Scéal Ghael-Linn
November 19, 2013
Gael Linn are celebrating 60 years of work this year and will close this commemorative occasion by launching Scéal Ghael-Linn on Thursday, 21 November 2013.
The organisation was founded in 1953 by Dónall Ó Móráin, Riobard Mac Góráin and Séamus Mac Crosáin to encourage new Irish language ventures and to demonstrate the effectiveness of funded language promotion to the Government. Gael Linn continues to promote Irish language and heritage projects more than ever now after sixty years.
The history of Gael Linn has been compiled by Mairéad Ní Chinnéide and includes the various projects undertaken by Gael Linn over the years such as the An Damer theatre which was based on Stephen’s Green and was central to the Irish language social calendar in Dublin from 1955-1976, films Mise Eire and Saoirse, Gael Linn agri-industry projects in Galway and Donegal and the timirí who would collect money every week around the country on behalf of the Gael Linn pools.
Educator and author Fionnbarra Ó Brolcháin will launch Scéal Ghael-Linn in the John Field in the National Concert Hall, Dublin on Thursday, 21 November 2013, at 6.15pm.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Allowances granted by Department of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht
November 19, 2013
As we approach the end of the year, it is encouraging to see that Minister of State in the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Dinny McGinley, still has a few coffers left with many grants announced over the past week or two.
Among funding grants awarded were:
- €10,164 to Scoil Chuimsitheach Chiaráin in addition to a previous grant of €70,000 awarded for refurbishing work on tarmacadam at and around the school.
- €8,395 awarded to Coiste Forbartha Dhobhair Teo to purchase equipment for Ionad Naomh Pádraig.
- €35,304 to Comhairle na Mumhan (GAA) in support of activities run through Irish in Gaeltacht schools over the academic year 2013/14.
- €2,085 awarded to Meánscoil San Nioclás, An Rinn, Co. Waterford, to enable them to purchase curtains, lights and stands for the school hall.
- €23,436 awarded to Coiste Meitheal Oibre Chill Éinne for improvements to dressing rooms at Cill Éinne football pitch.
Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge will soon be penning their letter to Dinny na Nollag, setting out our wishlist for 2014. If you have any suggestions for this letter, feel free to leave a comment in the discussion panel below, or to send us an email at eolas@gaelport.com.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Stage 2 of New Funding Model
November 19, 2013
Gaelport.com reported last week that the first shortlist under the new funding model had been selected by Foras na Gaeilge.
It is understood that 15 applications were received in the first stage of this process. Other media have reported that 13 applications were received by organisations who are currently core-funded by Foras na Gaeilge, with two applications being received by external parties, but this has not been verified by Foras na Gaeilge.
A meeting was held last Friday, between Foras na Gaeilge and the organisations whose expressions of interest in stage 1 were successful. These organisations must now prepare a substantial submission before 6th December 2013.
During the course of the meeting, the organisations were made aware that a committee has been selected to judge the applications. This committee will include two members of Foras na Gaeilge senior management, one Foras board member, and an external consultant on language planning. An independent adjudicator will oversee the process to ensure best practice is employed. Foras na Gaeilge representatives at the meeting referred to potential conflict of interest but siad that the normal rules in relation to conflicts of interest could not be put into practice for this process, as to do so would disqualify each member of Foras na Gaeilge senior management from taking part in the adjudication process.
Further shortlisting will apply before Stage 3 of the process. Chairpersons and Heads of those organisations who are deemed successful in Stage 2, will receive an invite on or before 23rd December 2013, to attend an interview between 6-8 January 2014. Organisations who are unsuccessful in Stage 2 of the process, will be informed of this on or before the 23rd December, and will have six months to wind down their organisations before their funding is cut completely.
As an integral step in the process, Foras na Gaeilge informed organisations on 25th July 2013, that a Consultant in Change Management would be made available for all of the 19 core-funded organisations in autumn 2013 to aid them in the process. At Friday’s meeting, An Foras announced that the appointment of this consultant would now not take place until January 2014, a point when the lead organisations will already have been chosen.
Members of An Fóram, (a group which comprises 80% of those organisations currently core-funded by Foras na Gaeilge) have written to Ministers from both sponsor departments expressing their opinion that it would be more sensible to employ an expert in change management to assist the organisations prior to Foras making their final decision. As Foras na Gaeilge have indicated they themselves were not the cause of the delay, An Fóram has written to the ministers of the sponsor departments asking them to ensure the process as set out on 25th July is employed in entirety, in accordance with best practice.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Roll the dice for Ireland’s first board game festival
November 19, 2013
Organisers are feverishly planning three days of tournaments, workshops and have-a-go sessions which will feature just about every board game you’ve ever heard of — and then some.
The board game extravaganza will take place in more than 18 venues in the West Cork town of Clonakilty and will feature everything from backgammon, to chess, chess as gaeilge, Monopoly, Scrabble and Where’s Wally.
The organisers, who are this week putting the final touches to a special website on the event, also promise an Inventor’s Corner — Neil Crowley, inventor of Crooks; and Clonakilty resident Murray Heasman, the inventor of the award-winning game Tara will attend the festival which is scheduled to run from February 7 to 9, while Una O’Boyle, the Irish chess champion will be available to meet fans, and is scheduled to give some chess tutorials as gaeilge.
“It’s a nice indoor, family fun event and February is a very quiet time of year, so we thought it would be good to have something cheerful happening around then,” said Miriam Cotton, one of the organisers.
The festival is the brainchild of board game fans and local business people, Phil Newton and Karen Moroney of Clonakilty Business Solutions. Phil recently started the Clonakilty Backgammon Club which, after just four months, is already the biggest in Ireland.
“We want to flag the fact that the festival is happening,” explained Ms Cotton.
“Our intention is to make it an annual event but at this stage, we have no way of knowing how popular it will be, though there seems to be a lot of enthusiasm about it already.”
She said: “Lots of board games will be represented — all the major ones and there will also be a centre with games that would not be as well-known, like Carcassonne.
“Some board-game players, for example in chess, bridge or backgammon, take it very seriously, while others just like playing the games for fun, and although we do our best it’s not about prizes or championships, more about family fun.
“We want to begin generating interest in the festival now in the hope that people will note the event in their diaries and make a commitment either to come along or to get involved. The festival is a free event, organised by volunteers so we need all of the support we can get!”
www.irishexaminer.com
Gaelscoileanna Teo. celebrating 40 years
November 18, 2013
‘From evidence to excellence’ to be discussed at annual Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta Teo. & Gaelscoileanna Teo. on 22 and 23 November 2013.
All areas of Irish medium education to be discussed on 22 and 23 November 2013 at the annual Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta Teo. & Gaelscoileanna Teo. conference on 22 and 23 November 2013.
The annual Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta Teo. & Gaelscoileanna Teo. conference will take place in the Johnstown House Hotel, Enfield, Co. Meath, on Friday and Saturday, 22 and 23 November 2013.
This annual conference is open to anybody associated with Irish medium education, teachers and principals from both primary and secondary levels in particular, and a series of lectures, focus groups and workshops takes place over the weekend.
This year will see Gaelscoileanna Teo. celebrate 40 years of work and President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins will attend the official opening of the conference on Friday as part of the celebrations.
Chief Executive Officerof Gaelscoileanna Teo., said, “We are delighted that the President of Ireland eagerly accepted our invitation to join us for the organisation’s forty year celebration.
We welcome this recognition of the importance of the sector and the value of Irish-medium schools to society, and their role in implementing the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language”.
The conference will focus particularly on the implementation of the Literacy and Numeracy for Learning and Life 2011 – 2020 Strategy and Irish-medium schools’ highly effective approach in cultivating Literacy and Numeracy skills in students through immersion education.
Workshops, expert groups and sessions with representatives from the Department of Education and Skills will discuss the big issues of the day from language planning, immersion education, maths, the marketing of schools, the influence of school panels and pre-school bilingual education.
Gaelscoileanna Teo. CEO explained that “The Education Conference 2013 is an opportunity for the organisation and for Irish-medium schools to celebrate the substantial ongoing growth and development of the Irish-medium schools. When the organisation was founded in 1973 there were 12 primary schools and 5 post-primary schools in the country; and now, with 144 and 36 schools respectively, it’s evident that they’re in great demand and held in high regard as an educational institution that provides an excellent standard of education and enables a high level of competence in Irish”.
For more information and for registration details visit www.gaelscoileanna.ie.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
St Ciaran’s College languages department continues to excel
November 18, 2013
Aighneacht Gaelscoileanna Teo. ar Uileghabhálacht Bhreisithe a Chur Chun Cinn sna Bunscoileanna
November 18, 2013
Cruinneas agus Scríobh na Gaeilge
November 15, 2013
Post buan – Príomhoide, Coláiste Ghór na Mara, Baile Brigín, Co. Átha Cliath
November 15, 2013
Good news for Gaelscoil Cois Feabhail – school to move to a permanent building
November 15, 2013
Pupils, staff, parents and Board of Management of Moville’s Gaelscoil were celebrating recently the news that the Department of Education and Skills has sanctioned the school’s move to a permanent building.
“This is an historical decision” said the Chairperson of the Board of Management of Gaelscoil Cois Feabhail, Antóin Ó Dúgáin.
“As a school we have been working in temporary accommodation since our foundation in 2000. This decision is a real step forward for us. It is also a vote of confidence for Irish Medium education in the Moville community.
“We are very grateful to the parish priest Fr. O’Hagan for his role in moving this project forward and grateful also to the Diocese for making St Joseph’s Boys school building available to us. Our gratitude extends also to the Department of Education and Skills for funding the renovation that will facilitate the move.”
The Gaelscoil will move from its current location in the GAA grounds outside the town to what was St. Joseph’s Boys’ school premises which is located in the town itself.
Substantial funding has been acquired in order to refurbish the building. Although no time frame has as yet been established it is hoped that the move will take place without delay. An Foras Pátrúnachta is in communication with the Diocesan authorities to finalise details.
“Irish medium education offers a headstart to children on their educational journey”, remarks the school Principal Gráinne Nic Robhartaigh, “international studies reiterate the fact that pupils who learn through the medium of a second language have an educational advantage and their cognitive abilities are enhanced as a consequence. We see that clearly from the second level exam results of our past pupils!”
The school would be happy to hear from any interested parents: Tel 074 9385762. An Information Evening will take place on Thursday 28th November 2013 at 6.30pm.
“I would encourage any parent who has questions about Irish Medium education to come along. It is important to be informed before we make choices and the Information Evening will give parents an insight into the advantages of sending a child to a “Gaelscoil”,” concluded the Principal.
