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Gaeltacht sho-iompartha

July 26, 2013

Sorry, this entry is only available in Irish.

Benefit of Irish-medium education is there for all

July 25, 2013

It’s mistaken to present Irish-medium education as a barrier to shared schooling. In fact, the opposite is the case, writes Micheal O Duibh

Currently, 6% of Irish-medium primary schools are within the controlled sector, 22% within the Catholic maintained sector and 72% within the other maintained sector, showing that education through Irish can be a choice for everyone.

In the context of a shared future, the question has been asked if we can have integrated schools in the Irish-medium sector.

The truth is that 72% of all Irish-medium primary schools are independent, outside of the controlled or Catholic-maintained sector and have pupils from Catholic, Protestant and other backgrounds. 

International research shows that bilingual pupils have a greater tolerance of other cultures, something which is most relevant to the principles of shared education.

Research commissioned by the Department of Education for Northern Ireland (Deni) has indicated that Irish-medium children were more open to cultural diversity. It is wrong to present the option of Irish-medium education as a barrier to advancing shared education; the opposite is true.

Irish-medium education is an innovative way of advancing shared education, making schools sustainable and providing pupils with the advantages of bilingualism.

The choice of Irish-medium is a linguistic choice, which can be catered for within any sector. It should, therefore, not be a surprise to learn the Irish-medium sector wishes to share immersion education with more communities.

Its representative body, Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta, provides support to communities that express an interest in Irish-medium education. It believes that, through the establishment of various school settings that meet different community needs, education through Irish for all communities is possible.

As such, there is a strong case for the establishment of Irish-medium units within controlled schools, for converting English-medium controlled schools to Irish-medium controlled schools, or consideration of federated models between Irish-medium and English-medium. This could answer a number of challenging questions facing schools in the controlled sector.

Schooling through Irish, at its simplest, involves the delivery of the curriculum through Irish. An Irish-medium setting can deliver the six criteria mentioned in Deni’s sustainable schools policy:

  • Quality educational experience – Irish-medium provision within the school would ensure a quality educational experience, increasing pupils’ understanding of language, enhancing reading, writing, aural and oral abilities, while offering the other advantages of bilingualism
  • Stable enrolment trends – Irish-medium education could attract more pupils from across communities and ensure stable enrolment
  • Sound financial position –Schools could benefit from premiums for Irish-medium providers and shared education
  • Strong leadership and management – Irish-medium provision within a school provides those involved with a chance to display dynamic leadership and management
  • Accessibility – Irish-medium provision could be a strong asset in enhancing a school’s accessibility to all communities
  • Strong links with community – Irish-medium provision would strengthen links with all members of the community and encourage greater cultural understanding.

Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta welcomes all communities to consider Irish-medium education for their children, so that they can be part of a global society where the vast majority speak two languages.

Irish-medium education offers a system which improves children’s skills in English and Irish, making them more tolerant while also providing the skills to learn further languages with greater ease.

www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk

Juvenes Translatores – 2013

July 24, 2013

Sorry, this entry is only available in Irish.

Dianchúrsa do dhaoine fásta

July 24, 2013

There will be an intensive Irish Language Course for adults in St Colm's GAC Ballinascreen on the 3rd August from 10 am -3 pm.
There will be three levels beginners, intermediate and advanced.
Tea and dinner is also included in the price £10.
To register contact Conor at conchur73@hotmail.com. 
Everyone welcome 

 

20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030: Department of Education and Skills

July 24, 2013

20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030: Department of Education and Skills

Year Three Progress Report for 20 Year Strategy

July 24, 2013

The Minister of State for the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Dinny McGinley, T.D., yesterday evening published a progress report on the implementation of the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language.

The Strategy was published in 2010, and the Programme for Government 2011 – 2016 pledges Governmental support for the implementation of the Strategy.  Nine distinct areas for proposed initiatives are set out in the Strategy, as well as goals for each area.   

The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has received heavy criticism for the implementation to date, and have been accused of procrastination.  In their defence, the Department have said that until now, the emphasis has been on the establishment phase of the Strategy which has involved providing information about the Strategy and establishing the operational structures required for its implementation. 

Speaking at the launch of the report yesterday, Minister of State, McGinley referred to the resource constraints within which the Strategy is being implemented commenting: “It is undoubtedly true that expenditure on the Irish language has decreased significantly in the period since the Strategy was published in 2010”. 

On the highlights achieved to date in implementing the Strategy, the Minister of State mentioned The Gaeltacht Act 2012, an Act which was forced through the Houses of the Oireachtas at a rate of knots prior to last year’s adjournment for the summer break, without accepting even one recommendation made, and without any public consultation. 

This reports follows an announcement two weeks ago of a major change for the Irish language voluntary sector.  Currently, 19 organisation receive core-funding from Foras na Gaeilge, but between now and July of next year, this is set to drop to 9 organisations, with the CEO of Foras na Gaeilge declaring that up to 18 jobs are set to be cut from the sector. At a time when the State is pledging support for an Irish language Strategy, it seems foolish that the voluntary sector, which addresses the needs of the public, would be actively dismantled over the same period.  

Yesterday’s report sets out the overall progress made with regard to the implementation of the Strategy during the period 2010-2013 and describes the implementation plans for 
the Strategy which have been published by the relevant Departments. 

Even the biggest critics of the implementation of the Strategy to date will welcome yesterday’s report, as it defines exactly what the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht are to do in relation to the implementation of the Strategy, and also outlines the roles of other departments in the Strategy’s implementation.  Taking a glass-half-full approach to yesterday’s report, one could say that we cannot move forward unless we know where we currently stand, this report explains what has been achieved to date, and sets goals for the future.  Most importantly, the report lays out who is responsible for the achievement of each goal.  

The progress report on the Strategy and the implementation plans of the relevant Departments are available on www.gaelport.com.

Cén focal Gaeilge is fearr leat?

July 24, 2013

Sorry, this entry is only available in Irish.

SchoolFM – services for schools

July 23, 2013

SchoolFM is a new enterprise that's offering service in irish to Irish-medium schools. The SchoolFM business is based on removing the management of building maintenance / cleaning / stationery ordering / pest control / security / energy programmes, etc. from those employed to provide education to children. The model is based on self delivery of the majority of all activities to keep operating costs to a minimum. SchoolFM will engage with expert 3rd parties to complete the activities that fall outside the self delivery model.

School FM is a limited company, trading from 5 Annadale Crescent, Drumcondra, Dublin 9. Managing Director and Owner of SchoolFM is Mr. Mark Nolan and he can be contacted for further information on 087 812 1979 or memarknolan@gmail.com.

 

Feighlí cónaitheach le Gaeilge

July 23, 2013

Sorry, this entry is only available in Irish.

‘Pompeii’ as Gaeilge battles Will and Kate for top spot on YouTube

July 23, 2013

Young Irish speakers at Coláiste Lurgan have once again demonstrated their creativity with a new version, as Gaeilge, of the popular song ‘Pompeii’ by Bastille. 

The video was posted last night to the Irish language summer college’s YouTube channel, and has created such an online flurry that it is now featured among the top four most viewed videos on YouTube, battling with reports on Kate and Will’s new heir to the British throne.  

Currently on YouTube the most watched video is a BBC report on the birth of a son to the Duchess of Cambridge, but hot on its heels, in fourth place, with almost 25,000 views is the latest creation from Coláiste Lurgan.

Click here to view the video.

Coláiste Lurgan, based in Indreabhán, Conamara, has risen to fame in recent years as a new-aged Irish language college, and each course now has a project run by both staff and students.

The summer college gained massive coverage last year with the release of ‘Some Nights’ by FUN as Gaeilge, which was broadcast on national radio. From all this work, the band ‘Seo Linn’ has stemmed, with a growing popularity in the Irish language community. 

Coláiste Lurgan’s projects to date can be found at www.youtube.com/tglurgan ; and more information on the college can be found on www.lurgan.biz. 

Coláiste Lurgan recently came to national attention with their cover of ‘When I’m Gone’, as Gaeilge – ‘Amhrán na gCupán’.

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