Seisiúin Comhrá don 5ú & 6ú Bliain
October 21, 2013
Altram Conference
October 18, 2013
“Two Windows on the World” – Comhdháil Idirnáisiúnta Altram. Tower Hotel Derry. 25.09.13- 26.09.13 -27.09.13
Official Launch
Altram’s first ever international conference on early years’ bilingualism, “Two Windows on the World”, was officially launched by Mark Durkan MP, at a celebration in the Tower Hotel, Derry on Wednesday evening, 25 September 2013. The Conference mission was “To celebrate, learn, inform and promote” the general benefits of becoming bilingual at an early age, with special focus on Irish language immersion.
Chair of Altram and Bean a Tí for the night, Áine Andrews, introduced Mayor of Derry Martin Reilly, who welcomed delegates to the city. She also introduced and thanked the other speakers, City of Derry Culture Company representative Shona Mc Carthy and Gerry Conway, Regional Commissioner for the Health & Social Care Board whose organisations, together with Foras na Gaeilge and Iontaobhas Ultach, had sponsored the Conference.
Talented past or present pupils of Irish-immersion nursery and primary schools provided the night’s entertainment – step dancing from Gaelscoil na bhFál sisters Clíona and Éimear Devlin, sean-nós dancing from Edel Ní Churraoin, traditional music by Gaelscoil Éadain Mhóir brother and sister, Donncha Mac Giolla Mhuire and Níamh Níc Ghiolla Mhuire, all rounded off by an impressive set from Belfast-based singer Gráinne Holland, a past pupil of Bunscoil Phobal Feirste. The cráic was mighty and the tone set for the next two days of “Two Windows on the World”.
Day 1
On Thursday 26 September, European Languages Day, around 50 delegates from professional child care, education, public and community sector backgrounds attended and heard Martina Anderson MEP give the opening address.
Dónall Ó Riagáin, Independent Consultant and former Head of the European Bureau on Lesser Used Languages, introduced the speakers for the morning session. First up was Dr. Antonella Sorace, Professor of Developmental Linguistics at University of Edinburgh, who addressed the question “Why does bilingualism matter?” Next was Dr. Piet Van de Craén from Vrije University in Brussels speaking on “Early Bilingualism & the European Union”. There were also interesting talks from Aodán Mac Póilin, the Director of ULTACH Trust on “The Irish Language – The Northern Ireland Situation”, and Áine Andrews, Chairperson of Altram, on “Early Years Irish Language Immersion in Northern Ireland, Achievements & Challenges”.
The aim of Day 1 was to provide a greater insight into bilingualism and early years’ language immersion. Commenting after hearing the presentations the general opinion was that they had contributed to valuable new perspectives on policy development and good practice.
Day 2
Naíscoil practitioners were very much the target audience on the second day of the conference on Friday 27th September. More than 65 delegates from the Irish-medium early years sector came along to hear new information and learn about new ideas and techniques which they could then apply in their own naíscoil settings. Friday’s programme opened with an entertaining set of performances from children who attend Irish medium schools in Derry – Gaelscoil Éadain Mhóir and Bunscoil Cholmcille. Prof. Antonella Sorace was again on hand to give the headline talk on ‘Why Bilingualism Matters?” This was followed by excellent, enjoyable practical workshops from children’s theatre company Ababú on and The Gathering Drum.
The event showcased and celebrated Derry’s culture and heritage in this, the year of the City of Culture. Altram hopes that the conference will leave a lasting legacy of better understanding of the place of early years’ Irish language acquisition in our own society.
Grianghraf (gaelscoil na bhFál)
Luathlascaine le Cúrsaí Gaeilge FNT
October 18, 2013
Irish classes at Gaelscoil na Giúise
October 17, 2013
Beidh Ranganna Gaeilge ar fáil gach oíche Luain ar a hocht a chlog sa scoil. Beidh costas €50 ar na ranganna ó seo go dtí an Nollaig – deich rang atá i gceist ( 7,14,21 D Fómhair 4,11,18,25 Samhain, 2,9,16 Nollaig). Tá tuilleadh eolais ar fáil ón scoil. Irish Classes will be available every Monday evening in the school at 8 o’clock. The cost is €50 from now until Christmas – 10 classes ( 7,14,21 October 4,11,18,25 November, 2,9,16 December). More information is available from the school.
Open evening in Gaelscoil Shliabh Rua
October 17, 2013
Ceardlann Yoga agus Ealaín do Pháistí Bunscoile
October 16, 2013
Ar smaoinigh tú riamh ar chónaí sa Ghaeltacht?
October 16, 2013
Dianchúrsa Gaeilge | Irish Crash Course
October 16, 2013
Gaelscoil Éanna
19ú Deireadh Fómhair 10in – 2in | 19th October 10am – 2pm
Tá an dianchúrsa is fearr riamh leagtha amach againn don séasúr seo!
Beidh na saineolaithe, Sean Ó hEachain, Maitiú Ó hEachaidh agus Caoimhin Mac an Bhaird ag soláthar an chúrsa. Tabharfar gach deis duit an teanga a fhoghlaim ón tús nó forbairt a dhéanamh ar an méid Gaeilge atá agat cheana féin.
Beidh bunrang agus meánrang á reáchtáil mar chuid den chúrsa agus cuirfear lón éadrom agus sólaistí ar fáil le
linn an lae.
This season’s crash course will be the best one yet!
We have the wonderful Sean Ó hEachain, Maitiú Ó hEachaidh and Caoimhin Mac an Bhaird delivering the course and will allow every opportunity to learn the language for the first time or to develop and improve the knowledge you already have.
We will be offering Beginners agus Intermediate Level classes and a light lunch and refreshments during the day will be provided.
Croi Eanna
Bóthar an Bhaile Aird
An Baile Bocht
Gleann Ghormlaithe, Éire BT36 7AU
Analysis of BUDGET 2014
October 16, 2013
Budget 2014 was announced by Minister Michael Noonan T.D. this afternoon. A summary of the Budget documentation is available through Irish here: Achoimre ar Bhearta Bhuiséad 2014.pdf.
Below is a summary of the alterations in expenditure announced today which will effect Irish language and Gaeltacht matters in 2014.
Irish language, Gaeltacht and Islands
The budget allocated for the provision Irish language, Gaeltacht and Island services through the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht will be cut by 5% in 2014 from €42M to €40M.
Due to the overall cut to services, the current expenditure for Gaeltacht and Island services will be reduced by over 5% from €33,519,000 to €31,882,000 and capital expenditure will decrease 6% from €8,441,000 to dtí €7,973,000
Today saw the announcement of savings of €1.3M by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in 2014 through a review of schemes, structures and organisations.
An Foras Teanga, Údarás na Gaeltachta and An Coimisinéir Teanga
An allocation of €13.6M will be made available to An Foras Teanga for 2014, a reduction of 7.3% from €14.6M in 2013.
Grants allocated to Údarás na Gaeltachta are divided between capital expenditure, administration costs and current expenditure. The body’s current expenditure grant will fall 13% to €3M, administration will be down 4.5% to €8.8M, and capital expenditure will be reduced from €6M in 2013 to €5.7M for the year 2014.
Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga will receive €567,000 for 2014, down from €615,000 last year.
Minister of State for the Gaeltacht, Dinny McGinley T.D., said he believes the provision for Údarás na Gaeltachta, the Office of An Coimisinéir Teanga and the Language Body (Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster-Scots Agency) will enable them to fulfil their statutory functions in 2014.
20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language
€0.5M will be made available to the Department towards the implementation of the 20 Year Strategy and in particular the Language Planning Process.
The Minister of State welcomed the announcement and said it is a “clear indication of the implementation of the commitment in the Programme for Government which states that the Government will support the Strategy and will deliver on the achievable goals proposed therein”.
“This funding will enable my Department to undertake various activities which will support the language planning process on the ground. This includes support for community organisations to assist them in preparing and implementing language plans under the Gaeltacht Act 2012” said Minister McGinley.
Statement by Minister of State Dinny McGinley T.D.
Regarding the total amount allocated to Irish language, Gaeltacht and Island matters for 2014, Minister McGinley said: “Although it was necessary to reduce the Departmental budget across the board, I am confident that we will be able to meet our priorities within the allocation provided. My absolute priority will be the protection of frontline services while making tough decisions in view of the reduced allocation. In that context, we will be focussing more than ever on achieving effectiveness and value for money from the Exchequer allocation”.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Gaeilge 24
October 15, 2013
As part of ‘Bliain na Gaeilge’ school students across the country will be taking part in a challenge to speak nothing but Irish for 24 hours.
This challenge, known as Gaeilge 24, will take place on Wednesday, 13 November 2014, and will be held as one of the main events of the year-long bliain na Gaeilge celebration. This challenge follows a recent successful world record attempt by Bliain na Gaeilge organisers to conduct a 168 hour conversation through Irish by linking groups from across the globe. This project, Comhrá 24/7 took place from 29 September – 06 October 2013.
Gaeilge 24 will be suitable for teachers and youth leaders who wish to inspire their students to speak Irish. Each student will receive a pack with a t-shirt, 20 key phrases and ideas for the day. As the challenge is a fundraiser, students will have the chance to collect sponsorship or pay a subscription to take part in the event. All money raised will be donated to Ciste na Gaeilge, to support Irish language initiatives across the country.
Manager of Seachtain na Gaeilge, Brenda Ní Ghairbhí, said: “the event aims to inspire young people to speak only Irish for 24 hours, at home, in school, in shops or businesses, around town, with friends, in their sports club or in their youth club”.
Further information in relation to this project is available by contacting Seachtain na Gaeilge on +353 (0)1 4757401 or eolas@snag.ie.
www.gaelport.com
