Growing appetite among Protestant, unionist and loyalist people to learn Irish language, says wife of former PUP leader
January 10, 2014
Demand for language ‘soaring’ in east Belfast.
Linda Irvine, wife of former PUP leader Brian Ervine, pictured in east Belfast as she helps bring the Irish Language to the community
East Belfast is not known as a heartland of the Irish language. But that hasn’t stopped demand for classes in the native teanga (language) soaring. The appetite for Irish has increased to such an extent that the East Belfast Mission (EBM) has given a floor in the Skainos Centre to the Turas (Journey) project.
From one six-week taster class three years ago, EBM is now offering eight Irish language classes per week.
This evening at 6.30pm the new Irish language floor in the Skainos Centre on the Newtownards Road will be officially opened. It comprises of three rooms – a classroom, a library and an office.
The thriving Irish language classes EBM offers are connecting the loyalist community with a language that very few grew up with, learned at home or at school.
Linda Ervine, the wife of former PUP leader Brian Ervine, is the EBM Irish language development officer. She said there is a growing appetite among Protestant, unionist and loyalist people to learn it. “I’m very much a learner. It’s hard but I love it. Irish is such a beautiful language, we are steeped in it in east Belfast. We are surrounded by it,” she said. “All our place names, surnames… the list goes on.”
Linda explained to the Belfast Telegraph where her passion for the Irish language began. “I was part of the EBM’s cross-community women’s group and through an art group I signed up for a taster course at An Droichead (The Bridge) on the Ormeau Road,” she said.
“EBM was soon inundated with requests for Irish language courses. I was approached to facilitate the class. It wasn’t widely publicised, but 20 people signed up. “Since then we have grown, and next week we are starting two new outreach classes in Dundonald High School.”
The PUP’s Sam Evans will be among those sharing their Irish language journey tonight at Skainos from 6.30pm. A mural by Mark Ervine, Linda’s nephew, and son of late PUP leader David, will also be unveiled.
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
Loyalists line up to learn cúpla focail at language classes in heart of east Belfast
January 10, 2014
An Irish language centre has opened its doors, offering a sincere fáilte romhaibh to the people in loyalist east Belfast.
It is on the Newtownards Road. That is Bóthar Nua na hArda.
In response to keen local demand, the Turas (journey) project offers conversation-style language classes to young and old, says development officer Linda Ervine, sister-in-law of the late David Ervine.
A former UVF prisoner, he was a significant voice at the peace talks which led to the Belfast Agreement of 1998 and leader of the loyalist Progressive Unionist Party (PUP).
“People ring me on a weekly, even daily basis,” said Ms Ervine. “All we are doing is opening the door.” A former English teacher at the local Ashfield school for girls, Ms Ervine developed her love of the language which grew alongside her interest in what she calls the “hidden history” of her part of Belfast.
“I tell people Irish is all around us – it’s in our placenames, it’s everywhere,” she said. “There’s a Gaelic language here, in Scotland, in Wales and in Cornwall. It’s not just an Irish thing, it’s British as well.”
Three years ago, an Irish class began on the strongly loyalist Newtownards Road where the fada and fáinne are rarely seen. About 20 people turned up, and now there are eight classes at various levels. Provision has expanded into one of the local schools.
Housed in the Skainos centre, a community facility linked to the East Belfast Mission church, Turas offers classroom facilities, offices and a social space.
Mural
A large indoor mural depicts the twin cranes of Harland and Wolff casting their shadows over a map of the working class streets below. “The mural was painted by David’s son Mark, my nephew. There is no peace line on the map, no politics. There is no agenda.”
That’s a reference to the inclusion of the republican enclave of Short Strand and the main electoral base of local Sinn Féin councillor Niall Ó Donghaille, who attended the opening ceremony along with party colleague, bilingual Belfast Lord Mayor Máirtín Ó Muilleoir.
The opening honours went to Sam Evans, a founder member of the PUP, in the presence of unionists of all varieties and the Alliance Party. Some 120 learners have signed up for the free courses which are supported by Foras na Gaeilge and the Stormont Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure.
www.irishtimes.com
New Funding Model: Lead organisations to be announced on 17 January 2014
January 10, 2014
The third stage in the selection process under the New Funding Model for organisations corefunded by Foras na Gaeilge is now complete, with details of the successful organisations to be announced on Friday, 17 January 2014.
19 organisations are currently receive corefunding under the existing model, however in the new model which is to be introduced from 01 July 2014, funding will only be made available to six lead organisations. The new model is intended to provide better services at a local level and to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of all expenditure.
The selection process consisted of three stages, stage one required interested parties to express their interest and complete an application form detailing their work and organisational structure. Stage two required applicants who were successful in stage one, to make a detailed proposal which was to be submitted to Foras na Gaeilge by 06 December 2013.
Not all organisations made it to the last round, in which a structured interview was held with the CEO and Chairperson of the organisation. These interviews were held in Dublin on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, and details of the lead organisations are to be announced on Friday of next week.
For those who are unsuccessful in their applications, their funding from Foras na Gaeilge will be discontinued from 30 June 2014.
Most of the organisations who now find themselves competing for funding, are almost wholly dependent on funding from Foras na Gaeilge and to terminate this funding source will close these organisations.
Gaelport.com
Buaiteoirí Siansa Gael Linn 2013 ar stáitse
January 10, 2014
Don’t miss a great concert in City Hall, Dublin on Saturday, 25 January 2014 at 1p.m. when the vibrant young group ‘Nuada’ from Co. Waterford, winners of Siansa Gael Linn 2013, will present an exciting showcase concert of traditional music and song during Temple Bar Trad Fest 2014.
Admission is free ! Everybody welcome.
Further information visit: www.templebartrad.com
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Singing astronaut Chris Hadfield to become Irish tourism ambassador
January 10, 2014
Astronaut Chris Hadfield – famous for singing David Bowie’s Space Oddity in space – has become an “ambassador” for Irish tourism. The former International Space Station commander put Ireland on the map with the first-ever tweet from space ‘as Gaeilge’ last year.
He arrives in Ireland today for the Laya Healthcare Pendulum Summit and the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition.
Tourism Ireland is hoping that he will help put Ireland on the map again as a top destination for holidays.
The organisation has enlisted his help to showcase some of our top visitor attractions and experiences over the coming five days.
From tomorrow , he and his wife Helene will visit Croke Park and the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin. He will also visit Donegal – where he will learn ‘cúpla focal’ from some local schoolchildren – and the Inishowen Peninsula. In Northern Ireland, he will visit Armagh, Cushendall and the Glens of Antrim, as well as Titanic Belfast.
Tourism Ireland will create three short films of Hadfield’s five-day visit – featuring different themes like Gaelic games, our spectacular scenery and major visitor attractions. These films will then be shared by Tourism Ireland to around two million Facebook fans and Twitter followers worldwide. Chris Hadfield will also tweet to his more than one million followers about his experiences here.
Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar, said Mr Hadfield’s visit will be great for Irish tourism. “Having seen Ireland from space, it’s great to be able to give Chris Hadfield a closer look at what Ireland has to offer on the ground.”
“His enthusiasm and energy make him a great ambassador for Irish tourism, and should help to persuade many more to come and see Ireland close-up in 2014. I’m really delighted he has agreed to help us out.”
Niall Gibbons, Tourism Ireland’s CEO, said the astronaut has shown “tremendous generosity” towards Ireland. “We are delighted to welcome Chris Hadfield to Ireland. I would like to personally thank him for his tremendous generosity in agreeing to help us promote the island of Ireland around the world.”
“Of course, he already began promoting Ireland last year, with the dramatic photos he tweeted from the International Space Station to his huge Twitter fanbase.”
“Chris is an enormously popular, global figure and I am confident that our films of his visit to Ireland will be seen and shared by millions of potential holidaymakers around the world – inspiring them to come and sample the destination for themselves.”
www.independent.ie
Seiminéar ar Atógáil Phobal na Gaeilge
January 9, 2014
Irish Language Classes in Dublin City 2014
January 9, 2014
Conradh na Gaeilge are organising Irish Language classes for adults in Dublin city this coming January.
Classes are suitable for Beginners and Advanced speakers.
Classes start dates: 28th -30th January 2014
Time: 7-9pm (tea break at 8pm)
10 week course (class each week)
Venue: Conradh na Gaeilge 6 Harcourt Street Dublin 2
Fee: €180
Conradh na Gaeilge have many years of experience in teaching classes. For further information contact Conradh na Gaeilge at: Tel: 01 4757401 / E-mail: eolas@cnag.ie
Individuals can register for these courses on the following website: www.cnag.ie
Spriocdháta don gComórtas Amhrán Pan Cheilteach
January 9, 2014
Minister Quinn announces details of grants to establish school book rental schemes in primary schools
January 9, 2014
€15 million to be made available over three years to primary schools who do not currently have book rental schemes
The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn T.D., today revealed plans to ensure that every primary school in the country has a book rental scheme in operation.
These plans are aimed at reducing school expenses for parents and form part of Minister Quinn’s wider agenda to tackle high costs associated with school.
As part of Budget 2014, Minister Quinn announced that he had secured €15 million to support the establishment of book rental schemes in primary schools which do not currently operate them. This money is to be used as seed capital to allow primary schools to set up such book loan schemes.
The Department of Education and Skills asked all primary schools in October last if they operated a book rental scheme. More than 80 per cent indicated they have a book rental scheme in operation.
Speaking at Presentation Primary School in Warrenmount, Dublin 8, the Minister commended the schools, such as Warrenmount, which already have such schemes in place.
“I am delighted to see that so many of our primary schools have taken the initiative to establish book rental schemes. They are already helping parents to drive down the cost of books,” he said.
“The funds that I have secured will now be directed towards those schools who have not yet set up such schemes so that all parents, no matter where their children go to school, have an opportunity to reduce the costs of going to school.”
Schools are now being invited by letter to apply for a grant to establish book rental schemes, subject to the criteria set out below. The deadline for applications is the 31st of January.
It is expected that qualifying DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) schools will receive €150 per child over three years, while non-DEIS schools will receive €100 per child.
Schools will be informed by the end of Spring on the outcome of their application and grants are expected to be made available by May to give schools ample time to purchase textbooks and set up the rental schemes in time for the new school year.
The DES published “Guidelines for Developing Textbook Rental Schemes in Schools” in January 2013 as a toolkit for schools. Schools which operate such schemes can save parents up to 80 per cent of the cost of buying new books.
Minister Quinn concluded, “It is my aim to ensure that every primary school in the country has a book rental scheme. Therefore, I’m targeting schools with no schemes initially as to include all primary schools would mean that the funding would be so diluted that it would have little impact. But, should more funds become available I would like to extend the grants to others.”
The Department will continue to provide a book grant to all primary schools. This grant, which provided €7 million to primary schools in 2013, can be used to update or expand existing book rental schemes.
The eligibility criteria for funding under the Seed Capital Grant Scheme for Book Loan/Rental Schemes is as follows:
(a) The school authorities must undertake to establish a textbook loan/rental scheme (covering either hard copy or electronic books) for the main textbooks used by the students in accordance with best practice contained in the Guidelines for Developing TextbookRental Schemes in Schools for a minimum of 5 years. A book loan/rental scheme will normally have to achieve a life of approximately five years for each textbook, for it to break even.
(b) The school must confirm that it did not operate a school textbook loan/rental scheme in the school year 2013/14.
(c) The school must agree to maintain and furnish financial and other records regarding the establishment, maintenance and operation of the textbook loan/rental scheme to the Department, on request. All funding provided will be used exclusively for the purposes of establishing a textbook loan/rental scheme.
Existing funding provided to schools for books:
The book grant is paid to all recognised primary schools and all post-primary schools within the Free Education Scheme, with DEIS schools receiving an enhanced rate. It is paid in June each year for the following school year. For both 2012 and 2013, €15 million was ring-fenced for the programme.
www.education.ie
Cúnamh don bhéal triail
January 9, 2014
