Ranganna Gaeilge ar fud na tíre le Conradh na Gaeilge
January 10, 2013
Cúrsa Ullmhúcháin don Scrúdú Cainte Ardteiste
January 10, 2013
Gearrchúrsa i gCruinneas na Gaeilge ag Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne
January 10, 2013
Parents to be asked on alternatives to Catholic-run schools
January 9, 2013
Parents in 39 towns and city suburbs will be asked their views from next week on a choice of up to five alternative patrons to their local, Catholic-run, primary schools.
They include seven Cork and Kerry towns, nine other Munster towns and 12 areas in the Catholic archdiocese of Dublin. But the level of demand for changes to the current system could be in dispute after the interpretation by the group representing Catholic schools of the pilot survey results last month.
Although 25% to 35% of parents said they would avail of a wider choice of patronage if it was available, the Catholic Schools Partnership said this equated to just 5% to 10% of all parents, based on participation rates as lows as 24% in some survey areas.
Following the survey of families in five towns in November, the New Schools Establishment Group proposed that the Catholic bishops offer a school in each of them to multi-denominational group Educate Together. It was the most preferred patron among those who supported a wider choice of schools in Arklow, Co Wicklow, Castlebar, Co Mayo, Tramore, Co Waterford, Trim, Co Wexford, and Whitehall in Dublin.
The expanded survey of parents was to have started today but the Department of Education said patron bodies asked for it to begin next week, rather than this week when schools have just returned after Christmas.
In all 39 areas, the all-Irish schools patron group An Foras Pátrúnachta and the city or county vocational education committees (VECs) have put themselves forward to take over schools currently under Catholic patronage. The National Learning Network, a training division of the Rehab group, is an option for parents in four, and families in four towns can choose the Nigerian-founded Redeemed Christian Church of God as an alternative patron.
Educate Together is offering to be patron to schools in all but five areas, including Carrigaline, Co Cork, where it already has a school. The other Cork towns where parents of primary and pre-primary children are being surveyed are Bandon, Cobh, Fermoy, Passage West and Youghal.
Other Munster towns selected are: Shannon, Co Clare, Killarney, Co Kerry, Carrick-on-Suir, Clonmel, Nenagh, Roscrea, Thurles and Tipperary in Co Tipperary; and Dungarvan, Co Waterford.
They have little or no choice of primary schools, other than Catholic or other denominational schools, but with insufficient population growth to justify new schools being built.
Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has asked the Catholic bishops in the five pilot towns to respond within six months with proposals on how to reconfigure their existing schools to facilitate Educate Together.
www.irishexaminer.com
Irish language classes in Oideas Gael 2013
January 9, 2013
In 2010 Oideas Gael celebrated 25 years of Irish language courses and cultural activity holidays in Gleann Cholm Cille, Co. Do. Donegal.
Once again Oideas Gael are providing a great range of courses in 2013. Week long courses, weekend courses along with a Language and Culture Summer School will be held in Oideas Gael from March – August 2013 with many cultural activities taking place to coincide with the classes.
Courses range from weekend and weekly courses and these classes are suitable for all levels from beginners to individuals with more proficiency in the Irish language but who would like to polish up on their grammar.
The classes are held in the beautiful setting of south Donegal. What sets these particular courses apart from other is that course participants are given a wonderful opportunity to practice their Irish on an daily bases by participating in cultural events which are organised to coincided with the courses.
Recreational activities such as dancing, poetry, or guest lectures take place each evening, after which participants are free to practise their Irish with people from all other levels while enjoying the craic in the local pubs.
For further information regarding classes/courses please contact:
Oideas Gael
Gleann Cholm Cille
Co. Donegal
Telephone: +353 (0)74 97 30 248
Fax: +353 (0)74 97 30 348
E-mail: oideasgael@eircom.net
Website: www.oideasgael.com
Spoken Irish Classes in Áras Chrónáin
January 9, 2013
Spoken Irish classes will commence on Wednesday 9 January 2013 in Áras Chrónáin, Clondalkin.
Morning Class
– Suitable for beginners and improvers
– €50 for a 6 week term (€20 for oaps)
Time: 9.30am – 10.30am
Night Class
– Suitable for all levels
– €85 for a 10 week term (30% discount for Áras Chrónáin members)
Ciorcal Comhrá
Wednesdays at 9.15pm. All welcome.
More information:
T: +353-1-4574847
F: +353-1-4574117
E: eolas@araschronain.ie
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Scléip 2013 le craoladh ar Raidió na Gaeltachta
January 8, 2013
Principal encourages parents to bring up kids bilingually
January 8, 2013
A LONDONDERRY school principal has encouraged people to come along to a range of multi-level Irish language classes this New Year to enable them to bring up their children bilingually at home.
Oisín MacEó, principal of Gaelscoil na Daróige encouraged people to look out for classes and events in their own area and to make it their New Year’s resolution to learn or improve their Irish.
“We are offering classes for both the beginner and the more advanced learner in the Ballymagroarty, Springtown, Hazelbank and Rosemount area. There will also be an e-book club for primary pupils and a fun Saturday club for former gaelscoil pupils now at secondary schools,” he said.
He added: “This is open to all family situations, for example whether all the adults speak Irish fluently already or if one or both of the parents is only learning. “The programe will support the parent in drawing up an action plan relevent to them and there will be informal classes directed at learning language used in the home. “It is hoped that this will lead to the establishing of a support group in the town for families looking to bring their children up through Irish or bilingually.”
The beginner and advanced Irish classes will be held at Gaelscoil na Daróige and in the Ballymagroarty Community Flat in Synge Court, while the parents’ programe will take place at the Gaelscoil.
Demand is expected to be high and so people are asked to contact the school as soon as possible at 71371414 by e-mail at scoil1@hotmail.com or on Gaelscoil na Daróige’s Facebook page.
The various Irish language classes and events organised across the town this year will compliment the Líofa initiative, which aims to have 5000 people signed up to become fluent in Irish by 2015.
www.londonderrysentinel.co.uk
Imeachtaí idirscoile i mBeanntraí um Nollag
January 7, 2013
College promotes online learning as Gaeilge
January 7, 2013
TG Lurgan is aiming to boost interest in the Irish language with a new music video app, Colette Sheridan reports
AN Irish language music video app has recently been launched by Coláiste Lurgan, an independent Irish language summer school based in the Connemara Gaeltacht. TG Lurgan is available for free downloading on Android and iOS and can be accessed in the App Store or Play Store. It enables users to enjoy and share music videos as Gaeilge.
It was developed on a voluntary basis by Coláiste Lurgan, providing a wide selection of contemporary Irish language music videos alongside tutorial videos for learning Irish. The next version of TG Lurgan will include a facility whereby members can upload their own productions as Gaeilge, allowing people to enjoy and learn from them.
In 2012, Coláiste Lurgan launched Abair Leat! — the world’s first social networking site dedicated to the Irish language. It’s all part of Coláiste Lurgan’s aim of popularising the use of Irish and broadening its base. As the manager of Coláiste Lurgan, Micheál Ó Fóighil, explains, the app — cited as the Irish language equivalent of MTV and Vevo — allows users to create their own playlists, making people’s favourites even more accessible.
“While the songs themselves provide first class entertainment, they are also an excellent vehicle for language learning. Song and verse have always been a very powerful memory aid, putting essential words and phrases not just on the tip of your tongue, but also into your long-term memory.
“Learners relate to Irish language versions of songs they enjoy listening to as entertainment rather than work. Learning the lyrics helps learners to expand their vocabulary and to speak simple essential phrases in a quick non-tedious way. Any exposure to the Irish language outside of the class situation is a huge plus. Quite a lot of people have learned the lyrics as Gaeilge. It’s quite an effective language learning exercise.”
TG Lurgan recently passed the one million plays milestone since uploading its first video on the Vimeo platform two years ago. Among the most popular productions so far are ‘BEO Lurgan’, an Irish cover version of ‘Some Nights’ by American indie pop band, Fun, with over 80,000 views. Other hits include ‘An Chóisir Rac’ — an Irish version of ‘Party Rock’ by LMFAO with 45,000 views and ‘Lady Ga(eilge)’, a medley of Lady Gaga songs clocking up 40,000 views. TG Lurgan also features many original compositions, such as ‘Damhsa Amhráin’, ‘Céili ar an Trá’, ‘An Buachaill Ceart’, ‘Can Os Ard’, ‘Seans Deirneach’ and ‘An Bráisléid’ to mention just a few.
Ó Fóighil says the songs are used in some Irish language classes, “not just in Ireland, but all over the world. Quite a number of them are Irish versions of contemporary popular music.” The Irish language students record the songs during their sojourn at Coláiste Lurgan during the summer.
“We put up the songs in a kind of karaoke version. There are now over 400 videos altogether. While making them, we improvise a lot.”
The Irish language “is never going to go out of fashion, as long as we have a country. But Gaeilge has been very poorly presented by the Department of Education. It’s such a pity it’s not presented by the department in a more appealing way that can actually resonate with people. I suppose the Department of Education would be the biggest obstacle to the progression and learning of Gaeilge.”
Both young and older people are “positively disposed” towards learning Irish. “After spending 14 years in a classroom learning Gaeilge, there’s something wrong with the way it’s presented if people aren’t curious about it afterwards. This has been said over and over again. But nothing has really changed in the way the language is taught. It’s not a question of resources. Money is being spent but there’s damn all to show for it.”
If Ó Fóighil worked in the Department of Education he would make Irish “much more appealing with an emphasis on spoken Gaeilge. No one expects (school leavers) to speak the language. That’s a huge flaw. Not only are they unable to speak it, but when they try to, they have no confidence. They can see no relevance in it… It’s not that more money is required. It’s just that the language needs to be taught in a way that people can connect with.”
Only for TG4, the Irish language “would be in huge trouble. Setting up TG4 was the most positive thing done for the language. The station makes the language relevant. Only for it, we wouldn’t be talking about Gaeilge at the moment. TG4 is a really significant player in presenting the language in a modern way.” And TG Lurgan aims to make it hip, cool and, most of all, accessible.
www.lurgan.biz
www.irishexaminer.com
