Campaí Samhraidh ar fud na tíre
May 29, 2012
Cá bhfuil an Obair?
May 29, 2012
Cá bhfuil an obair or Where is the work is the theme of a new radio series examining employment opportunities within the Irish language sector.
Transition year students from Coláiste Cillian in Clondalkin and from Saint Dominic’s secondary school in Ballyfermot took their first steps as novice radio reporters earlier this Spring as they produced a new careers documentary ‘Cá bhfuil an Obair’ ( where is the work) to be broadcast this week.
The series will broadcast on community radio station West Dublin Access Radio and the first of four half hour shows will commence on Tuesday May 29th at 10.30am. Listeners in Dublin can tune into 96Fm with those outside Dublin able to livestream from www.wdar.ie
The bilingual radio series will focus on career opportunities in the Irish language field and will examine different professions such as interpretation, education, communication and Irish language promotion. .
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Roma – ‘you’re the best’ teacher
May 29, 2012
Gaelscoil na Daroige teacher Roma Rudd has been named winner of the first Derry Journal ‘Teacher – You’re The Best’ competition.
The 24 year-old munteoir was “humbled” this week when she discovered that she had received the most votes in the inaugural competition. Delighted Roma received a prize of £200 in vouchers to spend at Foyleside Shopping Centre, which sponsored the award.
Speaking to the ‘Journal’, Roma – who has been teaching for just two years – said: “It’s great to win the award both for me and the school. The parents and the pupils have been very good to me here, I couldn’t have dreamed of such thoughtful support.”
Roma teaches a class made up of Primary 1 and 2 pupils as the young Ballymagroarty school – which was founded in 2005 – continues to grow. She has taught eight P2 pupils since they first began their primary education at the school and admits she’s made quite a “connection” with them.
“I love them to bits but I know they’ll only be moving next door when the new school year starts.”
Roma simply loves teaching at “close knit” Gaelscoil Na Daroige, where everyone knows each other. She is quick to point out the close working relationship of staff in the school to ensure everything runs smoothly and efficiently and in the best interests of the pupils. She said; “The staff are all great here and work very well to make sure the children are given the best education.”
In particular, Roma said she could never accept an award without paying tribute to her classroom assistant Caitlin Ni Dhochartaigh, who started working at the school at the same time she did. “I’d be lost without Caitlin,” she added.
Roma, who doesn’t come from an Irish speaking background, fell in love with Gaeilge when she studied at Lumen Christi College under Mrs Bronach O’Hare, who she rates as “great teacher and influence”. She also spent time studying in the Donegal Gaeltacht area of Loch An Iuir and later completed a Bachelor of Education Degree through the medium of Irish at St Mary’s University College in Belfast. “Surprisingly there is no teaching background in my family or Irish speakers, although some family members have the odd focal,” she explained.
Getting a full-time teaching post has been exciting for Roma and her joy during the first two years as a teacher has been capped by the accolade of being voted the best teacher in the area. However, the excitement won’t stop there for Miss Rudd, who will once again be celebrating next year, although by then she’ll be a Mrs as she’s due to wed fiance Kevin McKenna in 2013.
Competition winner Roma was nominated by Primary 2 pupil Jake Campbell-McLaughlin, who said his teacher “tells the best stories” among many other things.
The six-year old pupil is looking forward to moving on to P3 in September but admits that he’ll miss his teacher of two years. And the youngster didn’t mince his words when voicing his admiration for Miss Rudd: “She’s the best teacher in the world,” he exclaimed..
In his nomination, Jake stated: “Munteoir Roma gives us a reward at the end of the week if we have good behaviour and share and take turns with friends and listen when our munteoir speaks as it helps us learn more. She is the best teacher in our school and she is the best at science, I really love doing science.”
Geraldine Gallagher, Derry Journal Marketing Executive, said there had been a “magnificent response” to the competition. She said; “There has been a fantastic number of entries for the first ever ‘Teacher – You’re The Best’ competition. We’ve been busy sifting through the nominations and it’s great to see that teachers are so well thought of by their pupils for their hard work and dedication to education.”
Congratulating Roma on being named the first winner of the Derry Journal ‘Teacher – You’re The Best’ title, Geraldine said: “Roma Rudd was a clear winner, securing a large number of votes and is a very worthy recipient of the fantastic prize of £200 in vouchers for Foyleside Shopping Centre.”
Geraldine also congratulated the 46 teachers who received the most nominations and competed for the title in the final wave of public voting.
Foyleside Shopping Centre Manager, Fergal Rafferty added: “Foyleside Shopping Centre is delighted to sponsor the Derry Journal’s ‘Teacher – You’re the Best’ award. We all know the importance of the education of our children and the extremely high teaching standards expected from our teachers .
“It is fitting that the dedication and commitment of all of our teachers is recognised and we congratulate the lucky winning teacher Roma Rudd of Gaelscoil na Daroige and wish her lots of enjoyment and some retail therapy spending her Foyleside gift vouchers.”
www.derryjournal.com
School’s girl power still going strong at 85
May 29, 2012
The country’s last remaining all-Irish girls’ boarding school has celebrated its 85th aniversary.
Colaiste Ide outside Dingle, Co Kerry, is also the only seven-day boarding school where all teaching is done through the medium of Irish.
Over the weekend, former GAA commentator and chairman of the board of directors at the school, Miceal O Muircheartaigh, joined in the celebrations that included the blessing of a new extension that replaces prefab classrooms.
The school was open three years before Micheal was born in Dun Sion on the other side of Dingle town.
There are now 142 full-time students at the school, which is one of the biggest employers in the Dingle area.
Apart from a teaching staff of 14, the school also employs an additional 40 people who make up the supervisors, kitchen and maintenance staff.
The school building is housed in the former Burnham Manor, which was the residence of Lord Ventry, the local landlord.
The Sisters of Mercy opened the house as a preparatory college for teachers in 1927 and it became a secondary boarding school for girls in 1961. The last nuns left the school in 1996.
Aine Ni Chearbhaill became principal in 2008 and is herself a past-pupil of the school and its former home economics teacher.
“I did my Leaving Cert here in 1996 which was also the last year there were nuns in the school,” she told the Irish Independent.
“After that numbers dropped and there was a question mark over its viability without the nuns.
“Then a group of parents set up Cairde Cholaiste Ide and they launched a strong campaign to ensure it stayed open. Since then, thankfully, numbers have been on the rise,” she added.
www.irishtimes.com
‘Childish political point scoring’ – SF hit back at Overend Irish school remarks
May 28, 2012
COOKSTOWN Sinn Féin Councillor Ciarán McElhone has hit out at Ulster Unionist Assembly Member Sandra Overend regarding her recent comments about Gaelscoil Eoghain, Cookstown’s soon-to-be opened Irish medium primary school.
Last week the UPP MLA lambasted the Education Minister’s decision to award grant-aided status to the new primary school, which will open its doors in September. Reacting negatively to the decision Mrs Overend said she “cannot accept” the need for the Irish language school in the town and accused Minister John O’Dowd of wasting resources.
Responding to the MLA’s statement, councillor McElhone described Mrs Overend’s comments as “childish political point scoring”.
“I believe that the statement from Ms Overend demonstrates a great misunderstanding about Irish medium education on her part and is extremely disingenuous to the parents and committee members of Naíscoil Eoghain who have worked tirelessly over the past number of years.
“Within department guidelines an application for grant aided status can be awarded once it can be demonstrated that such a project can proceed successfully.
“It is not merely an agenda to promote the Irish language as Ms Overend states,” said the Sinn Fein councillor.
“Regarding her statement that she cannot accept the need for such a facility in Cookstown demonstrates her own lack of knowledge on this issue.
“Irish medium education is the fastest growing sector within her own constituency which includes Cookstown. In Cookstown Naíscoil Eoghain has experienced significant growth year on year since its opening in 2008”.
Councillor McElhone continued: “Ms Overend has also deliberately tried to confuse two separate issues and try to interlink them as the same to justify her position however the Department of Education has stated that it has a duty to provide Irish medium education once the criteria has been met. It is not a matter of taking money out of other budgets as she suggests”.
“Ms Overend has also stated that people should learn Irish in existing facilities and while I agree with much of this I must highlight that such provision only exists in an adult sphere. This doesn’t account for children who are being taught in this medium hence the need for this proposal”.
“I believe Ms Overend’s comments are an attempt to politicise a proposal that is being offered for the benefit of all in our community regardless of class, colour or creed,” he said.
“Ms. Overend should focus on the more pressing day to day issues that affect Mid Ulster rather than involving herself in childish political point scoring”.
www.midulstermail.co.uk
Nationwide Irish language picnic day
May 24, 2012
Fun and games through the Irish language will take place across Ireland on May 27th as young Irish language speaking families meet for the national picnic day organised by Comhluadar.
Comhluadar is an organisation that supports parents who are raising their children through Irish.
The main picnic will be taking place in St.Enda’s Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin, although other picnics will be taking place in other counties throughout the country including, Derry, Donegal, Longford, Louth, Mayo and Limerick.
Nicole Ní Cheallaigh, Officer of National Events at Comhluadar says, ‘The Picnic Náisiúnta is a great opportunity for families to come together at an Irish event in a relaxed, fun manner. There has been great interest already from both our own members and from members of the public.”
A picnic has not been organised for every county, however, people are more than welcome to organise their own picnic and register it with Comhluadar.
Every registered picnic will receive a resource pack to ensure the picnic is included as one of the many picnics of National Picnic Day.
Everyone is welcome to attend the National Picnic, although it is aimed at families who intend to speak Irish to their children.
Comhluadar often organise such events to cater for parents who raise their children through Irish and wish to get in contact with other parents who do the same.
Comhluadar intend to organise National Picnic Day annually from now on.
More information about National Picnic Day can be found on www.comhluadar.ie
Spraoicheist Gael Linn ag Éigse Cheatharlach
May 23, 2012
13 iarratas ar phacáiste tacaíochta teanga Roinn na Gaeltachta
May 23, 2012
Coláiste Ráithín on East Coast FM
May 23, 2012
On Tuesday 22nd May 2012 after the 11o’clock news, The Morning Show with Declan Meehan, on East Coast FM, is revisiting the situation regarding Coláiste Ráithín’s accommodation.
Cairde Ráithín/Coláiste Ráithín Parent’s Association understands that Michael Lawlor, Chairman, Co. Wicklow VEC and also Coláiste Ráithín Board Member, will be on the show, together with Paul Moore, Spokesperson, Cairde Ráithín, to discuss recent developments concerning the re-location of the Coláiste into a new school building. This interview follows on from a recent programme by Declan Meehan with Bray Town Councillor Mick Glynn (also a Coláiste Ráithín Board Member) and Paul Moore on Monday 30th of April last. Councillor Glynn had then anticipated that there would be positive developments arising from a scheduled meeting between Wicklow VEC and the Department of Education and Skills two days later on the 2nd May. This turned out not to be the case, as the Department turned down Wicklow VEC’s request to fund services and an access road into the old Bray Golf Club Site in order to enable Coláiste Ráithín to be located there.
Cairde Ráithín expect the discussion will refer to the recent correspondence between the Minister for Education and Bray Town Councillor John Brady and also the correspondence between the Minister’s Private Secretary with Coláiste Ráithín parent Art O’Laoghaire, both letters confirming this position in regard to the old Golf Club site.
You can listen to the show here: http://eastcoast.fm/onair/programmes/morningshow (the feature on Coláiste Ráithín is in part 2, after the news) and further information on the school’s campaign is available here.
TCD Residency scheme for Irish speakers
May 11, 2012
Do you hope to attend Trinity College Dublin this September?
Would you like to speak Irish everyday and promote the language among your peers? Oifig na Gaeilge, TCD is now accepting applications for Scéim Chónaithe Dhartaí (Dartry Trinity Halls Living Scheme) for first year students 2012-2013 to fill 12 places.
The scheme not only welcomes Irish Language students but is open to students studying a wide range of subjects for example medicine, law, philosophy and BESS from all over the country, including the north of Ireland.
How does it work? Scéim Chonaithe Dhartraí offers students a sum of €1,000 to contribute to their living fees on the condition that they:
a) Speak Irish on a daily basis and in their apartment.
b) Take an active part in Irish Language events and in general college life.
c) Hand in reports to Oifigeach na Gaeilge at the end of term 1 and 2 detailing the ways in which they fulfilled their duties.
Students on Scéim Chónaithe Dhartraí are also expected to run different events at Trinity Halls to promote the language such as céilís, trips, ciorcail comhrá, treasure hunts and speed dating. Scéim students attend Oireachtas na Gaeilge every year as well as contributing to events at Éigse na Trionóide and the college’s own Seachtain na Gaeilge.
Clár Johnson, a TCD Scéim Chónaithe graduate had this much to say about her own personal experience:
“I would suggest to anybody who has the opportunity to apply for Scéim Chónaithe na Tríonóide. It added so much to my experience at university to be based at the heart of the Irish language community on campus. It offers a chance to first year students in particular to get a head start and establish a place the most inspirational and enjoyable place in college.”
Application forms can be downloaded on www.tcd.ie/gaeloifig.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
