(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
Schools face losing control of enrolment in radical new plans
June 14, 2011
SCHOOLS could lose control of the enrolment of pupils under new rules being planned by Education Minister Ruairi Quinn. Mr Quinn wants to ban a range of practices that discriminate, either directly or indirectly, against certain children. He would underpin the changes with regulations or legislation and schools would face sanctions for breaching the rules. While there was a broad welcome across the education sector for the debate, not everyone shared the minister’s priorities for change and finding agreement could prove difficult. Schools that favoured children of past pupils, or their own teachers or members of their board of management, would be targeted under new regulations. The overhaul of admissions policies could also see an end to the first-come, first-served practice that can exclude families who are new to an area. The minister also wants a relaxation of policies that can restrict entry to an all-Irish gaelscoil to children of parents who are fluent in the language.
Mr Quinn also wants to end the “cherrypicking” of bright students and introduce a fairer sharing out of pupils with special needs. He said there is a need for more transparency in enrolments and at the heart of his proposals was the question “can we find a fairer way for all?”. He said he wanted to debate and consult with school managers, teacher unions, parents and other interested parties by the end of October before taking final decisions. The multi-denominational body, Educate Together and the Gaelscoileanna movement both called for more schools under their umbrellas to deal with the demand that they encounter. Educate Together, which relies heavily on the first-come first-served rule, said all enrolment policies became exclusion policies when there are insufficient school places to meet demand. “Educate Together has consistently sought to create more places by extending existing schools or opening new Educate Together schools. The organisation considers this the only appropriate response when parents are unable to obtain places in an Educate Together school,” he said. Micheal O Broin, president of Gaelscoileanna, said one of the reasons their schools needed an enrolment policy was to cope with the demand for an Irish language education.
Diverse
Ferdia Kelly, general secretary of the Joint Managerial Body representing over 400 voluntary secondary schools, said there was a need to be “very careful to strike a balance between parental choice and regulation”. Irish Vocational Education Association general secretary Michael Moriarty said it was a long overdue development. He added: “Hopefully, it will lead to the putting in place of a regulatory framework capable of accommodating the needs of all families in an increasingly diverse Ireland.” The Teachers’ Union of Ireland said certain schools had been facilitated by the department’s past inaction in openly flouting education and equality legislation by actively discouraging those students who had special educational needs from attending their schools.
Irish Independent – Katherine Donnelly
25th Anniversary of Gaelscoil Ultain 1986-2011
June 13, 2011
Four hundred parents, past parents, past pupils, teachers, current and past members of Boards of Management and Parents’ Committees from Gaelscoil Ultain gathered together in the Hillgrove Hotel on Sunday night to celebrate the school’s 25th birthday. The night started with a drinks reception in the hotel’s foyer which allowed people from the school community to exchange stories and reminisce about their days and their association with the school.
The school’s Deputy Principal, Ciara Nic Gabhann and Múinteoir Rang a Sé, Niamh Nic Ghiolla Chomhail, who was in the first class in the school in 1986, acted as polished MCs for the night. Bishop Seosamh Ó Dufaigh, the school’s first patron, congratulated all involved and talked about the wealth of cultural heritage which is epitomised in the school. Brendan Ó Dufaigh, chairman of the Board of Management, recalled the history of the founding of the school during 1986 and the Founding Committee’s efforts to secure pupils, a patron and accommodation and ultimately Department approval to allow the school to go ahead.
Joe Ó Gallchóir, the one and only Principal in the twenty five years, adhered to the school community of parents, pupils and teachers in his address. Former pupil, Ailis Ní Ghiolla Eanaigh, spoke positively about her wonderful days in the school recalling sporting victories, drama successes and high academic standards. Brian Mac Domhnaill, representing parents, past and present, talked about how the Irish language disappeared as a native language in Monaghan but he was confident that it would returned as a native language to the county due to the influence of Gaelscoil Ultain and other Irish medium schools in the county.
A commemorative book, entitled ‘Ceathrú Céid ar an Chnoc’, which was compiled and edited by Joe Ó Gallchóir, was launched at the Celebration Ceremony on Sunday night by Department of Education Inspector, Rita NicAmhlaoibh. She said the book would prove to be a very comprehensive record of life in Gaelscoil Ultain during its first 25 years. She expressed delight at the wealth of pictorial records that existed in the school in the pre-digital image era. The 280 page publication was designed by Faela Nig Aonghusa and printed by R and S Printers.
An integral part of the celebration was a 20 minute visual presentation capturing key moments in the life of Gaelscoil Ultain over the years, drawn from old videos of varying qualities, which were painstakingly edited and compiled by Seán Ó Máirtín, another staff member in Gaelscoil Ultain.
After the speeches, presentations of tapestries by Liz Loughran from Swallows Studios, Annyalla, were made to Brendan Ó Dufaigh and Joe Ó Gallchóir by Mairead Corrigan and Joe Shiels respectively, both members of the present Parents’ Committee.
Photographs were taken, copies of the souvenir commemorative book were signed and guests retired to an adjoining room for a sumptuous supper with music provided by Goitse, a traditional group from Limerick. People remarked on the amount of Irish spoken by young Monaghan people, all past pupils of Gaelscoil Ultain, and compared the celebration to a function in a Gaeltacht area in terms of the amount of Irish spoken.
The 10.30 Sunday morning Mass in St. Macartan’s Cathedral was celebrated through the medium of Irish by Rev. Fr. John Chester, school chaplain, and it was a special Mass with the Gaelscoil community in mind. Suitable liturgical music was provided by the school choir, under the direction of an Múinteoir Niamh Ní Ghiolla Comhail, instrumental music was provided by parents, past parents and past pupils under the direction of an Múinteoir Tiarnán Ó Duinnchinn and an Múinteoir Fiona Yeboh. The first reading, from the Acts of Apostles, was read by staff member Anna Marie Uí Chléire, the psalm was sung by Marcus Ó Miocháin, a sixth class pupil, and the second reading from St. Paul to the Ephesians, was read by past pupil, Ronán Ó Gairbhí.
Rinne Frances O’Reilly (tuismitheoir), Lily Cheung (iardhalta) agus Jordan Ó Cléirchín (dalta Rang 6) guí an phobail. Claire Burns, parent and Lochlainn de Paor, a third class pupil, brought the gifts to the altar. Items and symbols associated with Gaelscoil Ultain were brought to the sanctuary before the beginning of the liturgy by Gabriel McCormack, Mary Neeson (tuismitheoirí), Roisin Nic Cionna, Tyler Ní Mhuirí and Eimear Ní Mhuirí (daltaí) with commentary by Múinteoir Gearaldine Mhic Cearáin. Many parents and past pupils alike returned to the school after Mass for a cup of tea, a chat and to have one final browse around their old alma mater. It was here that parents got their first glimpse of ‘Ceathrú Céid ar an Chnoc’, the commemorative book, which all agreed was an excellent publication.
Príomhfheidhmeannach á lorg ag Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta
June 9, 2011
40 scoil tar éis páirt a ghlacadh i bhféilte peile Ghael Linn
June 7, 2011
Summer camps in Cavan
June 1, 2011
This summer Glór Bhréifne will also be holding an Irish summer camp for young people between 11th and 15th of July
Glór Bhréifne is an Irish language organisation which supports the Irish language community in county Cavan through organising social events and supporting young learners of the language through Gaeltacht scholarships.
Each year a fund raiser in support of the language is held on St. Patrick’s Day in Cavan, and it is through some of this money, as well as support from Comhaltas Uladh of Conradh na Gaeilge that the scholarships come. If you are interested in applying for a scholarship, Glór Bhréifne can be contacted on 087 6401682.
There will be a particular emphasis on spoken Irish through art and other activities during the course, and family rates are offered if more than one child would like to attend.
More information is available from (049) 4371530 or http://forum.cavancommunity.ie/Glorbhreifne to download an application form.
