Mass through Irish
May 18, 2012
Coláiste Ráithín Public Meeting 29th May
May 17, 2012
Parents of Coláiste Raithín have sent an Invitation to all Wicklow TD’s, Co. Wicklow VEC and Bray Town Councillors to come to an Open Public Meeting on Tuesday, the 29th May 2012 in Coláiste Raithín.
Cairde Ráithín, Coláiste Ráithín’s Parents Association, and all its feeder schools are holding an Open Public Meeting in Coláiste Ráithín on Tuesday, 2nd May 2012, at 8pm, to meet with the 5 Co. Wicklow TD’s, Co. Wicklow VEC and Bray Town Councillors to discuss the latest letter from the Minister for Education, Ruairí Quinn, T.D. to Bray Councillor John Brady. This letter outlined that there would be no possibility whatsoever for a new school building for Coláiste Ráithín for the foreseeable future.
Following on the two protest marches to both the Department of Education & Skills and to Dáil Éireann, parents intend to keep pressure on those responsible to the local education community by holding this open meeting on Tuesday, the 29th May in order to insist that a way forward is found out of this nightmare for Coláiste Raithín.
Since 1994, management, staff and parents in Coláiste Ráithín have been working towards a new building for Coláiste Ráithín. Seventeen years after the Department of Education first sanctioned a new building, Coláiste Ráithín is still in the same position – on 2 separate sites in Bray town centre with 50% accommodation in portacabins. There are little recreational and there are no sports facilities. Despite this, the school is one of the best schools in Wicklow and South Dublin and pupils continue to thrive academically. Coláiste Ráithín is the top non-fee paying school in Leinster outside of Dublin in the just-released 2012 school league tables and in the top ten non-fee paying schools nationwide.
After 6 months in negotiations with the Minister, the Department of Education and Skills; Wicklow VEC (the patrons of Coláiste Raithín); Wicklow T.D.’s and Bray Town Council, no real progress whatsoever, has been made for a new building. The Minister’s letter to Councillor Brady is final proof that Coláiste Raithín is at the very bottom of everyone’s priority list. Parents are now fed up with this situation. They insist that to say there are no plans at all for a new building in the next 10 – 20 years is an absolute non-runner, and not acceptable to this large community and they further insist their concerns be dealt with now.
This open meeting will be an opportunity for the Co. Wicklow TD’s, Co. Wicklow VEC and Bray Town Councillors to explain to parents and pupils why this situation has been allowed to continue for so long, and how they propose to change the Minister’s, and the Department of Education’s, mind.
NOTE: A relocated Coláiste Ráithín, in its entirety, includes staff, ethos and existing policies, including its current policies of admission for all its feeder schools in the area outlined above.
-ends-
For further information, please contact: Paul Moore, spokesperson from Coiste Cóiríochta Coláiste Ráithín / 086 838 5049 /
pmoore@iol.ie
Members of north Wicklow community can sign the petition in hard copy at Coláiste Ráithín or online at: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/colaisteraithinnewschoolbuilding2014/
Notes to editors:
A Summary of the history of the relocation efforts for Coiste Cóiríochta Coláiste Ráithín is available. Please email pmoore@iol.ie for more information or phone Paul Moore on 086 838 5049
Maths Revision Course
May 17, 2012
Revised Rules for Gleo
May 15, 2012
Foras na Gaeilge would like to remind principals, school teachers and students that the GLEO scheme will run from now until May 31st. If schools want to enter this scheme there are application forms available on the Foras na Gaeilge website at www.gaeilge.ie/gleo.
The GLEO scheme, which has been run by Foras na Gaeilge for the past six years, awards English-speaking schools for leading the way in promoting spoken Irish in their schools and communities throughout the year. Entrants this year are encouraged to make a short video about their school showing how the use of spoken Irish is actively encouraged and developed in their respective schools. The video clip entries must reach Foras na Gaeilge by May 31 and may be submitted through the Foras na Gaeilge website.
In 2011 fifty four schools from across the length and breadth of the island of Ireland entered the GLEO competition and were visited by independent judges, who then selected the seventeen outstanding. The judges found websites, drama and puppet shows, quizzes and passionate debates, to name but a few of the varied activities, all run as Gaeilge.
Examples of the events and activities that schools have organised in past schemes are available at www.gaeilge.ie/gleo.
For further information, please contact:
Natasha Fennell, Stillwater Communications
T: 01 6770630 E: natasha@stillwater.ie
Sinéad Ní Bhraoin, Stillwater Communications
T: 01 677 0630 E: sinead@stillwater.ie
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
