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An gceiliúrann tú Oíche Fhéile Bríde?

January 31, 2014

Sorry, this entry is only available in Irish.

Galway created sexy Irish — now it must maintain it

January 31, 2014

Just last week the RTE player featured a video shot in Galway in January 1964, exactly 50 years before. It was classic black and white television reportage style of the type that exemplified the early days of Montrose and focused on the news that week that Galway was planning to become an official Irish-speaking city over the next few years.

The reporter spoke to Mayor Martin Divilly (grandfather of Galway Bay fm’s Jon Richards), businessman Paddy Ryan, university president Martin Newell and a whole host of what you’d call ordinary folk, all of whom thought it would be a great idea if the city became Irish speaking. Then, like now, most of them said that they had but a few focails, but that they would be willing to learn.

The Galway of that video was a grey place, one that you could never imagine would turn into the colourful carnival capital of the west, the party hub of Ireland, the place to which tens of thousands of young people would flock every year to have their heads turned and their hearts stolen. In the latter part of the half-century that divided the two eras, the Irish language eventually came to play a large part in the culture of the city, nurtured through by the establishment of media such as RnaG and Tg4 and a host of other public and private groupings.

Suddenly, the city and county were bearing the fruits of the newfound sexiness of the language. Businesses proudly bore their signage and menus in Irish. Attractive males and females took to the airwaves to bring the new sexy Irish to a new generation. It was as if Peig Sayers had never existed. But with that in mind, it is all the more surprising that next Monday, a crisis meeting about the treatment of the mother tongue is to be held in the county.

The public meeting is being organized as part of a new language rights campaign that has been established in response to the crisis created by announcement of the Language Commissioner, Seán Ó Cuirreáin, that he would be stepping down from his position as a result of the lack of engagement he has received from the Government. The meeting will be held in Seanscoil Sailearna, Indreabhán at 8.00pm and language activist, Donncha Ó hÉalaithe, and Julian de Spáinn, general secretary of Conradh na Gaeilge will be keynote speakers. It will be chaired by Nórita Ní Chartúir, from Acadamh na hollscolaíochta Gaeilge, NUIG.

The meeting is open to everyone in the community and it will provide the opportunity to focus on the actions needed to fight for the language rights of the Gaeltacht and Irish language community. Monday also happens to be the closing date for entries into this year’s Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh 2014 hosted by Gaillimh le Gaeilge. That competition more than anything else has helped draw in businesses who would be less than confident about their ability to be seen as promoting Irish, but this has eliminated any such awkwardness and resulted in Irish being increasingly visible throughout Galway city. Your business or enterprise can and should be entered in this competition.

Ba chathair uathúil í Cathair na Gaillimhe riamh anall, áit dhifriúil. Chun uathúlacht na cathrach a chosaint, is í an chloch is mó a bheas ar ár bpaidrín ná leanúint ar aghaidh ag troid ar son na Gaeilge. Cuirtear tús leis an gcath chun a chinntiú go mbeidh ról ag an nGaeilge labhartha agus scríofa i nGaillimh na 21ú haoise sa chaoi go mbeidh na daoine sa 22ú haois in ann leanúint ar aghaidh ag baint leas agus tairbhe aisti.

Galway has always been a city of uniqueness, a different place. It will be the strength of our conviction to battle to maintain the Irish language that will continue to define it as a different place. Let the battle begin to ensure that spoken and written Irish have a role to play in the Galway of the 21st century, so that the people in the 22nd century will continue to enjoy the benefits it brings.

www.advertiser.ie/galway

Ardfheis Chonradh na Gaeilge, 2014

January 31, 2014

Sorry, this entry is only available in Irish.

Joe Mac Suibhne appointed as principal of Gael-Choláiste an Phiarsaigh

January 30, 2014

A chairde, I am delighted to announce that Joe Mac Suibhne has been appointed as the first Principal of Gael-Choláiste an Phiarsaigh and will begin his duties in early March. Joe has vast experience working in all-Irish medium education for many years and has been employed as Principal of Coláiste Chilliain, Cluain Dolcáin, for the last 10 years. It is our intention to organise a session between parents and the new Príomhoide over the next two weeks. I will send to you details of the date, time and place shortly.

Le gach meas,
Lorcán Mac Gabhann
Chairperson of the Board of Management

https://www.facebook.com/GCanPhiarsaigh

St. Brigid’s Eve Party, Loughrea

January 30, 2014

Actor and performer Diarmuid de Faoite is this year’s guest storyteller and MC for this Fri., St Brigid’s Eve, at 8pm, in Morrissey’s, Loughrea. There will be Storytelling, Music, St. Brigid’s cross-making & Refreshments.

All are welcome.

Info: 091 870718 / www.LochaRiach.com

Disaster for Irish Language

January 30, 2014

The Decision to centralise Irish Language resources in Dublin has been branded as “disastrous” for the future of Gaelic in the North.

Foras na Gaeilge has been charged by the North South Ministerial Council to reorganise core funding for the 19 Irish language organisations. Seven of these are based in the north – but Foras na Gaeilge is so centralise its resources around six Dublin-based organisations from June 30.

Pobal, the advocacy organisation for the Irish language, has said the decision is a serious blow for the promotion of Gaelic in the north. Janet Muller, Pobal’s CEO said: “This will mean a loss of services and support for Irish speakers in the north. “Not one single organisation selected by Foras na Gaeilge is based in the north. “This means that they do not have the same local knowledge and experience at the heart of their policies and approaches. “This will have a fundamental influence on the development of the Irish language here.” The six directors of the six organisations to be funded will meet via a Foras na Gaeilge chaired forum to co-ordinate all provisions and services from Dublin. “There will be a massive drop in the authoritative , leadership and strategic roles for northern workers,” Ms Muller said.

“Even if a small number of people with northern expertise get jobs, it will be very difficult for them to determine or influence organisational policy, to negotiate with politicians and service providers or to structure a work plan according to the specific needs of the north. “All these things will be decided in Dublin. Pobal claim Foras na Gaeilge’s proposals will also severely damage the language throughout the country. “This has been a divisive and highly flawed process,” Ms Muller said. “The language in the north has come out of it very badly. “Pobal has always carried out coordination, research and project work on an all-Ireland basis. “But it is obvious that in the north the infrastructure is less developed, and the social, political and legislative position of the language is completely different from that in the south. “the effects of these decisions from Foras will be disastrous. “We urge the minister for culture, arts and leisure to intervene and make clear, detailed instructions as to how the damage from these proposals must be mitigated.”

The move comes as Europe’s leading human rights agency, the Council of Europe, claims that the promotion of the Irish language in Northern Ireland is being blocked by hostile attitudes in Stormont, as well as by a lack of support for its use in the courts and in education. The Council of Europe criticised attitudes to Irish in some official circles and what it said is the Stormont Assembly’s “persisting hostile climate”.

Caral Ní Chuilin, the minister for culture, arts and leisure, said she would bring in new legislation during the current assembly term. “There is a large body of support for an Irish language act in the north,” she said “As languages are now a devolved matter full legislation will require the agreement of the executive and assembly. “I hope that all supporters of the Irish language will work together to convince the executive the assembly and all our people of the merits of supporting an Irish language act.”

www.irishnews.com

Put a spring in your step with Gaelchultúr’s Irish language classes for adults

January 30, 2014

Gaelchultúr’s (www.gaelchultur.com) next Irish language course for adults will begin the week commencing 3 February in the company’s centre at 11 Clare Street, Dublin 2, as well as in Carlow town. Classes will be available at up to six levels: beginners, elementary, lower intermediate, upper intermediate, advanced, and accuracy in Irish. So, whether one is out of practice, learning Irish for the first time or seeking to improve writing and grammar skills, Gaelchultúr has a suitable course.

Participants will attend a two-hour class (7–9pm) one night a week for 10 weeks. The course fee is €200. In order to ensure that learners register for the appropriate level, Gaelchultúr will host an event, Blaiseadh den Ghaeilge/A Taste of Irish, on Saturday, 1 February, in its headquarters at 11 Clare Street. This event is free of charge and members of the public can call in on the hour or half hour between 2.00pm and 4.30pm to get more information about the spring course, have their standard of Irish assessed and attend a class to get a taste of the teaching approach used. They will also be able to register for the spring course, should they wish, but there will be no obligation on them to do so. Those unable to attend A Taste of Irish can call into Gaelchultúr between 5pm and 7pm on 28, 29, or 30 January for an assessment. This is free of charge, will only take about twenty minutes and there’s no need to book in advance.

Gaelchultúr has been offering Irish language courses for nearly ten years now and has developed excellent resources during this time. Its classes are learner-centred and participants are given every opportunity to speak the language and to engage with each other and with the teacher. “A lot of the people who come to our courses lack confidence as regards Irish,” says Éamonn Ó Dónaill, Gaelchultúr’s Director of Education, “but they immediately feel relaxed due to the approach to teaching we use in our night classes. We focus on the spoken language and on interactive, communicative activities, and that approach appeals greatly to learners.” For further information about Gaelchultúr’s language classes and other events, please call (01) 484 5220 or write to eolas@gaelchultur.com. You can also visit www.gaelchultur.com and download the brochure for the spring course. Gaelchultúr’s Academic Administrator, Róisín Ní Mhaolchallann, is available for media interviews.

Contact details: (01) 484 5224; roisin@gaelchultur.com

Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com

Cruinniú Poiblí ar son chearta na Gaeilge

January 30, 2014

Sorry, this entry is only available in Irish.

Learn Irish for less at Coláiste na nOileán

January 30, 2014

Located in the heart of the Connemara Gaeltacht, Coláiste na nOileán is one of the longest-running Irish colleges.

The college offers a number of course options. Five day summer Gaeltacht course for fifth and sixth class primary A specially designed five day residential course for fifth and sixth class
primary students, this completely separate and fully supervised course is especially designed around parents’ requests and caters specifically for this age group. Three week summer courses The extremely popular three-week courses have made the college stand out from the rest with special courses for those sitting the Leaving Cert and Junior Cert 2014. Great emphasis is placed on the oral Irish test which accounts for 40 per cent of the awarded grade.

One, two, and three day Gaeltacht activity courses The college also runs one, two, and three day mini Gaeltacht activity courses during the school year that would suit all ages from fifth and sixth class primary students up to transition year in secondary. The courses include a huge range of activities, all through the medium of Irish, which make it a fun packed adventure. Coláiste na nOileán believes that learning Irish should be fun as this helps to cultivate a love for the Irish language and its culture, a formula that has made Coláiste na nOileán a huge success for over half a century. It is also running special offers for mid-term break and Easter. For further details on all courses and to download a brochure visit www.colaistenanoilean.ie or contact the college on 091 551933/595890 or email colnanoilean@gmail.com.

www.advertiser.ie

Post múinteoireachta – Mata

January 29, 2014

Sorry, this entry is only available in Irish.

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