‘New Meets Old’ – Gaelscoil Shliabh Rua Sponsored Walk
February 17, 2014
Saturday, March 1st will see the very first fundraising event for Gaelscoil Shliabh Rua take place, when our pupils will take part in a sponsored walk around the grounds of Scoil Éanna (St Enda’s) on the Grange Road. As the newest Gaelscoil in the country we thought it would be fitting to bring the children to visit the site of Ireland’s first Gaelscoil – a real case of new meeting old.
If you are considering sending your child to Gaelscoil Shliabh Rua this September, or in September 2015, come along and meet the children and their siblings, parents and grandparents. Join us as we make our way through the walled gardens, around the magical woodland walk, along the riverside and past the waterfall? The children will also be visiting the nature room and we’ll all be going for refreshments in the café afterwards. All of the monies raised will be used to purchase additional educational toys for our school.
We’re meeting at 10am, Saturday, March 1st directly in front of the main building. Hope to see you there
Is muidne le meas
Coiste na dTuismitheoirí (Sealadach)
Tá na busanna ag líonadh
February 13, 2014
Tá busanna á eagrú ó Chonamara agus ó chathair na Gaillimhe chun daoine a thabhairt go Baile Átha Cliath don mhórshiúl Lá Mór na Gaeilge – Siúl ar son do Chearta, ócáid a bheidh ar siúl an Satharn seo chugainn, 15 Feabhra.
Tá an mórshiúl á eagrú mar chuid d’fheachtas cearta atá bunaithe mar thoradh ar an ngéarchéim a cruthaíodh nuair a d’fhógair An Coimisinéir Teanga, Seán Ó Cuirreáin, go mbeadh sé ag éirí as oifig de bharr na heaspa éisteachta atá faighte aige ón Rialtas. Cuirfear tús leis an mórshiúl Lá Mór na Gaeilge – Siúl ar son do Chearta ag 2.00i.n. agus an slua ag fágáil Cearnóg Parnell ag 2.00i.n. agus iad ag tabhairt aghaidhe ar lár na cathrach.
Fágfaidh bus Chonamara carrchlós Mhuintearas, Tír an Fhia, ag 8.45r.n. agus stopfaidh sé ag Halla Éinne, An Cheathrú Rua ag 9.00r.n. agus ag Seanscoil Sailearna, Indreabhán ag 9.15r.n. Is féidir suíochán a chur in áirithe ach teachtaireacht a sheoladh chuig tuismitheoirinagaeltachta@gmail.com nó téacs chuig 087 3382885. Fágfaidh bus na cathrach an Ardeaglais ag 10.00r.n. agus is féidir suíochán a chur in áirithe ach glaoch a chur ar 091 567824.
Cuirfear críoch leis an mórshiúl le slogadh ollmhór, áit a ndéanfar ceiliúradh ar bheocht agus ar shaibhreas na Gaeilge le ceolchoirm ó Seo Linn agus baill den ghrúpa Kíla agus Na Firéin.
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Ultach Trust fighting to maintain the work it does
February 13, 2014
I would like to respond to Newton Emerson’s article on Foras na Gaeilge’s plans to dismantle the Irish language core-funded sector in Northern Ireland (February 6).
He appears to give some credence to Foras na Gaeilge’s argument that much of the funding to the sector was wasted on salaries rather than services. What is at issue is not salaries versus services, but what services are provided and how well they are delivered. No-one would say that in the health service too much funding goes on salaries for doctors and nurses. Like all of the sector, my organisation, ULTACH Trust, spends as little time as possible on administration in order to maximise services. In recent years, Foras na Gaeilge’s increasing obsession with counting beans – often the wrong beans – has made this more and more difficult. We are not fighting for jobs, we are fighting to maintain the work we do.
I do not necessarily agree with his assessment that Sinn Féin has deliberately targeted the northern organisations. Although it has recently embraced the promotion of the Irish language on a cross-community basis, it is true that the party has not been a great fan of my own organisation in the past, and it may be that the party now wishes to distance itself from Pobal. But Altram, the Irish-medium pre-school organisation, provides a vital support service on the ground to the 40 or so Irish-medium preschools on this side of the border.
Sinn Féin is unlikely to have wanted Altram’s five underpaid, highly qualified and dedicated staff to be thrown on to the dole queue in July.
It seems to me that this was less a plot than a guddle and that the DCAL Minister and her advisers were asleep at the wheel.
AODÁN MAC PÓILIN,
Director, ULTACH Trust
Belfast
www.irishnews.com
New Coimisinéir Teanga welcomed despite reservations by Conradh na Gaeilge
February 13, 2014
Conradh na Gaeilge has welcomed the announcement that Rónán Ó Domhnaill has been installed as the new language commissioner this week. However, the organisation has strongly criticised the Government for failing to implement the recommendations of the current commissioner.
The Government is leaving the new language commissioner in a difficult predicament considering that he will have to contend with the same problems as the current Coimisinéir Teanga from the start, and Conradh na Gaeilge does not believe that is fair on Mr Ó Domhnaill. According to Conradh na Gaeilge, there are several outstanding problems which have been outlined by the current language commissioner Seán Ó Cuirreáin which have been repeatedly ignored by the Government. These include the marginalisation of the Irish language in the public administration system; the inadequate implementation of statutory language schemes by public bodies; the void left in the wake of the review of the Official Languages Act; the Government’s decision to merge the Office of An Coimisinéir Teanga with the Office of the Ombudsman; insufficient resources essential to the Office to duly and fully fulfil its statutory obligations; the lack of staff proficient in Irish in the civil service; and the potential faults of the new system that is to take the place of the bonus marking Leaving Certificate scheme.
“The Irish language and Gaeltacht community north and south will have the opportunity to air their anger and disillusionment at Lá Mór na Gaeilge in Dublin this coming Saturday, especially in relation to how the Government in the south treated the current Coimisinéir Teanga,” said Julian de Spáinn, general secretary of Conradh na Gaeilge. “The Irish language and Gaeltacht community are angry with the Government, both for their lack of action and their lack of progress in ensuring that State employees have enough Irish to deal completely and satisfactorily with the Gaeltacht community, without condition or question, by the end of 2016 at the latest. “State services must also be made available in Irish to the Irish-speaking community at the same standard as they are provided in English. We are looking forward to getting huge crowds out on the streets on Saturday to achieve these demands and I am certain that the absence of any mention of these concerns, or to the possible solutions, in the Government’s announcement today will not satisfy the Irish-speaking and Gaeltacht community.”
Lá Mór na Gaeilge is being organised following the language commissioner Seán Ó Cuirreáin’s announcement that he would be stepping down on February 24 as a result of the lack of support for the language rights of the Irish-speaking and Gaeltacht community from the Government. The campaign for human rights gained momentum with the publication of a report by the Council of Europe on January 16 which noted that the growth and promotion of the Irish language in Northern Ireland is being blocked by hostile attitudes in Stormont, and a lack of support for its use in the courts and in education.
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Galway to take part in Lá Mór na Gaeilge demonstration
February 13, 2014
The Lá Mór na Gaeilge – Walk for your rights demonstrate against perceived attacks on language rights of Irish speakers and the Gaeltacht takes place this weekend.
The demonstration will convene at the Garden of Remembrance at Parnell Square at 2pm and proceed through Dublin city centre to the Dáil. The demonstration is being organised as part of a new language rights campaign that has been established in response to the announcement by Language Commissioner, Seán Ó Cuirreáin, that he would be stepping down as a result of the lack of engagement he has received from the Government. For Galwegians interested in taking part in the demonstration, buses from Connemara and Galway city will set off on Saturday morning. Connemara bus will depart from the Muintearas car park, Tír an Fhia, at 8.45am and will pick up passengers at Halla Éinne, An Cheathrú Rua, at 9am and at Seanscoil Sailearna, Indreabhán, at 9.15am. Spaces can be booked by texting 087 – 3382885 or by emailing tuismiteoirinagaeltachta@gmail.com. The Galway city bus will leave the Cathedral at 10am and spaces can be booked on this bus by contacting 091 – 567824.
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Gaeltacht courses in Coláiste Cholumba in An Cheathrú Rua
February 13, 2014
Coláiste Cholumba is located in An Cheathrú Rua in the heart of the Connemara Gaeltacht and provides a base for students to further their appreciation and knowledge of not only the Irish language but also of Ireland’s rich historical culture.
Courses are graded and cater for primary students, pre-Junior Cert and pre-Leaving Cert, with special tuition on oral examinations. The college will run three separate three-week courses over the summer, the first running from June 2 to June 23, then from June 24 to July 15, and finally from July 16 to August 6. The college also has courses for students who want a shorter two-week experience. The courses run from June 24 to July 8, July 9 to July 23 and July 23 to August 6. Coláiste Cholumba uses the communicative approach in Irish classes and avails of modern teaching aids as well as drama and other techniques to ensure that each student has the greatest opportunity to improve his or her Irish.
These courses are inclusive of accommodation, food, tuition, sports activities and travel during the course. Coláiste Cholumba is also famed for its theme nights which include Dubh agus Bán, Céilí 60s, Céilí Gléasta, Oíche Hawaii, Oíche Hollywood, Oíche Pop stars, Oíche Culchie, Oíche na gcontaetha, Céilí Tire, and many more. It’s hard to imagine a more fun-filled experience in one of the most popular Irish summer colleges. Coláiste Cholumba also runs special courses for those sitting the Leaving Cert 2014, Junior Cert, and for sixth class primary and first year post primary students. For further details/special offers contact 091 595184, email colaistecholumba@gmail.com or log on to www.colaistecholumba.ie. You can also find Coláiste Cholumba on Facebook at www.facebook.com/colaiste.cholumba and Twitter @colaistecholumb.
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Auditions: Sárscoil Fíbín
February 12, 2014
We are delighted to announce that Fíbín Drama School of Excellence is back. Not only will the students be able to improve their Irish but they will be trained up in drama skills from theatre and tv experts, Mícheál Ó Domhnaill (producer on ‘Aifric’ and director of Meangadh Fíbín TV), Darach Ó Tuairisg (producer and director on Fíbín Teo) ,Paul Mercier (director of Aifric and Artistic director of ‘Passion Machine’) along with other equally talented and skilled mentors.
During the workshops an emphasis will be placed on composition and writing. The students will be advised and guided through the process by experts in these fields. A play will be produced by the students which will be staged at the end of the two week course, this will add to the students confidence. An invitation will be sent out to producers for TG4, local media, parents and friends.
4 courses will be organised with 100 students attending each one. There is a huge demand on places but acting experience isn’t a necessity, a reasonable level of Irish is though. Students will attend workshops each day which will be run through Irish. The students will live in the heart of Connemara, therefore they will be immersed in the Irish language. The Irish oral exam accounts for 40% of their marks. This course will give students the chance to prepare for this exam in a fun and exciting way.
As there has been a huge demand on this course in previous years the students will need to audition for a place on the course. The fee for 2014 is €625. This covers accommoadtion, food, mentors, administration, guests etc.
If you have any questions or queries you can contact us at 091-505855 or send an e-mail to sarscoilfibin@gmail.com
Course Dates:
8th June – 20th June
22nd June – 4th July
6th July – 18th July
20th July – 1st August
View the student’s work from 2013:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jUy1_y8QP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AorenoUCSYM
Anger over plans to merge two of Cork’s oldest schools
February 12, 2014
The proposed merger of two of Cork’s oldest primary schools is causing controversy on the city’s northside.
The amalgamation plans for Scoil Mhuire Fatima boys’ school at the North Monastery and nearby St Vincent’s Convent National School were announced by their trustees to staff yesterday.
There has been primary education since 1811 at the North Mon, which has 171 second to sixth-class pupils, while nearby St Vincent’s, which has male pupils up to first class and girls up to sixth, first opened in 1847.
However, the Edmund Rice Schools Trust, which controls former Christian Brothers schools, and the Sisters of Charity want to amalgamate them by next September. The newly named school would see pupils and staff of the North Mon primary relocate to the St Vincent’s site.
One North Mon teacher said staff were shocked and angry at the news delivered in a meeting after school yesterday, particularly at the plan their building would be taken over by a neighbouring gaelscoil. The move will also be an issue for parents, particularly with months to decide important issues such as uniform policies.
The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation said concerns have been raised about the plan and full consultation with all partners is essential.
“It is important that future school provision is planned properly rather than quickly,” a spokesperson said.
In addition, the Presentation Sisters have agreed to change the North Presentation Primary School near the North Cathedral from a girls’ school with infant boys to a co-educational primary — but on a phased basis. The trustees said the restructuring process will include consultations with each school’s board, staff, and parents.
“This new structure will provide a more secure future for these schools. The ethos of the existing trustees will continue within the two newly restructured schools,” said a joint statement from the trust bodies and the Cork Catholic diocesan trustees.
The plan is for primary education to continue at the North Monastery, as the expanding Gaelscoil Pheig Sayers would move into the vacated site from temporary accommodation in nearby Farranferris. It would also transfer from diocesan trusteeship to the ERST.
The combined enrolments at the four schools fell from 947 in 2007 to 868 last year, but Scoil Mhuire Fatima’s and St Vincent’s fell by 64 and 47 respectively, while the other two schools have grown.
All four are in the North Cathedral parish, and Catholic Bishop of Cork and Ross, John Buckley, agrees in principle with the plans.
“If the trustees are in agreement and the schools are in agreement, the patron would be supportive,” his spokesperson said.
The trusts said a change of trustees for Gaelscoil Pheig Sayers would allow pupils more secure progression to Gaelcholáiste Mhuire on the North Mon campus.
www.irishexaminer.com
Tá na busanna ag líonadh
February 12, 2014
Rónán Ó Domhnaill le bheith ina Choimisinéir nua Teanga
February 12, 2014
