Ceisteanna bunúsacha le freagairt faoin ‘táirge den scoth’
February 13, 2013
The talk of education
February 13, 2013
There is growing anger among student teachers about new charges for Irish courses in the Gaeltacht.
Students are required to attend a three-week language course in first and second year. In the past, the courses were subsidised but this has been withdrawn, leaving students to pick up the cost, estimated at about €1,500.
A wider question is whether student teachers should be obliged to have a C3 or better in higher-level Irish in the Leaving Cert.
Aodhán Ó Riordáin (above) of the Labour Party says the the requirement for “honours Irish” effectively acts as a barrier to poorer students who aspire to become primary school teachers.
DEIS secondary schools, he says, are rarely in the position to offer higher-level Irish for their students. And poorer families do not have the resources to pay for grinds or to send their children to the Gaeltacht on summer courses. His comments merit discussion. But who is brave enough to run with them and risk the wrath of the immensely powerful Irish-language lobby?
IRISH TIMES
Meitheal na mBeag Conference to discuss the cultural rights of the child
February 13, 2013
This year’s Meitheal na mBeag Conference is based on the theme from Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child ‘to participate freely in cultural life and the arts.’
Meitheal na mBeag caters for artists, educators, theatre companies, arts centers and institutes that have a commitment to the development and production of child-centered performing arts through Irish.
This umbrella and resource group is made up of people who are energetic and passionate about children having access to a range of cultural activities with a wide variety of arts like drama, music, poetry and art.
This year’s guest speakers include Martin Drury of the Arts Council and founder of the Ark, a cultural centre for children, former Laureate na nÓg, Siobhán Parkinson, as well as Michael Finneran who is Head of the Arts and Physical Education Department in Mary Immaculate College, Limerick.
Angus Macleod, Drama Officer from Fèisean nan Gàidheal in Scotland will be this year’s international speaker.
During the conference we will launch a ‘Call for Submissions’ from artists to create a piece of art that will travel from county to county housed in the County Hall. It is hoped that by welcoming this symbolic piece of art to their county, each council will question their provision of cultural activities for children as equals.
Theater companies Graffiti and Branar will perform over the course of the two days as well as panel discussions, debate and networking opportunities.
All are welcome to attend the conference and a registration form can be downloaded from www.meithealnambeag.ie.
Nationwide schedule of Irish language radio programming launched
February 13, 2013
Irish language speakers will now be able to tune into the wealth of Irish language programming on 54 radio stations across the country using a new nationwide schedule launched by information service Cogar.ie
The schedule is divided into four parts with schedules from Irish language stations RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, Raidió na Life and Raidió Rí-Rá listed as well as Irish language and bilingual programming from community and commercial radio stations across Ireland.
The schedule was launched at an Irish language radio broadcasting workshop held in the offices of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland on January 30 2013.
Irish language radio professionals met and discussed issues from across the sector. Speakers included Traic Ó Braonáin from Raidió Rí-Rá, Cian Mac Cárthaigh from Raidió na Life; Cearbhall Ó Síocháin from RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta; Barbara Nic Dhonnacha from iRadio and Máire Máiréad Ní Loideáin from Shannonside/Northern Sound FM.
The schedule was complied by Irish language broadcasting support service Cogar which is a joint initiative between the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge.
The schedule will assist Irish language learners and radio fans in accessing Irish language programming times. As digital technology has developed, Irish speakers can now access a broader spectrum of radio programming, which means that Irish language braodcasters are now able to tap into a new audience.
With the development of apps and smart phones and internet radio, Irish language listenership is not determined by geographical boundaries and now for example listeners in Wexford can tune into radio programming in Galway or Kerry or anywhere across the country using smartphones and laptops.
Irish language speakers living abroad also have increased opportunities to listen to Irish language programming across the world using digital devices.
The new schedule is available on the website of Cogar.ie here: http://www.cogar.ie/sceideal2013.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Changes to Gaeltacht policy to be discussed at Tóstal Conference
February 13, 2013
With the implementation of a new language planning process in Gaeltacht areas to be rolled out in 2013, Irish speakers will gather to discuss its impact at the Tóstal na Gaeilge Irish language conference to be held in Dublin this Saturday, 16 February 2013.
Political correspondent for the Irish Times, Harry McGee, will open the conference at 10:30am on Saturday, 16 February 2013, after which three discussion panels will be held until 5pm at the Hilton Hotel, Charlemont Place, Dublin 2.
In the past fortnight, Údarás na Gaeltachta have announced a process to prepare language plans for three Gaeltacht areas. Both the Chairperson and the CEO of Údarás na Gaeltachta will be speaking at this year’s Tóstal na Gaeilge, and those associated with community development initiatives or local co-operatives will have the opportunity to gain more information on what this Language Planning Process will entail for 2013.
Politicians, sociolinguists, language planners, and representatives of the civil service will discuss the current issues relating to the Irish language at three separate sessions during An Tóstal as follows:
Session 1: Raising a family through Irish in 2013
Session 2: An Ghaeltacht in 2013
Session 3: State Responsibility for the future of the Irish langugae.
The full programme of events for Tóstal na Gaeilge 2013 is available at: www.gaelport.com/tostal2013.
Attendance of Tóstal na Gaeilge will cost €15, which includes lunch which will be provided in the hotel.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Poetry Competition to celebrate Irish/Scottish Gaelic Poetry
February 13, 2013
Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge are delighted to announce that entries are now currently being accepted for the bilingual Gaeilge/Gàidhlig poetry competition, Comórtas Filíochta an Choirnéil Eoghain Uí Néill, which is now in its sixth year.
The competition finale will be held in Dublin on Friday April 19 2013 as part of this year’s Turas na bhFilí cultural exchange programme, which will see Scottish poets including the esteemed poet and Honorary Senior Lecturer at St Andrews University Meg Bateman, visit communities in the Mayo Gaeltacht and Achill island.
However all eyes will be on the successful poets from this year’s poetry competition who will perform at a unique Gaeilge/Gàidhlig poetry event on April 19th in the performance space ‘Cois Teallaigh’ on Kildare Street in Dublin, where the winners of the poetry competition will be announced.
The finale will be hosted by the popular Irish language novelist and broadcaster Alan Titley and feature performances of traditional music and songs from Scotland between readings.
A prize fund of €500 as well as the Corn Uí Néill trophy will be presented to the successful poet on the night. Renowned Irish language poet Gabriel Rosenstock and Gàidhlig poet Meg Bateman have been selected as adjudicators of this year’s competition.
The winner of this year’s Corn Uí Néill competition will be in the company of some of the top talent in the Irish language and Scottish Gaelic literary scene. Previous winners include Ailbhe Ní Ghearbhuígh, Máire Wren, Prionsias Mac a‘Bhaird, Tadhg O Dúshláine and Niall Gordon.
The competition is free to enter but applicants are requested to read the rules prior to submitting any entries. Entrants are invited to submit up to three poems before the closing date on Friday March 15 2013.
The competition is a bilingual competition open to entries in the Irish language or in Scottish Gaelic but entrants must also include an English language translation of all poems submitted. The shortlist for Comórtas Uí Néill will be announced before the end of March.
Application forms and rules of Comórtas Filíochta an Choirnéil Eoghain Uí Néill can be downloaded on http://www.gaelport.com/comortasuineill.
For further information contact Sibéal Davitt sdavitt@comhdhail.ie or call 01-6794780.
This year’s Turas na bhFilí cultural exchange is a joint initiative of Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge and Scottish arts body Fèisean nan Gàidheal with the proud support of Poetry Ireland and Colmcille.
Press release by Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge
County Clare VEC drafting second language scheme
February 11, 2013
Clare VEC proposes to draft a second language scheme in accordance with Section 15 of the Official Languages Act 2003.
The primary objective of the Act is to ensure better availability and a higher standard of public services through Irish.
Clare VEC now wishes to invite representations in relation to the preparation of the draft scheme from any interested parties. Submissions should ideally not exceed 4,000 words (c. 8 pages.) Submissions can be forwarded electronically to sconlan@clarevec.ie or alternatively posted to:
An Rúnaí,
Coiste Gairmoideachais an Chláir,
Bóthar an Stáisiúin,
Inis,
Co. an Chláir.
Information in relation to the mandate and role / services provided by Clare VEC is available on www.clarevec.ie.
The latest date for receipt of representations is 5 p.m. on 22nd February 2013.
A copy of the committee’s first language scheme is available here.
Further information in relation to the Act is available on the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht website www.pobail.ie or by E-mail request to achtteanga@pobail.ie.
Beidh Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge ag ullmhú aighneacht go luath. Más mian leat teagmháil a dhéanamh linn agus cur leis an aighneacht seo is féidir teagmháil a dhéanamh le eolas@gaelport.com.
Bíonn an nuacht is déanaí faoi sheirbhísí Gaeilge agus cur i bhfeidhm Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla ar fáil gaelport:
http://www.gaelport.com/abhchoideacht nó http://www.gaelport.com/achtnadteangachaoifigiula2003.
Fógra Poiblí foilsithe don chéad uair ar Gaelport.com 29 Eanáir 2013 agus foilsithe don athuair ar 11 Feabhra 2013.
An Teanga is a Luach: Ról na Gaeilge in Eacnamaíocht na hÉireann
February 11, 2013
Grants available for musical instruments
February 11, 2013
Further Informatuion: EMI Music Sound Foundation
Intéirneacht Iarchéime, Foclóir na Nua-Ghaeilge
February 11, 2013
