Put a spring in your step with Gaelchultúr’s Irish language classes for adults
January 30, 2014
Gaelchultúr’s (www.gaelchultur.com) next Irish language course for adults will begin the week commencing 3 February in the company’s centre at 11 Clare Street, Dublin 2, as well as in Carlow town. Classes will be available at up to six levels: beginners, elementary, lower intermediate, upper intermediate, advanced, and accuracy in Irish. So, whether one is out of practice, learning Irish for the first time or seeking to improve writing and grammar skills, Gaelchultúr has a suitable course.
Participants will attend a two-hour class (7–9pm) one night a week for 10 weeks. The course fee is €200. In order to ensure that learners register for the appropriate level, Gaelchultúr will host an event, Blaiseadh den Ghaeilge/A Taste of Irish, on Saturday, 1 February, in its headquarters at 11 Clare Street. This event is free of charge and members of the public can call in on the hour or half hour between 2.00pm and 4.30pm to get more information about the spring course, have their standard of Irish assessed and attend a class to get a taste of the teaching approach used. They will also be able to register for the spring course, should they wish, but there will be no obligation on them to do so. Those unable to attend A Taste of Irish can call into Gaelchultúr between 5pm and 7pm on 28, 29, or 30 January for an assessment. This is free of charge, will only take about twenty minutes and there’s no need to book in advance.
Gaelchultúr has been offering Irish language courses for nearly ten years now and has developed excellent resources during this time. Its classes are learner-centred and participants are given every opportunity to speak the language and to engage with each other and with the teacher. “A lot of the people who come to our courses lack confidence as regards Irish,” says Éamonn Ó Dónaill, Gaelchultúr’s Director of Education, “but they immediately feel relaxed due to the approach to teaching we use in our night classes. We focus on the spoken language and on interactive, communicative activities, and that approach appeals greatly to learners.” For further information about Gaelchultúr’s language classes and other events, please call (01) 484 5220 or write to eolas@gaelchultur.com. You can also visit www.gaelchultur.com and download the brochure for the spring course. Gaelchultúr’s Academic Administrator, Róisín Ní Mhaolchallann, is available for media interviews.
Contact details: (01) 484 5224; roisin@gaelchultur.com
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Lá Mór na Gaeilge – an scéal is déanaí
January 29, 2014
Lá Mór na Gaeilge – a letter for parents from Conradh na Gaeilge
January 28, 2014
Public Meeting to achieve fairness for the Irish speaking and Gaeltacht community
January 28, 2014
The people of Cork will be given their opportunity to debate the ongoing attacks on the Irish language and the Gaeltacht at a public meeting being held on Monday 3rd February in The Clarion Hotel, Lapps Quay The meeting will commence at 7.30pm
The public meeting is being organized as part of a new language rights campaign that has been established in response to the crisis created by announcement of the Language Commissioner, Seán Ó Cuirreáin, that he would be stepping down from his position as a result of the lack of engagement he has received from the Government.
The meeting is being coordinated by Gael-Taca based on a series of demands which arose at a public meeting held in Liberty Hall, Dublin, on the 11th of January. Over 200 people attended that meeting where it was agreed that an all Ireland campaign be organized to ensure language rights for Irish speakers.
Donnchadh ó hAodh, President of Conradh na Gaeilge will be the keynote speaker at the public meeting and the meeting will be chaired by Gael-Taca.
The meeting is open to everyone in the community and it will provide the opportunity to focus on the actions needed to fight fairness for the Irish speaking and Gaeltacht community.
Helena Ní Dheá
Oifigeach Forbartha
Gael-Taca,
22 Port Uí Shúilleabháin,
Corcaigh.
www.gael-taca.com
(021)4310841
Reviving the Strategy
January 28, 2014
Opposition spokespeople made recommendations on how to revive the 20 Years Strategy for the Irish language last week at an Oireachtas Sub-Committee meeting, but will these recommendations be taken on board?
At a meeting of the Oireachtas ‘Sub-Committee on the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish language and Related Matters’ the anger and frustration displayed by members of the committee was palpable. With Language Commissioner, Seán Ó Cuirreáin, giving evidence to the recently established committee for the last time before he resigns from his role on 23 February 2014, members of the committee along with other members of the Oireachtas who attended the meeting expressed their intense dissatisfaction with the current status of the Irish language at State-level.
While representatives of the Government coalition such as Michael McCarthy T.D. (Labour Party, and Chairperson of the Sub-Committee); Kevin Humphries T.D.(Labour Party); and Senator Hildegarde Naughton (Fine Gael) are members of the Sub-Committee, last week’s meeting was attended only by members of the opposition. Peadar Tóibín T.D. claimed the lack of governmental representation was ‘disrespectful’ to the authority of the Commissioner, and was disrespectful to the general Irish speaking community.
Having delivered a speech which was highly critical of the civil service, the support and respect from members of the Sub-Committee for Language Commissioner, Seán Ó Cuirreáin, was evident, and many recommendations were made on ways to tackle the ‘pretence’ referred to by Ó Cuirreáin in his speech. On a recommendation by Seanadóir Trevor Ó Clochartaigh, the committee concurred that significant action was required immediately.
Fianna Fáil T.D., Éamon Ó Cuív, recommended a three pronged approach, and recommended each element be acted upon immediately.
Ó Cuív recommended:
#1. A cross-party report be commissioned detailing the Irish language capability across all sectors of the civil and public services. Ó Cuív recommended this be done in the same manner in which the Public Accounts Commission operate – that each group highlighted in the Commissioner’s report be called before the Sub-Committee, including:
• An Garda Síochána
• Department of Justice and Equality
• Department of Environment, Community and Local Government
• Ordinance Survey Ireland
• Health Service Executive
• Central Bank of Ireland
• National Transport Authority
• University of Limerick
• Ennis Town Council
• Donegal County Council
• Kildare County Council
#2. A performance audit be undertaken on the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish language. The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht launched a progress report in July 2013 where details were given of the staggered yet consistent approach to introducing new policies, however according to Irish language organisations the report detailed many shortcomings in relation to a lack of resources, overly ambitious goals, and procrastination on behalf of the Government.
The Sub-Committee concurred that the damning report by An Coimisinéir Teanga gave a realistic account of the current state-of-play in relation to the Strategy, and it was proposed that the Sub-Committee would address these issues, and perform an audit on all elements of the Strategy.
#3. Heads of Bill for the revised Official Languages Act be published and be put before the Sub-Committee and a report prepared in relation to them. Seán Ó Cuirreáin referred to the ‘vacuum’ whereby a review of the Official Languages Act announced in November 2011 was still unpublished, as another reason for his own resignation. While it has been announced recently by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht that the Heads of the Bill will be published before the summer recess, it has since come to light that the Heads of Bill are yet to be agreed as they have not been put to the Government as yet. It is proposed to publish the results of the public consultation on the Official Languages Act at the same time as the Heads of Bill.
While the recommendations made above by Deputy Ó Cuív were noted by Leas-Cathaoirleach of the Sub-Committee, Labhrás Ó Murchú, Ó Cuiv was reminded that he was not an official member of the committee but that the committee were grateful for his input.
Leas-Cathaoirleach, Ó Murchú, then announced that Minister of State for the Gaeltacht, Dinny McGinley, T.D. would come before the Sub-Committee over the coming weeks, and asked all members to make their recommendations in writing to the Secretary.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Tráth na gCeist Bórd Feachtas i gColáiste na Coiribe, Gaillimh
January 24, 2014
Comórtas Díospóireachta Uí Chadhain – Craobh na hÉireann
January 23, 2014
‘Draíodóir Oz’ i nGaelscoil Uí Riada
January 22, 2014
It was a case of Lights, Camera, Action as pupils of Gaelscoil Uí Riada performed ‘Draíodóir Oz’ to packed audiences in the school hall on 4th and 5th of December. This is the latest musical produced by Gaelscoil Uí Riada and once again had every pupil in the school performing on stage.
All dialogue was ‘as Gaeilge’ and, as Gaeilge is the everyday language used in school, this proved no obstacle for the young performers
Weeks of preparation culminated in a thoroughly professional production – original artwork for the sets, a sound system and ‘live music’ – not to mention full costume and make-up!
It is a great learning opportunity for all the pupils as they learn how a show is approached and can see the whole process from auditions and casting to rehearsals and finally the performance on the big night. “Hopefully it will be a wonderful memory for each of them”, said the principal Aindrias O Maolanfaidh. “Of course, such a production is only possible with a huge effort and the co-operation of pupils, teachers and parents. We thank them all for helping to make it such a great success”.
The schools first such production was indeed ’Draíodóir Oz’ in 2005 which was followed by ‘Oliver’ in 2007, ‘Séis Cheoil / The Sound of Music’ in 2009 and ‘Rí na Leon/ The Lion King’ in 2011.
Cártaí Comhrá – ar fáil ag comhdháil an IPPN
January 22, 2014
Tráth na gCeist Bórd Feachtas i gColáiste na Toirbhirte, Corcaigh
January 22, 2014
