Nuachtlitir is déanaí ar fáil anois!
October 31, 2012
Gearrchúrsa Gaeilge i mBaile an Fheirtéaraigh
October 31, 2012
Scéalta móra agus dánta beaga do léitheoirí óga
October 31, 2012
Why Irish language may soon be a Celtic myth
October 31, 2012
The State has to step in to prevent the demise of our native tongue, writes Conchur O Giollagain
THE Irish language as a communal, collective identity is on its last legs. This was the principal finding of the 2007 Comprehensive Linguistic Study of the Use of Irish in the Gaeltacht. This study was an integral part of a 10-year-long research and consultative process, which regrettably has come to a conclusion of sorts with the revised Gaeltacht Act.
Irish is collapsing in the gaeltacht for two main reasons: a strong decline in the proportion of young, home speakers of Irish; and, secondly, inadequate communal and educational supports to enable even the home speakers to acquire a native-like ability and to function with social ease through Irish in their own peer groups.
Among the central recommendations of the study were: to give statutory effect to designated language-planning initiatives for communities with varying language vitalities, priority being afforded to the stronger areas, so as to counteract their slide below the viability threshold of 70pc of active Irish speakers in a given district; a revamped and attractive support scheme for Irish-speaking families; a bespoke gaeltacht educational system and curriculum; Irish-language socialisation strategies for educational and youth organisations; holistically integrated planning across all domains – language, education, socio-economic; and, finally, the establishment of a rural district council for gaeltacht districts in the stronger areas.
In refusing to engage seriously with any aspect of these recommendations, the State is effectively facilitating the demise of the Gaeltacht. The amended legislation adopts elements of the stylistics of the study, but in essence it is an act of evasion rather than engagement with the clearly documented threats to the sustainability of Irish as a living language. The new Act lacks both analytical rigour and political sincerity.
The language planning provisions of the new Act have been greeted with a mixture of dismay and a sense of missed opportunity by local organisations in the Gaeltacht.
The combination of the visionless political leadership from the State and the evasiveness of the Act will only serve to spiritually diminish the remaining adherents of gaeltacht identity so as to encourage a meek acceptance of their fate.
It now appears that the apparatus of the State is either unwilling or incapable – or perhaps both – of taking on issues concerning linguistic complexity.
Historically, many linguistic minorities have looked to Ireland for leadership. Our failure to address the language issue sends out a disappointing message to the world. It is obvious, however, that more effective interventions are required from the State.
Dr Conchur O Giollagain is the academic director of the MA sa Leann Teanga in NUI Galway and co-author of the Comprehensive Linguistic Study of the Use of Irish in the Gaeltacht.
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Athruithe go leor ar na bacáin
October 31, 2012
Féile na Samhna agus sean-chleachtais mhuintir na Gaeltachta
October 31, 2012
Grianstad an Gheimhridh ag Si an Bhru 2012
October 30, 2012
New careers package to highlight opportunities for language students
October 30, 2012
DVD to be launched by Lynette Fay at Oireachtas na Samhna.
BBC Broadcaster Lynette Fay will launch a new career guidance package, Céim Chun Tosaigh: ag Obair le Gaeilge (A step ahead: Working with the Irish language) at the Oireachtas na Samhna festival in Letterkenny next Friday, November 2nd.
Céim chun Tosaigh: ag Obair le Gaeilge is a career guidance package produced by Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge and Comhar na Múinteoirí Gaeilge for second level students across Ireland.
Céim chun Tosaigh hopes to build on this success and provides information and guidance on courses, training options and career paths in Ireland and abroad.
It follows the success of Cuireadh Chun Cainte, another multimedia project to result from this partnership, which was one the most viewed Irish language content channels on Youtube in the Spring of 2012.
The multimedia package includes a DVD which can be used as a learning resource in classrooms, a handbook with general information on career areas and skills and a series of lively short films and interviews which will be published online on Youtube and Vimeo.
With the exponential growth of mobile technology use amongst teenagers in particular, it is hoped that students will be able to watch these bite-size interviews on the go.
Presented by Sibéal Davitt and Ciarán Ó Conghaíle, the full length programme focuses on a wide range of careers, from media, teaching, technology, linguistics, law, language teaching, sports, the army, the arts, business and childcare.
The DVD examines the challenges faced by graduates in the difficult economic climate, while some of those interviewed have been successful working in careers working with the language far afield from New York to Brussels.
It also highlights the highly transferable skills which multilingual graduates have and the dynamic career paths which are open to them.
This Irish language programme features full subtitles in English and Irish making it a suitable learning resource for all second-level schools in Ireland.
Participants in the project include:
Elaine Ní Bhraonáin from Dublin who teaches the Irish language in New York;
Ciara Roosli who works as a surf instructor in Tramore Co. Waterford;
Joanne Uí Chuana a successful business woman who runs Irish language crèches in the Leinster region;
Conall Ó Máirtín, a teacher from Armagh who has worked on TG4 sports commentary;
Pat O’Connor from Galway who works as a press officer for the Defence Forces;
Mícheal Ó Leidhin from Kerry who works as a reporter with RTÉ News;
Vivienne Breathnach, a legal linguist from Kilkenny working in the European Commission;
Breda Ní Mhaoláin, an interpreter working for the European Institutions;
Contemporary artist Sínead Ní Mhaonaigh who lives in Wicklow and
Actor Diarmaid Murtagh from Cavan who has worked on television and film – The Tudors and Seacht.
The Céim chun Tosaigh package will be launched officially by BBC broadcaster Lynette Fay in the Mount Errigal Hotel in Letterkenny on November 2nd 2012 at 5pm.
This project received funding from Foras na Gaeilge; An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta and Teacher Partner Networks.
Video production of this project was produced in partnership with Red Shoe Productions, the makers of TG4’s flagship arts programme Imeall.
Information packs will be distributed to schools on a 32 county basis following this with all content to be published on line in November. For further information contact eolas@gaelport.com
Bliain na Gaeilge 2013 Launch
October 30, 2012
During this year’s Oireachtas na Samhna, which will take place in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal this coming weekend, a year-long celebration of the Irish language called Bliain na Gaeilge will be launched amongst the Irish-speaking community at 1pm on Saturday 3rd November 2012.
A massive year of celebration is organised in 2013 to celebrate the Irish language. Local groups all over Ireland and abroad will participate in Irish language events to celebrate 120 years of the revival of the Irish language. Bliain na Gaeilge is a year of festivities celebrating the Irish language and will include different fun and exciting events organised both locally and nationally throughout the island of Ireland to inspire the public to use their Irish regularly.
In recent months many groups, public committees and Irish-language organisations have been coming together to make Bliain na Gaeilge happen, and they are working with the public so that the Irish language will be a natural part of daily life in 2013, with it being spoken in government buildings, schools, county councils, youth clubs, USI and Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann events, on TG4 and RTÉ and many other places besides.
The Gathering Ireland 2013 which is a series of events and festivals to celebrate Irish culture, history and genealogy will also take place next year, and Bliain na Gaeilge organisers hope to make the Irish language a central part of those events hosted in Ireland in the coming year also.
There will be a range of international gatherings and local events running throughout Bliain na Gaeilge as well as seminars, concerts, sports, dance, literature readings, music and school events across the country. A new website will be launched at www.gaeilge2013.ie soon to provide information on Bliain na Gaeilge, and the language initiative will be launching nationally on Sunday, 25th of November 2012.
Bliain na Gaeilge’s new website will colourful and easy to use and will bring together a calendar of events currently being organised to celebrate Bliain na Gaeilge here in Ireland and all over the world next year. This huge list of events, happening in places with established Gaeltacht or Irish-language societies and with Irish speakers in attendance, will be available at www.gaeilge2013.ie in the near future. People with Irish roots and those interested in the Irish language here at home and all over the world in places where Irish is widely spoken – parts of Canada, USA, Europe, Asia and Australia included – will have access to event listings, photos and Irish language information at their fingertips with this wonderful easy to use new website.
You can get more information about Bliain na Gaeilge 2013 at www.facebook.com/gaeilge2013 or on Twitter @gaeilge2013.
Féile Bheag Filíochta to hold poetry workshop for young writers
October 30, 2012
For the fourth year in a row, Féile Bheag Filíochta will run from 8-11 November in Baile an Féirthéaraigh, West Kerry.
This year’s festival is dedicated to the late Máirín Féirtéar, one of the festival’s founding members and the weekend promises to provide the finest music, dance, lectures, poetry recitals and open mic sessions from beginning to end.
The festival’s committee has decided to hold a poetry workshop for young writers between the ages of 17-15 to commemorate the work of Máirín Féirtéar. The workshop, which will commence on 10 November at Músaem Bhaile an Fhéirtéaraigh, is set to cover several creative topics and provide essentials skills for writers in the beginning stages. To register for this free event contact bridnimhorain1@eircom.net.
The festival will kicks off on Thursday 8 November at ‘The Lab’ in Dingle where Bosco Ó Conchúir will launch Céaití Ní Bheildiúin’s ‘Cosán’. The official opening of the festival will be the next day at Músaem Bhaile an Fhéitéaraigh at 7pm with a feast of traditional music and contemporary dance. Also on Friday Gabriel Fitzmaurice will lead a ‘bothántaíocht’ session at Tigh an Tobair, Baile an Fhéirtéaraigh.
On Saturday Paddy Bushe and Bríd Ní Mhóráin will lead poetry workshops and there will also be a historical walk and conversational session at gCaifé na Caolóige, Cloichear.
The festival will come to a close on Sunday with a poetry reading with Ceaití Ní Bheildiúin, Bertha McCullagh and Billy Ramsell along with a contemporary dance and poetry piece with Sultan Kakar and Lisa Cahill.
For more information and a full programme of events visit http://www.feilebheagfiliochta.com/.
