Féile na Mí 2012
October 26, 2012
14 November 2012 – 24 November 2012
This year’s Féile na Mí will host many cultural events all over the royal county from 14th-24th November 2012.
As part of this year’s Féile na Mí many sean-nós, music session and musical events are organised in the Gaeltacht of Ráth Chairn and other parts of the county. They will host many sean-nós competitions plus music session.
Many dancers from all over Ireland will flock to the royal county for a wonderful traditional weekend of music, dance, children’s show plus much more.
This year’s festival will be official opening on Friday 14th November in the Darnley Lodge Hotel in Athboy with a wonderful evening of music song, dance and finger-food.
The following evening the Railway Bar in Kells will host an evening of traditional music and Irish language conversational gathering which will give individuals to come along and practice their Irish language skills.
On Friday 16th November the competitions commence with a sean-nós singing competitions for young people and various awards will be presented to the crowned champions.
At 3pm on Saturday afternoon sean-nós dancing competition for children will take place and the winner will be presented with Corn Chuimhneacháin Mhicí Mac Donncha. Sean-nós dancing competitions for adults will take place at 4:30 and later in the evening sean-nós singing competition for adults will take place with the prestigue award, Corn Chuimhneacháin Choil Neaine Pháidín to be awarded to the crowned champion.
On Friday 23rd November the annual festival dinner will be hosted in the wonderful restaurant in Dunderry Lodge and an award presentation will take place with Gradam Uí Ghramhnaigh and Gradam Cultúrtha na Gaeltachta being presented on the night.
On Saturday night a bodhrán competition for people over 16 years will take place in memory of the musician Martin Kerrane.
Tickets for the dinner are available from Comharchumann Ratha Chairn plus any other information regarding any of the events: 046 943 2068
Further information visit: www.rathcairn.com
Developments in Irish language education to be discussed at Education Conference
October 25, 2012
This year’s Irish Language Education Conference will take place on Saturday, 23rd November in the Ardiluan Hotel in Galway.
Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta Teo. and Gaelscoileanna Teo., the two main Irish language education organisations have come together organise a co-conference for the first time ever. At the launch of the conference programme, Máirín Ní Chéileachair, President of Gaelscoileanna Teo. said, “We are very happy to give an opportunity to the Irish language education community, both inside and outside of An Ghaeltacht, to come together and to learn from each other”.
Both groups have put an interesting programme in place for next month’s conference and a wide range of varied subjects will be covered throughout the day. The programme has been primarily based on improving literacy and numeracy with Gaelscoileanna and Gaeltacht schools and the topic is sure to encourage must discussion and debate throughout the conference.
Mairéad Ní Chualáin, Chairperson of Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta Teo. said, “This year’s programme covers many topics and is sure to cover all issues relating to Irish-speaking and Gaeltacht education”.
Dr Muiris Ó Laoire to begin proceedings with a discussion on the implementation of the literacy and numeracy strategy in Gaelscoileanna agus Gaeltacht schools from a language planning perspective.
Other topics that will be discussed on the day include: the recent reform of the Junior Certificate which will come into effect in 2014, language immersion learning, and the self-evaluation within schools.
The conference will take place on the 23rd November in the Ardiluan Hotel, Galway. For further information contact Gaelscoileanna Teo. on 01-8535191 or Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta Teo. on 026-65885.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
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Cuireadh chuig seoladh Bhreacadh ag Oireachtas 2012
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Comórtas BEO!
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Patronage reform process begins
October 24, 2012
Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn has launched the first step towards the divesting of primary schools from the Catholic Church in 44 communities as a result of a huge demand among parents for a change of patronage.
To ensure the demands of the public are met, a survey is being distributed among parents in 5 areas where schools, currently under the Catholic Church, are to reform their patronage: Arklow, Castlebar, Whitehall, Trim and Tramore.
Surveys will be distributed in the 39 other areas next month with the hope of reforming patronage in primary school by September 2012 if parents comply with survey deadlines.
The five patrons which will compete in these five areas are An Foras Pátrúnachta; Educate Together; VECs; the National Learning Network; and the Redeemed Christian Church of God and strict handling guidelines have been put into place to ensure that information will be disputed fairly among parents.
In the survey, which is being distributed mainly online, parents will be asked to state whether they feel a wider range of patrons are needed and to vote their preference of the patrons which have expressed interest in their area. Parents will also be asked whether they prefer same-sex or co-education and English speaking schools or Gaelscoileanna.
An Foras Pátrúnachta is the first choice for parents who wish to promote all Irish speaking education in their area. 61 primary schools and 3 secondary school are currently under their patronage and students in those schools are immersed in the Irish language from their first day onwards.
“We are the only patron who can offer parents a choice of spiritual ethos which include Multi-denominational, Interdenominational and Catholic.” said Caoimhín Ó hEaghra, Ard-Rúnaí, An Foras Pátrúnachta.
Minister Quinn is asking parents to complete the survey before 9 November 2012. All information on the process is available on www.foras.ie and surveys can be found on www.education.ie.
GAELPORT.COM
The process to transfer schools under the Catholic Church to other patrons begins
October 22, 2012
The Minister for Education, Ruairí Quinn, announced today the beginning of the process of divesting schools under the Catholic Church. A survey is to be conducted to ascertain what type of schools parents want for their area.
Caoimhín Ó hEaghra, Ard Rúnaí An Foras Pátrúnachta, stated that ‘The Department of Education and Skills was giving parents more choices, under this process, as to what type of school they wanted in terms of the language and spiritual ethos of the school’. Ó hEaghra continued ‘An Foras Pátrúnachta are able to address the demands for diversity that parents have both in terms of Irish Medium education and also in terms of spiritual ethos. We are the only patron who can offer parents a choice of spiritual ethos which include Multidenominational, Interdenominational and Catholic.”
The survey is beginning in five areas: Arklow, Castlebar, Whitehall (including Kilmore West and Beaumont), Trim and Tramore. The Minister is asking parents in these areas to complete the online survey before the 9th of November 2012. The survey can be accessed on the Department’s website at www.education.ie or all information can be found at www.foras.ie.
Ó hEaghra stated that this is a great opportunity for parents who would like to promote Irish Medium in their area. It is important that parents complete the survey and select an Irish Medium School under An Foras Pátrúnachta. He went on to say that it is equally important to explain the benefits of Irish Medium Education to other parents and to seek their support.
An Foras Pátrúnachta has been providing diversity and addressing parents wishes since it was founded in 1993. Comprehensive information relating to this process is available at An Foras Pátrúnachta’s website (www.foras.ie) and we will be available to provide information on the benefits of Irish Medium Education, the multi denominational ethos and about us as a patron.
For media information, contact:
Caoimhín Ó hEaghra:: 01-6294110 :: eolas@foras.ie
Siobhán Seoighe :: 01-6294110 :: eolas@foras.ie
New blog: AN FORAS PÁTRÚNACHTA
Minister Quinn asks parents for their views on patron options for primary schools
October 22, 2012
Parents in Arklow, Castlebar, Tramore, Trim and Whitehall first to be surveyed in pilot scheme.
In a new initiative, parents in a number of selected areas are being asked what patrons they would like to see running their local primary schools.
Earlier this year, the Advisory Group to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector made recommendations to the Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn T.D. on the divesting of patronage where there is a stable population and a demand for diversity of school types.
Following on from these recommendations, the Minister has commenced a new process to examine the possibility of transferring some schools to other patron bodies in 44 areas around the country.
Starting today, parents of pre-school and primary school children in five initial areas are being surveyed. The areas are Arklow, Castlebar, Tramore, Trim and Whitehall (including Kilmore West and Beaumont) in Dublin.
A code of conduct has been worked out in consultation with the patron bodies which will limit expenditure on the provision of information. The code is designed to ensure the surveys are conducted in a reasonable manner, avoiding contentious commentary.
Launching the initiative, Minister Quinn said, “For many parents this will be the first time they will have a real say in the type of primary school they want their children to go to, whether it is denominational, multi-denominational, all-Irish or another kind.”
“Modern Ireland is hugely diverse and we have to be sure that our schools cater for this diversity. Whilst we owe a debt to religious bodies for their contribution to education, there is now the potential for change within the primary patronage system to better reflect our society.”
Parents of pre-school and primary school children in these locations will be asked to complete surveys stating their preferences for the type of school they would like their children to attend.
The intention is to find out if parents would prefer a wider choice of school patron than is currently available to them. The responses of parents will be used to decide what changes, if any, should be made to widen the availability of other types of primary school in these locations.
The existing patrons within the five pilot areas are An Foras Pátrúnachta and bishops from the Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland.
The bodies which have expressed interest in becoming patrons of divested schools in the five areas are An Foras Pátrúnachta, Educate Together, VECs, the National Learning Network, and the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
Minister Quinn continued, “I am urging all eligible parents to make sure that their voices are heard by taking part in these surveys. This is a historic opportunity for parents to re-shape the primary school landscape for generations to come.”
“After the piloting of the survey in the first five areas, we will be rolling it out to the balance of the 44 areas next month.”
The survey process will be overseen by the independent New Schools Establishment Group. The Department will publish detailed reports on the survey outcomes.
If the surveys identify demand for alternative patronage in these areas, the Department will explore with the existing patrons the transfer of patronage of schools.
The survey is available at: www.education.ie and all eligible parents or guardians are asked to complete it on-line by 9th November. Parents or guardians are advised to have their PPS number to hand when accessing the on-line survey as this will be requested for validation purposes.
A free helpline is available in the Department for anyone who has any difficulties in completing the survey: 1800 303621.The helpline will be open from 9.30 to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
If parents cannot access the online survey, a paper based version can be requested by ringing the freephone number 1800 303621.
ENDS
Updated list of areas to be included in initial phase of surveys
Arklow
Ballina
Ballinasloe
Ballyfermot/ Chapelizod/ Palmerstown/ Cherry Orchard[1]
Bandon
Birr
Buncrana
Carrick-on-Suir
Carrigaline
Castlebar
Celbridge
Clonmel
Cobh
Dublin 6
Dungarvan
Edenderry
Enniscorthy
Fermoy
Kells (Ceanannas)
Kildare
Killarney
Leixlip
Longford
Loughrea
Malahide
Monaghan
Nenagh
New Ross
Passage West
Portmarnock
Roscommon
Roscrea
Rush
Shannon
Skerries
Thurles
Tipperary
Tramore
Trim
Tuam
Westport
Wicklow
Youghal
Whitehall (including Kilmore West and Beaumont)
Gabhann Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta comhghairdeas le Scoil na Fuiseoige
October 22, 2012
