Ag lorg príomhoide
Deireadh Fómhair 19, 2012
Chuirfeadh grúpa tuismitheoirí in Albain fáilte roimhe chainteoir Gaeilge, atá ag foghlaim Gaeilge na hAlban, mar phríomhoide i scoil a bhfuil neart cainte tarraingthe aici.
Theip ar Bhunsgoil Ghaihlig Inbhir Nis, ceann de dhá bhunscoil Ghaeilge na hAlban ata sa tír, príomhoide leis an teanga a earcú seacht n-uaire le trí bliana anuas.
Dar le Comann nam Pàrant Inbhir Nis, ta an cur chuige mícheart ag an gcomhairle áitiúil duine le taithí bainistíochta a cheapadh don ról in áit duine a bhfuil Gaeilge na hAlban ar a dtoil acu.
“Níl sé réalaíoch duine nach bhfuil an teanga acu a cheapadh sa phost agus beidh drochthionchar aige ar na páistí. Ta an Ghaeilge agus Gaeilge na hAlban an-ghar dá chéile agus ní bheadh na deacrachtaí céanna ag cainteoir Gaeilge aistriú go dtí an teanga,” arsa an cathaoirleach, Dawn Morgan.
www.foinse.ie
Troidfidh mé ar son na n-eagraíochtaí atá bunaithe anseo sa Tuaisceart: Ní Chuilín
Deireadh Fómhair 18, 2012
Níl sé soiléir an bhfaca Aire Cultúir, Ealaíón agus Fóillíochta an Tuaiscirt aon mholtaí nua ó Fhoras na Gaeilge maidir le maoiniú na n-eagras Gaeilge, ach dúirt an tAire, Carál Ni Chuilín, i bhfreagra a thug sí sa Tionól Dé Máirt na seachtaine seo caite nach bhfaca sí moltaí ar bith. Gheall sí, áfach, go dtroidfeadh sí “100%” ar son na n-eagras atá bunaithe ó Thuaidh. Bhí sí ag tabhairt freagra ar cheist ó Dominic Ó Brolcháin (SDLP). Bhain sin le scéal ar an Irish Times, mar ar cuireadh síos ar mholtaí nua ón bhForas. Sa scéal, dúradh go mbeadh sé cinn de ‘cheanneagraíocht’ ann agus iad uilig lonnaithe i mBaile Átha Cliath. Bheadh siad ábalta eagrais eile a earcú mar fochonraitheoirí.
D’iarr an Brolchánach ar an Aire an mbeidh sí ábalta a dheimhniú nach rachadh na moltaí nua “chun dochair d’eagraíochtaí Gaeilge anseo sa Tuaisceart agus go seasfadh sí an fód do na heagraíochtaí sin?” Dúirt an tAire gur sa cheist a chead chuala sí faoin scéal ar an Irish Times. Ní fhaca sí moltaí ar bith ón bhForas go dtí seo. “Deimhním 100% go dtroidfidh mé ar son na n-eagras atá bunaithe anseo sa Tuaisceart,” ar sise. “In amanna, tá freastal ar riachtanais na n-eagras maoinithe mar chuid den fhreastal ar riachtanais na hearnála, nó ní thig leat freastal a dhéanamh gan acmhainn ar an talamh… Déanfaidh me cinnte go mbeidh na socruithe maoinithe iomlán ionadaíoch, go ndéanfaidh siad freastal ar achan duine ar an oileán, agus nach mbeidh siad claonta i dtreo dhream amháin, ar aimhleas agus díobháil daoine eile.”
Dé hAoine seo caite, chuir Gaelscéal ríómhphost chun na Roinne ag fiosrú an raibh moltaí ón bhForas feicthe ag an Aire faoi sin. Go mall tráthnóna Dé Luain, chuir urlabhraí freagra chugainn. Duirt sé gur cuireadh cás gnó chomh maith le moltaí fá choinne cuíchóiriú an bhunmhaoinithe chuig Státseirbhísígh sa dá roinn urraithe. (An Roinn Cultúir, Ealaíona agus Fóillíochta agus an Roinn Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta). “Tá feidhmeannaigh anois ag scrúdú na moltaí seo, an breithmheas eacnamaíochta agus fírinniú an rogha is dealraithí,” arsa an t-urlabhraí. Meastar go bpléifear na moltaí ag an gcéad chruinniú eile de Shruth Teanga na Comhairle Aireachta Thuaidh/Theas. Tá sin le bheith ann an 12ú lá de mhí na Nollag. Níos luaithe i mbliana, shocraigh an Foras gan dul ar aghaidh leis an tSamhail Nua Mhaoinithe, ach is léir nach bhfuil deireadh le conspóid maidir le cursaí maoinithe.
www.gaelsceal.ie
Ceisteanna don Chrann Taca
Deireadh Fómhair 18, 2012
Reáchtálfar Tráth na gCeisteanna Boird i dTigh Chualáin in Indreabhán san oíche amárach, Dé hAoine 19 Deireadh Fómhair, ar mhaithe leis an gCrann Taca, an tIonad Tacaíochta Teaghlaigh.
Cuirfear tús leis an oíche ag 8.30i.n. agus rachaidh an brabach ar fad i dtreo costais riaracháin na háite. Tá an ócáid á reáchtáil ag Coiste Tacaíochta an Ionaid agus tá duaiseanna maithe agus oíche den scoth geallta. Tá an coiste seo gníomhach le tamall anuas agus arís ar maidin Domhnaigh, 21 Deireadh Fómhair, tá maidin caifé agus díolachán cácaí á eagrú acu, ócáid a bheidh ar siúl sa Chrann Taca ó 11.30r.n. ar aghaidh agus tá fáilte roimh chách.
www.advertiser.ie
Baboró shows as Gaeilge
Deireadh Fómhair 18, 2012
VERY YOUNG children will be kept entertained, engaged, amused, and be opened up to both theatre and the Irish language with a variety of shows at the Baboró festival.
Graffiti Theatre Company will stage An Fear Siúil (Walking Man) by Jody O’Neill, for children aged six to nine in the Town Hall Studio today at 10.15am and 12.15pm. Walking Man has spent his whole life in pursuit of success. He has always rushed headlong through life, determined to follow in his father’s footsteps to the best job on the top floor of the tallest building in the whole city. Yet once he achieves all this, he still feels unfulfilled and must go on a new journey. Irish Theatre Magazine has praised the production for its “subtlety and sophistication…a production of magic and wonder”. The Gombeens – actor and comedians duo of Miquel Barcelló and Jonathan Gunning – will present Spraoi in the Druid Lane Theatre on tomorrow at 11am and 3pm.
This show is performed in Catalan and as Gaeilge. It is about two boys who arrive at the same place at the same time and but do not understand what they should do. Neither speaks the same language and one likes to play by the rules while the other does not. They must learn how to communicate with each other so they can play together. Spraoi is directed by Marc MacLochlainn. The is for children aged between three and six. Places are limited. Púca Puppets will stage Tic Teac Tic Teac, written and performed by Niamh Lawlor in the Town Hall Studio tomorrow (10.30am and 3.30pm); Saturday (11.30am and 3.30pm); and Sunday (11.30am and 1pm) in the Town Hall Studio. The show is for three to six year olds. Tic Teac Tic Teac is a celebration of a child’s journey ón ghiniúnt go dtí an chéad lá scoile – from conception to the schoolroom. It uses handmade puppets and a special clock mat the children help assemble. Irish Theatre Magazine said the show keeps children “engaged and entertained for near on 45 minutes. Short but sweet.”
For more information and tickets contact the Town Hall on 091 -569777 or www.tht.ie or see www.baboro.ie
www.advertiser.ie
Minister unveils funding scheme during school visit
Deireadh Fómhair 17, 2012
UPPER Bann MLA and Education Minister John O’Dowd announced a £230,000 funding scheme to encourage people to develop Irish language skills during a visit to St John the Baptist Primary School in Portadown last week.
The Minister was accompanied by Culture Minister, Carál Ní Chuilín, whose Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure is aligned to language funding scheme via the Liofa initiative and the draft Irish language strategy. The scheme aims to offer additional funding to existing extended school cluster groups to wish to run Irish language programmes. Mr O’Dowd told pupils and teachers, “The Irish language is an integral part of our rich and shared heritage and my department has a statutory duty to encourage and facilitate the development of Irish-medium education. One of the recommendations arising from the review of Irish-medium education was that my Department should encourage and support informal opportunities for learning Irish through the Extended Schools Programme and increase access to those not currently accessing Irish-medium education.
“In the Portadown Extended School cluster, St John the Baptist partners with seven other schools to offer a varied and diverse range of activities. I am particularly pleased to see that they are offering a number of programmes for parents. There is an increasing recognition of the vital role that parents play in helping and encouraging their child in his or her learning. The community at St John’s is an excellent model of how parents can get involved in their child’s education and I am delighted to see evidence of the value this community places on education. “All existing extended school cluster groups will be able to apply for additional funding to provide programmes that will encourage children to develop their skills in the use of Irish and to also provide support for parents who wish to develop their own key Irish literacy and numeracy skills.”
The Education Minister added, “I am making £230,000 available this year, with the intention of continuing the funding for the next two years. This will depend on the interest shown and the progress that is made on the ground. The programme will support my department’s over-arching goal of raising standards for all, closing the performance gap and increasing access and equity. Funding will also be provided to support programmes aimed at communities who wish to develop Irish language skills that can be more widely used at home or in the workplace.”
www.portadowntimes.co.uk
Club Óige Setanta joins Youth in Action Programme
Deireadh Fómhair 15, 2012
Irish language youth club Club Óige Setanta, based in Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin in Derry, has won funding from the European Union to run a joint youth exchange with a youth group from Bilbao, Spain.
Eight young people and three leaders from the club will travel to Bilbao on October 27 and stay until November 3. The young people will be working together on the promotion of understanding between minority language youths; of links between minority language groups to help tackle difficulties experienced, and the promotion of the support provided by the European Union. Club Óige Setanta won the funding through the Youth in Action programme managed in the UK by the British Council and funded by the European Union.
The programme helps young people to become active citizens and better equipped for the world of work, and promotes solidarity, social cohesion and co-operation within Europe and neighbouring countries. Sinéad Warnock, group leader with Club Óige Setanta told the ‘Journal’: “I really think our young people will take a lot away from this trip, not only will they get to experience a new culture but they’ll have an inside view into how local Basque people view their own culture and language. This will in turn heighten their interest and understanding of how they themselves fit into Irish culture and we hope that they will gain a sense of pride as they begin to understand their importance as speakers of their native tongue and what advantages this in turn offers them.” Head of EU Programmes at the British Council, Simon William, added: “Youth in Action aims to prepare young people for life and work in our global society.” “Initiatives like this one help to build trust and understanding between people of different cultures. They also broaden our young peoples’ horizons and equip them with the skills and understanding they need to become global citizens.”
For more information on Club Óige Setanta, please contact Sinéad Warnock on: 71 264132 or 07849394001 or email: sinead@culturlann-doire.ie.
www.derryjournal.com
Up to 5,000 teachers in the firing line for cuts
Deireadh Fómhair 15, 2012
MORE than 5,000 teachers face losing their allowances under a government review.
One of the targets is an allowance of between €532 and €1,572 paid to more than 2,750 primary and post-primary principals. Two in three of the country’s principals are in receipt of the payment for acting as secretary to the school board of management. The payment of a similar allowance to principals acting as secretary to a board of management in an institute of technology is also under scrutiny. Special allowances paid to teachers who teach through Irish, work in the Gaeltacht or who work on an island, are also being targeted for abolition.
The Gaeltacht grant is worth €3,063 to about 780 primary and post-primary teachers, while about 1,800 receive an annual €1,583 for teaching through Irish. About 30 teachers are in receipt of the island allowance, which is worth €1,842 per year. Department of Public expenditure and Reform general secretary Robert Watt has told the Department of Education that these were the priority for elimination. The proposal will now be discussed with the trade unions.
www.independent.ie
Tá eagla orm ahead of Gaelscoil grilling
Deireadh Fómhair 15, 2012
I’ve been summoned to an interview for a primary school.
Not for me — for Miss Almost Nine Months old. Yes, seriously! Apparently, it’s time to secure a place for September 2016. We decided on a Gaelscoil, so a friend advised me to speak as Gaeilge during the interview to create the ‘right’ impression. So … this very bun-leibheal mammy will attempt to caint enough Gaeilge to wedge little missy’s foot firmly in the doras. Oh ta eagla orm! I really didn’t expect this but perhaps it’s to check if I’ll tuig the parent-teacher meetings. Of course, if she’s like mise, I’ll get by on ‘Cailin dana’ agus ‘Ta si ag caint gan stad!’
Now, when it comes to Conas ata tus, I can hold my own and even show off with my Dia is Muire Duit a Iosa. But beyond that, it’s going to be an uphill struggle — which is a disgrace and why we want her to go to a Gaelscoil and acquire more than just a cupla focal. Agus Dadai? He’s suggested that he doesn’t attend as his Irish is limited to “Ta an-athas orm an corn seo a ghlacadh ar foireann Uibh Fhaili”. Mind you, with him being a Biffo, it’s a rare occasion that he gets to say or hear it! So it’s just mise. But I’ve a plan. I’m going to replicate my Irish oral exam; learn and regurgitate a big spiel as soon as I’m asked a question, any question, thus preventing the muinteoir from getting a word in edgeways.
It’s a risky strategy I know, but my only other Irish trick is to do my one, two, threes. They are rather impressive. I think. I could even put my hands behind my back and accompany it with a rendition of Aon Focal Eile. But dadai assures me that whatever damage my Gaeilge or his GAA speech might do, my dancing would be a fait accompli.
Let’s just hope they don’t read this! If they do, gabh mo leithsceal, ta bron orm.
www.independent.ie
Parents to be surveyed on school patronage
Deireadh Fómhair 15, 2012
Another area of Dublin has been included in the list of areas where parents will be surveyed on the possibility of replacing a Catholic primary school with a new patron.
The Department of Education is to begin surveying five of the areas this month and extend it to the other 39 areas next month. However, it is understood issues which have arisen with some parties to the process have delayed the exercise. The announcement of a new primary school to be opened in Dublin 4 in the short-term, means prospective patrons are now being asked instead if they wish to take over a school in the Ballyfermot/Chapelizod/Palmerstown area. The Irish Examiner has also learned at least five groups have expressed interest in becoming patrons of new schools in some or most of the 43 areas already identified, in the event there is parental demand for change.
They include established patrons: City and county VECs in the relevant areas, the multi-denominational schools group Educate Together, and all-Irish schools’ patron An Foras Pátrúnachta. Interest has also been expressed by Nigerian-founded church the Redeemed Christian Church of God, which applied unsuccessfully last year to become patron in three areas of Dublin where new primary schools are planned. The National Learning Network has also sought to become a patron. The applicant patrons will be banned from doing leaflet drops under a Department of Education code aimed at ensuring a level playing field. A spokesperson for the department said details of the survey process and where they will be carried out will be announced later this month. In each area, the parents of all primary pupils and those with children not yet at school will be asked if they are satisfied with current choices of schools and, if not, which of the patrons interested in taking over a school in their area they would prefer. The areas include 12 in the Dublin Catholic archdiocese, and four each in Tuam, Killaloe, and Waterford & Lismore. There are three areas each in the Cloyne and Cork & Ross dioceses.
www.irishexaminer.com
Saturday club – Naíscoil Éadain Mhóir
Deireadh Fómhair 15, 2012
Naíscoil Éadain Mhóir will open a free of charge Saturday Fun Club for nursery school children this weekend.
Naíscoil teacher, Mairéad Mc Daid, will offer Naíscoil children and their parents a chance to learn Irish songs and rhymes, listen to Irish language stories and have fun playing together in a fully equipped nursery school. The one hour long Irish language club, commences at 11am and will initially run for six weeks. Any parent interested in attending can contact Múinteoir Mairéad at Naíscoil and Gaelscoil Éadain Mhóir, Brandywell , Derry on 02871268020 to register.
www.derryjournal.com
