Gaelscoil open day bids to resolve row
June 28, 2011
A SCHOOL at the centre of bitter controversy over plans for a new building has invited public representatives to an open day today to hear its side of the story.
The newly formed Parents and Teachers Action Group from Gaelscoil an Goirt Álainn in Cork said they are “extremely hurt and frustrated” and feel strongly that the pupils have been forgotten and neglected throughout the long-running saga. “We have tried our best as parents and teachers to reach out to the community to allay fears in the public and have been constantly beaten down by certain people,” the group said. “We have been likened to the Taliban, been called ‘snobbish’ and referred to as ‘elitist’, while all the time remaining positive and keeping the greatest need, that of our children, to the fore of our energies.
“This is despite 24/7 intimidation of those ‘Save Our Tank Field’ signs publicly displayed along the children’s route to school, to their local shops or even to Mass.” The school has been based in temporary prefab accommodation on the grounds of Brian Dillon’s GAA Club next to the Tank Field for the last 13 years. After years of campaigning, the Department of Education finally lodged a planning application with Cork City Council for a 16-classroom school on a portion of the Tank Field, which is zoned for sports use.
A rezoning, which would require two-thirds of the city’s 31 councillors to vote in favour, was needed for the building go ahead. City planners gave the project the green light but in July 2007 just 15 councillors voted in favour of rezoning.
The Department of Education appealed the vote and in March 2008, An Bord Pleanála granted planning. However, problems with the plan emerged in September 2009 and the project went back to the drawing board. Almost a year later, former city manager Joe Gavin said a new planning application would be needed. In the meantime, the school secured permission for an extension to its prefabs. Last March, the department lodged its revised plans and last month, city planners gave the new project the green light. Now another rezoning vote is imminent. The controversy has split the community in Mayfield. The Murmount Park Residents’ Association has been among the most vocal opponents arguing that the green space should be retained. It has also argued that the department should build the school on other sites. Supporters of the new school have marched through Cork city, and pointed out that of 376 observations and submissions lodged during the planning process, 269 were in favour of the new school. The action group has invited all councillors and media to an open day at the school today.
Irish Examiner – Eoin English
Scoláireachtaí €2,000 ar fáil do Mháistreachtaí Fiontar DCU
June 27, 2011
Bishops committed to school reform
June 23, 2011
School boards of management could feel “set upon” if a change of patronage is imposed without full consultation, a leading Catholic Church represented has warned.
Addressing the National Forum on School Patronage and Pluralism in Primary Schools, Fr Michael Drumm of the Catholic Schools Partnership said there was a great danger local communities would not “buy into” the process if it was forced upon them. During the hearing, Catholic Church representatives stressed their willingness to work fully towards a “re-imagining” of school patronage. At present, the church controls close to 3,000 of the 3,200 primary schools in the State. Forum chairman Prof John Coolahan questioned the bishops closely, asking them repeatedly if they were willing to take a proactive role in the transfer of patronage to other providers. The process was dependent, he said, on goodwill from the Church on issues like finance and the transfer of school properties from the church to other bodies.
Otherwise he said the whole issue would become stymied. Earlier, Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn said he was delighted with the constructive approach taken by the Catholic Church in their submissions to the forum . There would , he predicted , be “no losers” in the process. In a submission to the forum, the Catholic bishops criticised as “very unhelpful” a suggestion by Mr Quinn that 50 per cent of primary schools under their control could be transferred to other patrons. Today, Mr Quinn stood over his comments, pointing to a survey by the Catholic Bishops Conference on Education where only half of the Catholic parents surveyed said they would choose a school under a religious denomination. Last month, Fr Drumm said a transfer figure of 10 per cent was more realistic The Catholic church was well-represented at today’s hearing with nine representatives from three different groups – the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association and the Association of Trustees of Catholic Schools. The Council for Education of the Irish Bishops’ Conference was represented by Bishop Brendan Kelly, Bishop Leo O’Reilly and Fr Drumm.
The Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin who opened the debate on school patronage three years ago was not present at the hearings. Dr Martin has noted that 90 per cent of Dublin primary schools were under his patronage, while the percentage population who actively wanted a Catholic education could be as low as 50 per cent. There was sparse attendance at the forum my members of the general public who were invited to attend the three-day hearings at the Clock Tower in the Department of Education.
The Irish Times – Seán Flynn
22 Meitheamh 2011
(Gaeilge) Ciorcal Comhrá Samhraidh
June 23, 2011
Martin addresses schools patron issue
June 20, 2011
Catholic Patronage of a school “does not on its own bring about a truly Catholic culture to a school”, the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin, has said. “The current discussion on changes in school patronage is not just about management or ethos or about numbers,” he said yesterday. “Catholic identity cannot be separated from the level of faith of the community within which the school belongs.”
His comments anticipate the Department of Education’s Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector , which begins in Dublin on Wednesday and continues until lunchtime on Friday.
It will hear submissions from interested parties including three from Catholic church bodies – the Council for Education of the Irish Episcopal Conference, the Catholic Primary School Management Association and the Association of Trustees of Catholic Schools.
In a submission to the forum, the Catholic bishops have criticised as “very unhelpful” a suggestion by Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn that 50 per cent of primary schools under their control could be transferred to other patrons.
This suggested to those involved with Catholic schools that “they will be forced into change against their will”, the bishops said.
For his part, Dr Martin has noted that 90 per cent of Dublin primary schools were under his patronage, while the percentage population who actively wanted a Catholic education could be as low as 50 per cent.
At the commissioning of nine parish pastoral workers in Knocklyon, Dublin, yesterday, Dr Martin said: “For the church the discussion about schools today is not about the number of schools that may change patronage, but about the quality of the faith life of the Catholic school.”
Also taking part in this week’s forum will be representatives of the National Parents Council, the Church of Ireland, the Islamic Foundation of Ireland, Foras Pátrúnachta na Scoileanna Lán-Ghaeilge, the Gaelscoileanna, Educate Together, the INTO, the Irish Vocational Education Association, the National Association of Boards of Management in Special Education, the Irish Primary Principals’ Network and the Department of Education.
They will be questioned by a panel chaired by Prof John Coolahan.
Irish Times – Patsy McGarry
20 Meitheamh 2011
(Gaeilge) Cúrsa Samhraidh Séideán Sí Liteartheacht trí Gaeilge
June 15, 2011
(Gaeilge) Scoil Samhraidh Mhic Reachtain
June 15, 2011
Irish language films
June 14, 2011
The Irish short film sector has been thriving in recent years, and thanks to initiatives like Gearrscannáin, funded by the Irish Film Board, Irish film makers have demonstrated that they have no shortage of imagination or talent. Films produced under the scheme to date can now be viewed on www.thisisirishfilm.ie, media hub of the Irish Film Board.
An office clerk who literally loses his tongue, a woman who has the ability to renew her age every one hundred years and a dentist who wreaks bloody havoc on a quiet village – these are just a sample of the diverse range of characters to be encountered in the series of 17 Irish language short films available to view on the website.
Each year, the Film Board releases two Irish language short films under the Gearrscannáin scheme, which aims to inspire up-and-coming film directors to produce Irish language films which challenge the audience and present them with interesting themes to explore.
The shorts produced to date, which include a number of animations, showcase a wealth of film-making talent and feature some of Ireland’s most widely acclaimed actors such as Brendan Gleeson, Charlotte Bradley, Tomás Ó Súilleabháin, Colm Ó Maonlaí and Anne Learmont, to name but a few. The films were shot at various locations around Ireland over the last number of years and explore a wide spectrum of subjects, from mental health to the rekindling of passion in a flagging marriage.
Films can be viewed on the site www.thisisirishfilm.ie. To find them, click on the “Shorts” tab at the top of the page, then scroll to the bottom and click on “Gearrscannáin (2010)”. DVDs of the films can also be obtained from Bord Scannán na hÉireann on (091) 561 318. All the shorts come with a 15 cert rating.
The Irish Film Board is currently accepting applications for Gearrscannáin 2011. The deadline for applications is 8 July 2011.
Intensive Irish language course for post-primary teachers
June 14, 2011
If you’re a post-primary school teacher who teaches through Irish, you’ll have a great opportunity to improve your language skills this summer because COGG (An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta) is organising an intensive Irish language course again this year. The course, which is being run in conjunction with Gaelchultúr, is aimed at those teaching in post-primary Gaeltacht and all-Irish schools and will be held in Tralee, County Kerry, between 15-19 August 2011.
“This is the third year we’re running this course,” says Siobhán Patten, Specialised Courses Manager at Gaelchultúr. “The two previous courses were extremely well received and we expect this year’s programme to be equally successful. The course appeals to teachers because it’s practical and caters for their needs.”
The primary focus is on accuracy in the language, as well as on useful everyday expressions in both spoken and written Irish. The course aims to help teachers use Irish accurately and confidently in their teaching and in the general school environment. Technology workshops are also provided. These workshops focus on the facilities and resources available in the Irish language, including those that are online.
“In addition to the educational benefits to be gained from the course,” says Éamonn Ó Dónaill, Gaelchultúr’s Director of Education, “it provides teachers working in Gaeltacht and all-Irish schools around the country with the opportunity to meet and share experiences and ideas with regard to the work going on in those schools.”
If you’re a post-primary teacher working in a Gaeltacht or all-Irish school and are interested in attending this course, please ring COGG on (01) 634 0831 or send an email to eolas@cogg.ie.
(Gaeilge) Gaelscolaíocht agus an Ghaeltacht
June 14, 2011
