Scléip 2012 Winners
February 21, 2012
We had a great day out at the Leinster heat of Scléip in the Axis theatre in Dublin on the 20th February. There were 9 schools with us on the day and all of the participants are due praise, the standard was very very high this year and the judges had difficult decisions to make. Below is the list of winners, who will go on to compete in the competiton final:
Modern music (solo):
- Lauren Ní Dhubhlaíoch, Coláiste Cois Life (junior)
- Kym Gartry, Coláiste de hÍde (senior)
Modern music (group):
- Cór Cois Life, Coláiste Cois Life (junior)
- Scléipeoirí, Coláiste Chilliain (senior)
Creative dance (solo):
- Saoirse Ní Dhubhshláine, Coláiste de hÍde (junior)
- Dearbhla, Meánscoil Gharman (senior)
Creative dance (group):
- Sinéad & Áine, Coláiste de hÍde (junior)
- Na Jaffa Cakes, Gaelcholáiste Cheatharlach (senior)
Drama/mime (solo and group):
- Cé sa diabhail í Alice? Gaelcholáiste Chill Dara (sóisear)
- Pandora, Gaelcholáiste Reachrann (senior)
Judges’ Choice:
- Chewie agus an Bhuíon, Meánscoil Gharman (senior)
Congratulations to everyone who took part, we hope you really enjoyed the day and we look forward to seeing you again in the Axis on March 24th for the competition final.
1,550 children in North Kildare denied the option of Irish-medium post-primary education
February 10, 2012
According to a recent statement from the Department of Education and Skills, an application for a new gaelcholáiste will not be included for consideration along with other applications for the patronage of the new school due to open in Maynooth in 2014. This decision means that Irish-medium education at post-primary level will not be available to more than 1,550 children attending Irish-medium primary schools in Maynooth, Kilcock, Leixlip and Dunboyne.
In July 2011 the Department of Education and Skills announced that a new post-primary school to cater for 1000 pupils is to open in Maynooth, and that prospective patrons might apply for patronage of that school. The criteria the Department will use to assess the applications were also published, and diversity of provision and parental choice were specifically mentioned.
It is clear that the campaign being run by the local community since 2005 to demand a gaelcholáiste for the area is being ignored. Co. Kildare VEC have made two previous applications for a gaelcholáiste in Maynooth (in 2007 and 2010) and more than 430 expressions of interest from parents have been collected by An Foras Pátrúnachta, the prospective patron chosen by the school’s founding committee for this new application. Despite the very strong evidence of parental demand, the Department is not taking diversity of provision or the preference of the people of North Kildare into account in the assessment of applications for patronage of the new school.
The founding committee for Gaelcholáiste Chill Dara Thuaidh surveyed local parents in 2010 on their preferences for post-primary provision in the area, and the results showed that a local gaelcholáiste was the first preference for 88% of those who responded. The demand for a new gaelcholáiste has been recognised by parents and the education community in North Kildare, by the patrons and by the wider Irish-medium education community, and it would be negligent of the Department to ignore it.
The Department does not appear to be following the criteria set out in the New Arrangements for the Patronage of New Schools or respecting the expressed wishes of parents in North Kildare. GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. demands that the application by An Foras Pátrúnachta for the patronage of the new school be given due consideration, and we ask that the Department of Education support Irish-medium education and the will of the community in Maynooth.
GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. is the national coordinating organisation for Irish-medium schools at primary and post-primary level. It provides assistance and support to parents and local communities who wish to found a school and it supports existing Irish-medium schools in their development.
Further information:
Clare Spáinneach, Development Officer, GAELSCOILEANNA TEO.
Phone: 01 8535193 Email: cspainneach@gaelscoileanna.ie
Máirín Ní Chéileachair, Chairperson, Gaelcholáiste Chill Dara Thuaidh Founding Committee
Phone: 01 6290667 Email: mairinnicheileachair@gmail.com
Spring Newsletter online now
February 6, 2012
Gaeltacht schools still face cuts despite 500+ taking to the streets
February 3, 2012
500 people marched outside Dáil Éireann last night in opposition to the proposed cuts to small, rural and Gaeltacht schools. Despite the large group of protesters the motion to oppose these cuts was rejected by a Dáil vote last night.
Many people from Gaeltacht areas around the country travelled to Dublin last night to take part in the protest including groups from An Bun Beag, Lios Póil, Conamara, Mayo, Donegal, Kerry, Cork, An Rinn and Ráth Chairn.
The cuts proposed in last December’s Budget will result in the number of pupils required for a four-teacher school increasing from 81 to 83 students.
Gaeltacht schools had previously benefitted from a favourable quota due to the challenges involved with teaching in Gaeltacht areas, with 76 pupils required for a four-teacher school. This number however, is due to rise to 86 by 2014, a hike that will require 10 extra pupils for each Gaeltacht school to preserve their four-teacher status.
A motion by Fianna Fáil opposing these measurements was rejected in a Dáil vote last night by 87:46.
In an interview with Gaelport.com Treasa Ní Mhainín, Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta stated that 12 Gaeltacht schools will lose a teacher in September as a result of these cuts.
Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta are due to meet with Minister of State Dinny McGinley, TD, next week to bring the cases of these schools to the attention of the Government. Their request in early January for an urgent meeting with the Minister for Education and Skills Ruairí Quinn, TD, was granted last night and is due to take place by the end of February.
GAELPORT
NCCA Announce Full-Time Post
February 2, 2012
The NCCA have announced a full-time post for an Irish Education Officer. This position remains vacant, following the NCCA’s open competition in the Autumn. The original application form and information booklet can be downloaded from the links below.
Anyone who may be interested, can complete the application form and email it to Morgan Lockhart (morgan.lockhart@ncca.ie) by 5pm on Friday, February 24th.
The interviews will be held at the beginning of March.
Queries can be directed to Áine Armstrong Farrell at 067-8680166.
ICT sa Bhunscoil
February 1, 2012
Demonstration outside the Dáil, 6pm, February 1st
February 1, 2012
Small and rural schools are planning a demonstration outside the Dáil on February 1st at 6pm to protest against the cuts announced in the most recent Budget. Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta would be grateful to anyone who has an hour to spare to come to Kildare Street and show their support for the campaign. Further information is available on their Facebook page.
BEO Competition!
January 31, 2012
Win €5,000 worth of computer equipment to help your school run a BEO event and be the school that promotes the best ROCK SHOW in the country!
This year BEO entered a National Innovation competition which allowed them to develop a business plan. This involved developing a website www.beoireland.com to help other schools host similar events and thus the idea of holding a nationwide Comórtas BEO was born. To date BEO have hosted many of Irelands top bands, More Than Conquerors, The Wonder Villains, Dirty 9’s and Scuba Dice to name but a few. What a great experience for any school band to get to perform at a gig where some of these tops bands will be playing.
Every year sees a new pool of talented youth bringing fresh ideas to BEO, coupled with the fact that these new members have the support of veteran BEO members in each of the schools can only see BEO going from strength to strength in the future. The website is a great resource to have for any student thinking of bringing BEO to their school and as mentioned on the site, mentors will be assigned to each school entering the competition. Maybe your school will see the next Jim Aiken emerging.
All details for Comórtas BEO can be found on www.beoireland.com.
The schedule for the competition is as follows:
• Applications to be received by Feb 3rd via the website.
• Each school will prepare a 7 min video of their event to be forwarded to BEO by April 23rd.
• Six finalists will be announced on 27th April. All finalists will receive a grant of €500 to help cover their expenses on the day of the final.
• The final will be held on May 11th at the Regional Cultural Centre with each school having to present their entry to the judging panel. BEO’s first national champions will be announced at a special gig that evening and where winner will be presented with the amazing prize of €5,000 worth of computer equipment for their school.
BEO would like to take this opportunity to thank Donegal County Council and the VEC for their kind sponsorship, without which running Comórtas BEO would not be possible.
The official launch of Comórtas BEO will take place in the Regional Cultural Centre on Thursday 19th January at 2.00 pm.
Speakers on the day include:
- Seosamh Mac Ceallabhuí BEO
- Dessie Larkin Comhairle Contae Dhun na nGall
- Mary Ann Kane Coiste Gairmoideachas Dun na nGall
- Hugh Harkin Donegal Live
- Official launch by Nollaig mac Giolla Bhride Comhairle Contae Dhun na nGall
Bigí linn!
Scoil Santain – Campaign to oppose education cuts gathers pace
January 27, 2012
Photo from the Irish Times
Scoil Santain in Tallaght have been lobbying for some time now to oppose the education cuts that are set to cost their school and many more like it around the country very dearly. Information on their campaign to date is available at the following links:
http://www.scoilsantain.com/scoil-santain-sa-nuacht.html and http://scoilsantainpag.wordpress.com/.
Statement from the group:
The Scoil Santain Parents (SOS) (Save our Schools) Action Group was set up as a result of Minister Ruairí Quinn’s decision to make cuts to the DEIS Schools in Ireland. If DEIS cuts were implemented, this would have an adverse effect on the positive teaching of our children, and undo all the good work achieved under the DEIS status of our school. This would put immense pressure on the teachers resulting in bigger class sizes, and a heavy financial burden on parents/guardians to make up the short fall in funding to compensate for loss of services to our school.
Although there are signs that our campaign has softened Minister Ruairí Quinn’s stance on these cuts, we need to ensure this is the case. Until we are guaranteed DEIS Status, our campaign must continue. Remember this is our right under our Constitution, not a concession that can be taken away.
Mise le meas,
Gearóid O Conaráin
(Scoil Santain Parents Action Group)
Líonra Réigiúnach Gaelscoileanna Teo. ar Glór Anoir, Raidió na Gaeltachta
January 26, 2012
