€12m project to turn Loreto into a school again
Márta 10, 2014
Historical Rathfarnham landmark Loreto Abbey is to be restored and turned into a school once again.
The building – where Mother Teresa studied English in Dublin – is coming under the control of the Department of Education and will become a gaelscoil for the region. The Department has purchased the property from NAMA through estate agent Savills for approximately €2.3m.
However, it will need at least a further €10m to transform the 250-year-old complex into a modern educational facility. The building has a protected listed status and has been empty for 15 years after the 1999 purchase by a company owned by developer Liam Carroll. After Carroll went bankrupt, the site was taken over by NAMA before it was put up for sale last August.
The roof was recently weatherproofed by NAMA and the house was occupied by live-in “guardians” provided by the UK-based property minding company Camelot.
The Department of Education said it would not comment on conversion costs due to “commercial sensitivities”. However they said they are “satisfied” the property meets their needs.
The renovation costs will cost significantly more than the amount needed to build a new school. But considering the fact that the State would have to rescue it anyway and is under pressure to create new schools in Dublin, the move is being described by property sources as “killing two birds with one stone”.
The main building, Rathfarnham House, was constructed in 1725. The architect, Edward Lovett Pearce, was best known for the old Houses of Parliament at College Green.
Closed in the late nineties, Loreto had been a famous boarding school for Catholic girls. Its most famous pupil was Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who went there to learn English in the 1920s, at the age of 18.
www.herald.ie
President Higgins’s remarks on Irish
Márta 10, 2014
A chara, – It was somewhat ironic that the reception hosted by President Michael D Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin in honour of Seán Ó Cuirreáin (“Lack of services in Irish dismays Higgins”, Home News, March 6th) took place at exactly the same time as Minister of State for the Gaeltacht Dinny McGinley was being questioned at an Oireachtas subcommittee on the issues raised by Mr Ó Cuirreáin’s decision to retire early from his post as the State’s first coimisinéir teanga.
Speaking “as President of Ireland”, Mr Higgins stated that he was “greatly concerned at the apparent low level of ability to fulfil the rights of citizens who wish to interact through Irish with the State and its agencies”.
Reporting on the big march that took place in Dublin a few weeks ago, your Irish language editor Pól Ó Muirí (Bileog, February 19th) remarked on the gulf which exists between the Irish-speaking community and the general English-speaking public, saying they hardly inhabited the same planet, let alone the same country! As one of the thousands of people who marched down O’Connell Street that day on our way to the Dáil, I have to admit you could not help noticing the puzzled look on the faces of Saturday shoppers as they waited patiently for the buses which were backed up behind us.
A lot of these onlookers, I’d say, were thinking to themselves, have that crowd nothing better to protest about? Haven’t they got recognition for Irish as a core school subject, haven’t they got their own radio and TV stations funded by the Government, haven’t they got the constitutional right to use Irish in their dealings with the state? We Gaeilgeoirí have to acknowledge that the general public would be quite correct on the first two of these propositions – Irish does still hold a central place in our education system, and Raidió na Gaeltachta and TG4 are both excellent stations which punch far above their weight.
Where the general public’s perception falls down is on the third proposition – that we Irish speakers have the right to use Irish in our dealings with the State. In theory and under the Constitution this may be the case, but in practice it is usually impossible or else extremely difficult to use Irish for official purposes. This has long been the weakness in the State’s overall policy on the Irish language. As Mr Ó Cuirreáin put it, the State imposes a duty on students to learn the language and then frequently puts obstacles in their way of using it for official purposes.
I know a section of the public will still say, so what? But the point is that it does not make sense for any of us if one arm of the State is contradicting what another arm of it is trying to facilitate. If, as a country, we want Irish to survive even as a small minority language, the State will have to take the practical steps necessary to provide for the right of Irish speakers to use the language in the public sphere. As a former civil servant myself, I’m convinced that this is above all a question of political and administrative will and does not have to involve any extra resources.
No language can survive if its use is confined to just private and domestic contexts. A lot of us now feel we can only practice the language with other consenting adults behind closed doors. No wonder people look at us as if we had two heads the odd time we muster the courage to march down the main street of our capital city. – Is mise,
JOHN GLENNON,
Bannagroe,
Hollywood, Co Wicklow.
www.irishtimes.com
Cosaint d’éiteas na Gaeilge molta go láidir ag Comhchoiste Oireachtais
Márta 10, 2014
Cuireadh fáilte roimh thuairisc de chuid an Chomhchoiste Oireachtais um Oideachas agus Coimirce Shóisialach an tseachtain seo i dtaca le próisis iontrála scoileanna inar tacaíodh le sainmheon teanga na Gaelscolaíochta a chosaint.
Reáchtáladh próiseas comhairliúcháin ag deireadh 2013 maidir leis an Dréacht-Scéim Ghinearálta Bhille Oideachais (Ligean Isteach ar Scoil). Tá i gceist faoin dréachtscéim Ghinearálta don Bhille Oideachais go gcuirfí deireadh le cleachtais idirdhealaitheacha i gcóras oideachais na tíre ag an mbunleibhéal agus an meánleibhéal.
Tá molta sa dréacht-Bhille go mbainfí é seo amach trí theorainn a chur ar thréimhsí iarratais scoileanna ar ligean isteach, rialachán dian a chur in áit maidir le táillí iontrála, brú a chuir ar scoileanna liostaí feithimh a ghlanadh agus bearta eile a chur i bhfeidhm a dhéanfaidh an córas iontrála a leathnú.
Mar chuid den chomhairliúchán tháinig Gaelscoileanna Teo., An Foras Pátrúnachta, Cearta Oideachais agus Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge os comhair an Chomhchoiste Oireachtais um Oideachas agus Coimirce Shóisialach áit ar pléadh cás eisceachtúil na gaelscolaíochta sa mhórchóras, idir thúsáite a thabhairt do theaghlaigh Ghaeilge agus aitheantas a thabhairt don luath-thumadh sa Ghaeilge.
Ag eascairt as an gcomhairliúchán, foilsíodh tuairisc de chuid an Chomhchoiste Oireachtais an tseachtain seo ina chuirtear síos ar mholtaí an Chomhchoiste i leith an Dréacht-Bhille a bheas le hath-dhréachtú anois ag an Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna.
Is iad na moltaí ó thaobh na gaelscolaíochta de ná go n-áirítear riachtanais teangeolaíochta agus stádas na scoileanna laistigh do Limistéir Pleanála Teanga (de réir Acht na Gaeltachta 2012), agus an próiseas pleanála teanga atá á reáchtáil faoi choimirce na Roinne Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta.
Moltar freisin go dtógfadh aon reachtaíocht atá beartaithe ionracas na scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge san áireamh, agus, go gcinnteofaí nach mbeadh aon leithcheal ar siúl le linn an phróisis iontrála. Dar leis an tuairisc gur chóir do reachtaíocht mholta ar bith an Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge a aithint trí thosaíocht shuntasach a cheadú mar chuid den phróiseas iontrála do líon íseal na gcainteoirí dúchais taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht.
Dúirt Príomhfheidhmeannach Gaelscoileanna Teo., Bláthnaid Ní Ghréacháin: “Ar an iomlán, léiríonn an tuairisc dul chun cinn iontach, agus léiríonn sé gur tugadh fíor-éisteacht dár n-ábhar imní mar a bhaineann le cosaint sainmheon teanga scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge…Tá na moltaí ginearálta, seachas mionsonrach nó saintreorach, ach is dóigh liom gur fearr sin agus dá réir, go bhfágfaí faoi údarás na scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge slánchúis na scoileanna a chosaint, rud atá riachtanach”.
“Beidh, ar ndóigh, plé le déanamh leis an Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna faoi na ceisteanna praiticiúla agus na mionsonraí agus is tús an-mhaith é seo don phlé agus idirbheartaíocht leis an Roinn. Leanfaimid orainn ag cinntiú go mbeidh gach cosaint riachtanach ann do na scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge, agus do theaghlaigh lán-Ghaeilge ar mian leo áit a fháil i scoil lán-Ghaeilge” a dúirt sí.
Is ar an Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna atá sé anois moltaí na tuairisce a thabhairt san áireamh agus an Scéim á hath-dhréachtú acu le cur faoi bhráid an Rialtais.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Aisteoirí óga á lorg ag Meangadh Fíbín
Márta 10, 2014
Tá Meangadh Fíbín ag lorg aisteoirí óga i gcomhair sraith teilfíse.
Beidh an taifead don sraith teilifíse i bhfoirm seó puipéadóireachta a bheidh dírithe ar pháistí óga do TG4.
Tá said ag lorg páistí óga idir 6 bliana agus 10 mbliana d’aois.
Léireofar an tsraith seo i gConamara. Is seó puipéadóireachta a bheidh sa tsraith seo agus beidh míreanna faisnéise agus eadarlúidí ceoil mar chuid de gach clár. ?Is deis iontach í seo do pháistí a bhfuil suim acu san aisteoireacht.
Reachtálfar éisteachtaí ar an:
11 Márta 2014 3 – 6i.n Seánscoil, Indreabhán, Gaillimh.
12 Márta 2014 3 – 6i.n Óstán Bewleys Hotel, Ballsbridge, BÁC 4
24 Márta 2014 4 – 6i.n An Lab, Daingean, Ciarraí
27 Márta 2104 4 – 6i.n Óstán An Chúirt, Gaoth Dobhair, Dún na nGall
Má tá tuilleadh eolais ag teastáil uait nó má tá suim ag aon scoláire éisteacht a dhéanamh, níl le déanamh agat ach ríomhphost a sheoladh chugam ag meangadh@gmail.com
Meangadh Fíbín Teo.,
Na hAille,
Indreabhán,
Co. na Gaillimhe
Tel: +353 (0)91 593822 nó +353 (0)91 505855
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Lascaine do scoileanna ón Spailpín Fánach
Márta 6, 2014
Bhfuil baint agat le scoil, coláiste nó eagras?
Lacáistí ar fáil d’orduithe móra!
Féach ar ár réimse leathan t-léinte, cochaill, agus suaitheantais Ghaeilge ar www.spailpin.com.
Seol ríomhphost nó cuir glaoch le haghaidh rátaí speisialta do scoileanna
Ríomhphost: spailpin@eircom.net
Fón: 091-553343
Múinteoirí ar Chúrsaí Samhraidh Gaeilge
Márta 6, 2014
Is í Coláiste na bhFiann Teo an tseirbhís náisiúnta is mó don óige trí mheán na Gaeilge. Tá múinteoirí ag teastáil i rith an tSamhraidh do chúrsaí 2014.
Cén saghas múinteoirí atá ag teastáil?
• Múinteoirí Bunscoile
• Múinteoirí Meánscoile
Cathain?
• Meitheamh, Iúil agus Lúnasa
Cén áit?
• Rosmuc, Co. na Gaillimhe
• Gaoth Dobhair, Co. Dhun na nGall
• Ráth Chairn, Co. na Mí
• Droim Rí, Co. na Mí
• Sligeach, Co. Shligigh
• Cill Áirne, Co. Chiarraí
Tuilleadh eolais ó Michelle Fón: 01-825 9342 / Rphost: michelle@colaistenabhfiann.ie
Seoladh:
Coláiste na bhFiann
Droim Rí
Co. na Mí
Suíomh: www.colaistenabhfiann.ie
Príomhoide Tánaisteach
Márta 6, 2014
Laurel Hill Coláiste FCJ, Luimneach, ag earcú Príomhoide Tánaisteach.
Ag tosnú ar an 1.9.2014
Tá foirmeacha iarratais agus eolas eile ar fáil ó principal@laurelhillcolaistefcj.ie
Glacfar le foirmeacha iarratais i scríbhinn amháin go dtí tráth nach déanaí ná 10am ar an 18ú Márta 2014
Is meanscoil Dheonach Chaitliceach Lán – Ghaeilge do chailíní í Laurel Hill Coláiste FCJ faoi iontaobhas Le Chéile. Is é 404 tinreamh na scoile faoi láthair
Is fostóir comhionannais deiseanna é An Bord Bainistíochta
D’fhéadfaí iarrathóirí a chur ar ghearrliosta
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Nuachtlitir Futa Fata
Márta 6, 2014
Suaitheantas nua Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh
Márta 6, 2014
Suaitheantas nua Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh leis an mana
“Neart inár lámha, fírinne inár dteanga, agus glaine inár gcroí”
Tá sé bunaithe ar sean suaitheantas ó Scoil Éanna- Scoil an Phiarsaigh i Ráth Fearnáin.
Díomá an Uachtaráin maidir le heaspa inniúlachta an Státchórais sa Ghaeilge
Márta 6, 2014
Ag ócáid speisialta in Áras an Uachtaráin inné, chuir Uachtarán na hÉireann, Micheál D. Ó hUiginn fáilte roimh ionadaithe ó phobal na Gaeilge chuig ócáid ar leith in onóir Sheáin Uí Chuirreáin.
D’fhógair an Coimisinéir Teanga, Seán Ó Cuirreáin, ar 4 Nollaig 2013 go raibh sé le héirí as a ról, le feidhm ón 23 Feabhra 2014. Tar éis deich mbliana a bheith caite aige sa ról, agus dhá bhliain fágtha sa téarma ceapacháin aige, dúirt an Coimisinéir agus é ag fógairt a éirí as gur beag eile a d’fhéadfadh sé a bhaint amach go pearsanta sa tréimhse ama sin i dtaca le cearta teanga phobal na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta. Ar na cúinsí laistiar dá chinneadh, thagair Ó Cuirreáin do lagú chóras na scéimeanna teanga, easpa inniúlacht Ghaeilge an státchórais, agus cinneadh an Rialtais cumhachtaí agus feidhmeanna reachtúla an Choimisinéara Teanga a aistriú chuig Oifig an Ombudsman.
An tUachtarán féin a d’eagraigh an ócáid seo chun buíochas a ghabháil le Seán Ó Cuirreáin as ucht a bhfuil curtha i gcrích aige chun “gnáth-úsáid laethúil na Gaeilge a chothú i measc ár saoránach, agus chun chearta na Gaeilge mar an gcéad teanga náisiúnta againn a shuíomh agus a húsáid leis an córas stáit mar cheart a chosaint”.
Le linn a chuid cainte, labhair an tUachtarán faoi easpa cumais an Státchórais i leith na Gaeilge agus a dhíomá pearsanta maidir leis sin: “Mar Uachtarán na hÉireann, is mian liom a rá, ní hamháín go bhfuil díomá orm, ach gur cás liom an leibhéal dealraitheach íseal cumais atá sa Státchóras do na saoránaigh gur mian leo a gcearta a chur i bhfeidhm agus bheith ag caidreamh as Gaeilge leis an Stát agus a chuid gníomhaireachtaí”.
Dúirt an tUachtarán freisin nach mór tabhairt faoin “miotas nimhneach go bhfuil an Ghaeilge ina bacainn ar shealbhú aon teanga eile”.
Agus é ag tabhairt teachtaireachta láidir do Státchóras na tíre, dúirt an tUachtarán gur gá “na deacrachtaí a sheas i mbealach Shéain Uí Chuirreáin agus é i mbun a mhisin a bhreithniú go cúramach, ar dheacrachtaí den sórt sin iad, gur cheap sé gurbh fhearrde é dá sheasfadh sé siar óna phost mar Choimisinéir Teanga”.
Ag ócáid eile in Áras an Uachtaráin, ar an Luan seo chugainn, déanfar comharba Uí Chuirreáin a insealbhú go hoifigiúil, nuair a bhronnfaidh Uachtarán na hÉireann séala oifigiúil ar an iriseoir Rónán Ó Domhnaill.
Gaelport.com
