(Gaeilge) Closleabhar taifeadta ag Gaelscoileanna i nDoire leis an Verbal Arts Centre
March 12, 2015
(Gaeilge) Páistí Rang a 1 i nGaelscoil Pheig Sayers ag canadh Uptown Funk as Gaeilge.
March 11, 2015
(Gaeilge) Gaelscoil Longfoirt ag canadh “Let it Go” as Gaeilge – “Lig Saor é”!
March 10, 2015
(Gaeilge) Foirgneamh nua do Ghaelscoil Sáirséal, Luimneach
March 9, 2015
Teenage App Developer Launches Free Irish / English Dictionary App “FOCAL.ie”
March 5, 2015
Free Irish Language App launched by Dundalk Gaelcholáiste student
Free Irish Language App launched by Dundalk Gaelcholáiste student
Last night, Wed 25th Feb, at an event hosted in his school – Coláiste Lú, Cormac Kinsella (14) formally launched his mobile Irish Language App “Focal.ie”. Cormac has developed both an iOS & Android version of this App to run on smart phones, iPads and tablets.
In a confident presentation to the Co. Louth Cathaoirleach and other County councillors, the Chairman and Treasurer of Conradh na Gaeilge Dundalk branch, his teachers, school board members and parents, Cormac described how he first conceived the idea for the App, how the App worked and the benefits that this particular App delivered.
Focal.ie is a clever App that allows a user to rapidly translate any word from Irish to English or English to Irish accessing the internet resources of www.focal.ie, the National Terminology Database for Irish. Cormac explained how he developed the App to access the database directly without requiring a web browser and without advertising links, thus reducing the number of keystrokes required and delivering very fast response times. He hopes that anyone studying Irish or helping with homework will find it useful.
Focal.ie is currently the only full dictionary Irish language App available to users completely free of charge. Cormac outlined that not only was web-based www.focal.ie recommended by his teachers, but all existing full Irish dictionary Apps charged to download. As a Gaelcholáiste student he didn’t see why he should have to pay, so decided to develop a free-to-use App accessing www.focal.ie. The result is a free App now available for Android phones & tablets on the Google Play Store and for iPhones and iPads on the Apple App Store.
It has already been downloaded by 500+ Android phone users and a couple of hundred Apple customers. Answering a question, he also stated that he would donate the App to the owners of the National Terminology Database if they so desired!
Oliver Tully, Cathoirleach of Louth Co. County, congratulated Cormac expressing both his delight that Dundalk had such a budding technical entrepreneur and his amazement that someone so young had created such a technically proficient product.
Deirdre Uí Liathain, principal of Coláiste Lú, also congratulated Cormac, forecasting a glittering future for him in IT and told him how useful she finds the App, particularly as it accesses such a comprehensive dictionary resource and loves the App’s fast response time.
Graham O’Rourke, Drogheda’s Coder Dojo organiser said “Cormac’s achievement in developing this app is awesome! He is a determined and gifted young coder that has the respect of all of his peers and the [Coder Dojo] mentors”.
Other
Cormac (14), is a 2nd year student at Coláiste Lú, Dundalk and one of Ireland’s youngest App developers. A regular attendee at the Drogheda Coder Dojo for the past 3 years, he has now developed and collaborated on several Apps.
Cormac was invited to be one of the 12 founder members of the recently founded Digital Youth Council of Ireland, part of a Europe-wide initiative whose objective is to encourage coding opportunities for all students – and provide a platform for them to influence the National Digital Strategy.
At the Dublin Web Summit in November last year, he was invited by Coder Dojo, along with his friend and coding partner, Cian Martin-Bohan, to showcase their social media management “OpenShare” App.
Details on the Focal.ie App are available at
Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.releae.Focalgachait&hl=en
Apple App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/ie/app/focal.ie/id936341951?mt=8
as well as: http://mk-software.weebly.com/focalie.html
Verbal Arts Centre gears up for World Book Day 2015
March 4, 2015
The Verbal Arts Centre is gearing up for an absolutely jam-packed programme of educational activities to celebrate World Book Day this week with children from schools in the city.
There will be three days of fun events to mark the annual celebration with the bulk of the activity taking place on World Book Day itself on Thursday, March 5, when school children are encouraged to dress up as their favourite story book characters.
The Verbal Arts Centre’s Reading Rooms project has teamed up with Eason’s and Foyleside to promote a love of books and reading, and three fun characters will be making special guest appearances to share in the excitement.
Oaksie, Amelia and Professor Magee will be in attendance at Pennyburn Play Group, Galliagh Nursery and the Verbal Arts Centre itself on Thursday, while children from the Belmont Nursery will mark the event on Friday.
One of the biggest highlights of World Book Day will see 70 pupils from three local Irish language schools visit the Verbal Arts Centre for the Little Festival of Books on Thursday.
The pupils from Bunscoil Cholmcille, Gaelscoil Eadain Mhoir and Gaelscoil Na Daroige will be taking up temporary residence in the Blue Coat Room and recording studio for activity sessions which will include illustration work, recording and sound effects to animate a book they have chosen for the event.
The exciting educational initiative is being organised for World Book Day in partnership between the Verbal Arts Centre, Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin and Derry City Council.
Speaking in advance of the event, Pól Ó Frighil, Irish Language Officer with Derry City Council said: “Derry City Council is delighted to be working in partnership with the Verbal Arts Centre and Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin on a special Irish language event to celebrate World Book Day 2015.
“The event, which is called ‘What does this book sound like?’ will comprise a day-long interactive workshop for local Irish medium primary school children who will animate a short story in Irish by performing and recording voices and sounds which bring the story to life.
“This project is a fine example of how the synergy between two of our leading arts organisations can create something unique and special to celebrate landmark events like World Book Day which happens every year during Irish Language Week (1st – 17th March).
“The project is both educational and fun and represents an unmissable opportunity for local children learning through the medium of Irish to experience the magic and excitement of bringing a story to life in the recording studio with their very own voices and sounds.”
Andrea Doran, Director of Programming and Learning at the Verbal Arts Centre, said it was also delighted to be working with all of the schools and organisations participating this year.
She said: “World Book Day provides the perfect opportunity to foster a love of books and reading from an early age which we hope the children will carry with them into their teenage years and on into adulthood.
“We are really looking forward to celebrating this annual event with all of the children and their teachers on Thursday and Friday.”
On Wednesday, March 4, students from the Verbal School of Journalism will be interviewing Derry author Sinead Cox at St Cecilia’s College about her debut novel, ‘Children of the Oak’.
Saturday, March 7, will also see the launch of the Little Legends Club, a Verbal Arts Centre Reading Rooms project for children aged 4-8 years which will be delivered at Eason’s in Foyleside at 11am-12 noon each Saturday for 12 weeks by trained volunteers. Be sure to bring your ‘Little Legends’ along to this free event!
English & Irish Resources for National Tree Week
March 2, 2015
English and Irish resources for National Tree Week available for download here: http://treecouncil.ie/initiatives/schools/
Development Education Funding for Post Primary Schools
March 2, 2015
Is your school interested in getting involved – or already involved – in development education activities? Or are you an NGO or an education network working with schools on development education?
If so, there is an exciting opportunity for you to apply for funding to support your development education activities.
WorldWise Global Schools (WWGS) offers grant funding to post primary schools and education networks and NGOs to support new – or existing – development education initiatives at post primary level.
How to Apply
Apply online at worldwiseschools.ie/funding
WWGS call for grant funding applications will remain open to applicants up until the 26th of April.
Minister for Education and Skills launches public consultation on early years education
March 2, 2015
The Minister for Education and Skills, Jan O’Sullivan TD, today launched a public consultation on early years education, as part of a major review of early years qualifications.
The Minister is inviting submissions from all interested parties, including childcare practitioners, students, parents, education and training providers, employers in the sector, and anyone else with an interest in this area.
She said: “We want this qualifications review to be informed by the views of those who know most about early years education. The review aims to ensure that childcare practitioners are being equipped with the most appropriate blend of knowledge and skills to support quality educational outcomes for all of our children in early years settings.”
The public consultation process is accompanied by specific surveys for childcare practitioners and employers in the sector.
The Minister acknowledged the positive contribution made by practitioners in supporting children to develop to their full potential: “Childcarepractitioners support the educational, physical, and social development of our youngest children. Their work in stimulating children’s natural curiosity and providing the foundations of learning is an essential element of the overall education continuum. So I hope that childcare practitioners in particular, as well as those studying for such a role, will engage with these consultations, to ensure that their views on their professional qualifications are heard.”
The closing date for submissions is Friday 10th April 2015. The findings from the public consultation (including the surveys) will be presented at a forum in the Department, before the review is finalised.
Further information on the public consultation process, including the template for submissions and the stakeholder specific surveys, can be accessed at:
http://www.education.ie/en/The-Education-System/Early-Childhood/Public-Consultation.html
Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta Conference
March 2, 2015
