Aip úrnua de chuid Raidió na Life
Feabhra 20, 2013
BEIDH ceiliúradh á dhéanamh ag Raidió na Life nuair a bhuailfidh foireann an stáisiúin le hArdmhéara Bhaile Átha Cliath Naoise Ó Muirí ar 05 Márta, nuair a sheolfar aip úrnua.
Tá ceiliúradh á dhéanamh acu faoi láthair freisin mar gheall go bhfuil siad san iomaíocht leis na stáisiúin raidió is fearr sna tíortha Ceilteacha ag Féile na Meán Ceilteach i mbliana.
Beidh an stáisiún san iomaíocht le RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, BBC Raidió nan Gaidheal agus BBC Radio Cymru ag na gradaim ón 24-26 Aibreán.
www.foinse.ie
Coláiste Samhraidh do dhéagóirí i gCeatharlach
Feabhra 19, 2013
Tá an-áthas ar Glór Cheatharlach a fhógairt go n-eagrófar Coláiste Samhraidh do dhéagóirí i gCeatharlach arís an samhradh seo.
Cuirfear tús leis an gcoláiste samhraidh ar an 1ú Iúil agus leanfaidh sé ar aghaidh go dtí an 12ú Iúil ó 9.30-1.00 i.n. gach lá Luan go hAoine . Mar is gnáthach beidh an cúrsa coicíse lonnaithe i nGaelcholáiste Cheatharlach.Tá clárú oscailte anois agus ‘sé €200 an táille.
Beidh an coláiste samhraidh dírithe ar mhicléinn atá ag iarraidh feabhas a chur ar a gcuid scileanna labhartha agus scríofa sa Ghaeilge. Cuirfear fáilte roimh dhaltaí ó rang a sé go leibhéal na ahrdteistiméireachta. Beidh ranganna agus imeachtaí an chúrsa in oiriúint do dhaltaí i rang a sé agus do mhicléinn i mbliain 1 agus 2 i ngrúpa na sóisear leis na daltaí níos sine i ngrúpa na sinsear.
Chomh maith leis na ranganna foirmiúil gach lá beidh cluichí cainte, díospóireachtaí, amhránaíocht, cluichí, spórt agus damhsa ar an gclár. Cuirfear ranganna Gaeilge le meascán maith de chomhrá agus gramadach, plé agus díospóireacht in oiriúint do na daltaí. Ina theannta sin, beidh seans ag na micleinn tarraingt ar a gcuid eolais ginearálta ag tráth na gceist boird agus ar ndóigh bainfear taitneamh as na céilithe.
Is é seo an cúigiú bliain den choláiste samhraidh i mbaile Cheatharlach. Bhí rath ollmhór air anuraidh le hochtó dalta páirteach. Bhaineadar taitneamh agus tairbhe, sult agus spraoi as an gcoicís.
Beifear ag súil le héileamh mór arís i mbliana ach chun áit a chinntiú ní foláir foirm iarratais comhlánaithe maille le héarlais a bheith istigh go luath. Is féidir foirm a fháil anois ó Glór Cheatharlach, Sráid an Choláiste, Ceatharlach nó glaoch a chur ar (059) 9158105 nó (085) 1340047. Is féidir freisin ríomhphost a sheoladh chuig eolas@glorcheatharlach.ie.
www.carlow-nationalist.ie
Irish language book festival for Derry
Feabhra 19, 2013
The first Irish language book and storytelling festival to take place here will keep local children entertained in March.
Féile Bheag na Leabhar runs from 7th – 9th March as part of Irish Language Week 2013.
The festival aims to inspire a love of books, reading and storytelling in the Irish language among children of all ages. Féile Bheag na Leabhar begins on Thursday March 7 with a special storytelling event for children aged between 8 and 11 to celebrate World Book Day.
Led by award-winning Donegal storyteller Gearóidín Bhreathnach, the World Book Day event will encourage children to talk as Gaeilge with the guest storyteller and each other about their favourite books in Irish and help them find new books to fall in love with. On Friday 8th March, well-known Irish language writer and storyteller, Séamas Mac Annaidh will lead a reading and storytelling event for children aged between 5 and 7 which will re-imagine traditional Irish myths and fables for a younger audience.
This event will feature folktales and legends reinterpreted for new listeners and told in the storyteller’s inimitable dramatic style. The festival closes on Saturday 9th March with the launch of the beautiful children’s book ‘Déanann Rosie Réidh’ which was written, illustrated and produced by local author Trisha Deery and which will be read in Irish by Derry-based performance artist Cara Ní Mhaonaigh.
Participating children are invited to come dressed for a party like the Rosie Red character who features in the book and hear stories in Irish take part in some fun party activities in the Irish language. Trisha Deery who wrote and illustrated the book will also be there to join in the celebrations and to do some live drawing with the children! Féile Bheag na Leabhar is organised by Derry City Council in partnership with the Humdinger! Children’s Literature Festival.
You can download the full Humdinger! programme from the following link: www.humdingerbookfestival.com.
www.derryjournal.com
Quinn is against plan to raise Irish level for teachers
Feabhra 19, 2013
EDUCATION Minister Ruairi Quinn has voiced his concerns about a proposal to raise the standard of Irish required for trainee primary teachers.
It is among a number of suggestions from the Teaching Council in a package aimed at boosting literacy and numeracy levels. The council wants the minimum Irish entry requirement for trainees raised from Higher Level C to Higher Level B.
Mr Quinn yesterday echoed concerns expressed by Labour backbencher and former primary school principal Aodhan O Riordain. The minister said that setting a very high standard for Irish would exclude students from disadvantaged areas which have lower Leaving Cert performance levels from going into teaching.
Diversity
“Raising the threshold of competency in Irish is not going to facilitate those kind of people becoming teachers,” he said.
Mr Quinn was speaking after a conference on teacher training organised by the Teaching Council and being held as part of Ireland’s EU presidency. He said a diverse society needed a diversity of teachers, not a “one size fits all” approach which “streamlined a particular cohort into teaching”.
The minister said there was a problem in some communities where there was a disconnect between the teacher and the pupils that led to low levels of performance and dropouts. He added that it was a complex area, and he would await with interest the analysis of submissions made to the council consultation process.
Mr O Riordain has told the council that secondary schools in disadvantaged areas are rarely in a position to offer Higher Level Irish to their students.
“Poorer families do not have the resources to pay for grinds or to send their children to the Gaeltacht on summer courses,” he said.
He added that while the requirement for teachers to have the ability to teach Irish was a cornerstone of education policy and must be preserved, those skills could be provided during the training years.
As well as higher grades in Irish, the council has also proposed raising the minimum entry requirements in English and maths.
www.independent.ie
Kids’ Irish language books festival
Feabhra 19, 2013
A CHILDREN’S book and storytelling festival conducted through the Irish language will run in Londonderry UK City of Culture 2013 from March 7-9 as part of Irish Language Week 2013.
The festival aims to inspire a love of books, reading and storytelling in the Irish language among children of all ages.
Féile Bheag na Leabhar begins on Thursday, March 7, with a special storytelling event for children aged between 8 and 11 to celebrate World Book Day.
Donegal storyteller Gearóidín Bhreathnach and Séamas Mac Annaidh are amongst those taking part with the latter hosting a reading and storytelling event for children aged between 5 and 7 which will re-imagine traditional Irish myths and fables for a younger audience.
This event will feature folktales and legends reinterpreted for new listeners and told in the storyteller’s inimitable dramatic style.
The festival closes on Saturday, March 9, with the launch of the beautiful children’s book ‘Déanann Rosie Réidh’ which was written, illustrated and produced by local author Trisha Deery and which will be read in Irish by Cara Ní Mhaonaigh.
Participating children are invited to come dressed for a party like the Rosie Red character who features in the book and hear stories in Irish take part in some fun party activities in the Irish language.
Trisha Deery who wrote and illustrated the book will also be there to join in the celebrations and to do some live drawing with the children!Féile Bheag na Leabhar is organised by Derry City Council in partnership with the Humdinger! Children’s Literature Festival. You can download the full Humdinger! programme from the following link: www.humdingerbookfestival.com.
Throughout the festival an Irish language book-fair featuring the very best in Irish language publishing will be available. All events will take place at Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin.
All events will be delivered in the Irish language. Prior booking is essential for all events as places are limited.
www.londonderrysentinel.co.uk
College rejects call for tougher teacher entry level
Feabhra 19, 2013
A LEADING education college has shot down a proposal to demand higher Leaving Cert grades for primary teaching – saying it would actually cause a drop in standards.
The suggested change is part of wider efforts to improve teacher quality generally, and and so boost literacy and numeracy levels among primary students. But St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra, has come out strongly against it, insisting that rather than improving the standard of trainee teachers, it would have the reverse effect.
The Teaching Council, the watchdog for the profession, has been consulting with interested parties over its plans for revised entry requirements for teaching. The proposal for higher Leaving Cert grades in Irish, English and maths has provoked concerns.
Currently, trainee primary teachers need a minimum of an Irish higher level C3, English higher level D3 or ordinary level C3, and maths D3, at either higher or ordinary level.
Under the proposals, new entrants would need an Irish higher level B, an English higher level B and a maths higher level C or ordinary level A. Entrants to primary teacher training are among the best Leaving Cert performers every year, with a minimum of 470 CAO points. But the council said concerns had been expressed about whether or not all successful applicants to teacher training had adequate levels of literacy and numeracy for the job.
However, St Patrick’s president Dr Daire Keogh said that while some slight amendment to entry requirements might be appropriate, they could not see any reason for a change to the extent proposed. Dr Keogh has warned that the new requirements might lead to a situation where there were not enough school-leavers with the higher grades.
Guarantee
In a submission to the council, he said that among the 2012 entry to St Patrick’s, over half of the students who accepted places would not have met the proposed new entry requirements.
These were students who had a minimum of 470 CAO points – and many with more than 500 points and all falling within the top 15pc of Leaving Cert performers. He said if proposed changes for English, Irish and maths were in place, the college would have had to go to its waiting list in search of students meeting the requirements. But that would mean a lowering of points, with no guarantee that this process would secure the required number of students, he said.
Dr Keogh said the calibre of students entering teacher education was not in question, and a recent report concluded that the academic standard was amongst the highest, if not ‘the’ highest, in the world.
www.independent.ie
Fás teoranta seachas gluaiseacht ag an ghaelscolaíochta ó Thuaidh?
Feabhra 15, 2013
Tá sé ráite ag Seamus Mac Seáin, duine de lucht Bhóthar Seoighe a bhunaigh an chéad bhunscoil lánGhaeilge ó Thuaidh in 1971 nach bhfuil ag éirí le Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta (CnaG) gníomhú de réir na n-achmhainní a bhronn an rialtas uirthi agus gur cheart go mbeadh “i bhfad níos mó scoileanna bunaithe faoin am seo.”
Dar leis an ghníomhaire teanga clúiteach Mac Seáin, d’éirigh i bhfad níos fearr le hiarrachtaí Ghaeloiliúint, grúpa neamhspleách oideachais, thar thréimhse deich mbliana sna 90í ná mar a d’éirigh le CnaG ó shin.
Tharraing Mac Seáin aird ar na 15 bhunscoil agus na cúig aonad a bhunaigh Gaeloiliúint ó 1991-2000 agus é seo déanta “ar i bhfad níos lú acmhainní.” Tháinig CnaG chun cinn mar thoradh ar Chomhaontú Aoine an Chéasta, le comhordú a dhéanamh ar an Ghaelscolaíocht sna Sé Chontae, cúram a bhí ag Gaeloiliúint go dtí sin.
“Cé go bhfuil a thrí oiread daoine ag obair le Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta, ní dheachaigh siad i bhfeidhm ar an ghaelscolaíocht mar a bheinn ag súil.
“Is de bharr easpa monatóireachta agus iniúchta nár baineadh amach na cuspóirí a bhí de dhualgas orthu a bhaint amach i mo thuairim-se. Tá fócas nua atá de dhíth ar CnaG bunaithe ar fhorbairt scoileanna nua,” ar seisean.
“Bhí mé ariamh den bharúil go gcaithfeadh 60 bunscoil ar a laghad a bheith sna Sé Chontae le go mbeadh an meas criticiúil againn leis an Ghaelscolaíocht a dhéanamh buan. Tá sé ag baint i bhfad barraíocht ama an meas criticiúil sin a bhaint amach,” a dúirt Mac Seáin.
De réir figiúirí CnaG, tá 3, 393 páiste cláraithe in 28 bunscoil lánGhaeilge agus seacht n-aonad Gaeilge (atá ag feidhmiú taobh istigh de bhunscoileanna Béarla), sna Sé Chontae faoi láthair.
Tá ardú 1,081 tagtha ar líon na ndaltaí atá ag freastal ar bhunscoileanna lánGhaeilge agus ardú 358 ar líon na ndaltaí atá ag freastal ar ‘aonaid’ Ghaeilge ag leibhéal bunscoile le deich mbliana anuas.
Maíonn an Dr. Gabrielle Nic Uidhir, bunaitheoir Ghaeloiliúint, atá anois ina léachtóir sa choláiste oiliúna, Coláiste Mhuire, go bhfuil forbairt straitéiseach na Comhairle ag dul i bhfeidhm ar bhealach leanúnach ar an ghaeloideachas ó Thuaidh.
“Ní féidir a bheith ag súil leis an bhorradh céanna is a chonaic muid ag an tús. Tá níos mó teaghlach ag roghnú na gaelscolaíochta agus tá daoine ag tacú leis an scoileanna atá ann,” ar sí.
Dar le Nic Uidhir, tá gaelscoileanna ag leathnú amach ó na cathracha chuig na ceantracha tuaithe le roinnt blianta anuas agus tá ‘fás teoranta ach leanúnach’ ar an ghaeloideachas sna Sé Chontae.
I ráiteas a chuir Micheál Ó Duibh, Príomhfheidhmeannach Chomhairle na Gaelscolaíochta, chuig Gaelscéal, dúirt sé go bhfuil an “mórfhás faoi ghaelscoileanna a tharla ar feadh na 80í agus 90í ag leanúint ar aghaidh sna 2010í” agus go bhfuil CnaG ag obair chun 88 gaelscoil (idir leibhéal naíscoile, bunscoile agus iarbhunscoile) a bheith bunaithe faoi 2020, má leanann an fás.
“Tá Comhairle na Gaelscolaíocht ag obair chuige go mbeidh áit mar is ceart ag an Ghaelscolaíocht ar bhord stiúrtha ÚSO agus ag féachaint chuige go mbeidh struchtúr cuí ann san údarás úr le riar mar is ceart a dhéanamh ar earnáil na Gaelscolaíochta, ar phleanáil ceantair agus ar fhorbairt na hiarbhunscolaíochta chomh maith.”
Dar le Janet Muller, Príomhfheidhmeannach de chuid Phobal, scáth eagras Gaeilge ó Thuaidh, a bhí ar bhord Chomhairle na Gaelscolaíochta “cruthaíonn na figiúirí go bhfuil fás ar an Ghaelscolaíocht, cinnte, ach, go dtaispeánann siad cé chomh fadálach is atá luas an fháis le deich mbliana anuas, agus cé chomh teoranta is atá na féidearthachtaí aistrithe ó leibhéal na bunscolaíochta go leibhéal na hiarbhunscolaíochta.”
Creideann Muller go caithfidh an Roinn Oideachais amharc go cúramach anois ar na bealaí a comhlíonann sí a cuid dualgas a leagadh síos i gComhaontú Aoine an Chéasta maidir leis an Ghaelscolaíocht ‘a spreagadh agus a éascú’.
Measann Feargal Mac Ionnrachtaigh, as an eagraíocht Forbairt Feirste go bhfuil forbairt agus inmharthanacht na Gaelscolaíochta ó Thuaidh go fóill ag brath ar dhíograiseoirí logánta a bhíonn ag obair ón bhun aníos.
‘Bíodh is go bhfuil stádas reachtúil ag an ghaeloideachas ó 2000 is léir go bhfuil géarghá le straitéis fheachtasaíochta éifeachtach le dul i ngleic leis an mhoilleadóireacht agus doicheall i dtaobh aitheantais, forbairt curaclam agus acmhainní oideachasúil go fóill,” a dúirt Mac Ionnrachtaigh.
Go dtí seo, tá meánscoil lán-Ghaeilge amháin agus ceithre shruth meánscoile ó Thuaidh. Beidh anailís i nGaelscéal ar fhás na gaelscolaíochta ag leibhéal meánscoile an tseachtain seo chugainn.
www.gaelsceal.ie
Mayor praises Dungannon for minding its (Irish) language
Feabhra 15, 2013
DUNGANNON Mayor Phelim Gildernew has paid tribute to the impassioned work of teachers, the voluntary sector, and Irish language officers in making the local district one of the most proficient in Irish speaking in Northern Ireland.
The native language is in such fine fettle that Dungannon district now boasts the second highest proportion of Irish speakers in Northern Ireland. Almost one in five local people claim to speak some Irish (18 percent), second only to the Newry and Mourne District at 20%. Dungannon’s Irish Language Officer Seamus Kilpatrick said the extent of the language renaissance was due to the school system.
“While Gaelscoileanna have recently been to the fore in raising awareness of the educational advantages of second language acquisition at an early age, there has been a long tradition in the Dungannon area of Irish language promotion at secondary education level and of voluntary work in the community.
“That a relatively high percentage of people in the Dungannon district (6.7%) can speak, read and write the language suggests that levels of fluency in the language remain high after students have completed their formal education.
“However, that a similar percentage (6.59%) were returned as having an understanding of the language but not to the extent of speaking it may be a tribute to the impact of the Irish language media in maintaining a profile for the language when schooldays have finished.”
Celebrations are planned to highlight Dungannon’s rich Irish language traditions during this year’s St Patrick’s Festival. Mr Kilpatrick said: “The role of the voluntary sector will be celebrated during Seachtain na Gaeilge, around the St Patrick’s Day festival with a celebration of the part that local branches of the Gaelic League have played in encouraging children to develop an interest in the language; providing classes, giving scholarships to go to the Gaeltacht and establishing Irish language youth clubs.
“A similar support network for adults was provided over the years by the voluntary sector as represented by Comhaltas Uladh and the seed for a range of activities – music, drama and dancing – was planted to give opportunities to use the language outside of the classroom and encouraging its use as a community language and not just as a school subject.
“The recognition achieved for the language in the Good Friday and St Andrew’s Agreements has meant that its status has changed at official level in Ireland, the UK and in the EU. Increasing numbers are declaring Irish as the language of choice for their homes.
“These percentages are not yet at the same level as those for the 1911 census, when the language could be seen to enjoy an unbroken presence back to the time of St Patrick and beyond. But the number is rising. This new bilingualism is yet another indicator that the monolingual household is no longer the norm in 21st century Europe.
Mayor Councillor Phelim Gildernew said: “As a Council we are committed to the promotion of both the Irish Language and Ulster Scots.
“To this end in 2007 with neighbouring Cookstown we appointed an Officer to drive the initiative forward.
“During these six years the development of the Irish language has grown from strength to strength throughout the Borough and I am delighted that this is reflected in the census statistics with Dungannon being placed third for fluency and knowledge of the Irish language.
“I am delighted with these statistics which pay tribute to the schools and organisations who strive to keep the Irish language alive and relevant to up and coming generations.”
www.tyronetimes.co.uk
Learn about Irish language and Ulster drums
Feabhra 15, 2013
THE Community Relations Forum is inviting people to come along to a Shared Cultural Heritage Evening later this month.
The event, entitled ‘The hidden History of Protestants and the Irish Language’, will take place at the Barron Hall, Glengormley on Thursday, February 28 between 7pm and 9pm.
Guest speaker on the night will be Linda Ervine, wife of the former PUP leader, Brian Ervine and sister-in-law of the late David Ervine.
Linda’s interest in the Irish language began when she discovered from censuses that not only did some of her own ancestors speak Irish, but that it was also widely spoken in Protestant areas of Belfast and indeed Newtownabbey. Linda is currently taking a sabbatical from her teaching job to be the Irish Language Development Officer at East Belfast Mission.
Meanwhile, the Community Relations Forum is offering people the opportunity to take part in a six-week course on Traditional Ulster Drums. It will take place at the Barron Hall, Antrim Road later this year, on a date yet to be confirmed.
The course will be delivered by the renowned Willie Drennan, a traditional musician, storyteller, poet and writer who draws much of his material from the Ulster Scots cultural traditions of his native Co Antrim. The programme will include demonstrations of various drumming techniques, guest speakers, a visit to a local drum maker’s workshop, and a final evening performance and course celebration event.
Anyone who would like to attend the cultural heritage evening, or take part in the drumming course, should register their interest by telephoning Conor Maxwell on 9084 9314 or by emailing conor_crf@hotmail.com
www.newtownabbeytoday.co.uk
Hunger games filmed as Gaeilge in Naas
Feabhra 14, 2013
HOLLYWOOD may be beckoning for the Gaelscoil Nás na Ríogh sixth class pupils whose’ Irish version of the The Hunger Games has proved an online hit.
Featured on YouTube, thejournal.ie, the 98fm website, and RTE’s News Today, the half hour mini movie was acted out by the students and filmed by their teacher, Lára Ní Dhonnchú. So far, Cluichí an Ocrais has notched up 1,386 views on YouTube.
The 23 pupils took three-and-a-half weeks to shoot the film, which was based on Suzanne Collins’s popular novel, The Hunger Games.
Split into groups, they translated the scenes, wrote the script, added the music and designed various sets. It was then shot in the school’s environs with a smart phone.
One of the stars of the production, Lillie Ni Ghallachoir appeared with her fellow students on RTE’s News Today last week. She said her classmates are delighted with the reaction their film is getting.
“We never expected that it could be so popular,” she said.
She told how it was screened at Christmas for the parents who were also very impressed. Lillie played Prim in the film and her time spent in Brian Brady’s performance classes proved valuable in playing the role. When asked if it was hard to act the whole thing out in Irish, she explained it was no problem because it came naturally to the Gaelscoil pupils. “It was really fun to do,” she added.
www.leinsterleader.ie
