Cúrsa Ullmhúcháin don Bhéaltriail Ardteiste le Gael Linn
January 17, 2013
Find an Irish class to suit you with Gaelport.com
January 15, 2013
Have you made it your New Year’s Resolution to learn Irish or to brush up on your grammar?
There are Irish classes running all over the country at different levels from beginners to fluent speakers wishing to brush up on their written skills.
There are many options in Dublin for venues and levels. Gaelchultúr, Gael Linn and Conradh na Gaeilge provide weekly classes in the city centre and Áras Chrónáin provide weekly spoken classes in Clondalkin, Dublin 22.
Conradh na Gaeilge’s classes are not only limited to Dublin city, courses are available in Galway City, Mayo, Kildare, Limerick , Clare and even in Liverpool, UK, all starting between 22 and 24 January. Gaelchultúr’s classes are also spread across the country.
As well as running classes for adults, Conradh na Gaeilge also run a preparation course for the Leaving Cert Oral Exam. The course gives guidance to Leaving Cert students on the most effective ways to answer questions on the ‘Sraith Pictiúr’ section of the exam as well as brushing up on fluency. The course begins on 15 January and runs for 10 weeks.
For those applying for Hibernia College’s Higher Diploma in Primary Education, Gaelchultúr is providing a preparatory Irish course for the entrance exam. All emphasis is on spoken and listening skills and grammar is taught in the context in which it’s needed. The course runs for 7 weeks.
There are many opportunities to learn, practice and speak Irish in Belfast in 2013 in ‘An Droichead’ cultural centre, based in Belfast city and with Cumann Cultúrtha Mhic Reachtain based on the Antrim Road. As well as that, Máirín Hurndall, a lecturer with Queen’s University and radio presenter with Raidió Fáilte is running a Welsh class every Thursday at Cumann Chluain Ard, Belfast.
In the south of the country, Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne is running Irish Accuracy courses in February 2013 in west Kerry directed at teachers, editors or anyone who wishes to brush up on their accuracy in written Irish and in Cork city Gael-Taca are providing weekly classes in the Irish Language centre based in O’Sullivan’s Port and all over Cork.
All details on courses mentioned above and more can be found at www.gaelport.com/cursai. If you would like to register a course for free contact eolas@gaelport.com.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Minister launches more patronage surveys
January 15, 2013
Residents of Kildare town awoke yesterday to hear the unexpected news that a new gaelscoil is to open in September 2013.
Minister for Education and Skills Ruairí Quinn TD said that the decision had been founded on a clear demand amongst locals for Irish language medium education.
Secretary General of Irish language patronage body An Foras Pátrúnachta, Caoimhín Ó hEaghra said that he was delighted with the decision to accept the evidence for a new gaelscoil.
The Minister made the announcement at the launch of a new series of surveys on school patronage in primary schools across the country. Parents in 38 areas will eligible to take part in the process.
However it is uncertain whether the Minister believes that any further announcements of school openings is to follow the surveys, due to the stable nature of the population in some of the more rural areas. Minister Quinn did hint that more negotiations might take place to divest current schools from the patronage of the Catholic Church, depending on the outcome of the surveys.
In spite of this, Irish language organisations have asked interested parents to show their support for Irish medium education.
“This is a great opportunity for parents who wish to promote Irish language education in their area, a move which could be established under the auspices of the Irish language patronage body, An Foras Pátrúnachta” said Secretary General, Caoimhín Ó hEagra.
This is the next step in the process since results of pilot studies in Arklow, Castlebar, Tramore, Trim and Whitehall were announced last December. The biggest outcome, according to the Minister was a clear demand for diversity of patronage in these areas.
However some groups have pointed out that the results of the surveys which were completed by 1,788 parents, were unrepresentative of the school population in those areas.
Speaking yesterday, Minister Quinn said that lessons had been learned from the initial pilot survey scheme. He confirmed that the process would take place over a longer period of time and that the Department would work to publicise the initiative in the various regions.
He has asked parents to take part in the process online on www.education.ie and fill in the surveys before Friday February 8th 2013.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Tóstal na Gaeilge 2013 to be held in Dublin this February
January 15, 2013
“Beart de réir Briathair” which loosely translates as ‘practice as you preach’ is the theme of Tóstal na Gaeilge 2013, which will be held in Dublin city centre in a month’s time.
In the Hilton Hotel, Charlemont Place, Dublin 2, the Irish language community and friends of the language will come together on the 16th February 2013 to discuss the most pertinent issues facing the language. Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge have put together a comprehensive programme of events for the day from 09:30 – 17:00.
In the morning, Government policy relating to the Irish language will be discussed, with two separate panels of guest speakers focussing primarily on the latest policies introduced by the Government under the Gaeltacht Act 2012.
The first discussion session will centre on the topic of raising a family with Irish, and the challenges faced in passing the language from one generation to the next within the family.
Gormfhlaith Ní Thuairisg of RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta will steer the discussion between guest speakers: Feargal Ó Cuilinn, Head of Comhluadar; Dr Briain Ó Curnáin, an expert in dialectology and the Irish language sociology at the Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies; Aoife Ní Shéagha, Lecturer in Language Planning at NUI Galway; and Sorcha Ní Chéilleachair, Chairperson of Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta – Conamara.
“An Ghaeltacht in 2013” will be the topic for discussion under the chairmanship of Rónán Mac an Iomaire, RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, with speakers including: Seosamh Mac Donncha, NUI Galway, Stiofán Ó Cualáin, Údarás na Gaeltachta; Treasa Ní Mhainín, Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta; as well as a representative from the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
After a break for lunch, two more sessions will follow which will discuss the effect of Government policy on the Irish language and state responsibility for the future of the language. These hot topics will be debated, under the watchful eye of Eimear Ní Chonaola, Nuacht TG4, by panels including elected public representatives and spokespersons for Government agencies.
The full programme of events for Tóstal na Gaeilge 2013 will be published on Gaelport.com and on social networks over the coming weeks under the hash tag #Tnag13.
Admission to Tóstal na Gaeilge will cost €15, and lunch will be provided. To attend, you must register in advance for the event by contacting Máire Ní Phuirséil, Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge, 01 6794780 or maire@comhdhail.ie.
The Hilton Hotel is centrally located adjacent to the Charlemont Luas stop.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Buntáiste Breise na Gaeilge Tour 2013
January 15, 2013
As part of our 2013 tour Gaeilge Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge are currently hosting a series of Irish language careers seminars for secondary school students all over Ireland.
In recent years Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge have organised over twenty such seminars with 6,453 students from 201 post-primary schools from all over the country having attended the seminars nationwide.
These seminars cater for students in fourth, fifth and sixth year in secondary schools across the country. These seminars cater for second level students all over Ireland. Guest speakers and well-known personalities will speak on the advantages which the Irish language has afforded them in their chosen careers.
On Wednesday, 27th February 2013 the seminar will cater for pupils in counties Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo when a seminar will be hosted in Ballina, Co. Mayo.
On Thursday 28th February a seminar will take place in The Mount Errigal Hotel in Letterkenny where pupils from all over Donegal, Derry, Fermanagh and Tyrone are invited to attend and listen to a wonderful panel of guest speakers on the day.
Speakers include, from RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta broadcaster Rónán Mac Aodha Bhuí, Caitlín Uí Chlochláin Irish language Officer with Donegal County Council, Donegal’s footballer Eamon McGee and Dermot Mc Laughlin, Project Director City of Culture 2013.
As part of the seminars, questions from the students are welcomed, which give rise to lively debate about such subjects as the future of the language, Gaeltacht status, Irish as a compulsory subject, Irish at third level, and the Government’s support for the language.
Here are some upcoming seminars which will take place in Autumn 2013:
Carrick-on-Shannon – Wednesday, 16th October 2013
Galway – Thursday, 17th October 2013
Silver Springs Moran Hotel, Cork City – Wednesday, 13th November 2013
The Malton Hotel, Killarney, Co. Kerry – Thursday, 14th November 2013
If your school would like to attend this seminar, please contact Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge: +353 1 679 4780 / e-mail eolas@gaelport.com for further information visit: www.gaelport.com/bbnag.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
WHY BILINGUALISM? Two Languages Are Better Than One
January 15, 2013
Short video on the benefits of bilingualism: Why Bilingualism?
Emergency Meeting to discuss future of COGG
January 15, 2013
An emergency meeting of Irish language and education organisations will take place in Dublin tomorrow to discuss the proposed merger of An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment.
Secretary General of the Department of Education and Skills, Seán Ó Foghlú announced the amalgamation at an Irish-medium education conference on November 23rd 2012.
Since its foundation in 2002, COGG has provided textbooks, posters, Irish language programming and electronic learning materials to Irish-medium schools across the country. It has also funded research in the area of language teaching and immersion education and acts as an advisory body on issues concerning Irish-medium education.
A meeting of Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge, Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta and Gaelscoileanna, organisations which campaigned for the establishment of the Council, as well An Foras Pátrúnachta and Na Naíonraí Gaelacha will be held to discuss a campaign to support COGG.
The organisations have expressed worry that the role of COGG as an independent agency will be diminished by the merger as well as concerns that the final word on future funding would be made by the NCCA.
The future of COGG has been uncertain since 2009 where Colm McCarthy’s An Bord Snip Nua report recommended that the council be closed. Following the McCarthy report, the Department of Education and Science defended COGG and recommended that it should continue to function as an independent body.
There was some concern that the Bord Snip report failed to take into account the wider functions of COGG in promoting Irish-medium education.
However in the past year the Department has changed its policy and hinted indirectly to representatives of COGG that a merger with the NCCA was on the cards.
No official representations were made to the board or staff of COGG in the interim and it is reported that the organisation was informed of the changes on the day prior to the conference of Gaelscoileanna and Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta in November.
The Department has stated that the merger would ensure that COGG would concentrate its resources on its core functions of providing teaching resources to support the teaching of Irish in tandem with the NCCA’s work on revising the curriculum.
According to Ó Foghlú, “The general administrative functions, which are a considerable burden on a small staff, will now be provided by the NCCA”
Three staff are currently employed by COGG and it is now believed that they would operate as an Irish language unit within the NCCA.
The Department’s planned savings may be scuppered however by the fact that both agencies operate on a daily basis using different languages with COGG conducting all of its business, accounts and administration through the medium of Irish language.
The Department insists that the merger makes sense and will benefit Irish-medium education in the long term. Speaking at the Gaelscoileanna conference Seán Ó Foghlú stated that COGG would preserve its identity under the auspices of the NCCA. “The move will strengthen its ability to support Irish-medium education and the teaching of Irish generally”, he added.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
New Gaelscoil for Kildare, September 2013 & Parental Survey – Press Release from An Foras Pátrúnachta
January 14, 2013
The Minister for Education, Ruairí Quinn, announced today that a new Gaelscoil is to open in Kildare Town in September of this year. In the same announcement the Minister outlined the commencement of the second phase of the survey of parents on the divestment of schools from the Catholic Church.
Caoimhín Ó hEaghra, Ard Rúnaí An Foras Pátrúnachta, stated that ‘ We are delighted for the people of Kildare Town. There is great demand locally for Irish Medium Education which has been illustrated by the waiting lists for the other Irish Medium schools in the area. Ó hEaghra continued ‘An Foras Pátrúnachta are thankful to the Department for looking favourably on our application on behalf of the people of Kildare Town.”
In relation to the divestment of Catholic schools the second phase of the survey on 38 areas around the country is commencing today. The Minister is asking parents in these areas to complete the online survey before the 8th of February 2013. The survey can be accessed on the Department’s website at www.education.ie or all information can be found at www.foras.ie.
Ó hEaghra stated that “this is a great opportunity for parents who would like Irish Medium education in their area. It is important that parents complete the survey and select an Irish Medium School under An Foras Pátrúnachta.” He went on to say that “we believe that every child has a right to Irish Medium Education if they so wish. This is an opportunity for parents to seek this right for their children.”
An Foras Pátrúnachta has been providing diversity and addressing parents wishes since it was founded in 1993. Comprehensive information relating to this process is available at An Foras Pátrúnachta’s website (www.foras.ie) and we will be available to provide information on the benefits of Irish Medium Education, the multi-denominational ethos and about us as a patron.
For media information, contact:
Caoimhín Ó hEaghra:: 01-6294110 :: eolas@foras.ie
Siobhán Seoighe :: 01-6294110 :: eolas@foras.ie
About An Foras Pátrúnachta:
AN FORAS PÁTRÚNACHTA is the largest patron of Irish medium schools in Ireland at both primary and secondary level. There are 61 primary schools and 3 secondary schools under its patronage. AN FORAS PÁTRÚNACHTA is a patron of Irish-medium schools that have a choice of a Catholic, Multidenominational and Interdenominational (Catholic / Protestant) ethos. The vision of AN FORAS PÁTRÚNACHTA is to develop, strengthen and promote education through the medium of Irish throughout the country. AN FORAS PÁTRÚNACHTA is recognized by the Department of Education and Science as a patronage system which is acceptable and appropriate for first and second level schools. AN FORAS PÁTRÚNACHTA was founded in 1993 so that new gaelscoileanna opening in the coming years would have another choice with regard to patronage.
For more information: www.foras.ie
Surveys on primary school patronage rolled out to 38 areas across the country
January 14, 2013
Minister Quinn asks parents to indicate which patron bodies they would like to see running primary schools in their area.
Parents of all children aged 0 to 12 years in 38 areas across Ireland are being asked by the Minister for Education and Skills what patrons they would like to see operating their local primary schools.
Surveys are going live today (Monday 14th January) and are an expansion of pilot surveys on primary school patronage which were conducted late last year in five towns.
The survey can be accessed on line via www.education.ie and parents or guardians of primary school going children and 0 to 5 year olds in the 38 towns and suburbs (list below) are being urged to fill it in. They will need to have their PPS number in order to complete the survey; however, these details are only being used for verification purposes.
The aim of the survey is to establish the level of demand from parents for diversity of school patronage in each of the towns. At present, some 96% of primary schools are under church patronage, with more than 90% or approximately 3,000 schools under the remit of the Catholic Church. This survey initiative follows on from the recommendations of the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary sector.
If parents indicate they would like a wider choice of patron, then the Department of Education and Skills (DES) will ask existing patrons to come up with a plan to transfer some schools to other patron bodies.
“This is an historic opportunity for parents to have a real say in the type of school they wish to send their children to, be it denominational, multi-denominational, all-Irish or other,” said Minister Ruairí Quinn T.D.
“In the 38 towns and suburbs where the surveys are taking place, there is little prospect of any new schools opening as the population remains stable and there is enough capacity within existing schools. However, if parents demonstrate through this survey that they want a greater choice of primary school then we will work with existing patrons to transfer patronage to ensure they can send their children to a school which best reflects their own ethos and beliefs.”
The bodies which have indicated that they would like to become patrons of any divested schools in the identified areas are the VECs, An Foras Patrúnachta, Educate Together, and in a small number of areas the National Learning Network and the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
Kildare Town has been removed from the original list of areas to be surveyed, following consultation with patrons. The town already has an Educate Together school, opened in September 2011. There was also a recommendation to establish an all-Irish school in the town in coming years. Since then, an Foras Patrúnachta has produced sufficient evidence of demand for an all Irish school in Kildare and the establishment of a Gaelscoil will commence in September 2013.
A code of conduct has been worked out in consultation with the patron bodies which will limit expenditure on the provision of information. The code is designed to ensure the surveys are conducted in a reasonable manner, avoiding contentious commentary.
A comprehensive information campaign by the DES in each of the areas begins today and will include a leaflet drop to every household giving details of the survey and advertising on local radio and newspapers. A free helpline is also available in the Department for anyone who has any difficulties in completing the survey: 1800 303621.
The helpline will be open from 9.30 to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Paper based versions of the survey are also available on request.
The survey process will be overseen by the independent New Schools Establishment Group. The Department will publish detailed reports on the survey outcomes.
Parents and guardians of all 0 to 12 year olds in the 38 towns have from now until the 8th of February to complete the survey at www.education.ie.
List of 38 areas to be surveyed
- Ballina
- Ballinasloe
- Ballyfermot/ Chapelizod/ Palmerstown/ Cherry Orchard
- Bandon
- Birr
- Buncrana
- Carrick-on-Suir
- Carrigaline
- Celbridge
- Clonmel
- Cobh
- Dublin 6
- Dungarvan
- Edenderry
- Enniscorthy
- Fermoy
- Kells (Ceanannas)
- Killarney
- Leixlip
- Longford
- Loughrea
- Malahide
- Monaghan
- Nenagh
- New Ross
- Passage West
- Portmarnock
- Roscommon
- Roscrea
- Rush
- Shannon
- Skerries
- Thurles
- Tipperary
- Tuam
- Westport
- Wicklow
- Youghal
There are 311 primary schools in the 38 areas.
Meeting re new primary school for Stepaside
January 14, 2013
Diary Date for 2013 – there will be a meeting in Sandyford Community Centre at 19.30 on the 14/01/13 about the new Gaelscoil in Stepaside, due to open in September 2013. The meeting is being organised by the school’s patron, An Foras Pátrúnachta, and further information is available here:
