Pictiúr exhibition on tour
April 9, 2013
Pictiúr is the name of a new exhibition of illustrations form Irish language and English language books which is currently touring European Institutions as part of the Irish Presidency of the EU.
Laureate na nÓg Niamh Sharkey has curated the exhibition which features illustrations from children’s books including work by P. J. Lynch, Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick, Olivia Golden and Andrew Whitson
This month the exhibition will be staged in the European Parliament in Brussels before it visits the Leuven Institute. It will go on a nationwide tour beginning in the Draíocht arts centre in Blanchardstown before heading to the Babaró festival in Galway. The exhibition will be on display in the IMMA, Kilmainham at the end of the year.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Ard-Fheis Chonradh na Gaeilge passes emergency motion on Irish-medium education
April 9, 2013
Irish speakers from all over the country gathered at the Canal Court Hotel in Newry, Co. Down at the weekend to discuss issues regarding the language at Conradh na Gaeilge’s 2013 Ard-Fheis.
A wide range of topics were discussed during workshops, forums and at the Ard-Fheis talk.
Guest speakers Niall Comer, President of Comhaltas Uladh, Seán Ó Coinn, Deputy CEO of Foras na Gaeilge and Cormac Ó hEaghra, RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta took to the floor to discuss the theme ‘120 Years of Growth and What Is Ahead Of Us’ drawing attention to important issues including the recent closure of Irish language newspaper ‘Gaelscéal’, uncertainty regarding the office of An Coimisinéir Teanga, decisions made by the Government on the future of the language and the barrier in communication between the 20 Year Strategy and the general Irish Language community.
Two motions were unanimously passed during the Ard-Fheis as well as an emergency motion. The first motion calls for the recognition of the Irish language and Gaeltacht community as a stakeholder in the implementation of the Irish-Language Strategy in the north from the outset, and the second for the establishment of a crucial high-level structure between authorities and Irish-language community organisations to ensure the effective implementation of The 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010 – 2030 in the south.
A third, emergency motion, suggested by committee member Pádraig Mac Fheargusa was passed which says: “Taking into account opinions published in the media recently regarding the Education Minister’s attitude towards entrance policies for Irish-medium primary and secondary schools, Ard-Fheis Chonradh na Gaeilge suggests that such policies should be left alone regardless of parents’ and children’s background in the Irish language.”
These motions will be presented to the relevant state ministers as well as Foras na Gaeilge, recognised language planning experts and Irish language organisations.
Donnchadh Ó hAodha, of the Cork Craobh Chúil Aodha branch, was also re-elected President of Conradh na Gaeilge during the events at the weekend.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Oidhreacht Theach Ard na bhFeá á comóradh
April 8, 2013
Meeting about the new gaelscoil in Firhouse, April 9th
April 5, 2013
A meeting will be held for those who would like to be part of the founding committee (parents committee) for the new Gaelscoil in Firhouse on Tuesday, April 9th.
The meeting will be held in Coláiste de hÍde in Tallaght ( www.colaistedehide.ie ) at 7pm and will last for an hour.
If you would like to attend this meeting, please email eolas@foras.ie.
Branar ag léiriú Clann Lir i mBarra an Teampaill
April 5, 2013
Imeachtaí Scoile mar chuid d’Fhéile Litríochta BÁC
April 4, 2013
Comhdháil ar Litríocht na nÓg
April 2, 2013
Minister for Education & Skills announces 23 towns will see change in patronage of primary schools
April 2, 2013
Report on surveys of parental preferences for primary school patronage published
The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn T.D., has published the results of primary school patronage surveys from 38 towns across the country.
These surveys were undertaken as part of the Minister’s response to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in Primary schools and are aimed at establishing if parents want a more diverse range of primary school patrons in their area.
Detailed analysis of the surveys shows that there is sufficient parental demand in 23 out of the 38 areas to support an immediate change in the existing school patronage. 22 of the areas will see the establishment of an English language multi-denominational school and one area will see an Irish language school established. Parents expressed a preference for an Educate Together patron in 20 of the areas and the other two towns will see Community National Schools established, run by the local VEC. 30 of the 38 areas surveyed already have a gaelscoil option available for parents.
Welcoming the publication of the surveys, Minister Quinn said, “This is another significant step on the road to providing a plurality of education and real choice for parents in the type of primary school they wish to send their children to. We are confident of a generous response from the existing patrons to the clear demand for change in more than 60% of the areas surveyed this year. “
The level of demand deemed sufficient to support a recommendation for a change in ethos of school was set at the minimum enrolment sufficient for a four teacher school. The outcomes and recommendations were verified by the New Schools’ Establishment Group which has responsibility for overseeing the process. While there is a cohort of parents in the remaining 15 out of the 38 areas who would support a change in patronage, the surveys show there is not sufficient demand at present to ensure that a school of different patronage would be viable. However, it is recognised that this may change in the future, at which point the position could be re-examined.
“There is also a strong demonstration through the surveys that many parents are happy with the current schools on offer and I think this reflects well on the education services provided by our existing patrons,” added Minister Quinn.
The surveys were undertaken for four weeks from the 14th of January. Parents of 0-12 year olds in each area were invited to participate. The towns were chosen as they had a relatively stable population of between 5,000 and 20,000 and therefore little prospect of any new schools opening in coming years to cater for demographic demand.
A total of 10,715 valid survey responses were received, the vast majority of which were filled in on-line. More than 2,000 responses were deemed invalid as they did not contain a PPS number, the address of the respondent or their name. Responses were further checked against data held by the Department of Social Protection to ensure that the children listed in each response are linked to the PPS number given and the relevant survey area.
Late last year, surveys were carried out in five pilot areas and these showed there was parental demand for a change in school patronage in each area. “Almost two thirds of the areas surveyed as part of this process, including the pilot phase, have shown sufficient parental demand for a wider choice of school patron. We cannot ignore this call for change. We will now be contacting the Catholic patron in each of the areas where we have identified this demand to request they now consider options for reconfiguring schools under their management in order to allow the transfer of a school to a new patron,” concluded Minister Quinn.
Copies of the report will be sent to all primary school patrons in each of the 38 areas. The Catholic Bishop or Archbishop in the 23 areas where demand for change has been confirmed will be asked to submit an interim response within three months and a final response with detailed proposals on divesting a school in six months.
The full report from the surveys is available at: http://www.education.ie/en/Publications/Policy-Reports/Report-on-the-surveys-regarding-parental-preferences-on-primary-school-patronage.pdf
Ballina: Educate Together
Ballinasloe: Insufficient demand
Bandon: Insufficient demand
Birr: An Foras Patrunachta
Buncrana: Insufficient demand
Carrick-on-Suir: Insufficient demand
Carrigaline: Cork VEC
Celbridge: Kildare VEC
Clonmel: Educate Together
Cobh: Educate Together
Dublin 6: Educate Together
Dungarvan: Educate Together
Edenderry: Insufficient demand
Enniscorthy: Insufficient demand
Fermoy: Educate Together
Kells: Educate Together
Killarney: Educate Together
Leixlip: Educate Together
Longford: Insufficient demand
Loughrea: Educate Together
Malahide: Educate Together
Monaghan: Insufficient demand
Nenagh: Educate Together
New Ross: Educate Together
Palmerstown: Educate Together
Passage West: Educate Together
Portmarnock: Educate Together
Roscommon: Insufficient demand
Roscrea: Insufficient demand
Rush: Educate Together
Shannon: Educate Together
Skerries: Insufficient demand
Thurles: Insufficient demand
Tipperary: Insufficient demand
Tuam: Educate Together
Westport: Educate Together
Wicklow: Insufficient demand
Youghal: Insufficient demand
Cúrsa do Mhúinteoirí
March 28, 2013
Tá an Chomhairle Náisiúnta Tuismitheoirí – Bunbhrainse (NPC) ag cur cúrsa ar siúl do mhúinteoirí an samhradh seo. Tá eolas sa bhreis san iatán thíos ach tá fáilte roimh dhaoine glaoch a chur orthu mar gheall air.
In 2012 National Parents Council Primary delivered its first summer course for teachers on Working with Parents to support their children’s learning. We received very positive feedback from the teachers who participated in the course. The course introduces participants to NPC who we are and what we do. It explores topics such as parents as partners in education. It also discusses the current research regarding the involvement of parents in their children’s education. It looks at practical approaches for teachers and schools on how to involve parents in their children’s education. The final topic is on school self evaluation with regard to parental involvement.
Review of summer course
My name is Kathleen McKiernan and I am in my third year as the Home School Community Liaison teacher in Holy Rosary Primary School in Oldcourt Tallaght.I attended the summer course for teachers entitled “Working with Parents to support their children’s learning” run by the National Parents Council from July 2nd-6th in 2012.
This was a very informative and enjoyable week. The course content was very varied and interesting especially the information we were given on the NCP itself, its structures and how it supports parents and teachers in schools.
While I teach in a school where Parental involvement has always been central, I learned much from both the tutors and the discussions within the group. The group, made up mostly of classroom teachers, were given very useful information and support on how to involve parents in their children’s learning. We explored some of the research
to back this up and were given lots of very practical ideas on how to implement it.
The course succeeded in doing “what it says on the tin” and was very useful for both classroom and Home School Community Liaison teachers.
We are intending to run the above summer course again this year from Monday 1st July to Friday 5th July. If you would like more information please contact Deirdre Sullivan, Training and Development Officer at dsullivan@npc.ie or directly on 01-8874481.
US visitors treated to early morning Spirit of Connemara wake-up call
March 28, 2013
Vistors from the US arrived off a flight at 5am to be greeted to more of an Irish experience than they had bargained for as local sean-nós dancer Emma O’Sullivan and Aran Island natives, the Mulkerrin Brothers, were there at Shannon Airport recently ready to treat them to a musical performance traditional Irish style.
This musical wake-up call was not just some bonus that came with increased air miles, but rather it was part of an unique marketing campaign to promote the new tourism initiative ‘Spirit of Connemara’ which hopes to attract more visitors to our shores giving them a real taste of Connemara.
The ‘Spirit of Connemara’, run by Celtic Footstep, is a specially tailored Irish culture tourism package set up to coincide with The Gathering and the International Hurling Festival which takes place in Galway this September. It aims to showcase the very best talent of Connemara cultural traditions, from folklore to history, and Irish language to music and dance. During their tour, guests will be treated to lessons in the basics of Irish language, ceili dancing, and taken to hurling matches. Well known local broadcaster Séan Bán Breachnach will also be on hand to act as MC for the guests at a Ceili Mor.
Speaking at the early morning launch at Shannon Airport, Celtic Footstep spokesperson Kerry O’Sullivan said: “The ‘Spirit of Connemara’ is all about showcasing Connemara as the best place in the world to experience Irish language and traditions. In the words of President Michael D Higgins we are putting out a call or ‘Glaoch’ to all those with a connection to Connemara, to those who attended Irish college here or who have an interest in Irish culture and language to connect with the unique heritage of the Connemara Gaeltacht in September.”
Celtic Footstep has created a group tour package, which will showcase the unique experience that the Connemara Gaeltacht has to offer visitors to the area, which will comprise six nights’ accommodation, transport and tour package from September 19 to 24.
For further information log onto www.celticfootstep.com /join-a-tour/spirit-of-connemara, phone 091 591222, or email enquiries@celticfootstep.com.
http://www.advertiser.ie/galway/
Foilsithe ar 28 Márta 2013
