The Georgian Montessori
April 7, 2017
Tá oscailt mar Chúntóir Naíonra tagtha chun cinn le The Georgian Montessori. Is gá d’iarrthóirí Gaeilge a labhairt. Beidh an té a cheapfar lonnaithe i mBaile Átha Cliath 1 agus ag tosú i Meán Fómhair. Trí go leith uair in aghaidh an lae atá i gceist, óna leath huair tar éis a naoi go dtí a haon. Is féidir teagmháil a dhéanamh leis an naíonra tríd ríomhphost a sheoladh chuig TheGeorgianMontessori@gmail.com
Ní thuigim: Irish language faces stark threat in its heartland
April 7, 2017
Just over a fifth of people living in Gaeltacht areas speak Irish on a daily basis
There has been an alarming drop in the number of Irish speakers in the country’s eight Gaeltacht areas in the past five years, according to official census figures, indicating that Irish is in danger of becoming extinct as a native language.
The latest official figures published by the Central Statistics Office also show the first decline in more than 80 years in the overall percentage of Irish speakers in the State.
The total number of people who said they were being able to speak Irish in April 2016 was 1,761,420, a slight drop since 2011 but, more significantly, the lowest percentage of Irish speakers since 1946.
The decline in Gaeltacht areas is starker. There has been a fall of an astonishing 11.2 per cent of daily Irish speakers since 2011. Only 21.4 per cent of a total population of 96,090 in the native speaking areas said they spoke Irish on a daily basis.
The gravest drop in the number of daily speakers in a Gaeltacht was in Mayo, home county of Taoiseach Enda Kenny. There was a drop of almost 25 per cent in daily Irish speakers in just five years, a calamitous fall for a tiny Gaeltacht.
This precipitous drop provoked criticism from the Opposition and language activist groups, which have been scathing of the Government’s approach to the language. Conradh na Gaeilge said the Government had refused to invest in the 20-year Strategy for the Irish Language over the past six years, rendering it completely ineffective.
However, the Minister of State for the Gaeltacht Seán Kyne defended the Government’s record on the strategy, saying it had invested in the strategy and also pointed out that it was only six years into its 20-year term.
Peadar Tóibín of Sinn Féin said the Government’s policy was in chaos.
Dr John Walsh of the Department of Irish in National University of Ireland, Galway, described the results as “worrying”.
“The results reveal falls in all of the significant figures: daily Irish speakers outside the education system, and ability of Irish and frequency of its use in the Gaeltacht. The dramatic fall in numbers of daily speakers in the Gaeltacht is particularly significant.”
He added: “The negative returns raise fundamental questions about government policy on the Irish language, in particularly the 20-year Strategy for the Irish Language, which set out highly unrealistic targets for increases in speakers.
“It would appear that that the language-planning process in the Gaeltacht and elsewhere is having little effect. This is perhaps unsurprising, given the very small state investment in it.”
Dr Walsh pointed to a less pessimistic outlook outside the Gaeltacht areas.
“As was the case in the 2011 census, about two-thirds of daily speakers outside the education system are located outside the Gaeltacht and, while this number has also fallen, the decline is much smaller [slightly more than 1 per cent].
“This indicates that the numbers speaking Irish daily outside the Gaeltacht, although small, are more stable than within the Gaeltacht,” he said.
Foinse: Irish Times
President marks foundation of State’s first Gaelscoil
April 7, 2017
Scoil Bhríde founder Luíse Ghabhánach Ní Dhufaigh first taught at Patrick Pearse’s Scoil Íde
President Higgins placed a copy of a speech he delivered into a time capsule along with photographs and letters written by schoolchildren at the Gaelscoil.
The time capsule will be opened in 2067 when the oldest child currently in the school will be 62 years of age.
The school was founded by suffragist and nationalist Luíse Ghabhánach Ní Dhufaigh (also known as Louise Gavan Duffy) and Áine Nic Aodha with just a dozen students in 1917.
All subjects were taught through the medium of Irish.
Ní Dhufaigh, who was born and raised in Nice, first came to Ireland to attend the funeral of her father, Young Irelander Charles Gavan Duffy in 1903.
She returned some years later to study at UCD and met Patrick Pearse through Conradh na Gaeilge. She later taught at his school, Scoil Íde, in Teach Feadha Cuileann where she developed her own vision of education.
She was present in the GPO during Easter Week, 1916 and was a founding member of Cumann na mBan. She died in October 1969.
Originally housed in No. 70 St. Stephen’s Green, the school moved several times since its foundation and is currently located on Bóthar Feadha Cuileann in Ranelagh.
Souce: Irish Times
Dublin Gaelscoil pupils sing beautiful Irish version of Hallelujah
April 7, 2017
Pupils at Scoil Bhríde primary school in Ranelagh, Dublin entertained President Higgins with music and song including an as Gaeilge version of Hallelujah when he visited the school to mark it’s 100th centenary. Video: Conchubhair Mac Lochlainn
Source: Irish Times
President visits Scoil Bhride to mark the school’s centenary year
April 6, 2017
The President visted Ranelagh, to celebrate the centenary of Scoil Bhride.
Scoil Bhríde, founded in 1917, was the first gaelscoil (Irish-language school) in Ireland.
Video of the occasion here
Irish yes, but not always Catholic
April 6, 2017
The main gaelscoileanna patron body says reconfiguration of the primary school system is not only about religion
There is a lot of talk about making the education system more diverse.
Classrooms are certainly more inclusive but progress on changing the architecture of school patronage to reflect the shift in cultural and religious mores has been slow.
Much of the focus in the debate is on the place of religion in the primary school sector. A situation where 90pc of schools are under the control of the Catholic Church is regarded, even by the church itself, as not a proper reflection of the needs of modern Ireland.
A five-year-old process to divest some of the 2,900 Catholic schools to other patrons has seen no more than 10 change hands. The current education minister, Richard Bruton, has come up with a new word, reconfiguration, and a different process, to try to move it on.
The new approach is not unrelated to the arrival, in recent years, of community national schools, which are run by the education and training boards (ETBs), the successors to the VECs. The Catholic Church certainly seems amenable to them as a patron body to which it would transfer schools, and so does the minister.
Unlike the traditional multi-denominational model – which keeps religion teaching out of the classrooms altogether – community national schools, while providing a general multi-belief programme, also offer faith formation within school time, for those who want it.
Clear battle lines are drawn between Educate Together, which has been the main provider of multi-denominational schools at primary level, and ETBs, which act as patrons of the community national schools. But they are not the only ones in the field, and it is not only a religious war.
Primary school enrolments will peak in the next year or so, which means there will be very few new schools in the foreseeable future. So, a shakeout of the Catholic Church-controlled sector provides the main opportunity for patron bodies of all persuasions, religious or otherwise, to grow their presence.
An Foras Pátrúnachta is the patron for most Irish-medium schools in the country. It has some concerns that, in the current debate, its offering is not fully understood and that it may get squeezed if the reshaping of Irish primary education is seen purely through the lens of religious ethos.
Its general secretary, Caoimhín Ó hEaghra, says the issue to be confronted is not only religion but also the medium of instruction. But, if it is about religious ethos, he wants it known that he can offer all options.
An Foras Pátrúnachta’s main mission is the provision of Irish-medium schools; it is flexible on the issue of spiritual ethos, responding to local needs. Its first school, in 1993, was multi-denominational and it also has schools that are denominational (Catholic) and inter-denominational (Catholic and Protestant). So, it has ticked all the traditional boxes in terms of religion.
Now there is a another option – the one offered by community national schools, a hybrid of sorts between denominational and multi-denominational.
Last month, Ó hEaghra wrote to Richard Bruton to let him know that An Foras Pátrúnachta was adding this choice to its offering and asking him to spread the word to relevant parties.
That is a reference to the surveys to be conducted under the reconfiguration process, by ETBs, to identify towns or areas within their regions there is demand for greater school diversity. (As well as being a patron body for community national schools, the ETBs have been given this central role – to the displeasure of some.) Where demand for change is identified, there will be discussions between individual ETBs and local church interests about possible transfers.
Ó hEaghra says it provides an opportunity not only for Catholic gaelscoileanna to transfer to an Irish-medium patron, but also to establish Irish medium schools in areas where there are none, and provide multi-denominational or inter-belief education through the medium of Irish.
So, what is the demand for Irish-medium education? Ó hEaghra offers an example: Last year, a new school opened on the north side of Dublin city, serving the Marino-Drumcondra-Dublin 1 area, to cater for 450 pupils. This was not to do with divestment or reconfiguration, but a consequence of local birth rates.
Once the Department of Education decides there is sufficient demand for a new school, it invites patrons to apply, and to back up their application with evidence of parental support. In this case, An Foras Pátrúnachta produced 733 names – but almost half were from outside the qualifying area. On the other hand, Educate Together, had 643 parental preferences, 622 of which were valid, and was awarded the patronage.
Ó hEaghra says that even if many of their supporters were outside the official boundary, and many, only slightly, he says it did establish a significant demand in the area for an Irish-medium school that has not been addressed and “there remains no option for a multi-denominational gaelscoil north of the Liffey in Dublin”.
He points to a 2015 ESRI study that shows growing interest for Irish-medium education: between 2011 and 2015 there was an increase, from 13pc to 23pc, in parents who said they would consider sending their child to an all-Irish primary school, if one was located near their home. Some 4.7pc of primary schools are gaelscoileanna.
An Foras Pátrúnachta is patron to 65 primary schools and four second-level schools, with two more on the way. Ó hEaghra says that where it does establish schools at both levels the “results are formidable”.
In Kildare, it has four primary schools and one second-level. The 2011 census showed that 83,526 people in the county could speak Irish, compared with 73,373 in 2006. Ó hEaghra says they “attribute this growth directly to the success of our schools and their efforts to promote and foster an Irish speaking community in their areas. In addition to their children, parents are often motivated to re-learn Irish along with their children”.
He says that one-in-four of their schools is multi-denominational, and that the make up of their schools generally reflect the local community.
Gaelscoileanna often face charges of being elitist and allegedly only interested in children whose parents are fluent in Irish. He counters that with the results of an An Foras Pátrúnachta study, conducted in January and February, which shows that 9.6pc of its pupils are “new Irish”, compared with a national average of 10.4pc. Almost half of its schools have a higher rate of “new Irish” than the national average and, in one school, in Co Cavan, 28pc of pupils are “new Irish”.
Notwithstanding this, he says they face challenges getting their message across: “We are working to encourage more ‘new Irish’ to attend our schools. Many families are not aware of how their child’s home language/or development of English is actually enhanced by the immersion education model and that the distinctive ethos can vary from gaelscoil to gaelscoil.”
Gaeilgeoirí – and proud of it
The rapid expansion of Balbriggan in north county Dublin in the past decade has also seen it transform into a town with one of the most ethnically diverse populations in the country.
Among its primary schools is Gaelscoil Bhaile Brigín, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary.
The gaelscoil opened with 35 pupils in 2006, and now it is full to capacity with 485, including many from “new Irish” families. In some cases, one, or both, parents come from a non-Irish background. In the past two years, the school has opened two special classes for pupils with an autistic spectrum disorder (ASD).
Principal Clodagh Ní Mhaoilchiaráin says the different ethnic background of the pupils is not an issue when it comes to education through the medium of Irish, either for the children or their parents. She says children have no difficulty, including those with special educational needs: “It doesn’t matter what the child’s background is. It is shown internationally, and nationally, that learning through a second language is hugely beneficial to all children.”
On the question of the proficiency in levels in Irish of parents, she says that while “people might say that it could be difficult for them, they would attest that it is not as big a worry as it may appear before their children start in the school. There are plenty of supports”.
Fin-Tech event for teenagers launched by Co. Louth Gaelcholáiste student
April 4, 2017
The Young Developers Conference (YDC) is a first of its kind tech event is to launch on Saturday 13th May this year. YDC will provide teenage tech enthusiasts / developers / would-be entrepreneurs the opportunity to meet some of the most successful Irish tech entrepreneurs and people from the world of Irish fin-tech. The participants can hear about the entrepreneurs’ experiences with tech project finance. This unique event will allow Ireland’s finance professionals the opportunity to meet tomorrows potential tech CEOs.
The YDC concept originated with 16-year-old Dundalk Coláiste Lú transition year student Cormac Kinsella in 2016. His objective in launching YDC is to get the smartest and most talented coders talking to the financial sector. Assisting in event organising are three other 16-year-olds – (Gytis Daujotas from Clondalkin, Cormac Salman from Drogheda and Oisín Ó’Duibhir from Limerick). In addition Trinity College Dublin School of Physics and the Walton Club have also been hugely supportive in hosting and advising on this event.
Tickets for YDC can be booked online at ydc17.com for as little as 2 euro each.
Coders interested in presenting a project can forward their details to projects.ydc17.com.
In 2013, at the age of 13, Cormac and Cían Martin-Bohan were the youngest app developers in Ireland when they released their first App (Open Share) which allowed multiple social media updates from a single input. The following year he released the Focal.ie Irish / English dictionary App which has since been downloaded by c. 12,000 Irish language enthusiasts. In 2015 Cormac was invited by Ciaran Cannon TD to be one of the founding members of The Digital Youth Council of Ireland. This year Cormac & Cormac Salman have launched two Apps: Local Trade; a convenient buy & sell items App in your local area and Sence Clothing; an App for browsing branded clothes from different vendors in a single place.
Bain Úsáid Aistí in Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Bhaile Átha Cliath
April 4, 2017
Scoláireachtaí BÚA in ITBÁC 2017/18
‘Bain Úsáid Aisti’ in ITBÁC
BÚA – ‘Bain Úsáid Aisti’ in ITBÁC! Seo cur chuige nua atá á eagrú ag Oifig na Gaeilge, ITBÁC do mhic léinn le Gaeilge chun an Ghaeilge a spreagadh, a chur chun cinn agus a fhorbairt trasna na hInstitiúide.
Cuirfear scoláireachtaí ar luach €500 ar fáil do mhic léinn le Gaeilge chun an Ghaeilge a úsáid agus a chur chun cinn i bpríomhchampais na hInstitiúide tré dheiseanna spreagúla agus bríomhara a fhorbairt d’úsáid na Gaeilge san Institiúid.
Beidh deis iontach ag na mic léinn ceannródaíocha a roghnófar le bheith:
• gníomhach in eagrú imeachtaí sóisialta agus cultúrtha spreagúla Gaeilge in ITBÁC
• ag forbairt scileanna cumarsáide trí chur chun cinn na Gaeilge sna meáin shóisialta, foilseacháin, míreanna físe agus eile
• ag éileamh agus ag tacú le forbairt seirbhísí trí Ghaeilge agus le feiceálacht na teanga in ITBÁC
• rannpháirteach i gcinntiú thodhchaí na Gaeilge sa champas nua i nGráinseach Ghormáin
• ag spreagadh úsáid na Gaeilge sa phobal agus ar bhonn laethúil – sa bhaile, le cairde, san ionad oibre, ar scoil agus eile
• ag cur chun cinn na Gaeilge trí úsáid a bhaint aisti ar bhealaí spraíúla, cruthaitheacha, mealltacha agus nuálacha!
Beidh Scoláireachtaí €500 á mbronnadh ar gach mac léinn a n-éiríonn léi / leis a bheith mar cheannródaithe ‘BUA in ITBÁC’ don bhliain acadúil 2017/18 agus riachtanais an tionscnaimh a chomhlíonadh.
Má tá Gaeilge agat, spéis agus fuinneamh agat an teanga a spreagadh agus a fhorbairt in ITBÁC, bí i dteagmháil linn!
Fáilteofar roimh iarratais ó mhic léinn atá ag déanamh staidéir ar aon chlár in ITBÁC agus ó mhic léinn a bheidh ag freastal den chéad uair ar an Institiúid i mí Mheán Fómhair 2017.
Tá an Fhoirm Iarratais le fáil anseo
Spriocdháta d’Iarratais: 1 Iúil 2017
Roghnófar na hiarrthóirí rathúla ar bhonn foirmeacha iarratais agus agallamh.
Táimid ag súil go mór le cloisteáil uait!
BÚA – ‘Bain Úsáid Aisti’ – Use Irish in DIT is a new initiative organised by Oifig na Gaeilge – DIT’s Irish Language Office, for DIT students with Irish to encourage, inspire, promote and develop the use of Irish across DIT.
Scholarships to the value of €500 will be offered to students with Irish to promote the use of the language across DIT’s main campuses by organising exciting and inspiring opportunities to speak and to engage with the language!
Students will be required to:
• promote the use of Irish in engaging, creative, fun and innovative ways
• actively organise exciting social and cultural Irish language events across DIT
• promote Irish in DIT communications – social media, print, visual content etc.
• seek and support the development of Irish language services and the visibility of the language in DIT
• participate in ensuring the use of Irish in the new campus in Grangegorman
• inspire the use of Irish in our everyday lives and in the community – at home, with friends, at work, at school etc.
The Scholarships will be awarded to each student who successfully participates in the ‘BÚA in DIT’ initiative during the academic year 2017/18 and meets the conditions of the scheme.
If you have Irish, are inspired and energised in promoting and developing the Irish language in DIT, we want to hear from you!
Applications are welcome from current DIT students from all courses as well as first year students beginning in September 2017.
The BÚA 2017/18 Application Form is available here
Application Deadline: 1st July 2017
Successful candidates will be chosen on the basis of application form and interview and we look forward to hearing from you!
Siobhán Nic Gaoithín & Gráinne Ní Bhreithiún
New gaelscoil will support growth of Galway gaeltacht
April 4, 2017
The Gaeltacht Minister says the new Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh building in Knocknacarra will support the future growth of the Galway gaeltacht.
Junior Minister Sean Kyne turned the sod on the site of the new school building at an event this afternoon.
A contractor was appointed late last year for the major building project, which had been subject to planning delays.
The new building will have 24 classrooms and capacity for up to 720 pupils, and will be located opposite the pitches at Millars Lane.
Minister Sean Kyne says the school will act as a hub for the development of the area’s Gaeltacht language plan.
Principal of Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh Dairiona Nic Con Iomaire says the new school will be used by the whole community.
Source: The Connacht Tribune
(Gaeilge) Ainmniúchán Smedias do Chraoltóirí Raidió na Life
April 3, 2017
