Fáinne

Fáinne ([ˈfaːnʲə], pl. Fáinní but often "Fáinnes" in English) is the name of a pin badge worn to show fluency in, or a willingness to speak, the Irish Language.

The three modern versions of the pin as relaunched in 2014 by Conradh na Gaeilge are the Fáinne Óir (gold circle), Fáinne Mór Óir (large gold circle - 9ct) and Fáinne Airgid (silver circle).

In other contexts, fáinne simply means "ring" or "circle" and is also used to give terms such as: fáinne pósta (wedding ring), fáinne an lae (daybreak), An Tiarna na fáinní (The Lord of The Rings), and fáinne cluaise (earring).

An Fáinne Úr (‘úr’ meaning ‘new’) is the modernised rendition of the Fáinne, having been updated in 2014 by Conradh na Gaeilge. You simply buy what you want, with no test and no certification, and there are three versions presently available from <www.cnag.ie/fainne>:

(The Original Organisation)

Two Irish language organisations, An Fáinne (est. 1916) ("The Ring" or "The Circle" in Irish) and The Society of Gaelic Writers (est. 1911), were founded by Piaras Béaslaí (1881–1965).

They were intended to work together to a certain extent, the former promoting the language and awarding those fluent in its speaking with a Fáinne Óir (Gold Ring) lapel pin, whilst the latter would promote and create a pool of quality literary works in the language.

All the personnel actively involved in promoting the concept of An Fáinne were associated with Conradh na Gaeilge, and from an early time An Fáinne used the Dublin postal address of 25 Cearnóg Pharnell / Parnell Square, the then HQ of Conradh na Gaeilge, though the organisations were officially separate, at least at first.

The effectiveness of the organisation was acknowledged in the Dáil Éireann on 6 August 1920, when Richard Mulcahy, the Sinn Féin Teachta Dála for Clontarf suggested that a league on the model of the Fáinne for the support of Irish manufactures might be established.

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Wikipedia