Gaelscoil release balloons to signify 12-year wait
May 10, 2012
Staff and students from Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh, Knocknacarra will stage a protest event in Galway City this Saturday, 12 May, when they will release 12 balloons to signify their 12-year wait for a school extension. The school was excluded from the Government’s five-year capital investment programme announced in March.
Saturday’s event will start at Eyre Square at 11.15 am and finish at 12noon near Griffin’s Bakery on Shop Street. The event will feature 16 children’s pop-up tents, eight of which will represent the eight portacabins in which students are being educated. The event will also feature lots of balloons, a ringmaster and snake banners.
Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh has been campaigning for a school extension since 2000 and plans to replace the eight portacabins in which over 200 children are being educated has full planning permission and includes the provision of a Naíonra for which over €330,000 has been raised locally.
GALWAY INDEPENDENT
Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh ar na sráideanna
May 10, 2012
Irish alive and well in Gaelscoil Átha Í
May 9, 2012
Retired RTE GAA commentator Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh was on hand to perform the official opening of Gaeilscoil Átha Í last Thursday morning.
Local politicians, clergy, parents, teachers and members of the local community in Athy joined the pupils in celebrating the occasion and they heard the guest of honour say that the spirit of the people of Athy made the day possible.Each of the class groups gave musical performances between the speeches and in keeping with the tradition of the school these speeches were ‘as Gaeilge’.
The 199-pupil school opened in September 2004 with 21 students at the Aontas Ogra premises on the Kilkenny Road. The new building opened in 2010 and it has eight classrooms, 10 teachers, one special needs assistant, a secretary, a cleaner and a caretaker.
Sinead Ní Nualláin has been principal of the school since last November. During her speech to the assembled audience she said her school was more fortunate than most. “There are schools that have been on the waiting list for buildings before us who are still on the list.
“We have a lovely building now but when we opened first in 2004 we had nothing. We were working out of the Aontas Ogra Hall and I want to thank the parents who believed in the dream of a gaelscoil in Athy and I want to thank them for their support.”
Credit for the establishment of the school was given by all who spoke to local woman Kathleen Robinson. Ms Ní Nualláin said that Kathleen Robinson had an unbelievable dream. “People didn’t think that a gaelscoil could ever exist in Athy and it’s a proud day for us because Kathleen did succeed. Without Kathleens belief we wouldn’t be here. For that reason we are naming our new general purpose hall after Kathleen.”
Following this Mícheál O Muircheartaigh and Kathleen Robinson unveiled a plaque, which named the hall Halla Mhic Róibín.
The MC for the event was local man and parent Johnny Watchorn who said that the school was a great achievement which was due in no small measure to the work of Sinead and her team and the commitment of the parents.
“Once upon a time people used to ask me when Irish was last spoken in Athy. Today I am able to tell people that Irish is alive and well in Athy and that is because of the gaeilscoil.”
The guest of honour Mícheál O Muircheartaigh said that Kathleen Robinson had succeeded because the people of Athy supported her. “Kathleen is not a fluent speaker but she believed Irish was as much for her as it was for those who are fluent. The people of Athy bought into her vision and the parents took a chance sending their children to this school and it is this spirit that made today possible.”
He went on to add that it was good to see inclusiveness at the heart of the school. “It is great to see boys and girls from different traditions and religions side by side in an inclusive and positive environment.”
Deireadh an Chomórtais BEO beagnach anseo!
May 9, 2012
Irish language digital resource wins eGovernment Award
May 9, 2012
ITunes U, a new innovative Irish language learning resource was top of the class at the E-Government Ireland awards held in Dublin Castle on April 25th.
Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin TD presented the Irish language award at the event which rewarded the digital achievements of public sector bodies.
An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) a body which supports Irish language medium education developed iTunes U which is an online multimedia channel hosted on iTunes which combines videos, podcasts and other multimedia material for Gaeltacht schools and Irish medium schools.
Over 300 files from the archives of RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta and Acadamh na hOllscolaiochta Gaeilge are available to download on the iTunes channel. They include famous Irish language songs such as Peigín Leitir Móir, Amhrán Chámuis, Roddy McCorley, An Cailín Deas Rua as well as sketches and conversations in various dialects.
The National Library of Ireland took the social media award at the event with Fáilte Ireland wining the marketing award. The HSE won an award for the campaign Get Ireland Active and Citizens Information won an award for their mobile web application.
GAELPORT.COM
Opportunities for schools to get funding from Gleo
May 4, 2012
Foras na Gaeilge has issued a reminder that its Gleo scheme will run from now until May 31.
If schools want to enter this scheme there are application forms available on the Foras na Gaeilge website at www.gaeilge.ie/gleo
The GLEO scheme awards English-speaking schools for leading the way in promoting spoken Irish in their schools and communities throughout the year. Schools are selected on the basis of their innovation and creativity and last year 12 schools received an award of €3,000 to spend on Irish language resources and language events for their school.
In 2011 54 schools entered the competition with websites, drama, puppet shows, quizzes and debates included among the varied activities all run ‘as Gaeilge’.
Examples of the events and activities that schools have organised in past schemes are available at www.gaeilge.ie/gleo
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Eagla ar Choláiste Ráithín go mbeidh a rás rite go luath
May 2, 2012
New Language Support Scheme to replace Scéim Labhairt na Gaeilge
May 1, 2012
A new government scheme to promote the Irish language will focus on Gaeltacht families but information will available to other families wishing to raise their families through Irish.
Last Thursday Minister State for the Gaeltacht Dinny McGinley TD announced the Family Language Support Scheme. The new support scheme will replace The Scéim labhairt na Gaeilge scheme that ceased at the end of the last school year.
Speaking at the launch in Indreabhán, Co. Galway. The Minister of State said the language support scheme involves a “new approach” that will make a “considerable difference” to the implementation of the 20-Year-Strategy on the ground.
The date implementation of the full programme is stlll unknown but it is set to be done in twelve policy areas.
Information leaflet
The first step was the publication of an information leaflet for families availaing of maternity services in Galway, Letterkenny and Castlebar. The bilingual leaflet advises parents of sever advantages of learning Irish. The leaflet will be introduced to other hospitals serving families from other Gaeltacht areas over time.
Families will have to contact the Department however if they want to order a copy of the support pack upon receiving the leaflet.
The support scheme includes developing an awareness campaign in conjunction with the Health Service Executive (HSE) through distributing an information leaflet detailing the advantages of raising children through Irish, to expectant mothers and mothers of new-born babies.
An awareness campaign directed toward pre married couples in conjunction with the relevant church authorities will also be developed and assistance will be provided to community based organisation in organising language related events.
Summer Camps Expansion
The Department intends to broaden out its summer camp schemes currently available to 4-7 year old age group, to those aged 3-6 years old and 7-14 years old and the Department will no longer recognise summer camps with more than 50 participants.
The language assistance scheme will be further developed under the new support scheme by developing the programme to cater for students in Gaeltacht Schools to increase their standard of Irish. Extra reading, visual and oral support will be provided to the language assistance and a working and training programme will be developed for language assistance in conjunction with organisations who operate the scheme on behalf of the Department.
Programme to go “Viral”
The new scheme will also develop teenagers aged 15-17 years leadership skills by organising training programmes where the can qualify to be Gaeltacht Summer College assistants.
The programme will also develop asocial media strategy using viral videos will be directed at young people with the aim informing them of the benefits of speaking Irish. A new portal web site will also be developed to inform parents of the Irish language resources available to them.
Until the website is developed however, the main point of contact will be through email and phone. Parents interested in taking part in the programme should call 091 503700 or email ctt@ahg.gov.ie
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Major announcements for Irish language
May 1, 2012
Minister of State for the Gaeltacht, Dinny McGinley T.D., has announced two significant initiatives under the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030.
“The Family Language Support Programme and the language planning process in the Gaeltacht involve a new approach that will make a considerable difference to the implementation of the 20-Year Strategy on the ground,” the Minister of State said at the launch in Galway.
The aim of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht’s Family Language Support Programme is to strengthen the Irish language as the household and community language in the Gaeltacht in accordance with the 20-Year Strategy. Under this programme, the Department intends to undertake 12 specific measures to support Gaeltacht families who are raising their children through Irish or who wish to raise their children through Irish.
The Minister of State announced that the Department has agreed with the co-operation of the Health Service Executive (HSE) to circulate an information leaflet, regarding the advantages of raising children through Irish, to expectant mothers and mothers of newborn babies. This awareness campaign will be initiated through the maternity services operating through the HSE in Galway city, Letterkenny and Castlebar. It is also intended to broaden this campaign to maternity services which serve other Gaeltacht areas.
In addition to the awareness campaign, the Minister of State announced the following new measures which will be implemented in conjunction with key stakeholders under the Family Language Support Programme:
* The Department’s Summer Camps Scheme will be enhanced to focus separately on 3 to 6 year olds and on 7 to 14 year olds (as opposed to the current 4 to 7 year old age group);
* Special training courses will be held for Gaeltacht teenagers between 15 and 17 years old who speak fluent Irish to enable them to work as assistants in the Irish language summer colleges;
* Community-based Gaeltacht committees/organisations will be assisted in organising suitable activities, e.g. parent and toddler/child groups;
* The Department’s Language Assistants Scheme will be developed in order to better serve children in Gaeltacht schools with regard to enrichment or acquisition of the Irish language; and
* A portal website for the Irish language will be developed to provide easy access to the public to Irish-language materials and resources. As part of this portal website, content will be developed online which will assist parents raising their children through Irish.
Language Planning Process
The Minister of State announced that the language planning process in the Gaeltacht is to begin. “I am delighted to get the language planning process in the Gaeltacht underway today. Under the Gaeltacht Bill 2012 which is currently being drafted, the Gaeltacht will be given a new definition based on language criteria as opposed to geographical areas, as is currently the case. In accordance with the 20-Year Strategy, a language plan will be developed at community level in all Gaeltacht areas,” the Minister of State said.
Under the language planning process, the Gaeltacht will be delineated into 19 distinct language planning areas. Each one of these areas will be required to prepare a language plan in due course. In order to implement a comprehensive and systematic language planning process in the Gaeltacht, the Minister of State indicated that he has invited 6 language planning areas to begin this process immediately.
The Minister of State said: “The language planning process is an opportunity for Gaeltacht communities. I expect the Department, the Údarás and the community-based organisations to work together to deliver this process.”
Language Planning Areas in the Gaeltacht
Under the language planning process, the intention is to delineate the Gaeltacht into 19 distinct language planning areas of which 6 areas including Gaoth Dobhair, Rann na Feirste, Anagaire, Loch an Iúir, Cloich Chionnaola, Gort an Choirce, Toraigh, An Fál Carrach, Machaire Rabhartaigh have been invited to start this process immediately.
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Most parents would choose state run or multi-denominational schools – survey
April 30, 2012
ONLY a quarter of parents with dependent children would opt to send them to a church-run primary school, a poll has found.
Some 27pc of parents would choose a primary school owned and managed by the Church, compared with the remainder, who would opt for a Vocational Education Committee (VEC) school, multi-denominational or State-run.
The survey, commissioned by the Irish Primary Principals’ Network (IPPN) and carried out by RedC, also found that while only a quarter would choose a Church-run school, the majority of respondents still want religion taught during the school day.
“While there appears to be a public appetite for choice in the models of school patronage available, with most people opting for models that are not based on the ethos of a Church, there is still strong demand for religious instruction to be taught within the school day,” said IPPN president Gerry Murphy.
Despite this, he said the overriding objective of the survey is to ensure the highest standards of teaching are available to all children regardless of their background.
The IPPN-RedC poll saw a random sample of 729 adults questioned – including those with no dependent children – during March this year.
Among those surveyed who have dependent children (under 16 years), 30pc said they would send them to a VEC school, which is run by the State.
A quarter (24pc) would opt for a multi-denominational school such as Educate Together, and 20pc would choose a State-run school.
While most would not have their children educated by the church, 67pc said they would still want their child to receive religious instruction during the school day.
They would also like their children to get help with preparation for the sacraments, such as first confession, first communion and confirmation.
Some 31pc of parents would rather their children receive religious education outside of school.
Of that figure, the majority (60pc) said the responsibility to educate their children on religion should fall to the parents, 26pc believed it should be the clergy’s responsibility and 13pc teachers’.
IPPN director Sean Cottrell described the survey as a snapshot of the preferences of broad Irish society.
Meanwhile, Education Minister Ruairi Quinn launched the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism last week, which was set up to consult on the primary system to ensure the patronage of schools reflect the diversity of the population.
The idea is to ensure schools are inclusive of all pupils, regardless of their background or religion.
The Minister will consider a report compiled by an independent advisory group within the forum.
INDEPENDENT.IE
