Coláiste Muire Tuar Mhic Éadaigh offers something for everyone
February 17, 2014
Meánscoil mheasctha Chaitliceach is ea Coláiste Muire, Tuar Mhic Éadaigh, a chuireann oideachas d’ard-chaighdeán ar fáil trí mheán na Gaeilge.
Coláiste Muire is a Catholic voluntary secondary school in the Gaeltacht dedicated to the promotion of Irish as the first language of the community. The school is operated on the basis of the fundamental Christian principle of treat others as we ourselves would like to be treated.
For a small school Coláiste Muire offers an extensive range of subjects at both Junior and Leaving Cert levels as well as LCVP and the transition year programme. Students at the coláiste enjoy the benefits of small classes in a friendly learning environment. A tradition of excellent Junior and Leaving Certificate results exists in Coláiste Muire. One quarter of the students in 2013 obtained more than 525 points in the Leaving Cert with one student getting 600 points. Past pupils have excelled in a wide variety of careers and third level courses. These achievements range from winning university scholarships to national awards.
The school offers a wide range of extra curricular activities for boys and girls such as Gaelic football, hurling, table tennis, soccer, public speaking, drama, and school tours. The purpose of such activities is to foster and develop social and personal skills not directly addressed in the formal curriculum.
Coláiste Muire caters for all students from a wide catchment area, with school bus transport bringing students from all the local primary schools and from Newport, Westport, Ballinrobe, and Castlebar.
Coláiste Muire will be hosting a enrolment and open evening, on Thursday, March 6 from 7pm to 9pm. For more information call 094 9544107, email colmuirtuar@eircom.net or log on to www.colaistemuire.scoilnet.ie
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Sean Óg celebrates with Gaelscoil Longfoirt on its 15th anniversary
February 17, 2014
There was much to be excited about in Longford last Friday as Gaelscoil Longfoirt celebrated its 15th anniversary at the heart of education.
To add to proceedings, the large crowds that gathered to join in the celebrations waited in anticipation for the guest of honour, himself – Séan Óg Ó hAilpín – left no stone unturned when it came to encouraging the children before him, and highlighting the important role that Gaelscoil’s have in the Irish education system.
Speaking in both Irish and English, the All-Ireland winning Cork hurler, who attended a Gaelscoil himself, said that while he had attended many places during his career, it gave him the “greatest pleasure” going to Gaelscoils. “I started off in a Gaelscoil; I was 10 years old when I came to Ireland and it has been a journey that has made me an incredibly better person,” he added.
“When I look back now at my own parents and their hopes and dreams for me, the two most important aspects were my involvement in sport and going to a Gaelscoil. If we claim ourselves to be Irish, then we must speak our native tongue. Yes, there are people who say what is the point of learning Irish because when you move on, you don’t use it, but I don’t see that argument; Irish is our native language and we should be proud to speak it.”
Mr Ó hAilpín went to encourage the pupils to achieve thier full potential.
“You have a talent that is a gift from God, but what you do with that gift is your gift back to God,” he continued.
“We all need people like our parents and teachers in our lives because it is they who help to bring out those gifts in us. One of the proudest moments in my life was to bring the All Ireland Cup back to my old Gaelscoil; to see the smiles of the teachers that day- everyone was so happy and proud and I knew that I had fulfilled my talent that day.
“ You must fulfil your talents; it may be a sport or it may be academic , but whatever it is find it and fulfill it.”
Amid plenty of cheering and beautiful singing by the pupils of Gaelscoil Longfoirt to mark the special occasion, Mr Ó hAilpín also pointed to his earliest sporting memories of Co Longford.
“I remember the great Dessie Barry – the great left footer, the legend for Longford – you too can be a Longford legend,” he concluded.
The Cork hurling star then planted a tree to commemorate the event and principal Yvonne Ní Mhurchú concluded by saying, “I want to thank all the staff and volunteers, and everyone who made this possible”.
“The next step for us is to secure a new school building within the next couple of years and we are confident that this is going to happen,” she added.
“Irish is alive and well and Gaelscoil Longfoirt proves that we can conduct our daily lives in Irish now.
“I hope that we have instilled pride and loyalty in our past students and I wish everyone associated with Gaelscoil Longfoirt the very best future possible.”
www.longfordleader.ie
Donegal campaign heading to Dublin for march
February 17, 2014
Hundreds of Donegal people are expected in Dublin this weekend for a march for equality for the Irish language.
Organisers of Lá Mór na Gaeilge expect at least 1,000 people from around the country to meet at the Garden of Remembrance, Parnell Square, at 2pm on Saturday for a march to government buildings.
“There’s a 20-year strategy for Irish which has been on the books for four years, but the government refuses to implement it,” said Danny Brown, editor of Goitse, an Irish-language newspaper in the west Donegal Gaeltacht that supports the march. He said the march also arose from the decision of Seán Ó Cuirreáin, language commissioner, to resign this month because of the lack of government support for Irish-language rights.
“What we’re saying is that people need to get out to voice their anger at the government’s inactivity at a very important time in the history of the Gaeltacht,” Danny said. He pointed to the comprehensive 2009 NUI Galway linguistic of the Gaeltacht that warned the future of the Gaeltacht was in jeopardy unless steps were taken. “If action isn’t taken now, or very, very soon, it’s dead, and it is not going to be brought back again,” Danny said.
For example, he said, just 1.6 per cent of civil servants in the Department of Education are Irish-speakers. “The message that’s going out to Irish speakers and people in the Gaeltacht is that it’s all very well for you to speak Irish among yourselves, but don’t ask to speak it to government bodies, because we’re not going to accommodate you,” he said. “That message has gone out from successive governments.”
The Donegal branch of the campaign, Dearg le Fearg, or “red with anger”, is asking people to wear red on the march as a way “of showing you’re not just celebrating your culture, which we all would be, but it’s also an angry message going out to government”.
Organisers also hope non-Irish speakers will take part. “There are thousands of people around the country who realise the value of the language even though they might not speak it themselves,” Danny said. They are also urging people to encourage friends and family in Dublin to come along as well.
For information on buses leaving Gaoth Dobhair, Na Rosa and Cloch Cheann Fhaola for the march, contact 0876740673.
www.donegaldemocrat.ie
Implications of new funding model discussed in NI Assembly
February 17, 2014
Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) deliberates concerns expressed by core-funded organisations in the north
Last month, Foras na Gaeilge announced that Gaelscoileanna, Conradh na Gaeilge, Gael Linn, Oireachtas na Gaeilge, Glór na nGael, and Cumann na bhFiann has been selected as the six lead-organisations that will operate in the Irish Language Voluntary Sector under the new funding model. Funding to the organisations that were unsuccessful in the process, including Forbairt Feirste, Pobal, Iontaobhas Ultach and Altram, will cease at the end of June 2014.
The meeting which took place on Thursday, 13 February, in Stormont was attended by Foras na Gaeilge’s Deputy CEO and Director of Development Services. CEO, Ferdie Mac an Fhailigh was unable to attend. Representatives from Iontaobhas Ultach and Altram attended and a statement was read out on behalf of Pobal, who were absent due to a conference on the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages.
Under the new system, lead-organisations will operate on 32 county basis. Each of the six lead-organisations’ headquarters are based in the Republic of Ireland which has caused concern over the perceived lack of support to be given to the existing language structures within Northern Ireland.
Concern
Speaking at the meeting, Director of Iontaobhas Ultach, Aodán Mac Póilín, said that there is a real danger that one jurisdiction will be marginalised in a lead-organisation. He stated that the situation in both jurisdictions is completely different and while lead-organisations will be more than capable dealing with certain issues, the expertise is not there when it comes to legislative and cross-community. When asked if the right organisation had been chosen to lead the particular category in which Iontaobhas Ultach was included, Aodán Mac Póilín siad that no organisation, including Iontaobhas Ultach, is equipped to deal with issues effectively in both jurisdictions. He said that the wrong model had been chosen by Foras na Gaeilge and the application process was flawed from the beginning.
Chair of Altram, Áine Andrews, argued that education cannot be treated on an all-island basis. Andrews stated that preschool education is not a priority within the general education sector and could be undermined in an organisation with a broad remit such as Gaelscoileanna Teoranta, who will now be responsible for Gaelscoileanna, post-primary schools, Gaeltacht schools and preschool education. Andrews argued that a Dublin organisation is ill-equipped to deal with the complex system in the north and the organisations are not confident that the staff recruited in the six counties will be sufficient to tackle issues.
Every lead-organisation will have to recruit staff and open an office in the six counties. Foras na Gaeilge have said that 25% of staff must be based in the six counties. According to Foras na Gaeilge, the expertise within the sector is invaluable and lead-organisations have been advised to keep that experience within the sector as much as possible. It has been confirmed that jobs will be lost under the new model and Foras na Gaeilge will not be providing any funding for redundancy payments. Aodán Mac Póilín claimed that for certain organisations who receive no other funding. There will be no option but to claim bankruptcy, ending any chances of continuing as voluntary organisations.
The committee was informed during the meeting that several organisations made attempts to form confederations throughout the application process. Iontaobhas Ultach, Pobal and Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge agreed to enter the process as a confederate and Altram, Forbairt Naíonraí Teoranta, and eventually Gaelscoileanna Teoranta, also attempted to come together however, Foras an Gaeilge rejected all efforts and prohibited all lead-organisations from providing funding to other organisations. While Foras na Gaeilge were willing to accept organisation mergers, many groups believed that it was impossible for one organisation to cover such a broad remit.
The best way forward
Referring to the bias mentioned by several parties throughout the meeting, Deputy CEO of Foras na Gaeilge, Seán Ó Coinn, said that Foras na Gaeilge is an all-island body that had made huge investments in the promotion of Irish in the six counties since 1999. He said that 19 organisations are funded through Scéim na Gaeilge, including 11 organisations based in the north, as well as Summer camps, Cultúrlann McAdaim Ó Fiaich, Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin and many other projects. Ó Coinn stated that the Irish language sector in Northern Ireland is not made up of core-funded organisations alone.
The committee was told that Raidió Fáilte and an tÁisaonad would continue to be funded under the new system and that Comhaltas Uladh will operate as part of Conradh na Gaeilge. Gael Linn will continue to carry out important work from the office in Armagh and Glór na nGael will be developing their activities throughout the six counties. For the first time ever Cumann na bhFiann will bring their model for language development to the six counties and Oireachtas na Gaeilge will work with communities all around the country.
Ó Coinn praised the work carried out by the core-funded organisations up until now and emphasised the importance of the expertise gained over the years. He described how Foras na Gaeilge will be focussing on work in the community from here on out and they believe that the system of lead-organisations is the best way forward. According to Foras na Gaeilge, the new approach will require all six lead-organisations to to seek to replicate the same success in the north and will be required by An Foras to do so.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
‘New Meets Old’ – Gaelscoil Shliabh Rua Sponsored Walk
February 17, 2014
Saturday, March 1st will see the very first fundraising event for Gaelscoil Shliabh Rua take place, when our pupils will take part in a sponsored walk around the grounds of Scoil Éanna (St Enda’s) on the Grange Road. As the newest Gaelscoil in the country we thought it would be fitting to bring the children to visit the site of Ireland’s first Gaelscoil – a real case of new meeting old.
If you are considering sending your child to Gaelscoil Shliabh Rua this September, or in September 2015, come along and meet the children and their siblings, parents and grandparents. Join us as we make our way through the walled gardens, around the magical woodland walk, along the riverside and past the waterfall? The children will also be visiting the nature room and we’ll all be going for refreshments in the café afterwards. All of the monies raised will be used to purchase additional educational toys for our school.
We’re meeting at 10am, Saturday, March 1st directly in front of the main building. Hope to see you there
Is muidne le meas
Coiste na dTuismitheoirí (Sealadach)
Tá na busanna ag líonadh
February 13, 2014
Tá busanna á eagrú ó Chonamara agus ó chathair na Gaillimhe chun daoine a thabhairt go Baile Átha Cliath don mhórshiúl Lá Mór na Gaeilge – Siúl ar son do Chearta, ócáid a bheidh ar siúl an Satharn seo chugainn, 15 Feabhra.
Tá an mórshiúl á eagrú mar chuid d’fheachtas cearta atá bunaithe mar thoradh ar an ngéarchéim a cruthaíodh nuair a d’fhógair An Coimisinéir Teanga, Seán Ó Cuirreáin, go mbeadh sé ag éirí as oifig de bharr na heaspa éisteachta atá faighte aige ón Rialtas. Cuirfear tús leis an mórshiúl Lá Mór na Gaeilge – Siúl ar son do Chearta ag 2.00i.n. agus an slua ag fágáil Cearnóg Parnell ag 2.00i.n. agus iad ag tabhairt aghaidhe ar lár na cathrach.
Fágfaidh bus Chonamara carrchlós Mhuintearas, Tír an Fhia, ag 8.45r.n. agus stopfaidh sé ag Halla Éinne, An Cheathrú Rua ag 9.00r.n. agus ag Seanscoil Sailearna, Indreabhán ag 9.15r.n. Is féidir suíochán a chur in áirithe ach teachtaireacht a sheoladh chuig tuismitheoirinagaeltachta@gmail.com nó téacs chuig 087 3382885. Fágfaidh bus na cathrach an Ardeaglais ag 10.00r.n. agus is féidir suíochán a chur in áirithe ach glaoch a chur ar 091 567824.
Cuirfear críoch leis an mórshiúl le slogadh ollmhór, áit a ndéanfar ceiliúradh ar bheocht agus ar shaibhreas na Gaeilge le ceolchoirm ó Seo Linn agus baill den ghrúpa Kíla agus Na Firéin.
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Ultach Trust fighting to maintain the work it does
February 13, 2014
I would like to respond to Newton Emerson’s article on Foras na Gaeilge’s plans to dismantle the Irish language core-funded sector in Northern Ireland (February 6).
He appears to give some credence to Foras na Gaeilge’s argument that much of the funding to the sector was wasted on salaries rather than services. What is at issue is not salaries versus services, but what services are provided and how well they are delivered. No-one would say that in the health service too much funding goes on salaries for doctors and nurses. Like all of the sector, my organisation, ULTACH Trust, spends as little time as possible on administration in order to maximise services. In recent years, Foras na Gaeilge’s increasing obsession with counting beans – often the wrong beans – has made this more and more difficult. We are not fighting for jobs, we are fighting to maintain the work we do.
I do not necessarily agree with his assessment that Sinn Féin has deliberately targeted the northern organisations. Although it has recently embraced the promotion of the Irish language on a cross-community basis, it is true that the party has not been a great fan of my own organisation in the past, and it may be that the party now wishes to distance itself from Pobal. But Altram, the Irish-medium pre-school organisation, provides a vital support service on the ground to the 40 or so Irish-medium preschools on this side of the border.
Sinn Féin is unlikely to have wanted Altram’s five underpaid, highly qualified and dedicated staff to be thrown on to the dole queue in July.
It seems to me that this was less a plot than a guddle and that the DCAL Minister and her advisers were asleep at the wheel.
AODÁN MAC PÓILIN,
Director, ULTACH Trust
Belfast
www.irishnews.com
New Coimisinéir Teanga welcomed despite reservations by Conradh na Gaeilge
February 13, 2014
Conradh na Gaeilge has welcomed the announcement that Rónán Ó Domhnaill has been installed as the new language commissioner this week. However, the organisation has strongly criticised the Government for failing to implement the recommendations of the current commissioner.
The Government is leaving the new language commissioner in a difficult predicament considering that he will have to contend with the same problems as the current Coimisinéir Teanga from the start, and Conradh na Gaeilge does not believe that is fair on Mr Ó Domhnaill. According to Conradh na Gaeilge, there are several outstanding problems which have been outlined by the current language commissioner Seán Ó Cuirreáin which have been repeatedly ignored by the Government. These include the marginalisation of the Irish language in the public administration system; the inadequate implementation of statutory language schemes by public bodies; the void left in the wake of the review of the Official Languages Act; the Government’s decision to merge the Office of An Coimisinéir Teanga with the Office of the Ombudsman; insufficient resources essential to the Office to duly and fully fulfil its statutory obligations; the lack of staff proficient in Irish in the civil service; and the potential faults of the new system that is to take the place of the bonus marking Leaving Certificate scheme.
“The Irish language and Gaeltacht community north and south will have the opportunity to air their anger and disillusionment at Lá Mór na Gaeilge in Dublin this coming Saturday, especially in relation to how the Government in the south treated the current Coimisinéir Teanga,” said Julian de Spáinn, general secretary of Conradh na Gaeilge. “The Irish language and Gaeltacht community are angry with the Government, both for their lack of action and their lack of progress in ensuring that State employees have enough Irish to deal completely and satisfactorily with the Gaeltacht community, without condition or question, by the end of 2016 at the latest. “State services must also be made available in Irish to the Irish-speaking community at the same standard as they are provided in English. We are looking forward to getting huge crowds out on the streets on Saturday to achieve these demands and I am certain that the absence of any mention of these concerns, or to the possible solutions, in the Government’s announcement today will not satisfy the Irish-speaking and Gaeltacht community.”
Lá Mór na Gaeilge is being organised following the language commissioner Seán Ó Cuirreáin’s announcement that he would be stepping down on February 24 as a result of the lack of support for the language rights of the Irish-speaking and Gaeltacht community from the Government. The campaign for human rights gained momentum with the publication of a report by the Council of Europe on January 16 which noted that the growth and promotion of the Irish language in Northern Ireland is being blocked by hostile attitudes in Stormont, and a lack of support for its use in the courts and in education.
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Galway to take part in Lá Mór na Gaeilge demonstration
February 13, 2014
The Lá Mór na Gaeilge – Walk for your rights demonstrate against perceived attacks on language rights of Irish speakers and the Gaeltacht takes place this weekend.
The demonstration will convene at the Garden of Remembrance at Parnell Square at 2pm and proceed through Dublin city centre to the Dáil. The demonstration is being organised as part of a new language rights campaign that has been established in response to the announcement by Language Commissioner, Seán Ó Cuirreáin, that he would be stepping down as a result of the lack of engagement he has received from the Government. For Galwegians interested in taking part in the demonstration, buses from Connemara and Galway city will set off on Saturday morning. Connemara bus will depart from the Muintearas car park, Tír an Fhia, at 8.45am and will pick up passengers at Halla Éinne, An Cheathrú Rua, at 9am and at Seanscoil Sailearna, Indreabhán, at 9.15am. Spaces can be booked by texting 087 – 3382885 or by emailing tuismiteoirinagaeltachta@gmail.com. The Galway city bus will leave the Cathedral at 10am and spaces can be booked on this bus by contacting 091 – 567824.
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Gaeltacht courses in Coláiste Cholumba in An Cheathrú Rua
February 13, 2014
Coláiste Cholumba is located in An Cheathrú Rua in the heart of the Connemara Gaeltacht and provides a base for students to further their appreciation and knowledge of not only the Irish language but also of Ireland’s rich historical culture.
Courses are graded and cater for primary students, pre-Junior Cert and pre-Leaving Cert, with special tuition on oral examinations. The college will run three separate three-week courses over the summer, the first running from June 2 to June 23, then from June 24 to July 15, and finally from July 16 to August 6. The college also has courses for students who want a shorter two-week experience. The courses run from June 24 to July 8, July 9 to July 23 and July 23 to August 6. Coláiste Cholumba uses the communicative approach in Irish classes and avails of modern teaching aids as well as drama and other techniques to ensure that each student has the greatest opportunity to improve his or her Irish.
These courses are inclusive of accommodation, food, tuition, sports activities and travel during the course. Coláiste Cholumba is also famed for its theme nights which include Dubh agus Bán, Céilí 60s, Céilí Gléasta, Oíche Hawaii, Oíche Hollywood, Oíche Pop stars, Oíche Culchie, Oíche na gcontaetha, Céilí Tire, and many more. It’s hard to imagine a more fun-filled experience in one of the most popular Irish summer colleges. Coláiste Cholumba also runs special courses for those sitting the Leaving Cert 2014, Junior Cert, and for sixth class primary and first year post primary students. For further details/special offers contact 091 595184, email colaistecholumba@gmail.com or log on to www.colaistecholumba.ie. You can also find Coláiste Cholumba on Facebook at www.facebook.com/colaiste.cholumba and Twitter @colaistecholumb.
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