Kids’ Irish language books festival
February 19, 2013
A CHILDREN’S book and storytelling festival conducted through the Irish language will run in Londonderry UK City of Culture 2013 from March 7-9 as part of Irish Language Week 2013.
The festival aims to inspire a love of books, reading and storytelling in the Irish language among children of all ages.
Féile Bheag na Leabhar begins on Thursday, March 7, with a special storytelling event for children aged between 8 and 11 to celebrate World Book Day.
Donegal storyteller Gearóidín Bhreathnach and Séamas Mac Annaidh are amongst those taking part with the latter hosting a reading and storytelling event for children aged between 5 and 7 which will re-imagine traditional Irish myths and fables for a younger audience.
This event will feature folktales and legends reinterpreted for new listeners and told in the storyteller’s inimitable dramatic style.
The festival closes on Saturday, March 9, with the launch of the beautiful children’s book ‘Déanann Rosie Réidh’ which was written, illustrated and produced by local author Trisha Deery and which will be read in Irish by Cara Ní Mhaonaigh.
Participating children are invited to come dressed for a party like the Rosie Red character who features in the book and hear stories in Irish take part in some fun party activities in the Irish language.
Trisha Deery who wrote and illustrated the book will also be there to join in the celebrations and to do some live drawing with the children!Féile Bheag na Leabhar is organised by Derry City Council in partnership with the Humdinger! Children’s Literature Festival. You can download the full Humdinger! programme from the following link: www.humdingerbookfestival.com.
Throughout the festival an Irish language book-fair featuring the very best in Irish language publishing will be available. All events will take place at Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin.
All events will be delivered in the Irish language. Prior booking is essential for all events as places are limited.
www.londonderrysentinel.co.uk
College rejects call for tougher teacher entry level
February 19, 2013
A LEADING education college has shot down a proposal to demand higher Leaving Cert grades for primary teaching – saying it would actually cause a drop in standards.
The suggested change is part of wider efforts to improve teacher quality generally, and and so boost literacy and numeracy levels among primary students. But St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra, has come out strongly against it, insisting that rather than improving the standard of trainee teachers, it would have the reverse effect.
The Teaching Council, the watchdog for the profession, has been consulting with interested parties over its plans for revised entry requirements for teaching. The proposal for higher Leaving Cert grades in Irish, English and maths has provoked concerns.
Currently, trainee primary teachers need a minimum of an Irish higher level C3, English higher level D3 or ordinary level C3, and maths D3, at either higher or ordinary level.
Under the proposals, new entrants would need an Irish higher level B, an English higher level B and a maths higher level C or ordinary level A. Entrants to primary teacher training are among the best Leaving Cert performers every year, with a minimum of 470 CAO points. But the council said concerns had been expressed about whether or not all successful applicants to teacher training had adequate levels of literacy and numeracy for the job.
However, St Patrick’s president Dr Daire Keogh said that while some slight amendment to entry requirements might be appropriate, they could not see any reason for a change to the extent proposed. Dr Keogh has warned that the new requirements might lead to a situation where there were not enough school-leavers with the higher grades.
Guarantee
In a submission to the council, he said that among the 2012 entry to St Patrick’s, over half of the students who accepted places would not have met the proposed new entry requirements.
These were students who had a minimum of 470 CAO points – and many with more than 500 points and all falling within the top 15pc of Leaving Cert performers. He said if proposed changes for English, Irish and maths were in place, the college would have had to go to its waiting list in search of students meeting the requirements. But that would mean a lowering of points, with no guarantee that this process would secure the required number of students, he said.
Dr Keogh said the calibre of students entering teacher education was not in question, and a recent report concluded that the academic standard was amongst the highest, if not ‘the’ highest, in the world.
www.independent.ie
“Government needs to act immediately to answer concerns of Gaeltacht residents”say speakers at Tóstal na Gaeilge 2013
February 19, 2013
A new language planning process for three Gaeltacht regions is set to be implemented by Government this year- but the process to revitalise the Irish language in Gaeltacht regions is blighted by obstacles according to community groups who took part at this year’s Tóstal na Gaeilge 2013, a national Irish language conference held by Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge, Saturday February 16 2013.
The theme of this year’s conference was “Beart de réir Briathair” which loosely translates as practice as you preach. The conference saw politicians, language planning experts, members of the public service and members of the Irish language community come together to discuss the most pertinent issues facing the Irish language today.
These themes were discussed in the context of the decisions made as part of the current government’s Irish language policy subsequent to the publication of the 20 Year Strategy for the language, in a discussion opened by Political Correspondent for the Irish Times Harry McGee.
Speakers at the conference included Dr Briain Ó Curnáin, an expert in dialectology and the Irish language sociology at the Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies; Feargal Ó Cuilinn, Director of family support group Comhluadar and Treasa Ní Mhainín, CEO of Irish language educational organisation Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta.
Aoife Ní Shéaghdha, who is both a trained language planner and parent living in the west Kerry Gaeltacht, outlined many of the problems faced by parents trying to raise their children in an all-Irish setting in Gaeltacht regions. She spoke of reduced supports being provided to families with older children and to families who have increased numbers of children.
She also noted the lack of social activities provided through the medium of the language in Gaeltacht areas and problems faced by native Irish speakers in Gaeltacht schools.
The event provided members of the Irish language community to comment on the current state of the Gaeltacht in 2013.
Guest speaker Seosamh Mac Donncha of NUI Galway said that the concept of the Gaeltacht region as understood by the Irish public is outmoded and needs to be re-configured for the remaining Gaeltacht regions whose linguistic make up is hugely changed from the traditional concept.
“ What we have are no longer Gaeltacht regions” where the majority of residents speak Irish the majority of the time. He also noted that younger generations of Gaeltacht residents grappled to obtain full linguistic competency in the language compared to generations past. He noted that the educational system was failing to provide necessary supports due to lack of a specific policy targeting native speakers.
CEO of Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta Treasa Ní Mhainín also highlighted the shortcomings in the policy of Department of Education and Skills when it come to educating Gaeltacht pupils with various levels of fluency in the language. She noted that it would be impossible to implement language plans in Gaeltacht regions without the full support of the Department.
Both the CEO Stiofán Ó Culáin and Chair Anna Ní Ghallchóir of Údarás na Gaeltachta, the body charged with assisting community groups with language schemes under the proposed language planning process, spoke at the event and gave some insight into how the new language planning process would function while members of the public were given the opportunity to question the representatives during a debate chaired by TG4 news anchor Eimear Ní Chonaola.
The new language planning process is set to bring in an era of change to Gaeltacht regions. Údarás na Gaeltachta have announced that the initiative is to initially focus on areas within three Gaeltacht regions.
It aims to ensure the continued intergenerational transmission of the language within communities and families living in Gaeltacht regions and was first introduced under the 2012 Gaeltacht Act. The Act was introduced in response to the 20 year Strategy for the Irish language which aims to increase numbers of native Irish speakers in Gaeltacht regions by 25% before 2030.
Director of Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge, Kevin De Barra said that the Tóstal had provoked an “honest and realistic debate” on the future of Gaeltacht regions and he thanked all participants who attended as well as those who took part in the debate on Twitter under the hashtag #Tnag13.
“ It is clear to all that central undertakings made in the 20 Year Strategy for Irish language have been scrapped by this Government.”
“ Community leaders and representatives at this year’s Tóstal have asked Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge to enter into discussions with the Department of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Jimmy Deenihan TD, with Minster of State Dinny McGinley TD and with senior civil servants”. An urgent meeting to discuss educational policy in Gaeltacht areas will also be sought with Minister for Education and Skills Ruairí Quinn TD.
“ The Government now has the chance to provide a solution to queries raised by Gaeltacht communities and Irish speakers. It’s time for real leadership and for the new language planning process to be operated in an open, comprehensive and democratic manner”.
GAELPORT.COM
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Doire le Féile Bheag na Leabhar a cheiliúradh
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€15,000 grant scheme announced for Irish language projects
February 15, 2013
The Chairperson of Ciste Rith, Mr Lorcán Mac Gabhann, announced today a total grant fund of €15,000, based on the profit from the Rith 2012 event.
Rith 2012 was a national festival which attracted 27,00 participants to run in a 700km relay-run, 8 – 17 March 2012, from Gaoth Dobhair, Co Donegal to Inis Mór, Árann, Co Galway.
This the first time that Rith Teo has announced a grants scheme and Mr Mac Gabhann is very hopeful that RITH 2014 will add significantly to the fund in the coming years.
Mr Mac Gabhann explained that “applications, in Irish, for language based programmes will be welcomed especially from groups who receive little or no financial assistance elsewhere.”
Application forms are available from www.rith.ie/deontas and must be returned, fully completed, to deontas@rith.ie by 24 March 2013.
Tuilleadh eolais/further information
Lorcán Mac Gabhann – 087-9790193
lorcan@glornangael.ie
Fás teoranta seachas gluaiseacht ag an ghaelscolaíochta ó Thuaidh?
February 15, 2013
Mayor praises Dungannon for minding its (Irish) language
February 15, 2013
DUNGANNON Mayor Phelim Gildernew has paid tribute to the impassioned work of teachers, the voluntary sector, and Irish language officers in making the local district one of the most proficient in Irish speaking in Northern Ireland.
The native language is in such fine fettle that Dungannon district now boasts the second highest proportion of Irish speakers in Northern Ireland. Almost one in five local people claim to speak some Irish (18 percent), second only to the Newry and Mourne District at 20%. Dungannon’s Irish Language Officer Seamus Kilpatrick said the extent of the language renaissance was due to the school system.
“While Gaelscoileanna have recently been to the fore in raising awareness of the educational advantages of second language acquisition at an early age, there has been a long tradition in the Dungannon area of Irish language promotion at secondary education level and of voluntary work in the community.
“That a relatively high percentage of people in the Dungannon district (6.7%) can speak, read and write the language suggests that levels of fluency in the language remain high after students have completed their formal education.
“However, that a similar percentage (6.59%) were returned as having an understanding of the language but not to the extent of speaking it may be a tribute to the impact of the Irish language media in maintaining a profile for the language when schooldays have finished.”
Celebrations are planned to highlight Dungannon’s rich Irish language traditions during this year’s St Patrick’s Festival. Mr Kilpatrick said: “The role of the voluntary sector will be celebrated during Seachtain na Gaeilge, around the St Patrick’s Day festival with a celebration of the part that local branches of the Gaelic League have played in encouraging children to develop an interest in the language; providing classes, giving scholarships to go to the Gaeltacht and establishing Irish language youth clubs.
“A similar support network for adults was provided over the years by the voluntary sector as represented by Comhaltas Uladh and the seed for a range of activities – music, drama and dancing – was planted to give opportunities to use the language outside of the classroom and encouraging its use as a community language and not just as a school subject.
“The recognition achieved for the language in the Good Friday and St Andrew’s Agreements has meant that its status has changed at official level in Ireland, the UK and in the EU. Increasing numbers are declaring Irish as the language of choice for their homes.
“These percentages are not yet at the same level as those for the 1911 census, when the language could be seen to enjoy an unbroken presence back to the time of St Patrick and beyond. But the number is rising. This new bilingualism is yet another indicator that the monolingual household is no longer the norm in 21st century Europe.
Mayor Councillor Phelim Gildernew said: “As a Council we are committed to the promotion of both the Irish Language and Ulster Scots.
“To this end in 2007 with neighbouring Cookstown we appointed an Officer to drive the initiative forward.
“During these six years the development of the Irish language has grown from strength to strength throughout the Borough and I am delighted that this is reflected in the census statistics with Dungannon being placed third for fluency and knowledge of the Irish language.
“I am delighted with these statistics which pay tribute to the schools and organisations who strive to keep the Irish language alive and relevant to up and coming generations.”
www.tyronetimes.co.uk
