An tÁisaonad
June 26, 2012
Raidió RíRá
June 26, 2012
A new 24-hour Irish language radio station for young people has been given the green light by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. Raidió RíRá will broadcast on the digital platform and will aim to get young people using Irish on a daily basis. The station will be run by Raidió X Teoranta.
www.irishexaminer.com
Ministers visit local gaelscoil
June 26, 2012
Three Stormont ministers visited Derry’s Gaelscoil Éadain Mhóir yesterday morning.
Culture minister Carál Ní Chuilín, education minister John O’Dowd, and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness visited the Gasyard school to celebrate its 14th anniversary.
During the visit, Ms Ní Chuilín announced a new target of 5,000 fluent Irish speakers as part of the Líofa 2015 initiative.
“I am delighted to be announcing an ambitious new target of getting 5,000 new fluent Irish speakers by 2015. There could be no more appropriate setting than Gaelscoil Éadain Mhóir in Derry.
“The school has grown from strength to strength and is now a shining example of how the Irish language builds thriving communities based on inclusion, equality and respect. For fourteen years, the parents, governors, supporters and, most of all, children associated with the Gaelscoil have taken their ‘aisling’ – their dream – and made it a reality.”
www.derryjournal.com
Ó Domhnaill condemns axing of Gaeltacht Scholarships
June 26, 2012
The Government’s decision to axe Gaeltacht and Irish Language Scholarships is a disgrace and will damage efforts to promote our national language, according to Donegal Fianna Fáil Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill.
Senator Ó Domhnaill raised a motion in Seanad Éireann this week calling on the Government to reverse these damaging cuts, announced in Budget 2012 and to reinstate the DEIS status of Pobal Scoil Gaoth Dobhair and PCC Falcarragh. He said: “I consider these cuts an attack on the Irish language,” and said it would be a disgrace to remove them on the eve of the 100th Anniversary of the Easter Rising.”
He noted that students at Pobal Scoil Gaoth Dobhair and PCC Falcarragh will no longer be eligible to apply as they are no longer DEIS designated.
“It is incredible to think that almost all the primary schools feeding into both of these secondary schools have DEIS status but this is not retained at secondary level. There appears to be no consistency in supports here,” he concluded.
www.donegaldemocrat.ie
‘Diplomatic’ pupils help give 90- year- old Gaelscoil a facelift
June 26, 2012
It is the oldest Gaelscoil in the country, and perhaps a little bit of experience helped in diplomatic negotiations for a new extension.
Scoil Bhride Gaelscoil in Ranelagh in Dublin is over 90 years old and has a fantastic location. But since it overlooks the Canadian Embassy, any building work can be a somewhat delicate issue. Education Minister Ruairi Quinn confirmed this yesterday, alluding to a call to the Department of Foreign Affairs in Ottawa to assauge any fears they might have had about the construction work.
“After promising that the children would not compromise the national security of Canada or steal any state secrets, they agreed,” he joked.
And the children sang Canadian Leonard Cohen’s classic ‘ Hallelujah’ – in Irish, of course – for their neighbours and the assembled guests. Principal Triona Ui Mhaoldomhnaigh addressed the gathering of proud parents and happy children, thanking them all for their hard work in bringing the project in on time and under budget.
The country’s first Gaelscoil was founded in 1917 by Louise Gavan Duffy, one of the few women to participate in the 1916 Easter Rising. Building of the extension began in October and while it caused severe disruption to school life, the 390 children didn’t miss a single day.
“There has always been a great spirit in the school. Some of our students have been moved around two or three times during the course of the building but everyone just got on with it, they’ve all be fantastic,” Ms Ui Mhaoldomhnaigh said.
She made her speech in both Irish and English, and Mr Quinn, for one, was thankful for that.
“Nil Gaeilge maith agam,” he admitted before regaling his audience with the tale of his epic road, ferry and currach journey to the Aran Islands some 54 years ago. The trip even inspired him to change the spelling of his name to the Irish way – Ruairi. The major structural make- over was the first building work carried out on the school in over 40 years, with prefabs used for extra students previously.
www.independent.ie
Launch of the European Year 2012 Awards:Honouring the best initiatives that promote active ageing and solidarity between generations Brussels, 21 June 2012.
June 26, 2012
As part of the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations 2012, the European Commission is launching the European Year 2012 Awards in order to celebrate organisations and individuals that promote active ageing through their activities.
“Workplaces for all Ages”: This category recognises the best initiatives by employers, trade unions and not-for-profit organisations that promote better working conditions for older employees.
“Towards Age-Friendly Environments”: This category recognises outstanding initiatives by regional or local authorities that create an inclusive and accessible local environment which facilitates active ageing and has a positive effect on health and on the quality of life of all generations.
“Social Entrepreneurs”: This category recognises the most successful initiatives undertaken by social entrepreneurs in promoting active ageing and solidarity between generations.
“Reporting on Ageing and Relations between Generations”: This category recognises journalists whose work has made a significant contribution to a better understanding of the challenges presented by an ageing society and how they can be tackled, thus raising the level of the public debate and promoting better policymaking.
“Life Story Challenge”: This category celebrates the life stories of older people. Members of the younger generation are invited to tell the story of an older person (a family member, neighbour, friend, etc.) and present the noteworthy contribution the “active ager” is making in the family, in society, or at work.
“Generations@school Competition”: Launched in March 2012, this competition invites all schools in Europe to open the doors of their classrooms to older people. Children and older people have the opportunity to reflect together on what they can learn from each other and how to work together for a better future. Participating schools can upload photos on a dedicated website by 30 June 2012. The most creative intergenerational projects will be recognised.
More information on the Awards and on how to participate is available on the award website http://europa.eu/ey2012/.
The competition is open until 1 September 2012, and all citizens of EU Member States and those of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway may take part.
The finalists in each category will be invited to the EY2012 Active Ageing Awards ceremony, which is planned to take place in November in Brussels.
Contact: EY2012awards@paueducation.com or Andrea Ricciarelli, ICWE GmbH
Tel: +49 (0)30 310 18 18 43
Fax: +49 (0)30 324 98 33
andrea.ricciarelli@icwe.net
Deis do scoileanna i mBÁC a bheith rannpháirteach i sraith de chláir raidió ‘Óige Átha Cliath’
June 26, 2012
Gaelscoil Éadan Doire – Lá i gColáiste na bhFiann
June 22, 2012
Cúrsa Teaghlaigh sa Ghaeltacht, Iúil 2012
June 22, 2012
Analysis on the start-up and growth of Irish-medium schools to commence immediately as recommended by the Forum on Patronage and Plurality
June 21, 2012
Minister Ruairí Quinn announced the Action Plan which he plans to implement in response to the recommendations by the Advisory Board to the Forum on Patronage and Plurality in the primary school sector.
An Foras Pátrúnachta welcomes the decision by the Minister that analysis of the start-up and growth of Irish-medium schools will commence immediately in response to the recommendations of the Advisory Board for the provision of Irish-medium education. It is expected that this important analysis will be a vital information source for future policy development in the area of Irish-medium education.An Foras Pátrúnachta is delighted that the Minister has accepted the recommendations on the divestment of patronage to increase diversity in schools. Caoimhín Ó hEaghra, General Secretary of An Foras Pátrúnachta said, “The Department of Education and Skills is offering more of a choice to parents, as part of this process, to choose the kind of school they would like regarding the medium of teaching and the ethos of the school.” Parents will be asked to express their opinions and wishes to the Department when they will be surveyed this Autumn. Ó hEaghra continued, “As a patron, we are already meeting the diverse needs of parents through the three different types of characteristic spirits offered by the patron; Catholic, Interdenominational, Multidenominational through the medium of Irish.”
An Foras Pátrúnachta had an advisory role in the Forum on Patronage and Plurality working sessions, sharing information and putting recommendations forward to the Advisory Board on the current status of Irish-medium education and the methods to take to evaluate and strengthen the provision of Irish-medium education to satisfy the demand. The Minister thanked all of the groups that submitted recommendations and participated in the working sessions.An Foras Pátrúnachta believe that the patron for Irish-medium schools has been advanced in serving diversity and plurality and parental demand since its foundation in 1993. Ó hEaghra welcomes the decision that the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment will be researching the development of programmes on Education about Religion and Beliefs and Ethics, “This research will be carried out in partnership with education partners and religious groups and An Foras Pátrúnachta greatly look forward to participating in this development process. The programmes will be very useful to schools and they will be a great addition to the teaching about religion and ethics.”
For media information, contact: Caitríona Bairéad :: caitriona@foras.ie :: 01-6294110
AN FORAS PÁTRÚNACHTA is the largest patron of Irish medium schools in Ireland at both primary and secondary level. There are 61 primary schools and 3 secondary schools under its patronage. AN FORAS PÁTRÚNACHTA is a patron of Irish-medium schools that have a choice of a Catholic, Multidenominational and Interdenominational (Catholic / Protestant) ethos. The vision of AN FORAS PÁTRÚNACHTA is to develop, strengthen and promote education through the medium of Irish throughout the country. AN FORAS PÁTRÚNACHTA is recognized by the Department of Education and Science as a patronage system which is acceptable and appropriate for first and second level schools. AN FORAS PÁTRÚNACHTA was founded in 1993 so that new gaelscoileanna opening in the coming years would have another choice with regard to patronage. For more information: www.foras.ie
