Peig Sayers for a new generation
June 4, 2013
A chara,
In light of Felicity Hayes McCoy’s disparaging comments towards Peig Sayers (Life, May 20th) I feel obliged to point out that the current generation of NUI Galway final year Gaeilge students informed me during course evaluation that I should have spent more time on Peig Sayers’s works, as they enjoyed her.
A majority of the 150 students chose to include Peig in their exam answers. I observed, particularly among female students, that they connected with Peig’s independent spirit and her belief that people should only marry on the strength of love for one another rather than the strength of a dowry. Her description of the first time she laid eyes on her husband – Pádraig Ó Guithín – led one student to remark, that regardless of the harrows she had suffered in her life she also enjoyed the elations of love, meaning that she truly did live it to the fullest.
I will leave you with Peig’s simple yet beautiful words: “D’fhéachamair féin ar a chéile. Do chonac rud éigin aoibhinn sa bhféachaint sin. Rud éigin a bhí thar thuiscint an duine do mhíniú anso”.
Is mise,
TOMÁS L Ó MURCHÚ,
Áras na Gaeilge,
Ollscoil Éireann,
Gaillimh.
www.irishtimes.com
Ceiliúradh Cainte i gColáiste Leoin
June 4, 2013
Irish drive’s second birthday party to take place in CoC13
June 4, 2013
THE second birthday party for an initiative to get as many people as possible across the whole of Northern Ireland speaking the Irish language by 2015 will take place in Londonderry UK City of Culture in 2013.
Last year’s Líofa (fluent) Party, which took place over one day in Custom House Square in Belfast last year, cost £17k.
It featured performances from a range of artists including renowned Dungiven harpist Nodlaig Brolly.
Culture Minister Carál Ní Chuilín has now announced that this year’s birthday party will take place in Londonderry in September.
The Minister explained: “This year’s Líofa birthday party will be held in Derry, as part of the City of Culture.”
The Culture Minister concluded: “The event will be held in early September and will provide a focus for individuals and Irish Language organisations with the aim of promoting and publicising the Irish Language to all.”
www.londonderrysentinel.co.uk
Stepaside’s new Gaelscoil featured in the Three Rock Panorama
May 30, 2013
Learn a cúpla focal with Conradh Na Gaeilge
May 30, 2013
As the end of the school year beckons it is time to think about planning your child’s summer holidays. Fortunately, Conradh na Gaeilge may have just the answer for you.
The Conradh na Gaeilge renowned summer camps commence in July in areas including Castlegar, Lackagh, Corofin, Annaghdown, and Athenry.
Each camp incorporates the learning of Irish through sport, dance, music, art, games and other fun activities.
With more than 30 years’ experience and a top class reputation to boot, Conradh na Gaeilge is a top choice when it comes to summer camps.
For more information contact the Conradh na Gaeilge Galway offices on 091-567824 or visit www.arasnangael.ie
http://www.advertiser.ie/galway
Dianchúrsaí an tsamhraidh
May 30, 2013
Cuirfear tús an mhí seo chugainn leis an tsraith dianchúrsaí Gaeilge atá á eagrú ag Conradh na Gaeilge i nGaillimh.
Beidh na cúrsaí á reáchtáil in Áras na nGael, 45 Sráid Doiminic ó 11 – 27 Meitheamh le dhá rang sa tseachtain ó 7.00in – 9.30in gach oíche. Tá na ranganna dírithe ar 3
leibhéal – tosaitheoirí, bunleibhéal, agus meánleibhéal le costas ¤125 ar an gcúrsa.
Le linn an chúrsa beidh béim mhór ar chomhrá agus ar labhairt na Gaeilge. Beidh na rannpháirtithe in ann feabhas a chur ar a gcuid Gaeilge labhartha trí chleachtadh agus trí theagasc den scoth.
Maidir leis na rannpháirtithe a bhfuil Gaeilge níos líofa acu, múinfear roinnt gramadaí dóibh freisin agus beidh siad in ann tuiscint níos fearr a fháil ar scríobh na Gaeilge. Ní bheidh fadhb ar bith díriú ar ábhar nó ar riachtanais speisialta sna ranganna beaga seo freisin más gá.
Cosúil le ranganna an Chonartha trí chéile beidh an curaclam ceangailte le curaclaim Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge.
Is féidir clárú ar www.arasnangael.ie nó teagmháil a dhéanamh le Conradh na Gaeilge, 45 Sráid Doiminic, Gaillimh, ag 091 567824 nó conradh@bradan.iol.ie
http://www.advertiser.ie/galway
East by South-west — they’re learning Chinese in Dingle!
May 30, 2013
Graham Clifford visits the Kerry school teaching Mandarin to Gaelgoirs.
A minor linguistic error could get you in serious trouble
In school I wasn’t exactly what you’d call ‘a natural’ when it came to languages. A long-suffering French teacher said that she soon realised I was Kerry’s answer to René from ’Allo, ’Allo!
An Irish teacher described my sentence structure as “seafóid” or nonsense and after three years of studying German all I could say with certainty was “Ich bin irisch und Ich spreche nicht gut deutsch!”
So as I approach the majestic driveway leading to Coláiste Íde just outside Dingle, the nerves are jangling. Palm trees pass me by on either side as I make my way through woodlands before reaching the main building.
I’m here to learn my first few words of Chinese — but through Irish. I passed my comfort zone some miles back by Inch beach.
I remember reading once that scholars in Kerry’s hedge schools learned to speak and write perfect Latin through Gaelic and I try to invoke their spirits as I walk towards the doors of this idyllic boarding school for girls with its 127 students.
The West Kerry Gaeltacht wouldn’t be the obvious setting for Mandarin Chinese classes but in a cosy classroom I meet 20 young ladies who have been familiarising themselves with the language of the mighty land to the East.
I get a bilingual welcome (in Chinese and Irish) but when asked if I’d like to be spoken to “as Gaeilge nó as Béarla” I opt for the latter.
I’m hit with a dart of guilt similar to that experienced when opting for English when given the option at a cash machine.
The teacher, Joan Lyne of Annascaul, reassures me that Chinese is not too difficult to learn and that I’ll pick up a “cúpla focal”.
“There’s no grammar, it all sounds mad, it’s interesting and fun. There are only four different tones.”
The girls are ready for action with copy books opened in front of them featuring complicated-looking Chinese characters or letters. Someone produces chop sticks. I’m interrupting their study-time and that’s the real reason for the buzz in the room!
This area isn’t exactly a Chinese stronghold, explains Joan. “There used to be a Chinese family living in Dingle. I was going to ask that family to come in to help the girls learn the language but they moved just before we started the course.”
“So have any of you used Chinese outside the classroom?” I ask the students.
A host of replies come back simultaneously. “I went in to a Chinese restaurant to say hi in Mandarin but it was an Irish person working there,” says one.
Another, who displayed similar bravery, added: “We met a Chinese lady and were able to introduce ourselves in the language. We also tried to order food but that didn’t go so well. The woman was talking so fast and that went right over our head. But in return we taught her how to say ‘dia dhuit’.”
I’m starting to think I could get the hang of this. Instead of pointing at number 22 in my local takeaway, I could confidently stroll in, exchange pleasantries with the staff and then request my favourite dish.
But then I discover that a minor linguistic error could get you in serious trouble with the mammy.
Joan explains: “There are four different ways of saying the word ‘ma’. Saying it at the end of a sentence can turn it into a question; ‘ma’ can also mean your mother … depending on the tone that’s over the letter ‘a’. If you use one of the dipping tones, ‘ma’ can mean ‘ horse’ so if you get it totally wrong you could easily call your mother a horse!”
Mollaí Nic Suibhne from Dingle has developed a grá for the language and she gives me some background to how it’s written.
“There are two ways of writing. There’s the original way with the brush stroke, and then there’s the way of writing it with European letters — then it’s written as it sounds; it’s called Pinyin.”
I nod as though I clearly understand — I was always a half-decent actor.
Using an interactive teaching package designed by the Chinese institute at UCD, Joan informs the fifth-year students here about Chinese culture as well as about the language.
She’s added some of her own touches, too, from her year spent studying Chinese in UCC. These include an ‘amhrán náisiúnta’, or national song, which the Chinese play in place of their national anthem at sporting events such as the Olympics.
In the surreal setting of a Gaelscoil on Dingle Bay on a wind-swept evening, I’m serenaded in Chinese by 20 young ladies! The song is called ‘Jasmine Flower’ and dates back to the 18th Century. It says “Fragrant flowers filled theair/ Beautiful blossoms everywhere /Choosea blossom white and pure /Give to the one that you adore.”
I’m interested to find out if the girls, who received certificates as part of the Gaisce President’s awards for learning the language, feel that knowing some Chinese could be a major asset down the line.
Local women Catherine Ní Dhubháin, Siobhán Ní Mhaoildhia from Tipperary, and Cork’s Gráinne Ní Shearta believe it could be the language of the future.
“It’s unique and it’s growing,” they say, adding, “It really should be brought into the main curriculum. I mean, they’re (the Chinese) taking over the world. The jobs, technology and IT are in China.
“For the purposes of trade, it could be really useful to speak some Chinese but continue to live in Ireland.”
I ask Joan if issues such as human rights in China are discussed with the students. “We dipped into it a bit … things like the one-child policy and abortion. They have loads of questions; these girls are so curious.”
I step back into the West Kerry night with ‘Jasmine Flower’ still ringing in my ears and a phrase which will shock the owners of my local Chinese takeaway — “wo bú shì Zho-ngguórén” — it translates as “I am not Chinese” … they would never have guessed!
www.independent.ie
Corn Peile Ghlór na nGael 2013
May 28, 2013
Online resource for Irish choirs is on-song
May 22, 2013
Online resource for Irish choirs is on-song Soprano Deirdre Moynihan,centre,with Coláiste Choilm Ballincollig students Evan McCába, Ciara O’Hanlon, Aoife McPolin and Luke Gallagher
Launched during the Cork International Choral Festival earlier this month, Deirdre Moynihan’s Choirs CAN project is a free online resource for choirs and amateur singers. The resource taps soprano and fiddle player Moynihan’s experience in classical and traditional music.
Moynihan says of Choirs CAN, which she produces: “It began about 12 months ago, as an idea to bring traditional songs into the realm of choral music. I wanted to make it accessible for everyone, not just in Ireland, but to choirs all over the world. The idea was to provide practical tools for choirs and conductors.
“Having spoken to people about it, there was a general consensus that there is a lack of arrangements, so I consulted them to see what they’d need.
“They were excited about having more Irish music available to them.” Moynihan successfully applied for funding from the Arts Council of Ireland, through the Deis award and Forais na Gaelige.
Their support allowed her to make imaginative, four-part choral arrangements, of eight traditional songs, available on her website to amateur choirs. The downloads include not just sheet music, but recordings of all the works by Moynihan’s choir, Moving Voices, and audio-learning aids for singers who learn better by ear.
An Irish pronunciation guide is included for each song, too.
“It’s nice to have the recordings as a reference. I think, it makes them less daunting,” Moynihan says. Moynihan made four of the arrangements,
commissioning two each from composers Andrew Synott and Mark Armstrong.
“The brief, for all of us, was to arrange something that would be suitable for secondary school and non-professional adult choirs, and to maintain the integrity of the traditional song.
“Within the set, there’s a variety in terms of style and difficulty. I really do think there’s something there for everybody. There’s a lot of fun to be had with them and
I think choirs will really enjoy singing them,” Moynihan says. Some 500 singers took part in the first public performance from the collection, during the ‘big sing’ at Cork International Choral Festival on the May bank holiday. Members of choirs from Ireland and abroad joined the public at the annual event, which was conducted by John O’Brien. Conducting from the stage of Cork City Hall, O’Brien formed a choir in 45 minutes, from the singers filling the auditorium, to singing Moynihan’s arrangement of ‘Óró sé do Bheatha ‘Bhaile’.
The project injects accessible choral music into a repertoire that can stagnate, with the same pieces of music being performed time and again in competition and concert.
The songs chosen all come from the seminal publication, Cas Amhrán, by Micheál Ó
hEidhin, a former schools’ inspector of music who died last year. “It was a little bluebook produced by the Department of Education in the 1970s,”says Moynihan. “My father used to teach us songs out of it, and I do find, when I mention it as a source, it’s very recognisable to a lot of people.
It had over a hundred songs, with lovely illustrations.” Choirs CAN represents an effective model for making participatory music accessible to the public for free, demonstrating a use of public funds that merits further exploration.
“I can certainly see it expanding in the future,” Moynihan says. “It will be interesting to see how much choirs use the resource.
www.irishexaminer.com
Gradam Speisialta do Raidió na Life as ‘Scoth na Seirbhíse le 20 Bliain’ & ‘Láithreán Gréasáin na Bliana’ ag Gradaim Chumarsáide 2013
May 21, 2013
