Comhordaitheoir ar Thionscadal Oidhreachta
December 10, 2013
Cúntóir Naíonra, Biorra
December 10, 2013
An Taoiseach Enda Kenny i mbun cainte le Raidió na Life ar ‘20 Bliain’ Dé Céadaoin 11ú Nollaig, 12:00 – 13:00
December 10, 2013
Merry Christmas from Coláiste na hÉireann/Gaelchultúr
December 10, 2013
Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year from Gaelchultúr.
As 2013 draws to a close, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who participated in our courses over the last 12 months.
2013 has been an important year for Gaelchultúr. We were awarded status as a third level institution during the summer and began a course at level 9 on the NFQ, Dioplóma Iarchéime san Aistriúchán (Postgraduate Diploma in Translation), in September. We offered the Certificate in Professional Irish at three different levels – Levels 3, 4 and 5 – and awarded that qualification to employees from a wide range of public sector bodies. We published the third edition of our Irish grammar book, Gramadach gan Stró!, as well as three new Irish language resources for primary school teachers: Gníomhaíochtaí Gasta, Póstaer Pearsan and Réalta an Ranga. Over a thousand primary teachers participated in our online summer courses – the most registrations we’ve had to date. We also redesigned our online shop, siopa.ie, and added substantially to the number and range of products we sell.
Competition
We have two pairs of tickets to give away for Kíla’s Christmas gig, as well as five copies of Rónán Ó Snodaigh’s brand new album, Sos. The gig will begin at 8.00pm on Wednesday, 18 December 2013, in Whelan’s, 25 Wexford Street, Dublin 2.
If you want to be in with a chance to win, send an email with the title “Comórtas” to eolas@gaelchultur.com by 5.00pm on Friday, 13 December 2013. You must answer the following question in your email:
Rónán Ó Snodaigh is a member of the band Kíla, but what is the name of his latest solo album?
All correct answers will be entered into a draw. The first two people selected will win the tickets and the next five names drawn will win a copy of the album.
Cúrsaí an Earraigh Gaelchultúr
Irish language policy is deluded
December 10, 2013
With all due respect to Julian de Spáinn of Conradh na Gaeilge, his recent letter (Dec 6) is a good illustration of the scale of the delusion that exists in the Irish language lobby about how best to preserve the national language.
Mr de Spáinn says that the status of Irish as an official EU language makes Irish “our bridge to Europe”. In reality, however, the only concrete effect of this status is that reams of obscure official documents are required to be translated into Irish costing European taxpayers a staggering €800m annually. Given that, according to the most recent census, just 1.8% of the population use Irish as part of their daily lives, it is clear that only a tiny number of people in Ireland (let alone in Europe) benefit from this enormous expenditure. So what exactly does this “official status” achieve in terms of preserving the language, when the only people who derive any benefit from it are the tiny number of people who already speak Irish?
So here’s a radical idea. How about we seek to revoke the status of Irish as an official language, and request that this €800m be redirected from translating endless documents and reports, to the direct teaching of Irish to schoolchildren. This would effectively double the amount being spent on the teaching of Irish, and could literally bring about a revolution in how we teach the language. For example, with such vast money at our disposal we could send every child in the country with an interest in the language to the Gaeltacht for a couple of weeks a year. Surely that would do more for the language than the translation of dust-gathering EU reports?
Mr de Spáinn goes on to mention the 180 jobs as translators and says, quite outrageously, that “there is no other way to dramatically increase the number or Irish people working with the EU”. This is an extraordinarily blinkered point of view. In Germany alone, there is a massive shortage of skilled engineers, with an estimated 70,000 vacancies in this sector which cannot be filled. So how about instead of spending €800m to create 180 jobs translating documents into Irish, we spend this money on teaching some of the thousands of skilled construction workers who lost their jobs in the crash to speak German, and take up these well-paid jobs just a two-hour flight away? Irish language groups tend to froth at the mouth at the thought of continental languages being taught to Irish people, but this is hardly surprising given that they seem not to want any Irish people to learn Irish either.
The status of Irish as an official EU language does nothing to preserve the language. All it does is effectively put Irish on a pedestal in a museum, like some kind of stuffed dodo, to be admired by a tiny number of people at a cost of €800m per annum. Only a truly radical shift in our attitudes will prevent our language from going the way of the dodo.
Barry Walsh
Clontarf
Dublin 3
www.irishexaminer.com
Gaeilge is not a Hobby
December 10, 2013
Further to Ian O’Doherty’s column yesterday where he refers to the Irish language as a hobby in the context of Sean O Cuirreain’s resignation as language commissioner, I would like to speak for Irish speakers.
Mr O’Doherty has grown up in a world where all the services that he deals with to conduct his life are offered in his first language. Not so the thousands and thousands of people who have grown up with Irish as their first language. Imagine going to the doctor, to the bank, to a garda, to a counsellor and they don’t speak your first language. Not only do they not speak your language, but if you try to obtain the service in your own language you’re labelled as awkward, a ‘Gaeilgeoiri Grenadier’ to quote Mr O’Doherty.
We are not from another country, we are from Ireland, believe it or not, and the fact that we are being marginalised does not change the fact that we have a right to be here. Mr O’Doherty forgets that millions upon millions in state money is being invested in supporting the infrastructure of the English language — every government service in the country. Because it’s for the majority it’s okay. He forgets that we have a right to exist as well. It isn’t a hobby. It isn’t a cash cow. It’s who we are and we have a right to be here.
BRIDGET BHREATHNACH
TURLOCH BEAG, ROS MUC, CO NA GAILLIMHE
www.independent.ie
Comórtas Griangrafadóireachta ‘An Timire’
December 9, 2013
Aimsir – a new Irish language app
December 9, 2013
Detailed weather forecasts in Irish for the iPhone
Aimsir is a new initiative from Moonswing, a company based in Athlone, that provides users with an outlook of the weather through Irish.
Data from the OpenWeatherMap is used to provide accurate and detailed current and seven day forecasts through Irish.
As well as general weather forecasts, Aimsir also provides information on wind strength and direction, atmospheric pressure and humidity.
The app also aims to present the user with as wide range of much Irish language vocabulary as possible.
A large amount of the data is provided in text format and words and terms are translated in the glossary section of the app as well as several other tools which allow learners to become accustomed to working with numbers and dates through Irish.
Moonswing plans to add many more features to Aimsir in forthcoming releases, including audio clips for the Irish vocabulary.
Aimsir is available to download worldwide from the iTunes App Store https://itunes.apple.com/ie/app/aimsir-irish-language-weather/id764362817?mt=8
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
A wonderful selection of Irish gift ideas
December 9, 2013
It’s that time of year again when the search for that special Christmas present or that socking filler to give this Christmas is well and truly underway.
Whether it’s a book for beginners or children’s books, t-shirts, hoodie, cards, cd’s or DVDs you are looking for there is a whole range of ideas that will make the perfect gift this Christmas.
In County Mayo, Shop ‘n Spraoi na Nollag’ Christmas market will take place in Westport from 13th to 15th December 2013. Local artisan food and craft producers will be displaying top quality handmade trinkets, dishes and gifts. You can choose from a wide array of gifts: wooden carvings, handbags, soaps, stained glass, woolen goods, pottery, dolls, jewellery and clothing. Gnó Mhaigh Eo will have a stand at the Shop ‘n Spraoi with the ‘Déanta i Maigh Eo’ products which incorporate the Irish language in their branding or on the products themselves.
Cló Mhaigh Eo is based in Claremorris and has a wide selection of books to suit children and beginners. The beautifully illustrated book Gráinne Mhaol, which was published by Cló Mhaigh Eo, was awarded Gradam Réics Carló for the best publication for young readers during gradam Leabhar na Bliana 2013. To view the full range of books available www.leabhar.com.
An Spailpín Fánach, located in An Spidéal in Conamara, sells a wide range of gifts from cards, cds, Irish signs and a wonderful selection of t-shirts and hoodies with various Irish language phrases on them. For further details on what they have to offer visit www.spailpin.com.
Bricíní – A children’s books festival will take place in Seanscoil Shailearna, Indreabhán from 13th- 14th December 2013 and a wide selection of books will be on sale during the festival which is being organised by Pléaráca Chonamara. Guests at this festival include the talented singer and writer Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin from Futa Fata who will delight the audience with his readings. Futa Fata who are based in An Spidéal have brilliant socking filler’s and some great gift ideas for kids this Christmas with some beautiful books and cd’s, all available from www.futafata.ie.
Cló Iar-Chonnacht has an incredible selection of newly published books instore this Christmas and their annual Christmas sale is in full swing until 23rd December. Customers can avail of great deals and discounts on Irish books and traditional Irish music on www.cic.ie or by visiting the Cló Iar-Chonnacht shop in Indreabhán, Co. Galway. They are open from Monday to Friday and will also be open on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd December from 12 noon -5pm especially for Christmas.
The best way to learn a language is to enjoy it and the range of Irish language games on the market right now are sure to get people enjoying Irish and once again this year Údar stock many Irish language products plus a wide range of educational items. These games can be enjoyed by everybody with an interest in improving their spelling and vocabulary and particularly those with a competitive streak. Scrabble as Gaeilge is available nationwide and Scrabble na n-Óg, a junior edition, as well as other games like League Leader Iománaíocht, Biongó and Memory Dominoes are available from www.udar.ie.
An Siopa Leabhar on Harcourt street in the heart of the capital city boasts a wide range of Irish language books suitable for all ages. Individuals can choose from history books, novels, dictionaries and children’s books plus many other products all these are available in-store or online at www.cnag.ie/siopa.
In Gleann Cholm Cille in Northwest Donegal, An Siopa Gaeilge is located in Oideas Gael and has a wide variety of gifts available from beautiful children’s books to cd’s. Visit www.siopagaeilge.ie.
An Siopa Cultúr / Cairde Teo is located in Armagh and has a wonderful selection of gift ideas for all ages including a trendy selection of t-shirts, hoodies, hats and jackets with Irish language logos, ceramics and a wide range of pottery, cards, signs plus fun stuff for children. To see what’s on offer visit www.siopacultur.com.
There is no doubt that the most recognisable teddy in the world will be in high demand again this year. Bábóg Baby www.babogbaby.com is on sale nationwide and is now available in Irish, English, Welsh and Scots Gaelic.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Guíonn Gaelscoileanna Teo. gach rath ar na heolaithe óga!
December 9, 2013
