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Turas Ghaelscoil Uí Éigeartaigh, An Cóbh go dtí Gaeltacht Chorca Dhuibhne

May 31, 2011

Corn Ghlór na nGael 2011

May 31, 2011

Sorry, this entry is only available in Irish.

Minister wants modern method for Irish

May 31, 2011

Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs Dinny McGinley has said that technology used to teach foreign languages must also be used to teach Irish in schools.

The Minister was elaborating yesterday on a Dáil statement last week on plans for the 20-year Irish language strategy, introduced in 2006, which aims to increase the number of people speaking Irish on a daily basis from 83,000 to 250,000.

Irish Times

Is feidir linn, say tiny gaelscoil’s pupils

May 30, 2011

ONE of the country’s smallest primary schools is invoking the message of US President Barack Obama about national identity to make the case for its survival.

Just seven pupils, all girls, attend the 100-year-old Scoil Mhin na Manrach, in the Rosses Gaeltacht in West Donegal.

The decline in enrolment will result in the school, which once boasted numbers in excess of 100, losing one of its two teachers at the end of this school year.

This will edge it ever closer to permanent closure against a backdrop of an ongoing value-for-money review of small primary schools by the Department of Education and Science.

But parents, principal and board of management at the tiny school in the Derryveagh mountains argue passionately that the estimated €30,000 savings from the closures of such schools was nothing compared to the loss it would represent to the Gaeltacht community.

“It is a small school and I can see that people are trying to save money. But Barack Obama when he was here spoke about our identity and looking after our heritage and not forgetting it,” said parish priest and chairman of the board of management Nigel O Gallachoir.

“This school is one of the jewels of the Rosses Parish. It is unique in the sense that it is 100pc ‘as Gaeilge’. The teaching is wonderful. The children are literally getting a one-to-one education.

“They have all the technology they could want and yet it still is immersed in the old tradition.
“It would be awful to lose that link,” he said.

He added that rather than lose such a resource, the department should consider providing transport from other areas where classes are overcrowded. The McCarthy recommendation for the amalgamation of the 600 or so schools with enrolment of 50 pupils or less has prompted the review.

But Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has emphasised that the study is simply about ascertaining the facts and no policy decision has been taken.

Irish Independent – Declan Doherty

Painéal naíonraí lorghta ag FNT

May 25, 2011

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Campaí Samhraidh Feachtas sa Mhuileann gCearr

May 25, 2011

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Cuireadh Chun Tairisceana- Leabharlann Soghluaiste

May 25, 2011

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Balbriggan Gaelcholáiste could solve capacity crisis

May 20, 2011

SCENES that attracted worldwide attention in 2007 when Balbriggan was forced to open an ’emergency school’ could return unless the Department of Education stops dragging its heels over the opening of a new secondary school, it has been warned.

That is the view of the people behind a proposed new Balbriggan secondary school project that stands willing and able to solve the town’s school capacity problems at a stroke this September if the Department of Education will just give it the green light.

With a nod and minimal funding from the Department of Education, a new ‘Gaelcholáiste’ which will deliver secondary school education through the Irish language for the first time in Balbriggan, is ready to go.

A site which is already owned by the Department of Education is available in the town but the delay in approving the project has already cost school authorities the chance to secure discount prefabricated classrooms for the site as time ticks on towards the start of the new academic year.

Gaelcholáiste Ghlor na Mara has signed up over 500 students who are interested in attending the school if it manages to get its doors open in time for September and with most local schools, particularly for boys, bursting at the seams, the arrival of the school cannot come fast enough.

But despite public meetings and political support from across the parties locally, the school is still waiting on Department of Education approval.

It is a source of frustration for school chairman, Tadgh O Tuachaigh, who said: ‘A shortage of second level places for male applicants to secondary schools in Balbriggan is becoming a more than likely reality for this coming September and is set to develop into a bigger crisis in 2012 for both male and female applicants.

‘With almost all schools in the suburban town at full capacity the founding committee for Coláiste Ghlor na Mara is calling for immediate action from the department of Education in order to prevent a reoccurrence of the places crisis which occurred at primary level in 2007 and received worldwide publicity.’

Mr O’Tuachaigh said the school stands ready to ‘resolve a major headache for the department in regards secondary school places in Fingal region’.

‘With a bit of urgency we can resolve this problem quite easily and cater for the 507 pupils who are anxiously awaiting the department’s decision,’ he added.

The school is waiting for a response from the department and on a recent visit to Drogheda, the Minister for Education, Ruairi Quinn would not take questions on the issue so for now at least, those 507 potential students must sit and wait.

– John MANNING, Fingal Independent

Irish language evening classes starting next week – Book now!

May 19, 2011

Gaelchultúr’s Irish language evening classes for adults will commence next week (23-26 May 2011) in Dublin and Carlow. There are some places still available; to view all courses and venues, and to book a place, please go to www.gaelchultur.com.

Eolas/Information: www.gaelchultur.com | eolas@gaelchultur.com | (01) 484 5220 | 1890 252 900

Campaí Samhraidh do pháistí i gContae na Gaillimhe

May 19, 2011

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