Have you got the G-factor?
February 21, 2012
Irish language youth organisation, Feachtas is now looking for appilcations for a new show which will showcase the cream of Irish language talent in Dublin on March 8th.
Young people aged between 12 and 18 years are invited to take part in the show which will feature dancers, actors, musicians and singers. Winners will receive prizes of up to €300- but all applications have to feature the Irish language or have Irish language central to lyrics and speeches.
For futher information contact ursula.feachtas@gmail.com
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.
Donegal shines in national literary schools awards ‘as Gaeilge’
February 17, 2012
Tory Island has always being renowned for its rich storytelling tradition and for the gifted and skilled storytellers it produced.
If the results of a recent national literature competition for secondary schools are anything to go by, then it seems that a younger generation of Tory islanders have inherited the older generation’s mastery of storytelling. There are only seven pupils in the islands school, yet three of these students managed to take the top awards in a national Irish Language literature competition sponsored by Údarás na Gaeltachta.
Sixteen year old Lauren Ní Bhaoill won the overall national prize for her short story ‘Coimeadí Uimhir a hocht’, fourth year Ciara Ní Dhubhgháin won the Eibhlín Ní Cháimhsí Memorial Award for the best entry from Donegal for her short stóry ‘Deich ndóigh le múinteoir a mharú’ (Ten Ways to Kill your Teacher), while Áine Máire Nic Ruairí won the best essay in the 1618 year old age group for her essay, ‘Ag iascaireacht i dToraigh (Fishing in Tory)’.
The poet Aifric MacAodha, who judged the competition, said the entries of the Tory Island pupils “exhibit masterful storytelling abilities and the stories themselves are rich and imaginative, possessing both poignancy and power”. Not to be outdone by their Donegal compatriots, pupils from Pobal Scoil Gaoth Dobhair and Pobalscoil Chloich Cheann Fhaola in Falcarragh also swooped a number of the national awards They took seven national awards in total between them, while twelve other pupils from secondary schools in Donegal received special recognition.
An award ceremony was held in Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta, Gaoth Dóbhair this week where the lucky recipients received their prizes. Speaking at the ceremony, Micheál MacAoidh, Arts officer for the Donegal Gaeltacht, praised the pupils for the high standard of the entries and gave particular praise to the teachers “who were the ones who inspired and encouraged the pupils to write, and without whom there would no competition”. Mr MacAoidh said they “would ensure that the strong, rich and vibrant Irish language literary tradition in Donegal would continue to blossom”. He gave particular praise to Noel Ó Gallachóir, principal of Pobalscoil Gaoth Dobhair and his staff, Máire Chlár Nic Mathúna, principal of Pobalscoil Cholmcille on Tory island, and to Karen Ní Fhrighíl and Carmel Curran, the Irish teachers in Pobalscoil Chloch Cheann Fhaola in Falcarragh. These teachers, he said, “put in trojan work and continually inspire and encourage their pupils to produce writing of imagination and strength”.
DONEGAL DEMOCRAT
Leabhar Nua “Music is the Key”
February 16, 2012
Bí páirteach i roghnú Laureate na nÓg 2012-2014 d’Éirinn
February 16, 2012
Ciarraí na heolaíochta abú!
February 16, 2012
Cúrsa 2 Lá i Leitir Mealláin, Conamara á reáchtáil ag Spleodar
February 16, 2012
Parents in Kildare furious as children of gaelscoileanna ignored
February 16, 2012
THE PARENTS OF more than 1,600 primary school children are planning actions against the Department of Education and Skills following a decision to block the establishment of a post-primary gaelscoil in Maynooth.
Earlier this month, the DES refused to accept an application from An Foras Patrúntachta to take on the patronage of a new school due to be built in the North Kildare town in 2014.
An Coiste Bunaithe (the founding committee for gaelcoláiste) has applied twice in the past five years to establish an Irish-medium secondary school in the area but has failed in both attempts.
There are currently four primary schools who teach through Irish in North Kildare which would be feeder schools for any such coláiste. Those children currently have few options to continue their post-primary education through the medium of Irish.
On announcing plans to build a new school in Maynooth last June, Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn said the criteria used in deciding on patronage would place a particular emphasis on “parental demand for plurality and diversity”.
“Parental preferences should be at the centre of considerations about the type of school to be recognised,” Quinn also said.
Last week, the Department of Education posted what they saw as the valid expressions of interest from patronage bodies. An Foras Patrúnachta’s application was excluded.
Those from County Kildare VEC – which already runs a school in the North Kildare town – and the Loreto Education Trust were accepted.
The Department told TheJournal.ie that a decision had previously been made that the new school in Maynooth would operate through English.
However, it advised that prospective patrons must be willing to establish an Aonad (an Irish speaking unit) if there is demand for one.
Colm Ó Cearúil from An Coiste Bunaithe said this was not enough for the number of children currently being educated through Irish. It would also fail to cater for the growth in the area, he said.
Ó Cearúil said the parents of the children attending the local primary schools are furious and frustrated by the decision. “We are taking a three-pronged action against the decision,” he said, adding that it could lead to a legal challenge.
The parents of the children attending Gaelscoil Uí Fhiaich in Maynooth, Scoil Uí Dhálaigh in Leixlip, Scoil Uí Riada in Kilcock and Gaelscoil na nÓg in Dunboyne are furious that their wish to have their children continue their education through the medium of Irish should be dismissed in such an unjust manner.”
He said that they had been willing to compromise and look at taking on a joint patronage of the school – a solution used in other areas of the country.
Previous applications for gaelscoileanna in Maynooth and other parts of North Kildare were refused as Coláiste Cois Life in nearby Lucan was not at capacity.
“North Kildare was told it could not have an Irish secondary school once there were empty seats in the Lucan school. That is no longer the case as the school is now full,” explained Ó Cearúil.
We demand that Ruairí Quinn explains why the DES is opposed to a Gaelcholáiste in Maynooth and to explain why Co. Kildare VEC is posted when the Minister’s own criteria calls for diversity of choice given that the VEC already has a school in the town.”
The group met with a community council this week, as well as local TD Bernard Durkan to discuss the issue.
The large Irish-speaking community in Maynooth has sprang up since a group of parents decided to establish an Irish-speaking primary school by renting local premises from their own funds. North Kildare lost out to Lucan in the previous application for a secondary school.
The new school is due to be built in 2014. A final decision will be made after the closing deadline for applications for patronage on 24 February.
Of the schools due to be built in 2013 and 2014, three will be Irish speaking – one in North Dublin, one in South Dublin and another in Cork. VECs have applied for the patronage of 14 new post-primary schools across the country.
The Journal.ie
A simple formula for education
February 16, 2012
A chara,
There is, of course, merit in some of the 10 changes recommended by Ivan Yates for Irish education (Education Today, February 14th) but unfortunately whatever merit there is, is undermined by the author’s underlying view that the role of education is to serve the needs of the so-called free market.
He writes about rationalisation, as in the consolidation of small rural schools. He talks about incentivising good teaching with financial reward — as if good teachers could be bought. He mentions the critical competitive advantage we have with a natural English-speaking workforce but uses this, not to support, but to undermine the teaching of Irish as our own unique second national language.
According to Mr Yates, “If both Irish and religious studies were replaced by computer studies/information technology learning, we could greatly enhance economic performance”. So there you have it, the solution to our economic woes, from one of the erstwhile heroes of the Celtic Tiger era!
The Irish education system certainly has loads of issues to deal with, but I really do think that Mr Yates should stick to his bookmaking and leave the book learning and teaching to the educationalists. The great majority of teachers can still take pride in belonging to what has always been one of the noblest of all professions, teaching. – Is mise,
JOHN GLENNON,
Cillín Chaoimhín,
Co Chill Mhantáin.
A chara, – While I somewhat agree with Aonghus Ó hAlmhain’s assertion (February 15th) that mastery of one’s native language is a vital asset of a competent programmer, I disagree that the native language of today’s Ireland is An Ghaeilge.
As both a holder of a degree in Irish and a technology professional, I agree with Ivan Yates’s assertion that technology and Irish should at least be optional subjects in our schools. Both were options for me at school in the North over 25 years ago and I find it regrettable that such models are resisted here still. Exposure to basic programming logic at secondary level stood me in good stead in my later career.
I would prefer to have composed this letter in Irish, but the reality is that most of my fellow readers would not understand or bother to translate it. The current education system has failed to revive the language, but we irrationally persist.
Meantime, incredibly in today’s climate, my IT colleagues still find it difficult to recruit capable IT professionals from our nation’s talent pool. – Is mise,
STIOFÁN MacCLÉIRIGH,
An Machaire,
Domhnach Bat,
Co Átha Cliath.
Irish Times
Eagraíochtaí Gaeilge slán go dtí Meitheamh 2013
February 15, 2012
