Scléip Winners – Connacht
March 5, 2012
We had a great day out at the Connacht heat of Scléip in the Town Hall Theatre on March 2nd. There were 2 schools with us on the day and all of the participants are due praise, the standard was very very high this year and the judge had difficult decisions to make. Below is the list of winners, who will go on to compete in the competiton final:
Contemporary Music (solo):
- Meabh Nic an Chrosáin, Coláiste an Eachréidh (junior)
Contemporary Music (groups):
- Teannas, Coláiste an Eachréidh (junior)
- Armóin, Coláiste an Eachréidh (senior)
Judges’ Choice:
- Jade Tierney, Coláiste an Eachréidh (junior)
New publication – Lámhleabhar do phríomhoidí i scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge
March 1, 2012
Agóid i gcoinne ciorruithe i scoileanna tuaithe
March 1, 2012
Petition to support gaelscoileanna
March 1, 2012
Gaelscoileanna Teoranta are asking people to show their support for small gaelscoileanna by signing an online petition against the proposed cuts in the pupil teacher ratio.
The petition was set up as a result of the cuts put forward by the Government in the 2011 Budget.
The cuts proposed in last December’s Budget will result in the number of pupils required for a four-teacher school increasing from 81 to 83 students.
For Gaeltacht schools, the number would raise from 76 to 86 by 2014, a hike that will require 10 extra pupils for each Gaeltacht school to preserve their four-teacher status.
It is argued as part of the petition that up to 31 gaelscoileanna will lose one teacher if the proposed increase in the pupil teacher ratio is put in place.
The online petition has been set up by a parent and it is another step in the intense campaign currently being undertaken by parents, staff and schoolchildren against the cuts.
Protests took place around the country at the weekend and the crowds in attendance made sure that their opposition to the proposals was heard. The protests were organised by the Save Our Small Schools Campaign and the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation, and more action opposing the cuts is expected over the next few months.
To sign the petition go to http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/gaelscoileanna-cuts-protest/
Will you run with Rith?
March 1, 2012
Scléip Winners – Ulster
March 1, 2012
We had a great day out at the Ulster heat of Scléip in Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin in Derry on the 29th February. There were 4 schools with us on the day and all of the participants are due praise, the standard was very very high this year and the judges had difficult decisions to make. Below is the list of winners, who will go on to compete in the competiton final:
Contemporary Music (solo):
- Megan Nic Ruairí, Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair (sóisear)
- Emma Ní Fhuaruisce, Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair (sinsear)
Contemporary Music (groups):
- Loinnir, Coláiste Chineál Eoghain (sóisear)
- Eva, Megan & Emma, Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair (sinsear)
Creative Dance (solo):
- Christina Ní Luachra, Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair (sóisear)
- Aoibhinn Ní Mhuimhne, Coláiste Chineál Eoghain (sinsear)
Creative Dance (groups):
- Cinnúint, Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair (sóisear)
- Anna & Orla, Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair (sinsear)
Drama/mime (solo and groups):
- Ciarán & Eva Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair (sóisear)
- Jack & Shane le “Naomh Smirnoff”, Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair (sinsear)
Judges’ Choice:
- James Mac Lochlainn, Coláiste Chineál Eoghain (sinsear)
Ciorcaid sofháiscthe – ceardlann idirghníomhach
February 28, 2012
Protest against the changes to the pupil teacher ratio in Gaelscoileanna
February 28, 2012
A statement from parents who have set up an online petition:
We, the parents, students, teachers, family and friends of Gaelscoileanna are against the changes the government are making to the Pupil teacher ratio in our schools. This is disastrous for Irish-medium schools, particularly those with between three and eight teachers. Up to 31 schools will lose one teacher if this recommendation is put into practice. Class sizes will increase as will the amount of mixed class groups with higher class numbers. It will result in a complete dilution of the effectiveness of the immersion experience for the pupil. Please help us by signing our petition and encouraging your family and friends to do so also!
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/gaelscoileanna-cuts-protest/
Cuts will shut 19 Irish-language bodies
February 28, 2012
The infrastructure needed by Irish speakers is about to be destroyed.
Foras na Gaeilge is proposing to abolish annual core funding for Irish-language organisations. They intend to invite applications for three-year schemes in a limited range of activities.
Under Foras na Gaeilge’s proposal, 19 longstanding Irish-language organisations will cease to exist, their services will be no more and staff will have to be let go.
Foras na Gaeilge have not carried out any review of the effectiveness, or the efficiency, of the Irish-language organisations, and their proposal is at odds with international language-planning principles. We believe that the Foras na Gaeilge ‘new funding model’ is deeply flawed, and will prove detrimental to the development of Irish across the country.
We call for a permanent funding structure, based on strategic planning and long-term goals, for the Irish-language voluntary sector.
Professor Colin Williams, Cardiff University, Wales
Professor Muiris Ó Laoire, AUT University, Auckland, New Zealand
Professor Dónall Ó Baoill, Queens University Belfast
Dr Wilson McLeod, University of Edinburgh, Scotland
Dr Conchúr Ó Giollagáin, Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, NUI, Galway
Dr Pádraig Ó Duibhir, St Patrick’s College
Laoise Ní Thuairisg, Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, NUI, Galway
Kevin De Barra, Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge, D2
IRISH EXAMINER
Move threatens ‘to kill off Irish language organisations’
February 28, 2012
Irish language experts have warned that changes to how organisations promoting it are funded threaten to put them out of existence and to put staff out of jobs.
A new funding model proposed by Foras na Gaeilge would see money given out for a range of schemes to promote the Irish language. It would replace the current grant system under which €7m of its €18m budget last year was given directly to 19 voluntary sector Irish language organisations. A 2010 review showed half the €8m given to the organisations in 2008 went on salaries and Foras na Gaeilge says the proportion allocated to pay reached 59% last year.
Foras na Gaeilge is the all-island body responsible for promotion of the language and is supported through the North-South Ministerial Council.
But, as a public consultation process on the proposals gets underway, a group of academics has said Foras na Gaeilge has not carried out any review of the effectiveness or efficiency of the groups and the plan goes against the principles of international language planning.
“We believe that the Foras na Gaeilge new funding model is deeply flawed, and will prove detrimental to the development of Irish across the country,” they said.
In a letter published in today’s Irish Examiner, the group, which includes leading academics from Belfast, Dublin, Galway, New Zealand, Scotland and Wales, said the 19 Irish language organisations will cease to exist, their services will be no more and staff will have to be let go. They are supported by a group which represents most of the organisations in the voluntary sector, which has also started an online petition.
A spokesperson for Foras na Gaeilge said while there may be some inevitable job losses, it was no different to other publicly funded sectors.
“Foras na Gaeilge does have an evaluation process for how its money is spent,” she said.
“The new schemes will be open to all of the 19 core-funded organisations to apply and will be funded over three years,” she said.
The headings under which schemes will be funded include education, arts, youth, pre-school and community supports, with funding to be provided on a three-year basis.
The public consultation will include a series of meetings next month, beginning in Tralee on Mar 5 and continuing in Belfast, Galway and Dublin until Mar 14. Details of the proposed funding arrangements can be found online at www.gaeilge.ie/samhail
IRISH EXAMINER
