Irish language comments on RTÉ cause a stir
February 25, 2014
Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh spoke on The Saturday Night Show last Saturday, and discussed language rights for Irish speakers, but it would seem that her invitation to appear on the show can be directly attributed to the number of complaints RTÉ received in relation to the previous week’s show.
It would appear that RTÉ received many complaints about a statement presenter Brendan O’Connor made at the beginning of his show, when he poked fun at the Lá Mór na Gaeilge demonstration which occurred earlier that day which saw thousands of people take to the streets of Dublin to defend their language rights. According to O’Connor it was unclear what the group were demanding as they were speaking in Irish.
It is of little wonder that RTÉ received many complaints about that particular comment, with members of the public outraged and claiming that O’Connor had violated the code in relation to fairness, objectivity and impartiality.
Among the complaints received by RTÉ regarding The Saturday Night Show was one from Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge, who have submitted three complaints this month about three distinct programmes broadcast on RTÉ: The Late Late Show, The Saturday Night Show and European Parliament Report.
The Late Late Show
On The Late Late Show broadcast on Friday, 07 February 2014, towards the end of the programme, during an interview with Aled Jones, Ryan Tubridy displayed some road signs and asked his guest to read them aloud. One of the signs was of an English translation of the Gaeltacht placename Muiceanach Idir Dhá Sháile and the presenter began poking fun at the name, laughing that there was no way that he could say it himself as it was so complicated.
In their complaint An Chomhdháil reminded RTÉ that Gaeltacht placenames should be written in Irish as per the Placenames Order, and therefore the sign should have read ‘Muiceanach Idir Dhá Sháile’ rather than an unofficial translated version. An Chomhdháil claim this scene, and the presenter’s actions, were disrespectful to the Irish speaking community.
European Parliament Report
An Chomhdháil also submitted a complaint this month in relation to the European Parliament Report which was broadcast on Sunday, 09 February 2014. During this programme, Irish MEP Seán Kelly addressed the Parliament in Irish, yet rather than broadcast this piece, RTÉ chose to edit the piece to include the voice of an interpreter rather than the voice of our MEP. An Chomhdháil claimed there was no reason not to broadcast the original piece by Mr. Kelly and reminded RTÉ that the Irish language is the first official language of the State.
Under articles 47 and 48 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 each broadcaster is required have a clear process for dealing with complaints. RTÉ’s process is listed here and if you have any issue you would like to raise with them , you can send them an email at complaints@rte.ie.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Celebration of Irish language in Cookstown and Dungannon
February 25, 2014
The countdown is on to a major Irish language festival in Cookstown and Dungannon.
With only a few weeks left until this year’s St. Patrick’s Day holidaysthe preparations are well underway for this year’s Seachtain na Gaeilge – Gaelfest Irish Language festival which takes place in the Cookstown and Dungannon Council areas throughout March. The festival celebrates the Irish language and encourages people to come along to a wide variety of events, talks and workshops available, whatever their level of spoken or written Irish. In Cookstown, a special Seal Spraoi (literally translated as ‘a spell of fun’) event on Friday, March 7 from 4.30pm – 6pm at the Burnavon will give local primary school children, whether they know any Irish or not, an opportunity to join in the celebrations.
Gearóidín Bhreathnach, a prizewinning singer and storyteller, will lead the workshop which is packed full of singing, stories and activities. Admission is from £2 per child and can be booked through the Burnavon Box Office on 028 8676 9949. Raymond Loney will continue the weekend celebrations as he provides the music for the Family Céilí on Sunday, March 9 from 2pm – 4pm. Here, children will be able to draw on the skills they learned during the week at the céilí dancing workshops also happening in the Burnavon. Admission is £2 per person and can either be booked in advance through the Burnavon Box Office or paid on the door on arrival. As well as plenty of arts and cultural activities this year Gaelfest will incorporate Rith 2014, a fund-raising relay run the length of Ireland. It will be passing through Cookstown on the evening of Wednesday, March 12.
Rith 2014 provides the means to raise funds for their own Irish language projects as well as establishing a central fund for sporting clubs who take part in Rith 2014. More information can be found at www.rith.ie. Regular Irish language events, such as Ciorcal Comhrá conversation club and Léigh Leatreading club, both of which are hosted by Cookstown Library, will be making a special effortto welcome people who would like to try out words and phrases they know during Gaelfest. Details of local Irish language activities are available at www.guthonline.org. A highlight of the festival comes on Friday 14th March at 8pm as Máirín Hurndall, a radio journalist working with Radio Feirste in Belfast, will be in the Burnavon to talk about her experience with the language and the Protestant Gaelic tradition. Admission to this talk is free.
During Seachtain na Gaeilge, a new series of after-schools classes for pupils taking their GCSEs will be launched. Costing £30 for 10, they will be held in the the Burnavon before Easter. They begin at 4.30pm on Wednesdays. To register for the after-schools classes or for details on any of the events covered by Seachtain na Gaeilge – Gaelfest, contact Séamus Mac Giolla Phádraig, Oifigeach Fhorbairt na Gaeilge (Irish Language Development Officer) with Cookstown District Council at the Burnavon on 028 8676 9949 option 4.
www.tyronetimes.co.uk
Culture Minister Caral Ni Chuilin launches Irish language drive
February 25, 2014
Culture Minister Caral Ni Chuilin has launched an advertising campaign in a bid to encourage people to learn and speak Irish.
The campaign called Liofa le cheile (Fluent Together) encourages everyone from all walks of life to learn and speak the language.The campaign, which will run across a variety of media platforms including television, radio, outdoor and digital media, will show how Irish is used through daily phrases, names and places. The minister said: “The Irish language is at the heart of our society. “It is everywhere around us through common words we use like ‘craic’, and also in place names like Donaghadee (Domhnach Daoi). “I believe that the rich cultural and linguistic heritage is something that all of us can share, embrace and enjoy.” As the campaign starts, a new website www.liofa.eu will be available to assist people learning the language.
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
Irish language under threat
February 25, 2014
Sir, – I fully support the Revenue Commissioners’ reluctance to communicate with Brian Mac a’ Bhaird (February 21st) “as Gaeilge”.
Translating government documents into Irish is a complete waste of time and money. Government spending on teaching Irish is estimated to cost about €1 billion per annum. While gaeilgeorí may hate to hear it, the Irish language is functionally useless in the modern economy, and as such the money spent is an extremely poor investment. It is also widely detested by students, who are force-fed second-rate poetry and literature out of some absurd sense of national pride. While the argument is often made that Irish is an integral part of our culture, culture can survive quite well without unwanted and unnecessary state coercion (see the GAA, Irish dancing and traditional Irish music as some examples).
According to the 2011 census, Irish now lags behind Polish in numbers of speakers who use the language daily outside of school. The fact Irish is not even the second most widely used language despite decades of State policy and funding towards propping it up should prove that the Irish language experiment has been an utter failure. This pandering to gaeilgeoirí has gone on for far too long. The Irish language is never going to become a widely used language in Ireland and the sooner this is accepted the better. – Yours, etc,
EANNA COFFEY,
Fossa, Killarney, Co Kerry.
www.irishtimes.com
SPRAOI ag Tuistí agus Leanaí i gCeatharlach i Mí an Mhárta
February 25, 2014
Polasaithe Samplacha a Roinnt
February 25, 2014
Cluineann Teachtaí Dála agus Feisirí Pairliminte an t-éileamh ar Acht na Gaeilge sa Tuaisceart
February 25, 2014
SpeakTalkChat.com
February 25, 2014
Lá Gaeilge CLG i gColáiste na Rinne
February 25, 2014
Coiste Cultúrtha na Mumhan (Munster GAA) is pleased to announce that it will be organising an Irish language day in Coláiste na Rinne, An Rinn, Co Waterford on Saturday, 8th March 2014. This is the third year of the event which is hoped to attract people with an interest in GAA and an Ghaeilge from clubs throughout the country. The aim of the course is to promote our language and culture among members of the Association.
The day will include talks, workshops and discussions of topical matters in the GAA world. There will be numerous guest speakers on the day, all having strong GAA connections, including Míchéal Ó Muircheartaigh, Joe McDonagh, Liadh Ní Riada, Eoin Breathnach and Robert Frost. Cost of day course, including lunch, is €35.
Further information on www.munstergaa.ie or from Míchéal Ó Drisleáin at odrisleain@gmail.com or 087-7938709.
Príomhoide Tánaisteach, Laurel Hill Coláiste FCJ
February 24, 2014
