Scrúduithe TEG 2013: DÁTAÍ & IONAID
February 15, 2013
Ócáid do theaghlaigh: Seachtain na nInnealtoirí: Fíorú Aislingí
February 15, 2013
€15,000 grant scheme announced for Irish language projects
February 15, 2013
The Chairperson of Ciste Rith, Mr Lorcán Mac Gabhann, announced today a total grant fund of €15,000, based on the profit from the Rith 2012 event.
Rith 2012 was a national festival which attracted 27,00 participants to run in a 700km relay-run, 8 – 17 March 2012, from Gaoth Dobhair, Co Donegal to Inis Mór, Árann, Co Galway.
This the first time that Rith Teo has announced a grants scheme and Mr Mac Gabhann is very hopeful that RITH 2014 will add significantly to the fund in the coming years.
Mr Mac Gabhann explained that “applications, in Irish, for language based programmes will be welcomed especially from groups who receive little or no financial assistance elsewhere.”
Application forms are available from www.rith.ie/deontas and must be returned, fully completed, to deontas@rith.ie by 24 March 2013.
Tuilleadh eolais/further information
Lorcán Mac Gabhann – 087-9790193
lorcan@glornangael.ie
Fás teoranta seachas gluaiseacht ag an ghaelscolaíochta ó Thuaidh?
February 15, 2013
Mayor praises Dungannon for minding its (Irish) language
February 15, 2013
DUNGANNON Mayor Phelim Gildernew has paid tribute to the impassioned work of teachers, the voluntary sector, and Irish language officers in making the local district one of the most proficient in Irish speaking in Northern Ireland.
The native language is in such fine fettle that Dungannon district now boasts the second highest proportion of Irish speakers in Northern Ireland. Almost one in five local people claim to speak some Irish (18 percent), second only to the Newry and Mourne District at 20%. Dungannon’s Irish Language Officer Seamus Kilpatrick said the extent of the language renaissance was due to the school system.
“While Gaelscoileanna have recently been to the fore in raising awareness of the educational advantages of second language acquisition at an early age, there has been a long tradition in the Dungannon area of Irish language promotion at secondary education level and of voluntary work in the community.
“That a relatively high percentage of people in the Dungannon district (6.7%) can speak, read and write the language suggests that levels of fluency in the language remain high after students have completed their formal education.
“However, that a similar percentage (6.59%) were returned as having an understanding of the language but not to the extent of speaking it may be a tribute to the impact of the Irish language media in maintaining a profile for the language when schooldays have finished.”
Celebrations are planned to highlight Dungannon’s rich Irish language traditions during this year’s St Patrick’s Festival. Mr Kilpatrick said: “The role of the voluntary sector will be celebrated during Seachtain na Gaeilge, around the St Patrick’s Day festival with a celebration of the part that local branches of the Gaelic League have played in encouraging children to develop an interest in the language; providing classes, giving scholarships to go to the Gaeltacht and establishing Irish language youth clubs.
“A similar support network for adults was provided over the years by the voluntary sector as represented by Comhaltas Uladh and the seed for a range of activities – music, drama and dancing – was planted to give opportunities to use the language outside of the classroom and encouraging its use as a community language and not just as a school subject.
“The recognition achieved for the language in the Good Friday and St Andrew’s Agreements has meant that its status has changed at official level in Ireland, the UK and in the EU. Increasing numbers are declaring Irish as the language of choice for their homes.
“These percentages are not yet at the same level as those for the 1911 census, when the language could be seen to enjoy an unbroken presence back to the time of St Patrick and beyond. But the number is rising. This new bilingualism is yet another indicator that the monolingual household is no longer the norm in 21st century Europe.
Mayor Councillor Phelim Gildernew said: “As a Council we are committed to the promotion of both the Irish Language and Ulster Scots.
“To this end in 2007 with neighbouring Cookstown we appointed an Officer to drive the initiative forward.
“During these six years the development of the Irish language has grown from strength to strength throughout the Borough and I am delighted that this is reflected in the census statistics with Dungannon being placed third for fluency and knowledge of the Irish language.
“I am delighted with these statistics which pay tribute to the schools and organisations who strive to keep the Irish language alive and relevant to up and coming generations.”
www.tyronetimes.co.uk
Learn about Irish language and Ulster drums
February 15, 2013
THE Community Relations Forum is inviting people to come along to a Shared Cultural Heritage Evening later this month.
The event, entitled ‘The hidden History of Protestants and the Irish Language’, will take place at the Barron Hall, Glengormley on Thursday, February 28 between 7pm and 9pm.
Guest speaker on the night will be Linda Ervine, wife of the former PUP leader, Brian Ervine and sister-in-law of the late David Ervine.
Linda’s interest in the Irish language began when she discovered from censuses that not only did some of her own ancestors speak Irish, but that it was also widely spoken in Protestant areas of Belfast and indeed Newtownabbey. Linda is currently taking a sabbatical from her teaching job to be the Irish Language Development Officer at East Belfast Mission.
Meanwhile, the Community Relations Forum is offering people the opportunity to take part in a six-week course on Traditional Ulster Drums. It will take place at the Barron Hall, Antrim Road later this year, on a date yet to be confirmed.
The course will be delivered by the renowned Willie Drennan, a traditional musician, storyteller, poet and writer who draws much of his material from the Ulster Scots cultural traditions of his native Co Antrim. The programme will include demonstrations of various drumming techniques, guest speakers, a visit to a local drum maker’s workshop, and a final evening performance and course celebration event.
Anyone who would like to attend the cultural heritage evening, or take part in the drumming course, should register their interest by telephoning Conor Maxwell on 9084 9314 or by emailing conor_crf@hotmail.com
www.newtownabbeytoday.co.uk
Free Workshops for writers in Belfast and in Inis Oírr
February 15, 2013
Workshops for Irish language writers organised in partnership with Áras Éanna, Inis Oírr, Aran, Co. Galway.
Date: Saturday, 9 March 2013
Venue: Áras Éanna, Inis Oírr, Aran, Galway.
Workshop Directors: Micheál Ó Conghaile and Jackie Mac Donncha
This workshop is aimed towards established writers and young/new writers who have not yet published a book but show potential. Places will also be offered to a handful of established writers, which will benefit everyone.
We invite those who wish to participate in the workshop to send an example of their work: short story, five or six poems ar a short excerpt from a novel (novels for teenagers included) to the Assistant Editor CIC, Áine Ní Cholchúin, at the address below BEFORE the 1 March 2012.
The best works will be selected and will be discussed and evaluated at the workshop. Each story will be sent to every writer (attending the workshop) beforehand so that they have a chance to read them. In this fashion all participants can play an active role in the workshop, and learn from the strengths and weaknesses of each other. We will only have space for ten writers at most. The workshop is free but applicants will be responsible for their own travel costs and accomodation.
Further Information:
Áine Ní Cholchúin nó Micheál Ó Conghaile
Cló Iar-Chonnacht
Indreabhán
Conamara
Co. na Gaillimhe
Phone: (091) 593307 Fax: (091) 593362 Email: aine@cic.ie
or from Áras Éanna, Inis Oírr, Árainn, Co na Gaillimhe.
Guthán: 099-75150 Ríomhphost: araseanna@eircom.net
This workshop is being organised with assistance from the Arts Council
Workshop for Irish Language Writers in Belfast organised by Cló Iar-Chonnacht in partnership with the School of Irish and Celtic Studies, Queens University, Belfast.
Date: Saturday, 23 March 2013
Venue: Queens University, Belfast.
Workshop Directors: Micheál Ó Conghaile and Fionntán de Brún
This workshop is aimed towards established writers and young/new writers who have not yet published a book but show potential. Places will also be offered to a handful of established writers, which will benefit everyone.
We invite those who wish to participate in the workshop to send an example of their work: short story, five or six poems ar a short excerpt from a novel (novels for teenagers included) to the Assistant Editor CIC, Áine Ní Cholchúin, at the address below BEFORE the 14 March 2012.
The best works will be selected and will be discussed and evaluated at the workshop. Each story will be sent to every writer (attending the workshop) beforehand so that they have a chance to read them. In this fashion all participants can play an active role in the workshop, and learn from the strengths and weaknesses of each other. We will only have space for ten writers at most. The workshop is free but applicants will be responsible for their own travel costs and accomodation.
Further Information:
Áine Ní Cholchúin nó Micheál Ó Conghaile
Cló Iar-Chonnacht
Indreabhán
Conamara
Co. na Gaillimhe
Phone: (091) 593307 Fax: (091) 593362 Email: aine@cic.ie
This workshop is being organised with assistance from the Arts Council
Comórtas Póstaer na nÓg ag an Irish Cancer Society
February 14, 2013
Hunger games filmed as Gaeilge in Naas
February 14, 2013
HOLLYWOOD may be beckoning for the Gaelscoil Nás na Ríogh sixth class pupils whose’ Irish version of the The Hunger Games has proved an online hit.
Featured on YouTube, thejournal.ie, the 98fm website, and RTE’s News Today, the half hour mini movie was acted out by the students and filmed by their teacher, Lára Ní Dhonnchú. So far, Cluichí an Ocrais has notched up 1,386 views on YouTube.
The 23 pupils took three-and-a-half weeks to shoot the film, which was based on Suzanne Collins’s popular novel, The Hunger Games.
Split into groups, they translated the scenes, wrote the script, added the music and designed various sets. It was then shot in the school’s environs with a smart phone.
One of the stars of the production, Lillie Ni Ghallachoir appeared with her fellow students on RTE’s News Today last week. She said her classmates are delighted with the reaction their film is getting.
“We never expected that it could be so popular,” she said.
She told how it was screened at Christmas for the parents who were also very impressed. Lillie played Prim in the film and her time spent in Brian Brady’s performance classes proved valuable in playing the role. When asked if it was hard to act the whole thing out in Irish, she explained it was no problem because it came naturally to the Gaelscoil pupils. “It was really fun to do,” she added.
www.leinsterleader.ie
School board sacked for enrolling extra class without approval
February 13, 2013
A primary school board has been sacked by its patron for enrolling an extra infant class last September without approval.
Education Minister Ruairi Quinn approved the dissolution by An Foras Pátrúnachta of the board of management at Gaelscoil Uí Drisceoil in Glanmire, Co Cork, before Christmas. The all-Irish schools’ patron body has put two managers in place in the meantime but plans are being made to put a new board in place shortly.
The school moved from the rugby club where it first opened in 2006 to a former hotel building in Dunkettle 2011. But a board decision early last year to take in three infant classes in September was made without the patron’s approval.
It did not have sanction either from the Department of Education to change from a previous intake of two junior infant classes to three, as it would not need to pay an additional teacher if the extra 20 to 30 children were enrolled instead across other schools in the area. The department confirmed it had discussions last year with the school, which now has around 300 pupils up to fifth class.
“The school were advised that, based on the department’s analysis of pupil numbers in the Riverstown/Glanmire catchment area, there was sufficient school accommodation capacity available to cater for pupil place demand. In that regard, the school authority accepted that the long-term size of the school should remain at 16 classes,” a spokesperson told the Irish Examiner.
The possibility of appeals over refusal to enrol meant the three classes were allowed enrol last autumn, but the patron body asked each board member in July for an explanation of their role.
It is understood Mr Quinn approved the board’s dissolution in November following a request from An Foras, under a section of the 1998 Education Act that can be used where a patron believes a board is not discharging its functions effectively. An Foras Pátrúnachta did not comment on the situation when contacted by the Irish Examiner yesterday.
Aside from the enrolment issue, there were longer-running tensions between the board and patron body over the teaching of religion. An Foras said its multi-denominational ethos means no faith-specific religion should be taught during school hours, but children of different faiths were being taught separately for the first 20 minutes of each day since the school opened in 2006.
The patron called a halt to this in late 2011, despite the arguments of the board and many staff and parents that the established practice should be allowed continue.
“We told the Foras last year we wanted things to stay the same. It was operating fine until this happened out of the blue at the end of 2011,” said one parent who asked not to be named.
The teaching of denominational religion during school hours is now forbidden, but Catholic and Humanist teaching is available before or after school for parents who want it for their children.
www.irishexaminer.com
