EU respects Irish more than leaders do
Feabhra 18, 2014
In January, Irish Language Commissioner Seán Ó Cuirreáin announced his intention to step down following the failure by Government to implement legislation to improve services to the public through Irish.
His decision was met with uproar in the Irish-speaking community , not least because of the fear of no Irish representation in government, or the fear that he would not be replaced. Degrading the status of Irish serves to erode long-standing traditions. I understand that Ireland has evolved into a much more diverse culture, but we need to respect indigenous languages. Speaking Irish is neither a political statement, highbrow or attention seeking — it’ s a human right. When Irish is supposedly the first language of Ireland, it seems bizarre that a business cannot contact our government in Irish. To them, it’s an indication of the hands off approach to its conservation. Realistically , Irish speakers know it will always be a minority language. However, that is not to say it deserves any less respect. The EU has shown great leadership in this regard. For example, you can contact an EU institution in Irish and expect to receive a response in that language.
The EU could be forgiven for not having people who can speak Irish but they do. They decided in 2007 to treat the language with dignity and respect. Meanwhile in Ireland, we shouldn’ t have to campaign for the most basic language rights, but we do. Conradh na Gaeilge staged a protest in Dublin dubbed “walk for your rights” on Saturday. Like lot’s of Irish people, I’m not naturally inclined to protesting. I prefer to let off steam in an article or video. However, the problem is that most of the Irish media seldom give this issue the time of day. And while it primarily affects a small proportion of our society , it is a huge issue in their lives.
I was never particularly that good at Irish in school. Most of the Irish I’ve learned has been through doing media in Irish. By taking part in something ‘real’, you realise that Irish is a language and not something that was just in vented to fill the hours of school. Personally, I quite like being bilingual. Apart from being handy, I find that it makes you a better communicator. That, and it offers a lot of opportunities. Irish has a largely silent presence in the country — on signs and in trains. But aside from that, we tend to use it for decoration rather than for its full potential. Irish has existed since at least the 5th century AD . In that regard, it seems a major disservice to make a language redundant simply because it is incon venient to civil servants. Regardless of our Government’ s financial situation, being able to speak a language is a right — not a privilege.
www.examiner.com
‘Lá Mór na Gaeilge an uplifting event’ – Bradley
Feabhra 18, 2014
SDLP Irish Language spokesperson and MLA for Newry and Armagh said today that the unsurpassed attendance at Lá Mór na Gaeilge over the weekend was an uplifting event for the Irish speaking community in this country.
Bradley insisted that it ‘clearly shows the two governments the total disgust’ that Irish speakers feel about the downgrading of the language in policy and funding terms. Speaking in Dublin after the event the SDLP MLA said “I travelled to Dublin with a group of Irish speakers from Newry and Armagh district and we felt truly uplifted by the huge crowd of people, upwards of 10,000 which turned out from all over Ireland and from every Gaeltacht to show their support for the language.
“Today’s attendance illustrates clearly that Irish speakers are not prepared to stand for the marginalisation of the language whether it be by reduced funding or half-hearted policies. “Irish is our national language and the brightest jewel of our heritage and we will not stand for its marginalisation, north or south. Bradley added, “I hope that today’s attendance is a wake-up call for the governments and that they now see that Irish speakers will not accept the downgrading of the language in any form whatsoever.”
www.newrytimes.com
10,000 Gaeilgeoir dearg le fearg
Feabhra 18, 2014
Deich míle Gaeilgeoir ó fud an oileáin a bhailigh le chéile ar shráideanna Bhaile Átha Cliath lena gcearta teanga a éileamh ag an deireadh seachtaine.
Eagraíodh ‘Lá Mór na Gaeilge’ sna sála ar éirí as an Choimisinéara Teanga, Seán Ó Cuirreáin, a d’fhág a phost toisc leithcheal an státchórais i leith na Gaeilge, dar leis.
D’ardaigh pobal an tuaiscirt a n-éilimh d’Acht na Gaeilge chomh maith agus fógraíodh ar an lá go reáchtlófar agóid i mBéal Feirste ar 12 Aibreán.
Shiúil slua an tSathairn ón Ghairdín Cuimhneacháin ar Chearnóg Parnell chuig Dáil Éireann, áit a ndearna ionadaithe pobail cur síos ar leatrom an státchórais i leith na teanga.
Seo chugaibh achoimre ar Lá mór na Gaeilge.
Féach an físeán ar www.meoneile.ie
Scrúduithe TEG 2014
Feabhra 17, 2014
Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge 2014
Scrúduithe Gaeilge do Dhaoine Fásta
Beidh scrúduithe TEG (Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge), scrúduithe Gaeilge d’fhoghlaimeoirí fásta, ar siúl sna hionaid seo in Éirinn (ag brath ar éileamh):
- Béal Feirste
- Caisleán an Bharraigh
- Cill Airne
- Cill Chainnigh
- Corcaigh
- Gaillimh
- Gaoth Dobhair
- Leitir Ceanainn
- Luimneach
- Má Nuad
agus sna hionaid seo thar lear:
- Páras
- Prág
- Nua Eabhrac
- Ottawa
ar na dátaí seo:
- Meánleibhéal 2 (B2): 5.04.2014 *Sásaíonn B2 na critéir iontrála Gaeilge do chúrsaí bunmhúinteoireachta*
- Meánleibhéal 1 (B1): 10.05.2014
- Bonnleibhéal 2 (A2): 24.05.2014
- Bonnleibhéal 1 (A1): 7.06.2014
Is é an 14 Márta 2014 an spriocdháta d’iarratais.
Tuilleadh eolais / further information:
www.teg.ie
01 708 3737 / 708 6417
Seoltar Seachtain na Gaeilge ó cheann ceann na tíre
Feabhra 17, 2014
Beidh Seachtain na Gaeilge ar siúl ó 1 – 17 Márta leis na mílte imeacht in Éirinn agus thar lear chun an Ghaeilge agus an cultúr Gaelach a cheiliúradh.
Is iad an peileadóir Ciarán Kilkenny agus láithreoirí Máire Treasa Ní Dhubhghaill agus Lynette Fay ambasadóirí Sheachtain na Gaeilge 2014 agus tháinig siad le chéile inniu chun an fhéile a sheoladh ó cheann ceann na tíre.
Osclófar Seachtain na Gaeilge ag Ard-Fheis Chonradh na Gaeilge i gCill Airne, Dé Sathairn, 1 Márta ag 14.30 le féile sráide go 16.30 agus ceolchoirm saor in aisce ón mbanna ceoil aitheanta, Seo Linn, a bhí le feiceáil sna físeáin de chuid Choláiste Lurgan i rith an tsamhraidh.
Beidh Rith 2014, an t-ollrith náisiúnta ó Bhaile Bhúirne go Béal Feirste, ar siúl ó 7 – 15 Márta agus beidh go leor imeachtaí eile i ngach contae sa tír. Agus na mílte imeacht ar siúl idir 1 – 17 Márta, beidh deis ag an bpobal ar fad sult a bhaint as an bhféile agus as an nGaeilge, is cuma má tá cúpla focal agat nó a lán.
Freastlóidh ambasadóirí na féile ar imeachtaí ar fud na hÉireann agus ag cur na féile agus na Gaeilge chun cinn le linn Sheachtain na Gaeilge.
Agus é ag caint ar a ról mar ambasadóir, dúirt Ciarán Kilkenny go bhfuil an Ghaeilge an-tábhachtach dó agus go mbaineann sé úsáíd aisti “gach uair a bhíonn deis agam.”
“Beidh mé páirteach i lá Gaeilge agus cluiche atá á eagrú ag mo chlub, Caisleán Cnucha, leis an gclub, Na Gaeil Óga, ar 1 Márta. Táimid ag súil le slua breá ar an lá agus leis an nGaeilge a bheith mar chroí-lár na hócáide.”
Dúirt Máire Treasa Ní Dhubhghaill go mbeidh sise freisin ag dul chuig go leor imeachtaí agus ag bualadh le pobail éagsúla agus daltaí scoile. “Táimid ag iarraidh ar dhaoine Seachtain na Gaeilge a úsáid mar dheis chun níos mó Gaeilge a úsáid agus tá rud ann do chuile dhuine leis an réimse imeachtaí a bheidh ar siúl.”
Tá Lynette Fay ag dúil go mór le Ceiliúradh Phobal Gaeilge Bhéal Feirste a chuirfidh críoch oifigiúil le Seachtain na Gaeilge ar Lá Fhéile Pádraig. “Beidh mé mar bhean an tí ag an ócáid i Halla na Cathrach agus beidh ceol, amhránaíocht, damhsa agus craic d’óg agus d’aosta,” arsa Lynette.
Is iad grúpaí pobail, scoileanna, údaráis áitiúla, leabharlanna, eagraíochtaí cultúir, spóirt agus ceoil, agus grúpaí eile nach iad a eagraíonn imeachtaí Sheachtain na Gaeilge mórthimpeall na hÉireann agus an domhain.
Tá liosta imeachtaí na féile ar fáil ar www.snag.ie agus ar aip na féile, SnaG 2014, atá ar fáil le híoslódáil saor in aisce ar iTunes agus ar Google Play. Is féidir Seachtain na Gaeilge a leanúint ar Facebook (SeachtainnaGaeilge) agus ar Twitter (@SnaGaeilge).
Brenda Ní Ghairbhí
Bainisteoir, Seachtain na Gaeilge
+353 (0)86 3649776 / +353 (0)1 4757401 / brenda@cnag.ie
Béarla éigeantach á bhrú ar na hEagrais Ghaeilge ag Foras na Gaeilge
Feabhra 17, 2014
Fógraíodh le deireanaí toradh an phróisis chuíchóirithe i dtaca leis na heagrais Ghaeilge atá bunmhaoinithe ag Foras na Gaeilge. Tá sé cheanneagraíocht roghnaithe, agus beidh na heagrais eile fágtha gan mhaoiniú ón 30 Meitheamh 2014.
Mar chuid den phróiseas seo, scríobh Foras na Gaeilge chuig na heagrais ar 29 Eanáir 2014 ag cur in iúl go mbeidh Sainchomhairleoir Bainistíochta Athruithe ar fáil do na heagraíochtaí bunmhaoinithe chun cabhrú leis an earnáil í féin a chur in oiriúint don chur chuige nua.
Ar an 02 Samhain 2011, scríobh na heagrais bhunmhaoinithe faoi scáth an Fhóraim chuig Foras na Gaeilge agus chuig Airí na Comhairle Aireachta Thuaidh Theas (CATT), ag éileamh go bhfostófaí comhairleoir neamhspleách sa Bhainistíocht um Athruithe, chun teacht ar shamhail nua mhaoinithe a bheadh chun leasa na Gaeilge. Diúltaíodh d’iarratas na n-eagras um an dtaca sin.
Is dóigh go bhfuil dhá bhealach a d’fhéadfaí breathnú ar an gcinneadh is déanaí seo ó Fhoras na Gaeilge. D’fhéadfá a rá go bhfuil athrú mór i ndán don earnáil agus gur iarracht mhacánta í seo ó Fhoras na Gaeilge chun tacaíocht a chur ar fáil do na heagrais d’fhonn tabhairt faoi na nithe praiticiúla a theastaíonn chun fáil faoi réir don athrú seo.
Ar an lámh eile de, d’fhéadfá breathnú ar an ngníomh seo mar ghníomh soiniciúil ó thaobh an Fhorais de. Nuair a d’iarr an earnáil cúnamh sa bhainistíocht um athruithe in 2011, le teacht ar mhúnla nua a bheadh, dar leo, chun leasa na teanga, diúltaíodh glan den chabhair seo. Anois, agus cinneadh déanta ag an bhForas, tá ann a dhéarfadh nach bhfuil sa chinneadh seo ach cleachtas ag an bhForas chun tic a chur i mbosca le gur féidir leo a maíomh go bhfuil siad ag tacú leis an earnáil.
Is cinnte go bhfuil an dá thuairim ann i measc phobal na Gaeilge, agus dóibh siúd nach bhfuil tite go hiomlán i dtreo na soiniciúlachta go fóill, theastódh uathu glacadh leis gur géag ológa de chineál éigin a bhí anseo ó Fhoras na Gaeilge. Sa litir ó Fhoras na Gaeilge chuig na heagrais, tairgtear comhairle agus cabhair i dtaca le saincheisteanna éagsúla mar shampla, conarthaí fostaíochta, pleanáil oibre, tuarastail agus coinníollacha seirbhíse, leanúnachas soláthair seirbhíse, bainistíocht tionscadal agus araile.
Agus cuid de na heagrais ag fáil faoi réir chun glacadh leis an ngéag ológa seo, tháinig sé chun solais go raibh súil ag Foras na Gaeilge gur trí Bhéarla a thabharfadh na heagrais faoin obair seo.
Tá cuid de na heagrais dheonacha seo ag saothrú go dúthrachtach i ngort na Gaeilge le breis agus 70 bliain. Masla ar leith d’fhoirne reatha na n-eagraíochtaí gur roghnaigh Foras na Gaeilge fógra a mbás a scaipeadh ar Twitter sular cuireadh toradh an phróisis in iúl do na heagrais féin, ach masla níos measa fós atá tagtha ó Fhoras na Gaeilge agus iad ag súil go mbeadh na heagrais seo ag feidhmiú trí Bhéarla agus iad ag meá na n-impleachtaí a bhainfeadh lena mhaoiniú a bheith ag teacht chun críche faoin 30 Meitheamh 2014.
I ráiteas chuig Gaelport.com ar an ábhar seo, chuir Foras na Gaeilge in iúl gur reáchtáladh próiseas poiblí oscailte ar shuíomh Etenders chun Comhairleoir Bainistíochta Athruithe a aimsiú.
Ar na critéir bhronnta a bhain leis an bpróiseas sin bhí:
Ag eascairt as an gcomórtas oscailte seo, b’iad Treacy Consulting a cheap Foras na Gaeilge don ghnó mar gurb iad a tháinig “sa chéad áit faoi na critéir éagsúla go háirithe ard-taithí sa réimse seo”.
Mura bhfuil ar chumas an dreama seo atá ceaptha ag Foras na Gaeilge seirbhís trí Ghaeilge a sholáthar, is deacair a shamhlú conas ar éirigh leo aon mharcanna a bhaint amach i dtaca le huimhir 4 nó 5 ar an ar an liosta thuas, ach chun teacht i dtír ar an easpa seo tá curtha in iúl ag Foras na Gaeilge anois go bhfuil “Aistritheoir ag Treacy Consulting le haghaidh na hoibre seo”. Faoin gcóras marcála a úsáideadh chun an comhairleoir a athrú, tugadh 10% d’uimhir 4 agus d’uimhir 5 thuas araon, agus tugadh
De réir tuairiscí ar TG4 le linn na seachtaine, is cosúil go bhfuil diúltaithe ag gach ceann de na sé cheanneagraíocht a roghnaíodh aon phlé a bheith acu leis an tsainchomhairleoir atá ceaptha ag an bhForas.
Sa ráiteas ó Fhoras na Gaeilge deirtear: “Agus an obair chiniúnach seo idir lámha ag na heagraíochtaí creideann Foras na Gaeilge go bhfuil sé thar a bheith tábhachtach go bhfuil fáil ag na grúpaí uile ar an chomhlacht is fearr ó thaobh saineolais, taithí agus scíleanna a roghnaíodh trí phróiseas phoiblí”.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Buaiteoirí Scléip 2014 i gCultúrlann Uí Chanáin
Feabhra 17, 2014
Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin, Doire, 14 Feabhra 2014
Scoileanna rannpháirteacha:
- Coláiste Feirste
- Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair
- Coláiste Oiriall
- Scoil Iosaf
- Coláiste Chineál Eoghain agus
- Coláiste Lú
Ceol nua-aimseartha (aonair):
- Josh Mac Philib, Coláiste Oiriall (sinsear)
- Cathal Ó Cuireáin, Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair (sóisear)
Ceol nua-aimseartha (grúpaí):
- Cailíní Óga, Scoil Iosaf (sóisear)
- Dysania, Coláiste Oiriall (sinsear)
Rince cruthaitheach (aonair):
- Maria Ní Fhearraigh, Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair (sinsear)
Rince cruthaitheach (grúpaí):
- Coiscéim, Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair (sóisear)
- Filleann an Feall ar an bhFeallaire, Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair (sinsear)
- Laura Ní Dhuibhir, Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair (sóisear)
- Ceithleann Ní Dhuibhir Ní Dhualacháin, Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair (sinsear)
Rogha na Moltóirí:
- Na Feirstigh, Coláiste Feirste (sóisear)
- Fuaim, Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dóbhair (sinsear)
Comhghairdeas le gach éinne a ghlac páirt, tá súil againn gur bhain sibh ard-taitneamh as an lá (is cinnte gur bhain an fhoireann agus na moltóirí!) agus go bhfeicfimid san Axis sibh ar an 1 Márta don chraobh ceannais.
Donegal well represented at Lá Mór na Gaeilge march in Dublin today
Feabhra 17, 2014
Donegal was well represented at the Lá Mór na Gaeilge march in Dublin today where it was reported that 10,000 took the streets.
Marchers gathered at the Garden of Remembrance on Parnell Square and marched to Dáil Éireann to demand their language rights and equality for the Irish language. Coordinated by Conradh na Gaeilge, Lá Mór na Gaeilge was acelebration of Irish for all the family and a massive march forlanguage rights, attracting both members of the Irish-speaking community as well as those with a love for Irish, and drawing crowds of thousands into the streets to show their support for the language.
Donnchadh Ó hAodha, President of Conradh na Gaeilge says: “Conradh na Gaeilge extends its deepest thanks to the thousands that took to the streets ofDublin to take a stand for language rights, and to show the Governments north and south just how much support the language enjoys among the general public this Saturday, despite the atrocious weather across the country this past week. “Every single one of the ten thousand people that attended Lá Mór na Gaeilge was happy and willing to take a stand for the Irish language, to take proactive action to ensure a future for our language. Supporters of Lá Mór na Gaeilge have now put it up to the Governments north and south – are they now willing to take the challenge to choose a future for Irish by acting immediately on our demands?” In keeping with the Dearg Le Fearg / Red With Rage theme for Lá Mór na Gaeilge, the crowd wore red clothes and waved red flags in a striking symbolic display of their anger and disillusionment with the lack of Government support for Irish on Saturday.
Julian de Spáinn, General Secretary of Conradh na Gaeilge says: “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.” Conradh na Gaeilge organised Lá Mór na Gaeilge following The Language Commissioner Seán Ó Cuirreáin’s announcement that he would be stepping down on 23 February 2014 as a result of the lack of support for the language rights of the Irish-speaking and Gaeltacht community from the Government in the south.
The campaign for human rights gained momentum with the publication of a report by The Council of Europe on 16 January 2014 which noted that the growth and promotion of the Irish language in Northern Ireland is being blocked by hostile attitudes in Stormont, and a lack of support for its use in the courts and in education. 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.
www.donegaldemocrat.ie
Thousands march for language rights
Feabhra 17, 2014
Thousands took to the streets of Dublin city centre this afternoon to protest against the treatment by Governments north and south of Irish-language speakers and Gaeltacht communities.
Organisers said some 10,000 people took part in the march which started at the Garden of Remembrance in Parnell Square and marched down O’Connell Street before gathering for a rally in front of Dáil Éireann.
The crowd, with many wearing red, heard from a number of speakers who condemned the lack of public services available in Irish.
Billed as a celebration of Irish on the streets of Dublin, Lá Mór na Gaeilge attracted participants from all parts of the island and was the largest such demonstration since the 2005 campaign to elevate the status of Irish in the European Union.
Citing the decision in December by language commissioner Seán Ó Cuirreáin to resign in protest over the failure by Government to implement legislation protecting the rights of Irish speakers, Conradh na Gaeilge general secretary Julian de Spáinn said Irish language speakers were “red with rage” at how speakers are being treated by the State.
“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. ”
Lá Mór na Gaeilge was organised by Conradh na Gaeilge and marks the beginning of a campaign to seek equal treatment for Irish language speakers north and south.
“We are planning a march on Sunday week in Conamara and in Gaoth Dobhair to coincide with the resignation of the Coimisinéir Teanga and on the 12th of April we are planning a large demonstration in Belfast,” Mr de Spáinn said afterwards.
“In addition we are going to focus on the local and European elections. There is a lot to do but today was just a beginning.”
Mr de Spáinn said Conradh na Gaeilge had responded to an offer of a meeting with Taoiseach Enda Kenny and was awaiting a response from the Taoiseach’s office.
www.irishtimes.com
Thousands protest for better recognition of the Irish language
Feabhra 17, 2014
Thousands of people marched in Dublin today calling for more recognition of the Irish language.
Organisers of the Lá Mór na Gaeilge protest say those living in Gaeltacht areas around the country are not able to access State services through Irish. They are calling on the Irish Government and the government of Northern Ireland to give more recognition to the native tongue.
www.independent.ie
