Ó Cuirreáin resigns, Ó Domhnaill to be appointed by the President
February 24, 2014
Motion for nomination of An Coimisinéir Teanga passed in Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann
To coincide with Seán Ó Cuirreáin’s resignation from his role as An Coimsinéir Teanga at the weekend, crowds gathered in An Spidéal to thank the first ever appointed Coimisinéir Teanga for 10 years of valuable work and to show their dissatisfaction with the Civil Service’s approach to the Irish language and Gaeltacht communities.
The crowd marched from Oifig an Coimisinéara Teanga in An Spidéal to the office of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in Na Forbacha where a Department officer accepted a letter addressed to the Minister of State Dinny McGinley T.D., written by the Gaeltacht and Irish speaking communities pleading with the Minister to take a stand on behalf of the language.
The letter asked Minster McGinley to seek a change of attitude and a change of policy from the Government and the amending of Acht na Gaeltachta 2012 to ensure that Gaeltacht boundaries be set according to linguistic criteria and the implementation of a clear policy to ensure the provision of Irish language services throughout the Civil Service to a satisfactory level.
Speaking at the march on Sunday, Seán Ó Cuirreáín thanked the crowd in attendance for the continuous support and he also wished the incoming Coimisinéir Teanga, rón Ó Domhnaill, well in his new role.
A motion regarding Rónán Ó Domhnaill’s nomination was passed in Dáil Éireann on Tuesday and in Seanad Éireann on Wednesday. While the nomination was welcomed in both Houses, many questions and concerns about the current state of the Irish language were raised.
Members of the Opposition expressed disappointment at Seán Ó Cuirreáin’s decision to resign and the outgoing Coimisinéir was praised for his work over the past ten years.
Members of the Oireachtas also praised the 10,000 that marched through the streets of Dublin as part of Lá Mór na Gaeilge which was held recently and the campaign’s demands were highlighted in both the Dáil and the Seanad. The Government’s overall approach to the Irish language was heavily criticised and it was advised that the needs of the Irish language and Gaeltacht communities be of utmost importance.
An Coimisinéir Teanga is appointed by the President of Ireland on the advice of the Government and it has been confirmed by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht that preparations are being made by Micheal D. Higgins’ office to appoint Rónán Ó Domhnaill very shortly.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Céilí Mór & Féile i gCorcaigh
February 24, 2014
An dtaitníonn rince leat? Chuir ort do chuid bhróga agus téir chuig Sráid an Chapaill Bhuí ar an 2ú Márta! Beidh go leor Craic, Ceol agus Rince ann, chomh maith le margadh! Beidh an céilí agus an féile ar siúl mar chuid de Mhí na Gaeilge 2014. Bígí Linn!
Do you enjoy dancing? Put on your dancing shoes and go to Grand Parade on the 2nd of March. There will be plenty of music, dancing and craic, as well as a Market. The Céilí and Festival is running as part of Irish Month 2014! Join Us!
https://www.facebook.com/events/410759889027061/
Why are Irish language groups protesting?
February 24, 2014
Several Irish-language organisations, led by Conradh na Gaeilge, have organised large rallies, including one in Dublin attended by 10,000 people.
The latest was held in Connemara yesterday to coincide with the last day in office of the Coimisinéir Teanga, Seán Ó Cuirreáin. He resigned early as language commissioner because of his frustration with the State’s commitment to the first official language. Ó Cuirreáin and the Irish language movement believe this Government – and the “permanent government” of public servants – have displayed a marked indifference to the language’s fate. They argue that Irish as a daily spoken language is in grave peril and that we are nearing the day when then the last of the native speakers is born.
What is the basis of those criticisms?
There are a number of grounds. Outside of the education sphere, the State’s approach to the Irish language encompasses two documents, one legislative and one political. The legislation is the Official Language Act, introduced by former minister Éamon Ó Cuív, which gave a statutory basis for the first time to the rights in respect of the language enshrined in the Constitution. In short, anybody who wishes to engage in Irish with the State or any of its agencies or bodies is entitled to do so. Some provisions of the Act – such as the requirement for bodies to translate into Irish annual reports and other important documents – became the subject of harsh criticism. As far back as 2004, Fine Gael’s John Deasy was identifying huge translation costs for documents that were never read in the Irish form.
However, one of the roles of the Coimisinéir Teanga was to ensure the Irish language obligations were being honoured. Among the more egregious cases he highlighted were the absence of Irish-speaking gardaí in the Donegal Gaeltacht of Gweedore (subsequently fully addressed by An Garda Síochána) as well as Revenue’s practice of having press releases translated into Irish in batches every three months to save costs, which rendered them pointless. The Act has seen some positive developments, particularly in relation to signage (and some documents). Both TG4 and Raidió na Gaeltachta are important contributors, and new movements such as Gaelscoileanna and Irish language activity on social media have become so widespread that they cannot be ignored at the political level.
The second document was the 20-year strategy for the Irish language, now in its third year of operation. Its aim is to increase the number of daily speakers from 83,000 to 250,000. Mr Ó Cuirreáin said recently that after the first three years that “it would be difficult to meet anybody who thinks the target is realisable”. How does the Government compare with previous administrations in its attitude to Irish? Unlike previous governments, the Minister with responsibility for Irish, Dinny McGinley, is a junior rather than a senior minister. A lack of interest is evident across Government. A recent decision by the Department of Public Expenditure to end the 6 per cent bonus for Irish in Civil Service entrance exams was portrayed as a further nail in the coffin. Ó Cuirreáin has argued that under current rules it will take 28 years to increase the percentage of Irish speakers in the Department of Education (a key department) from a miserly 1.5 per cent to 3 per cent. Allied to that is a programme for Government commitment to consider getting rid of obligatory Irish for the Leaving Cert and a sense among language activists of antipathy towards the language within the public service. So was yesterday’s march important?Irish language groups, such as Conradh na Gaeilge, say that the Irish speaking community is getting angry at its second-class status.
www.irishtimes.com
Imperative that we support our language
February 24, 2014
I, like many thousands, took part in the “La Mór na Gaeilge” rally recently and the majority of the protesters were young people, particularly students of Gaelcholáistí.
A large number of participants came from all parts of Ireland. As the father of four children attending a Gaelcholáiste in West Dublin, it is imperative that the Government clearly states its honest intentions with regard to the future of the Irish language. Funding for Irish-language bodies and Gaeltacht regions have been drastically reduced in every budget since the onset of the economic crisis. These cuts have had a detrimental effect on the cultural, artistic and educational communities of Ireland. May I through the medium of your esteemed newspaper urge the people to make the Irish language a big issue in the run-up to the May elections?
Paul Doran
Clondalkin
Dublin 22
www.examiner.ie
‘Slan to Sean’ protest over Irish services
February 24, 2014
HUNDREDS of people turned out in Connemara to mark the last day in office of the country’s first Irish Language Commissioner.
Sean O Cuirreain’s second term as Coimisineir Teanga ended officially yesterday with a protest by Irish language activists and supporters in the heart of the country’s largest Gaeltacht area. The Slan le Sean protest came in the wake of Mr O Cuirreain’s resignation at the failure of the Government to ensure the provision of adequate services as Gaeilge to Irish speakers. And it followed last week’s demonstration in Dublin – attended by an estimated 10,000 people – over the lack of action by government to assert the rights of Gaeilgoiri. The protest got under way yesterday with a tribute to the work of Mr O Cuirreain during his two terms as the country’s first Irish Language Commissioner.
Thanking all those attending for their support, Mr O Cuirreain said: “I have always found it ironic that the State, which requires all students to study Irish up to Leaving Cert level, then fails to facilitate them and actually actively prevents them from using the language in dealing with state bodies.” He wished his successor as commissioner, Ronan O Domhnaill, every success in his new role. Mr O Domhnaill has worked for a number of years as political correspondent with TG4. Afterwards, a letter of protest was handed in to the headquarters of the Department of the Gaeltacht in Furbo.
www.independent.ie
Feachtas ar son meánscoile i gcathair Dhoire
February 24, 2014
Learn Irish for less at Coláiste na nOileán
February 24, 2014
Located in the heart of the Connemara Gaeltacht, Coláiste na nOileán is one of the longest-running Irish colleges.
The college offers a number of course options. Five day summer Gaeltacht course for fifth and sixth class primary A specially designed five day residential course for fifth and sixth class primary students, this completely separate and fully supervised course is especially designed around parents’ requests and caters specifically for this age group.
Three week summer courses
The extremely popular three-week courses have made the college stand out from the rest with special courses for those sitting the Leaving Cert and Junior Cert 2014. Great emphasis is placed on the oral Irish test which accounts for 40 per cent of the awarded grade.
One, two, and three day Gaeltacht activity courses
The college also runs one, two, and three day mini Gaeltacht activity courses during the school year that would suit all ages from fifth and sixth class primary students to transition year in secondary. The courses include a huge range of activities, all through the medium of Irish, which make it a fun packed adventure.
Coláiste na nOileán believes that learning Irish should be fun as this helps to cultivate a love for the Irish language and its culture, a formula that has made Coláiste na nOileán a huge success for over half a century.
It is also running special offers for mid-term break and Easter. For further details on all courses and to download a brochure visit www.colaistenanoilean.ie or contact the college on 091 551933/595890 or email colnanoilean@gmail.com.
www.advertiser.ie/mayo
Irish language under threat
February 24, 2014
A chara, – As a Gaeilgeoir I prefer to communicate with government departments and State agencies as Gaeilge, but am coming to the conclusion there is an unofficial policy at Government level to discourage this. The following examples illustrate the point.
In the first year of the Local Property Tax, I wrote to the Revenue Commissioners requesting that all correspondence between them and me in that regard be done as Gaeilge, including explanatory booklet and bill. The request was ignored and I had no choice but to invoke the assistance of An Coimisinéir Teanga (the Language Commissioner).
I estimate that more than a dozen letters were written before that simple matter was successfully concluded – by me, by An Coimisinéir Teanga and by the Revenue Commissioners. Stout resistance was encountered from the last of those.
Recently I again had to invoke the assistance of An Coimisinéir Teanga to obtain the Irish language version of Form DD1 which applies to exemption from VAT and VRT for those with adaptations to their vehicles to suit a driver or passenger with a physical disability. Twice I wrote to Revenue for the form to be provided as Gaeilge but my request was ignored in favour of the English language version. The requested one finally arrived, as Gaeilge.
It is interesting to note that the Revenue Commissioners have an impressive website that pretends there is a choice of either official language but, on closer examination, it transpires that there are serious discrepancies.
By contrast, those in charge of collecting the household charge had no difficulty in doing the entire matter as Gaeilge and without fuss.
Many of my friends are Gaeilgeoirí but, sadly, several of them have abandoned their efforts to deal with the State as Gaeilge. They cite numerous examples of obstacles being placed in their paths.
Is it any wonder that Seán Ó Cuirreáin has resigned as An Coimisinéir Teanga?
Saturday’s march in Dublin shows there are many in this country who believe in the value of our uniqueness of language and richness of identity and also that most of those whom we have elected to lead us are not remotely interested.
– Is mise,
BRIAN Mac a’ BHAIRD,
Carraig Mhachaire Rois,
Co Mhuineacháin.
www.irishtimes.com
Protest over Irish language rights held in Gaeltacht
February 24, 2014
The Government’s failure to protect linguistic rights of Irish speakers was denounced in the State’s largest Gaeltacht yesterday, when hundreds of people braved southerly gales for a demonstration in Connemara.
The “Slán le Seán” protest, as it was titled, was held to mark the last day in office of the first Irish language commissioner Seán Ó Cuirreáin, who announced his resignation late last year over the State’s lack of commitment to providing adequate services in Irish for Irish speakers.
Yesterday’s event – coming just a week after an estimated 10,000 people marched in Dublin – is part of a nationwide campaign to seek equal treatment for Irish speakers on both sides of the Border.
Anybody who wishes to engage in Irish with the State or any of its agencies or bodies is entitled to do so Why are Irish language groups protesting?
Reiterating that they were “dearg le fearg”, or “red with anger”, the demonstrators, represented by Colm Mac Donncha of Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta, presented a letter of tribute to Mr Ó Cuirreáín at his office in An Spidéal.
Mr Ó Cuirreáin said he was humbled by the level of support from Gaeltacht communities and Irish speakers across the island. “I always found it to be ironic that the State, which requires all students to study Irish up to Leaving Certificate level, it then fails to facilitate them, and in fact actively prevents them from using that language in dealing with State bodies,” he said, emphasising that his recommendations had all been “cost neutral”.
“To continue to do this over the years and generations is a folly which has pushed the language to the margins of society,” he said.
Mr Ó Cuirreáín said he wished his successor – the incoming Coimisinéir Teanga, Rónán Ó Domhnaill – “every success in meeting the challenges of protecting and promoting Irish language rights”.
A minute’s silence was held in memory of Éanna Griallais, a young man from Indreabhán who died over the weekend, before the participants then set out on foot from An Spidéal to Department of the Gaeltacht offices at Na Forbacha with banners and loud-hailers.
On arrival, actor and Fíbín theatre company producer Darach Ó Tuairisg read out a letter addressed to Minister of State Dinny McGinley, which was then presented to one of the department officials.
The letter calls for repeal or amendment of the Acht na Gaeltachta 2012 to ensure it sets the boundaries of the Gaeltacht according to linguistic criteria, and implementation of a clear policy throughout the Civil Service to ensure State services are provided through the medium of Irish.
Former Gaeltacht minister Éamon Ó Cuív and Sinn Féin senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh were among politicians at the demonstration, along with representatives from communities across the Connemara Gaeltacht.
www.irishtimes.com
Rúnaí Oifige lán-aimseartha á lorg ag Gaelscoileanna Teo. – Spriocdháta 26 Feabhra
February 24, 2014
