Watch out Béarla, it’s the Stepaside Gaeltacht
November 13, 2013
The number of children learning through Irish has trebled in two decades.
The demand for places at Irish language schools continues to surge, but Gaelscoil- eanna hope Education Minister Ruairi Quinn will shelve plans to change their admission policies. The number of students taught through the language outside the Gaeltacht has trebled since 1990 and is set to top over 50,000 in the next five years. In 1990, there were just 15,000 children in Irish language schools. Now there are over 45,000 children who learn as Gaeilge, according to figures supplied to the Irish Independent.The language is booming in the suburbs of Dublin and in commuter counties such as Kildare, according to the school patron body An Foras Pátrúnachta.
Areas such as South Dublin, Lucan and Leixlip are now hotbeds of the language, at least in the classroom. A second Gaelscoil has just opened in the Stepaside area of South Dublin to cope with soaring demand among a new generation of Gaeilgoirs. There is also a third school in nearby Ballinteer. Conchúr O Raghallaigh, principal of tiny Gaelscoil Shliabh Rua in Stepaside, says: “Many parents grew up with a negative attitude towards the language because of the way it was taught. However, they now feel a sense of regret and really want their children to learn it. “Irish is a lot more popular because the teaching methods have improved.” A new Gaelscoil in Lucan has had 223 applications for just 56 places in 2014. Since 1990 the number of Irish medium schools has grown from 79 to 217. Patron bodies for Irish language schools now hope to take over some primary schools if they are vacated by the Catholic Church. Caoimhín Ó hEaghra, general secretary of An Foras Pátrúnachta, says: “We would hope to open a Gaelscoil in Birr (Co Offaly) if one of the schools is left vacant, as the local Catholic diocese reconfigures its schools.”
One point of controversy for Gaelscoileanna is their admission policies. Under the current arrangements they give preference to families where the children are brought up through the language, and they may select pupils by interview. This is said to discriminate against immigrant families. However, as he announced plans to revamp admissions policies earlier this year, Mr Quinn complained about restrictions. ‘We now have a large Gaelscoileanna movement across the country. We are building up a network of Gaelcholaiste to enable parents who want to continue their [children’s] education right through the second-level stream. “I would be concerned with restrictive practices for entrance into those schools just as I would be for entrances into other schools,” he says. Recent draft legislation on school admissions stopped short of blocking all-Irish schools from giving preference to children from Irish-speaking households.
However, under the draft bill they would be barred from carrying out interviews with families to check on their Irish language ability. Gaelscoileanna would also not be allowed give preference to those who attended Irish language pre-schooling. Mr Ó hEaghra denies the schools discriminate against immigrant families. “If you walk into our classrooms you will see that they reflect the diversity of our population. There are students from all kinds of background.” Mr Ó hEaghra says the schools were established to promote Irish and had a responsibility to support families raising their children through the language. “Irish-speaking families are a crucial resource for the schools, because they act as a kind of scaffolding for others hoping to learn the language.” Scoil Shliabh Rua opened with just eight pupils in a pre-fab at Palmerstown Rugby near the village of Stepaside in September. A new school is set to be built on a site at nearby Ballyogan and when it is at full capacity it will have 432 pupils.
Mr Ó Raghallaigh says: “People no longer have the fear of the language that they once had. Years ago it was all about learning poetry and grammar. “Now you have cartoons and game shows on TG4 and Des Bishop has done wonders for the language.” One of the problems for Irish is that it has so far failed to make a breakthrough beyond the classroom and the TV studio. Students may learn through the medium of Irish but when they go home they still speak English. “It is very important that parents are also speaking Irish,” said Mr Ó Raghallaigh. “That is why some Gaelscoileanna are organising Irish classes for parents.” One of the problems facing parents who send their children to Irish-speaking primary school is that there are fewer options at second-level. “We now have a lot of parents who want a second-level Gaelcholaiste, but there is none in their area,” says Mr Ó hEaghra.
www.irishindependent.ie
Seimineár Lae Ardteist 2014
November 12, 2013
Daidí na Nollag le Gaeilge ar fáil
November 12, 2013
Shortlist chosen for New Funding Model
November 12, 2013
Foras na Gaeilge wrote yesterday evening to each organisation who expressed an interest in the role of lead organisation under the new funding model for the voluntary sector, to inform them whether or not they had made the shortlist and would therefore be allowed to proceed in the process.
While Foras na Gaeilge would not release details of the organisations who have reached the shortlist, as this is not public information, they have confirmed to Gaelport.com that 15 expressions were received as part of stage one of the process. Foras na Gaeilge expect to issue a statement next week in relation to the second stage of the process.
The process to achieve the status of lead organisation is a two-part process. Step one involved completing a form stating your interest to act as a lead-organisation in one of the proposed strands as well as confirming your willingness to do so on a 32 county basis.
For those who were invited yesterday by Foras na Gaeilge to take part in stage two of the process, they will now have to prepare a comprehensive submission and the CEO and Chairperson must undertake an interview with Foras na Gaeilge.
Foras na Gaeilge will host a meeting on Friday of this week, with the Chairpsersons and CEOs of those organisations who have been shortlisted. Information will be provided at that meeting in relation to the next stages of the process and what is required in the submission document.
19 organisations currently receive core-funding from Foras na Gaeilge. It is expected that three of these organisations, Raidió na Life, Raidió Fáilte and An tÁisaonad will be funded through new schemes yet to be established by Foras na Gaeilge, which leaves 16 organisations jockeying for position for six golden tickets to ensure their future.
Critics claim this new model could potentially destroy much of the existing language support structures across the 32 counties. It is expected that the six lead-organisations will be announced in January 2014, at which point it will be known which organisations will no longer be supported by Foras na Gaeilge.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Múinteoir Matamaitice
November 11, 2013
Príomhoide Iar-bhunscoile
November 11, 2013
Dianchúrsa Gaeilge in Ráth Chairn ón Luan 25 Samhain- Aoine 29 Samhain 2013
November 11, 2013
Focus on your future at the DIT Open Day
November 11, 2013
The DIT Open Day will take place on Friday 6 and Saturday 7 December at DIT Aungier Street (9am to 3pm).
The website for this year’s open day is now live at www.dit.ie/openday.
The Open Day gives students a chance to discover DIT for themselves, meet current students and staff, attend talks and check out the facilities and clubs and societies that DIT has to offer.
All events are free and we’ve a fun couple of days lined up with our mascot Duck Norris shaking a tail feather and the Spin 103.8 crew on hand with live broadcasts from DIT Aungier Street.
Amongst the talks lined up will be a parents’ information session for any mums, dads and guardians who want to pop along to the Open Day.
Also lined up on Saturday 7th December is the Music Open Day (for third level music programmes at DIT). Students can visit both Aungier Street for the main open day and then head around the corner to the DIT building on Chatham Row (just off Grafton Street). It takes place from 2 to 4.30pm and will feature classical and traditional music demonstration lessons and performances.
DIT Open Day is always one of the most interactive and fun events of our academic year so make sure to keep these dates free – 6 and 7 December.
For more, visit www.dit.ie/openday.
For further information, please contact the DIT Press Office on 01-4027130 or email lisa.jewell@dit.ie.
Ceardlanna Cruinnis sa Ghaeilge le FNT
November 11, 2013
Gaelscoil / Naíscoil Éanna Open Day
November 11, 2013
You are cordially invited to attend the Open Day for Gaelscoil / Naíscoil Éanna on Saturday 30th November 2013 between the hours of 12 – 2pm.
Parents, children, family members and friends are more than welcome to come along, meet the staff and view the nursery and the school buildings to gain an insight into the educational provision for nursery and primary school age children at the only Irish medium facility in Newtownabbey.
We hope to see you there! Bígí Linn!
Contact Gaelscoil Éanna – Fón: (028) 90830088
Naíscoil and Gaelscoil Éanna are housed within the grounds of Naomh Éanna CLG on the Hightown Road in Glengormley. Both schools nestle amid the panoramic surroundings of north Antrim – aptly described as ‘urban amenities in a rural setting.’ This unique and natural setting, for an educational facility, is a feature greatly favoured by the pupils and parents alike.
