Irish language under threat
February 19, 2014
A chara, – I congratulate Rónán Ó Domhnaill on his nomination to the post of Language Commissioner (Pól Ó Muirí, February 11th). But I do not envy him.
Although the language and the Gaeltacht are cultural and economic resources which can, and do, benefit all on this island, and belong to all, both are under threat. The Gaeltacht is a rural area, and contact with the State is pervasive and frequently intrusive. The outgoing commissioner has documented and demonstrated that, despite the rhetoric, the State has long imposed compulsory English on the Gaeltacht for those who must avail of its services to live.
The Official Languages Act was intended to stem that erosion. However, it has been undermined by a niggardly implementation or by being ignored. The Act has been under review for two years now – and is likely to be further weakened when amended. Indeed, the Government has already announced the dismantling of the language commissioner’s independence by subsuming the office into that of the Ombudsman – one of the offices subject to oversight by the commissioner, and an important one at that as it deals with the public. As I believe the Gaeltacht and the language are important to the future of this country and State, and are part of all our heritage which deserves to be invested in to the benefit of all, I took part in Lá na Gaeilge on Saturday to urge the Government to reconsider and invest in rather than further erode the Gaeltacht.
I was heartened to find myself in a crowd of thousands, which I see as encouragement for the incoming language commissioner in his task of vindicating the rights of Irish speakers, by ensuring that government departments meet their legislative commitments generously and sensibly. I hope too that the Government will also take heed, and implement its promises in the 20-year strategy in a sensible and effective manner. – Is mise, le meas
AONGHUS Ó hALMHAIN,
Páirc na Seilbhe,
Baile an Chinnéidigh,
Co Chill Mhantáin.
www.irishtimes.com
‘Slán le Seán’ public march in Conamara
February 19, 2014
A march titled ‘Slán le Seán’ will take place in Conamara this coming Sunday 23rd February 2014 from the offices of the Irish language Commissioner in An Sídheán, An Spidéal, Co. Galway as far as Roinn na Gaeltachta Office’s in Na Forbacha. This march will coincide with the last day in office by Irish language commissioner Seán Ó Cuirreáin who has spent 10 years in this role. The campaign was established following the announcement by the Language Commissioner, Seán Ó Cuirreáin in December that he would be resigning as a result of the Government’s failure to implement language legislation at the level of the State. According the to campaign organisers: “This campaign has been inspired by, and we have been motivated to seek the support of the wider community throughout the island for our rights following:
- the announcement by Seán Ó Cuirreáin, the Language Commissioner, that he is to resign on the 23 February 2014 because of a lack of Government support in the south for the language rights of the Irish language and Gaeltacht community
- the report by the Council of Europe that the promotion and development of the Irish language in the north is being blocked by hostile attitudes in Stormont, and a lack of support for its use in the courts and in education.”
A letter of appreciation will be handed to Mr Ó Cuirreáin on the day while a letter voicing the public’s dismay and anger will be delivered to Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Dinny McGinley T.D. The march will begin at the Irish Language Commissioner office in An Sídheán, An Spidéal, Co. Galway at 2:00pm and the route covers about 6km. After the walk the crowd will proceed to Tigh Phádhraicín Bar & restaurant in Na Forbacha for light refreshments and entertainment.
For further information contact: 091 593185 / 086 4048881.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Moltar an mórshiúl
February 19, 2014
Cúrsa sa Saibhreas Teanga
February 19, 2014
Lá Mór na Gaeilge – the starting point
February 18, 2014
Up to 10,000 took part in the march in Dublin city at the weekend
Communities from all over Ireland, north and south, walked from the Garden of Remembrance to Dáil Éireann in Dublin on Saturday to show their dissatisfaction with the Government’s treatment of the Irish language, all as a part of Lá Mór na Gaeilge.
Buses from every corner of the country travelled to Dublin from early on Saturday morning where members of the Irish-speaking and Gaeltacht communities of all ages gathered to demand language equality and rights.
The large crowd was lively as the march made its way through the city centre with most of the participants carrying red flags and wearing red clothing to demonstrate the ‘Dearg le Fearg’ theme. The march, organised by Conradh na Gaeilge, made its way to Molesworth Street where a rally and celebration took place with music and guest speakers.
General Secretary of Conradh na Gaeilge, Julian de Spáinn, said “Gaeltacht and Irish-language communities north and south are not happy with either Government, as their basic human right to use their language is neither being supported nor legally protected sufficiently”.
“The aim of Lá Mór na Gaeilge was to drive the Governments to recognise and appreciate the importance and the value of the Irish language for this country, as well as acknowledging the fact that the majority of people on this island have a love for the language, but Saturday’s march is just the beginning – we will continue to campaign our public representatives until we achieve fairness and equality for the Irish-speaking and Gaeltacht communities throughout the island of Ireland”, he said.
Based on the recommendations of An Coimisinéir Teanga and those voiced at public meetings across the country, below are the demands Conradh na Gaeilge agus the attendees of Lá Mór na Gaeilge are calling for to ensure language rights and equality for Irish:
The Gaeltacht community must be guaranteed State service through Irish, without condition or question, by the end of 2016;
State services must be made available in Irish to the Irish-speaking community at the same standard as they are provided in English;
A comprehensive rights-based Irish-language act must be enacted in the north;
The Official Languages Act 2003 must be strengthened in 2014;
The derogation of the status of Irish as an official language of the European Union must not be renewed after 1 January 2017; and
The Irish-language and Gaeltacht community must be recognised as stakeholders in the implementation of The 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010 – 2030 in the south and in the Irish-Language Strategy in the north.
Starting point
Saturday’s march has been described as the starting point for a major campaign that aims to achieve equality for the Irish language and Gaeltacht communities.
The next step for the campaign is a march in Conamara on Sunday, 23 February, to coincide with Seán Ó Cuirreáin’s resignation as Coimisinéir Teanga.
The march ‘Slán le Seán’ will begin at 2.00pm at Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga in An Spidéal. A letter will be given to Seán Ó Cuirreáin thanking him for 10 years of service and the crowd will then make their way to the Headquarters of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in Na Forbarcha where a letter will be left for Minister of State for the Gaeltacht, Dinny McGinley T.D., highlighting the public’s dissatisfaction with the Government.
Further plans for the campaign will be discussed at a seminar that will take place on 28 February 2014, at 8.00pm as a part of the program for Ard-Fheis Chonradh na Gaeilge in Killarney, Co. Kerry.
It is hoped that the success of Saturday’s demonstration will be repeated in Belfast on 12 April where a march to highlight the needs of Irish speakers and the challenges they face in the six counties.
Advisory Committee
Speaking on Adhmhaidin on Raidió na Gaeltachta on Monday, 17 February, Minister of State Dinny McGinley announced the formation of an advisory committee on the implementation of the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language. The Minister if State said that the committee will be formed by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Údarás na Gaeltachta and Foras na Gaeilge along with Irish language and Gaeltacht organisations arising from a meeting held with the organisations during the Summer.
During the interview on Adhmhaidin, the Minister also stated that the Government had committed to examining the demands being made by the campaign and that An Tánaiste, Éamon Gilmore, has agreed to meet with the organisers on request. Campaign organisers have said that a request for a meeting with An Tánaiste has already been made.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Bradley calls for Foras na Gaeilge to explain new funding arrangements
February 18, 2014
SDLP MLA for Newry and Armagh has invited Foras na Gaeilge to be questioned by Stormont’s Culture Arts and Leisure Committee about new funding arrangements for the Irish Language.
Speaking to Newry Times, Bradley said, “Core funded organisations, which are currently outside the funding loop – Pobal, Ultach and Altram – will also give evidence to the Committee. “Many questions still remain unanswered. Will the Minister urge Foras na Gaeilge to implement a consortia-based approach to ensure the continuance of the excellent work being carried out by POBAL, Iontaobhas Ultach, Altram and Forbairt Feirste? “How will the experience and leadership skill of the staff here be retained, how many posts will be ended, will the lead organisations share accommodation, will the leadership posts of Directors/Chief Executives the 6 Lead organisations will be subject to open completion? Bradley added, “I will be pressing Foras na Gaeilge to provide the answers to these important questions.”
www.newrytimes.com
Coláiste Samhraidh 2014 do dhéagóirí i gCeatharlach
February 18, 2014
Gaelscoil to pay €750 after boy ‘punished’ for being Protestant
February 18, 2014
THE board of a Gaelscoil has been ordered to pay a Protestant schoolboy €750 after a principal referred to the boy’s parents as part of the “rebel crowd” and punished him for not attending First Communion and Confirmation ceremonies.
The principal, who is currently on administrative leave, was found guilty of religious discrimination by the Equality Tribunal.The ruling came after the boy’s parents lodged a complaint of discrimination on the basis of religion over the way he was treated at the national school. He had attended the school since he was a junior infant, starting in 2004. The tribunal heard that the boy was ordered by the principal to stand against a classroom wall as punishment for not attending a First Communion ceremony with his schoolmates at a local Catholic church, despite being a member of the Church of Ireland.
He was also excluded from a “homework holiday” in which the other children who had made their First Communion at the church were rewarded. The children were given a special note from the principal excusing them from doing homework for two days while the boy in question was not, which he found very upsetting, the tribunal heard. The parents, who are not named, said the principal had told them the school was “interdenominational” when they initially enrolled their son in school.
Derogatory
However, only Catholic and Church of Ireland faiths would be taught in class. They later complained about a “significant” amount of school time being spent on preparing Catholic children for the their First Communion and Confirmation. The principal told the boy’s mother that she “obviously had a problem with religion” and made derogatory remarks about her faith, including references to her Protestant religion as being part of “the rebel crowd,” the tribunal heard. After they complained about him, the parents said the principal then started “bullying” their other children attending the school.The principal in question is currently on administrative leave from the school, the tribunal was told. On the day of the Equality Tribunal hearing, the chair of the school’s board of management and the school’s current principal “made an unreserved apology to the complainant’s parents in relation to the alleged treatment by the principal regarding the treatment of their son,” the tribunal wrote.
“The chairperson stated that she was not in a position to dispute the facts, and takes on board the issues as outlined by the complainant’s parents.” The tribunal also ordered the board of management at the unnamed national school to review its policies to ensure it complies with the Equal Status Act.
www.independent.ie
€750 award over school’s discrimination
February 18, 2014
Parents complained that Gaelscoil had treated Church of Ireland pupil unfairly.
Parents of a Church of Ireland pupil who complained about less favourable treatment shown to their son by a Gaelscoil have been awarded €750 by the Equality Tribunal.The mother and father complained on behalf of the boy that he was discriminated against by the national school on religious grounds in contravention of equal status legislation. They claimed he received unfair treatment as he was of the Church of Ireland faith and a majority of other pupils were Catholics.
Interdenominational
The school had informed the parents initially that the school was interdenominational in ethos but that only Catholic and Church of Ireland faiths would be taught.The parents alleged that their son remained in class while a considerable amount of time was spent preparing Catholic children for First Holy Communion. They later questioned why Catholic religious instruction was being offered and were told by the principal that as the two faiths were 95 per cent the same, the education offered would be sufficient for both.
Their son did not attend the First Holy Communion ceremony and the parents allege their son was treated less favourably by the school as a result and treated as if he had done something wrong.The boy did not attend Confirmation for the Catholic pupils at a later date and they alleged that the principal again treated their son less favourably, though not in the same manner as before. In its written submission the school defended its ethos and practices and contradicted some of the claims made by the parents concerning the principal.
Unreserved apology
On the day of the hearing the chairman of the board of management made an unreserved apology in relation to the alleged behaviour of the principal. The tribunal found that the boy had been treated less favourably and accepted the parents had produced prima facie evidence of discrimination. Its judgment records the fact that the parents’ daughter is also attending the school and no issues have arisen in relation to her treatment. The tribunal awarded €750 to the parents. The school was ordered to review its policies and procedures to ensure they are in line with the provisions of the Equal Status Acts and to place a notice to this effect in a prominent position within the school.
www.irishtimes.com
Féile na Gaeilge
February 18, 2014
