MLPSI Ezine
May 15, 2012
(Gaeilge) Aontaíonn Comhaltas ar Fhleadh Dhoire
May 14, 2012
Weekend Workshop with Lullabies
May 14, 2012
This June, An Gyréum is organising Weekend with Lullabies, 15 – 17 June for people who would like to learn Irish in a new way – through learning amazing Irish lullabies. The workshop will be led by Siobhán Cleary and Máire Breatnach.
15 June, Friday
arrival time: afternoon
7pm Soup supper
8pm Introduction to Lullabies
16 June, Saturday
9am Pre-breakfast Yoga
10.30am Breakfast
11.30am Learning of the first two lullabies from a screen, Short walk
2pm Lunch, Three short lullabies followed by short walk on Moytura plateau
7pm Dinner, Evening with music, Repeating the full learnt lullabies before bedtime.
17 June, Sunday
9am Pre-breakfast Yoga
10.30am Breakfast
11.30am Learning of the third set of lullabies
2pm Lunch
Tour to Kesh Caves where all the lullabies are recorded inside the cave, the
same place where King Cormac Mac Airt as a baby was suckled by she wolves.
The recording is forwarded to each participant as an MP3.
Price:
180€/person
130€/person who book through Comhluadar or mention Gaelscoileanna in their booking
Max: 20 participants
More information: http://www.gyreum.com
Scléip 2012 on Raidió na Gaeltachta
May 14, 2012
Raidió na Gaeltachta recorded the regional heats and Final of Scléip and we are delighted to announce the dates of the 5 programmes:
Leinster Heat: 9th June 9.00 am
Munster Heat: 16th June 9.00 am
Ulster Heat: 23rd June 9.00 am
Connaught Heat: 30th June 9.00 am
Final: 7th July 9.00 am
Congratulations again to the winners and their schools and many thanks to Fiachna Ó Braonáin and his team at Raven Productions that recorded the competition this year on behalf of Raidió na Gaeltachta.
TCD Residency scheme for Irish speakers
May 11, 2012
Do you hope to attend Trinity College Dublin this September?
Would you like to speak Irish everyday and promote the language among your peers? Oifig na Gaeilge, TCD is now accepting applications for Scéim Chónaithe Dhartaí (Dartry Trinity Halls Living Scheme) for first year students 2012-2013 to fill 12 places.
The scheme not only welcomes Irish Language students but is open to students studying a wide range of subjects for example medicine, law, philosophy and BESS from all over the country, including the north of Ireland.
How does it work? Scéim Chonaithe Dhartraí offers students a sum of €1,000 to contribute to their living fees on the condition that they:
a) Speak Irish on a daily basis and in their apartment.
b) Take an active part in Irish Language events and in general college life.
c) Hand in reports to Oifigeach na Gaeilge at the end of term 1 and 2 detailing the ways in which they fulfilled their duties.
Students on Scéim Chónaithe Dhartraí are also expected to run different events at Trinity Halls to promote the language such as céilís, trips, ciorcail comhrá, treasure hunts and speed dating. Scéim students attend Oireachtas na Gaeilge every year as well as contributing to events at Éigse na Trionóide and the college’s own Seachtain na Gaeilge.
Clár Johnson, a TCD Scéim Chónaithe graduate had this much to say about her own personal experience:
“I would suggest to anybody who has the opportunity to apply for Scéim Chónaithe na Tríonóide. It added so much to my experience at university to be based at the heart of the Irish language community on campus. It offers a chance to first year students in particular to get a head start and establish a place the most inspirational and enjoyable place in college.”
Application forms can be downloaded on www.tcd.ie/gaeloifig.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Funding opportunities under Youth Events scheme 2012/2013
May 11, 2012
Foras na Gaeilge is currently seeking applications from groups which organies Irish language activites for young people. Funding of up to €5,000/£3,500stg will be offered to individual organisations under the scheme.
Through this scheme, Foras na Gaeilge is providing funding for suitable Irish Language activities for young people which aim “To advance, promote and strengthen the use of Irish”. Suitable events that will provide young people with opportunities for using the Irish language should be run between 01 September 2012 and 30 June 2013.
Please note that Foras na Gaeilge will not respond to any applicants after the deadline until assessments are completed. Groups, therefore, are reminded to answer every question on the form and provide all information required from the checklist before the deadline. If you have any questions on any aspect of the form or the checklist, it is advised that you contact Foras na Gaeilge before the deadline. This scheme is open to any organisation except corefunded organisations.
The scheme is not open to core-funded organisations which receive annual funding from Foras na Gaeilge. Applications will be accepted until 23 May 2012.
For further information check out www.gaeilge.ie.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Gaelscoil release balloons to signify 12-year wait
May 10, 2012
Staff and students from Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh, Knocknacarra will stage a protest event in Galway City this Saturday, 12 May, when they will release 12 balloons to signify their 12-year wait for a school extension. The school was excluded from the Government’s five-year capital investment programme announced in March.
Saturday’s event will start at Eyre Square at 11.15 am and finish at 12noon near Griffin’s Bakery on Shop Street. The event will feature 16 children’s pop-up tents, eight of which will represent the eight portacabins in which students are being educated. The event will also feature lots of balloons, a ringmaster and snake banners.
Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh has been campaigning for a school extension since 2000 and plans to replace the eight portacabins in which over 200 children are being educated has full planning permission and includes the provision of a Naíonra for which over €330,000 has been raised locally.
GALWAY INDEPENDENT
Two new EPV courses being offered by Gaelchultúr
May 10, 2012
Over 2,000 primary school teachers have done one of Gaelchultúr’s online EPV courses since they were first offered three years ago, and many of those have expressed a desire to do another of the company’s courses this summer. In light of that interest, we have developed two new courses to meet the growing demand:
How to Teach Irish Effectively in the Classroom: This course is aimed at primary school teachers who are looking for more effective ways to teach Irish. Each unit contains sample lessons relating to the curriculum themes, as well as videos showing how to teach those lessons. Teachers participating in the course will be able to use this material in the classroom and copy the approach when developing their own lesson plans.
Ardchúrsa Cruinnis do Mhúinteoirí Bunscoile is aimed at primary school teachers who have a reasonably good standard of Irish grammar but who wish to focus on the more challenging aspects and perfect their language skills.
Gaelchultúr is offering eight online courses in total for primary school teachers this summer, all of which are recognised by the Department of Education and Skills and entitle successful participants to three EPV days. You can click on the course titles below to get more information about them, to try sample units, or to make a booking.
How to Teach Irish Effectively in the Classroom
Ardchúrsa Cruinnis do Mhúinteoirí Bunscoile
Bunchúrsa Cruinnis do Mhúinteoirí Bunscoile
Irish Language IT Resources for the Classroom
Practical Irish for Primary School Teachers – Junior and Senior Infants
Practical Irish for Primary School Teachers – 1st and 2nd Class
Practical Irish for Primary School Teachers – 3rd and 4th Class
Practical Irish for Primary School Teachers – 5th and 6th Class
Gaelchultúr’s EPV courses have been in great demand since they were first offered in 2009 and one of the reasons for this, according to Siobhán Patten, Gaelchultúr’s Specialised Courses Manager, is the interesting, useful content. “There are plenty of practical ideas and fun activities in the courses and participants really look forward to trying them in the classroom.”
Another aspect that really appeals to users, says Siobhán, is the logical layout of the website. “We’ve added to the technology since last year, and teachers will find the courses even more user-friendly than they were in previous years. So the good news is, those taking our programmes don’t need to be particularly knowledgeable about technology.”
Gaelchultúr’s online EPV courses have received glowing praise from previous participants. This is what two teachers who’ve previously completed the courses had to say about them:
“I wish to thank everyone in Gaelchultúr – I will certainly use the course material in the classroom. Well done!”
“This is the most useful and practical summer course I have ever done. I will recommend it to my friends and I look forward to doing another course of yours next year.”
Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh ar na sráideanna
May 10, 2012
Irish alive and well in Gaelscoil Átha Í
May 9, 2012
Retired RTE GAA commentator Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh was on hand to perform the official opening of Gaeilscoil Átha Í last Thursday morning.
Local politicians, clergy, parents, teachers and members of the local community in Athy joined the pupils in celebrating the occasion and they heard the guest of honour say that the spirit of the people of Athy made the day possible.Each of the class groups gave musical performances between the speeches and in keeping with the tradition of the school these speeches were ‘as Gaeilge’.
The 199-pupil school opened in September 2004 with 21 students at the Aontas Ogra premises on the Kilkenny Road. The new building opened in 2010 and it has eight classrooms, 10 teachers, one special needs assistant, a secretary, a cleaner and a caretaker.
Sinead Ní Nualláin has been principal of the school since last November. During her speech to the assembled audience she said her school was more fortunate than most. “There are schools that have been on the waiting list for buildings before us who are still on the list.
“We have a lovely building now but when we opened first in 2004 we had nothing. We were working out of the Aontas Ogra Hall and I want to thank the parents who believed in the dream of a gaelscoil in Athy and I want to thank them for their support.”
Credit for the establishment of the school was given by all who spoke to local woman Kathleen Robinson. Ms Ní Nualláin said that Kathleen Robinson had an unbelievable dream. “People didn’t think that a gaelscoil could ever exist in Athy and it’s a proud day for us because Kathleen did succeed. Without Kathleens belief we wouldn’t be here. For that reason we are naming our new general purpose hall after Kathleen.”
Following this Mícheál O Muircheartaigh and Kathleen Robinson unveiled a plaque, which named the hall Halla Mhic Róibín.
The MC for the event was local man and parent Johnny Watchorn who said that the school was a great achievement which was due in no small measure to the work of Sinead and her team and the commitment of the parents.
“Once upon a time people used to ask me when Irish was last spoken in Athy. Today I am able to tell people that Irish is alive and well in Athy and that is because of the gaeilscoil.”
The guest of honour Mícheál O Muircheartaigh said that Kathleen Robinson had succeeded because the people of Athy supported her. “Kathleen is not a fluent speaker but she believed Irish was as much for her as it was for those who are fluent. The people of Athy bought into her vision and the parents took a chance sending their children to this school and it is this spirit that made today possible.”
He went on to add that it was good to see inclusiveness at the heart of the school. “It is great to see boys and girls from different traditions and religions side by side in an inclusive and positive environment.”
