Gaelscoil ag teagasc i dteach tabhairne
November 30, 2012
Rinne oifigeach sa Roinn Oideachais cur sios ar Gaelscoil Bharra i gCabrach, Baile Átha Cliath mar an ‘scoil a thit idir na scoilteanna’ trath agus é ag gabhail leithscéil mar gheall ar iarratas ón scoil ar fhoirgneamh a bheith caillte ar feadh cúig bliana.
Ach anois tá an scoil – deich seomra réamhdhéanta i dtoghcheantair an iarThaoisigh, Bertie Ahern – i bhfíor droch-chaoi agus imní ar an bpríomhoide ansin faoi shábháilteacht a leanaí.
Cúpla seachtain ó shin, baineadh an díon de sheomra Rang 6 agus anois tá na daltaí sin i mbun ranga i dtigh tabhairne trasna an bhóthair ón scoil.
“Is cinnte go bhfuil sé scannalach sa bhliain 2012 go mbeadh daltaí ag dul ar scoil i dtigh tabhairne – ach níl an dara rogha againn,” a dúirt Seán Ó Donnghaile le Gaelscéal.
I mí Mhárta na bliana seo, d’fhogair an tAire Oideachais, Ruairi Quinn, go mbeadh foirgneamh nua ag an scoil faoi Mheán Fhómhair 2015 , toradh faoi dheireadh ar an stocaireacht a thosaigh le ceist Dála ó Tony Gregory in 1999.
An bhuairt atá ar Sheán Ó Donnghaile anois nach seasfaidh na seomraí réamhdhéanta go dtí 2015.
Is maith an rud é nach bhfuil sé ag baisteach. An radharc ó dheasca i seomra Ranga 6 i nGaelscoil Bharra tar éis gur thit an díon den fhoirgneamh réamhdhéanta le déanaí.
Is maith an rud é nach bhfuil sé ag baisteach. An radharc ó dheasca i seomra Ranga 6 i nGaelscoil Bharra tar éis gur thit an díon den fhoirgneamh réamhdhéanta le déanaí.
“Scéal fada é feachtas Ghaelscoil Bharra d’fhoirgneamh nua – chasamar le triúr Thaoiseach agus chaill an Roinn Oideachais comhad iarratais na scoile ar feadh cúig bliana,” a dúirt sé.
“Anois tá na seomraí réamhdhéanta seo i bhfíor-drochstaid agus tá imní orainn i bhfirinne go mbeidh siad scriosta agus, mar bharr air sin, tá imní orainn go bhfuil siad dainséarach dár bpáistí.”
Tá an tUasal Ó Donnghaile ag súil go gcuirfear breis luais faoin bpróiséas chun foirgneamh nua a fháil dá scoil. Tá clár ag an Roinn Oideachais chun tógáil scoileanna a bhrostú.
Faoin gclár seo tugann an Roinn conradh do chonraitheoir amháin chun sé nó seacht gcinn de scoileanna a thogáil chomh fada agus go dtógtar iad laistigh de sprioc-am ar leith. Má sháraíonn an conraitheoir an sprioc ama sin, gearrtar fíneálacha substaintiúla air.
“Deirtear linn go bhfuil an scoil ag déanamh dul chun cinn sa phróiseas agus go bhfuilimid ag Céim 3 nó 4 agus go mbeidh an scoil nua againn don scoilbhliain 2015/16, ach ní fheicim aon chúis nach mbeadh sé réidh níos luaithe ná sin, abair in Eanáir 2014.”
Tá 220 dalta ag freastal ar Ghaelscoil Bharra agus tá daréag múinteoirí ag múineadh ann.
Is féidir tuilleadh eolais a fháil faoin scoil ag http://gaelscoilbharra.net/stair.htm
Concubhar Ó Liatháin, Gaelscéal.
28 Samhain, 2012
An Taibhdhearc Saturday Shows for families
November 30, 2012
Starting this weekend, An Taibhdhearc will host a season of monthly ‘Saturday Shows’ for children and families, starting with Branar Téatar do Pháistí’s An Seanfhear Beag.
An Seanfhear Beag takes place this Saturday at 11am and 1pm. It is based on The Story of the Little Old Man by Swedish author Barbro Lindgren, and adapted and translated by Marc MacLochlainn, artistic director of Branar Téatar do Pháistí.
An Seanfhear Beag is about the friendship between a lonely old man and a dog no one wanted, told through puppets and live music. The puppets were created by Suse Reibisch and the music was composed by Morgan Cooke. The show was created with the support of The Arts Council. Bjarne Sandborg of Denmark’s Teatre Refleksion was artistic adviser on the project.
The show has already enjoyed critical acclaim. Irish Theatre Magazine said: “This is magic of a high order…It is breathtakingly serene.”
An Seanfhear Beag is suitable for ages six to 10. Tickets are €5 from An Taibhdhearc on 091 – 562024. See www.branar.ie
www.advertiser.ie/galway
Foilsithe ar 29 Samhain 2012
Smaoineamh ar Ghaelscoil i gceantar Dílseachta
November 30, 2012
Tá grúpa pobail ag smaoineamh ar naíscoil nó bunscoil lánGhaeilge a oscailt i gceantar Dílseachta in oirthear Bhéal Feirste amach anseo.
“Níl a fhios againn cén uair a tharlóidh sé ach tá muid ag caint faoi faoi láthair,” arsa Linda Ervine, Oifigeach Gaeilge le Misean Bhéal Feirste Thoir ar Bhóthar Bhaile Nua na hArda.
Tá an grúpa i mbun cainte leis an Roinn Oideachais maidir le maoiniú le haghaidh grúpa tuismitheoirí agus leanaí faoi láthair agus tá sé mar aidhm acu naíscoil a fhorbairt as amach anseo.
“Ba mhaith linn go mbeadh na páistí mar chuid den obair atá ar bun againn. Tá muid ag smaoineamh ar ghrúpa tar éis na scoile do thuismitheoirí agus páistí ina mbeadh na páistí ag foghlaim amhrán agus eile i nGaeilge.
”Má éiríonn leis, d’fhéadfaí Gaelscoil a oscailt chomh maith. Moladh amháin atá acu ná go mbeadh sé roinnte idir an pobal Dílseachta agus an pobal Náisiúnach sa Trá Ghearr.“Tá muid lánsásta glacadh le smaointe nua,” arsa Ervine. “Tá sé ag brath ar éileamh agus caithfidh an t-éileamh a theacht ón bpobal.”
“Níl muid ach ag tosú amach anseo, ach is mar sin a thosaigh an Chultúrlann in Iarthar Bhéal Feirste agus b’fhéidir gur amhlaidh a bheidh sé anseo.”
Deir sí go bhfuil freagraí éagsúla faighte ar ais aici ó Aontachtóirí ó thosaigh sí ag léiriú spéise sa Ghaeilge.
“Bhí mé ag caint le déanaí le Gavin Robinson, Méara Bhéal Feirste, agus labhair sé Gaeilge liom. Labhair mé le Peter Robinson le déanaí chomh maith ach bhí sé naimhdeach. Dúirt sé gur dearnadh polaitiú ar an teanga. Dúirt mé leis gurb é sin an fáth gur cheart do pháirtithe ar nós an DUP suim a léiriú ann chun deireadh a chur leis sin.”
“Tá díomá orm faoin bhfreagra a fuair mé ó scoileanna agus ó eaglais sa cheantar. Bhí siad báúil iad féin ach bhí eagla an domhain orthu faoin dearcadh a bheadh ag tuismitheoirí agus ag pobal na n-eaglaisí i leith na teanga.”
Dar léi, tá imní ar roinnt daoine go mbeidh Aontachtóirí níos báúla do dhearcadh polaitiúil Uile-Éireannach má fhoghlaimíonn siad Gaeilge, ach go léiríonn daoine ar nós Ian Malcolm agus Ian Adamson gur féidir le Gaeilgeoirí a bheith ina nAontachtóirí láidre.
“Tá roinnt daoine i mo chlann féin nach bhfuil róthógtha leis chomh maith.Ach é sin ráite ar fad, is é an freagra is coitianta atá faighte agam ná go bhfuil spéis ag daoine ann agus go síleann siad gur cuid dá n-oidhreacht a séanadh orthu atá ann.”
Is í Linda Ervine bean chéile Brian Ervine, deartháir an dílseora David Ervine. Chuir sí suim sa teanga agus í ag glacadh páirte i ngrúpa trasphobail le daoine ón Trá Ghearr.
“Cuireadh cúrsa Gaeilge sé seachtainí ar fáil dúinn. Rud a bhí spéisiúil ná nár chuir na daoine ón Trá Ghearr spéis sa chúrsa, bhí níos mó suime acu sa Bhainis Ríoga a bhí ar siúl.”
Treisíodh an spéis a bhí aici sa teanga nuair a fuair sí amach anuraidh go raibh Gaeilge ag a seantuismitheoirí de réir Dhaonáirimh 1911. Tá sí fostaithe ag an Misean le maoiniú ó Fhoras na Gaeilge. Thosaigh cúrsa Gaeilge saor in aisce san ionad Dé Céadaoin seo caite agus bhí 20 duine i láthair. Tá 55 duine in iomlán ag freastal ar ranganna Gaeilge san ionad.Dar léi, níl an naimhdeas glan atá ag polaiteoirí Aontachtacha i leith na Gaeilge ionadaíoch ar an spéis atá i measc an phobail.
www.gaelsceal.ie
Foilsithe ar 28 Samhain 2012
Reduction in Status for An Chomhairle Um Oideachais Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta
November 29, 2012
Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta Teo. and GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. express disappointment at the reduction in status for An Chomhairle Um Oideachais Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta.
The steering committees of Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta Teo. and Gaelscoileanna Teo. acknowledge that the two organisations ran an excellent joint conference, themed ‘Féinmheastóireacht, Forbairt, Feabhas– Self-assessment, Development, Excellence’, in the Ardilaun Hotel in Galway last Friday. More than 300 people attended the conference, the most to ever attend an Irish-medium educational conference to date. First class workshops were provided for the participants as well as comprehensive information regarding resources available through Irish from companies that had stands at the conference.
The participants and all the schools were taken aback when the General Secretary of the Department of Education and Skill, Seán Ó Foghlú, announced that An Chomhairle Um Oideachais Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) was to be integrated with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA). The two organisations are highly disappointed that the Department is planning this and are certain that this decision will take from COGG’s ability to function as an independent entity and as an organisation that functions completely through the medium of Irish. Speaking on behalf of Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta Teo. Treasa Ní Mhainín, Chief Executive of the organisation, said, “it is evident that the Department of Education and Skills is not applying the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language by implementing this reduction in status. The Strategy mentions that the appropriate staff and resources will be made available to the Comhairle in order to allow it fulfil its duties but it is evident that the Department is not fulfilling its own duties regarding the Strategy in this case.” It is also mentioned in the plan that COGG ‘will play a key role in the implementation of the Strategy in the education sector’. How can COGG have such a key role if the Department of Education is reducing its powers?
It will be a big challenge for the schools not being able to do all their business with COGG through the medium of Irish. This will be impossible when COGG will be merged with the NCCA, where most of the staff that work there don’t speak Irish fluently. This even illustrates that there won’t be any financial saving as COGG will still have to do all its own administration.
“It is the schools that will be negatively impacted when there is a danger that the status of COGG will be further reduced over the following years and, therefore, that the same supply of resources won’t be available to schools that are teaching through the medium of Irish. Even though the amount of resources through Irish for these schools have improved they always need to be added to and as the curriculum changes further resources will be needed”, according to Máirín Ní Chéileachair, President of Gaelscoileanna Teo.
The two organisations will be fighting strongly against this decision on behalf of the schools that are teaching through Irish. Of the proposals regarding COGG that is made in the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language it is strongly recommended that ‘measures will be taken to progress the
development of the Irish language education resource centre in Baile Bhuirne, Co Cork’. The Department of Education and Skills are doing the opposite to supporting COGG and we must take a stance against that.
ENDS
More information:
Gaelscoileanna Teo. – Nóra Ní Loingsigh, Acting Chief Executive, 087-6737560 / Máirín Ní Chéileachair, President, 087-2861655
Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta Teo. Treasa Ní Mhainín, Chief Executive ag 087-6777140.
Editor’s note
GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. is the coordinating body for Irish-medium schools. It provides motivation, assistance and practical support to parents and local communities who wish to found new schools and it operates to support the schools that are already established.
Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta Teo. is the only educational organisation working nationally to provide support and advice as well as campaigning for Gaeltacht schools at primary and post-primary level.
Bliain na Gaeilge seolta
November 29, 2012
Scaoileadh 120 balún san aer san Fhaiche Mhór Dé Domhnaigh seo caite ag Spraoi sa Phobal agus Bliain na Gaeilge 2013 á seoladh agus 120 bliain d’athbheochan na Gaeilge á cheiliúradh.
Cuireadh tús le hathbheochan na Gaeilge in 1893 le bunú Chonradh na Gaeilge, agus tá sé mar aidhm ag Bliain na Gaeilge na mílte deis úsáide Gaeilge a chur ar fáil don 2 mhilliún duine a deir go bhfuil an teanga acu sa lá atá inniu ann. Bhí seoltaí ar Bhliain na Gaeilge ar bun i nDoire, i Maigh Eo; i gContae an Chláir, i mBéal Feirste agus in ionad siopadóireachta na Faiche Móire, Gaillimh.
Dúirt Baba Ní Fhlatharta, Oifigeach Forbartha le Conradh na Gaeilge, “Tá sí mar aidhm ag Bliain na Gaeilge an pobal a ghríosú agus a chumasú chun an Ghaeilge a úsáid.
Táimid ag iarraidh ar gach duine úsáid a bhaint as an nGaeilge lena gcuid cairde, gaolta, comhghleacaithe agus eile i 2013, páirt a ghlacadh sna comórtais a bheidh á reáchtáil do Bhliain na Gaeilge, agus páirt a ghlacadh sna himeachtaí éagsúla a luaitear ar www.gaeilge2013.ie.”
Tá breis agus 50 eagraíocht teanga agus chultúir ó cheann ceann na tíre ag glacadh páirte sa togra teanga tábhachtach seo agus is féidir teacht ar a thuilleadh eolais maidir leis an togra ar www.gaeilge2013.ie, www.facebook.com/gaeilge2013 nó ar Twitter @gaeilge2013.
www.advertiser.ie/galway
Foilsithe ar 29 Samhain 2012
Bord nua an Údaráis
November 29, 2012
Tá Dairíona Nic an Iomaire, Príomhoide Ghaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh, Cnoc na Cathrach ainmnithe ar Bhord nua Údarás na Gaeltachta, Bord a d’fhógair an tAire Stáit sa Roinn Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta, Dinny McGinley T.D., an tseachtain seo caite.
Is í Anna Ní Ghallchóir, Stiúrthóir ar Ionad na dTeangacha in Ollscoil na hÉireann, Má Nuad, atá ceaptha ina Cathaoirleach ar an mbord mar aon lena comhaltaí seo leanas: Seán Ó Cuireán bainisteoir ar ionad saorálaí Dhún na nGall; Dairíona Nic an Iomaire, Príomhoide Ghaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh; Eunan Mac Cuinneagáin, Bainisteoir Réigiúnach ón gCarraig i gContae Dhún na nGall; Fiachra Ó Céilleachair ón Rinn i gContae Phort Láirge; Mícheál Ó Scanaill, fear gnó ó Bhaile Bhúirne i gContae Chorcaí agus Pádraig Ó hAinifín, fear gnó ón Daingean, Co. Chiarraí.
Ceapadh ceathrar comhalta ar ainmniúcháin Comhairlí Contae a bhfuil ceantair Ghaeltachta ina ndlínse. Ina measc tá Cathal Seoighe, Comhairle Contae na Mí; Ian Mac Aindriú, Comhairle Contae Mhaigh Eo; Séamus Chosaí Mac Gearailt, Comhairle Contae Chiarraí agus Seosamh Ó Laoi, Comhairle Contae na Gaillimhe. Níor ainmníodh comhalta Chomhairle Contae Dhún na nGall go fóill toisc go bhfuil próiseas fiosrúcháin ar siúl faoin ainmniúchán sin.
www.advertiser.ie/galway
Foilsithe ar 29 Samhain 2012
Principals warn over crisis in funding
November 29, 2012
Schools may be forced to close because of funding cuts, primary school principals have warned.
An end to funding for dayto- day maintenance was going to put pressure on budgets, meaning some were having difficulties paying for heating, insurance and essential repairs, says the Irish Primary Principals’ Network.
“Schools are going to run out of money. Some will be refused an overdraft from the bank. They won’t be able to pay the ESB bill or the oil and they will have to close the school,” said Kieran Healy, a principal at St Colmcille’s primary school in Templemore.
The Department of Education confirmed it was unlikely the minor capital works grant would be given to schools in the coming years.
‘Minuscule’
An emergency grant was available for unforeseen probl ems which might stop a school from opening, said the department. But this funding was “minuscule”, said Enda McGorman, spokesman for the network and principal at Mary Mother of Hope national school, Clonee.
“On top of this … 46 per cent of schools are already operating on a deficit before the dropping of this funding means it will plunge schools into dire straits,” he added.
Primary schools were already under pressure because of cuts to their capitation grants, which funds the running of schools, said Mr McGorman. Increased costs, such as water charges, meant even less money. Fewer parents were able to pay the voluntary contribution and asking parents to fundraise was also becoming more problematic.
“We don’t have any other sources of funding. They have … drained away and we have no control over costs,” said Mr McGorman.
www.irishtimes.com
Foilsithe ar 29 Samhain 2012
Comhdháil Oideachais 2012 – Go raibh míle maith agaibh!
November 28, 2012
Parents being asked to help fund schools in cash crisis
November 28, 2012
HALF of primary schools spent more last year than they received in income, with parents being pressed to help with funding.
Another one in five (22pc) barely broke even in the academic year to August, according to research for the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association (CPSMA). And the financial pressure is worsening after Education Minister Ruairi Quinn said the minor works grant for schools won’t be paid this year.
One school has been forced to text parents to tell them to put extra layers of clothing on their children for warmth, as they struggle to cope with funding cutbacks.
The principal of Our Lady of the Wayside national school in Bluebell, Dublin, told how children sometimes wear coats in the classroom as they have “no money” to pay for their struggling heating system to be serviced.
Anne McCluskey, who is in her sixth year as principal at the school deemed disadvantaged by the State, said the problems paying for the minor repair works at her 120-pupil school were being mirrored around the country.
Ms McCluskey said the school simply did not have the money to pay for the day-to-day repair and maintenance jobs. Each morning, she goes out to try and “kick-start” the boiler.
The Irish Primary Principals’ Network (IPPN) has urged the Department of Education to reinstate the vital minor works grant – worth €8,000 to a school for maintenance – which was slashed in the last Budget.
The CPSMA survey, conducted by Amarach Research, found over nine in 10 schools (93pc) received a minor works grant last year to carry out essential repairs. But now schools are losing out because of cuts in state grants, and also the additional monies that most raise through other sources such as voluntary contributions and fundraising.
More than eight in 10 (86pc) schools rely on ad-hoc fundraising, while four in 10 (43pc) ask parents to make an annual voluntary contribution.
Funding
However, in more than half of cases (57pc), the amount of additional monies received by schools from these other sources last year was down on the previous year.
The survey was carried out among 540 primary schools over a period between October and November. CPSMA general secretary Eileen Flynn said schools at primary level were always the “poor relation” in terms of funding, even in times of plenty. But now they could not even make ends meet, she said.
With the Budget due next week, Ms Flynn warned that any further cuts to school finances would be “devastating”. Sean Cottrell, director of the IPPN, said: “Back in the 70s and early 80s, we saw some awful pictures on television of schools with rat holes.
“We will be heading back to that, there has been a lot of good money spent over the past five years on school buildings but we will lose that benefit if we don’t maintain them properly.”
www.independent.ie
Bliain na Gaeilge off to a colourful start all over the country
November 28, 2012
Bliain na Gaeilge 2013, a year-long festival dedicated to the promotion of the Irish language, was officially launched at the weekend in towns all over Ireland.
Family days took place on Sunday in Dublin, Belfast, Derry, Ennis, Mayo and Galway as part of Spraoi sa Phobal to launch the festival which will take place in 2013.
Crowds gathered for the family days and enjoyed music, dancing and events for the children and balloons were released at each family day at 3pm to celebrate 120 years of the Irish language revival.
Special guests were in attendance at the family days to officially launch the festival. Lord Mayor of Dublin Naoise Ó Muirí appeared at the celebrations on South King Street in Dublin City where, despite the rain, crowds enjoyed live music, face painting and a céilí. Actor Dónall Mac Giolla Chóill appeared at Cultúrlann Mac Adaim Ó Fiaich in Belfast and Mayor of Derry Kevin Campbell launched Bliain na Gaeilge 2013 at the Peace Bridge. The crowd in Galway City welcomed Deputy Mayor Frank Fahy and actor Eithne Nic Enrí as special guests at the city’s own celebration.
Hundreds of various events will take place throughout Bliain na Gaeilge 2013 and towns and cities worldwide will take part in the universal celebration of the Irish language. Organisers hope that Bliain na Gaeilge will encourage members of all communities to use whatever Irish they have on a regular basis in a fun and friendly environment.
Over 50 Irish language organisations will take part in the year-long festival and different events, ranging from music, sports and festivals, will take place on a daily basis around Ireland and abroad. All events will be registered on the calendar which can be found at www.gaeilge2013.ie.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com