning into a threat. 

Research shows that sea levels and temperatures continue to rise. We see that Atlantic storms are getting more powerful, more frequent. Rainfall levels are growing continuously. And it feels like the seasons are out of sync.

We are grateful for the beach, the fields, the blanket bog and everything that lives and grows there. But we are worried too. Even during our lifetime, we can see nature’s treasure in decline.

It wasn’t young people who burnt the oil, cut the turf, felled the trees. But we will suffer the consequences most of all. This generation is ready to tackle climate change with enthusiasm and energy. But are you?

Let’s stand together, as one global community, and turn our words into action.

Yours hopefully,

Young people of Cois Fharraige.

See how COP28 delegates reacted to the teenagers' message

University of Galway researchers shared the 'Cois Fharraige to COP' message with policy makers, researchers and activists in Dubai. Click below to see how they responded.