Irish Language and Cultural weekend in the Ráth Chairn Gaeltacht
September 5, 2013
For those interested in improving their Irish in a pleasant, relaxed environment, Gael Linn are organizing an Irish language and cultural weekend for Adult Learners in the Ráth Chairn Gaeltacht, Co. Meath from Friday 11 – 13 October 2013. This is the sixth consecutive year for the organization to run this highly successful event, in partnership with the local co-operative, Comharchumann Ráth Chairn. The weekend will coincide with the annual Éigse Dharach Uí Chatháin festival this year, and participants will have the opportunity to experience the rich cultural heritage of this living Gaeltacht at first hand. The Ráth Chairn Gaeltacht was founded in 1937 when families from Conamara transferred to the area under a land commission scheme, and is situated between Trim and Athboy in Co. Meath – just an hour from Dublin !
Among the activies planned for the weekend are conversational Irish language classes ( intermediate level ), workshops on sean-nós Irish singing, a tablequiz and plenty of ceol and craic with the local native speakers in the evenings ! Full board accommodation will be arranged for participants in the locality and the all-inclusive fee for the weekend is a very reasonable €180 per person!
Further information and an application form is available in the enclosed attachment, and also on www.gael-linn.ie or from Seán Ó Ceallaigh at 01:6753299 (seanc@gael-linn.ie).
Minister Quinn publishes draft Admission to Schools bill to regulate the admission of children to primary and post primary schools
September 3, 2013
Minister Quinn publishes draft Admission to Schools bill to regulate the admission of children to primary and post primary schools
Proposed regulations would underpin a fair and transparent enrolment process that precludes school places being allocated on the basis of waiting lists and stops schools seeking deposits or payments as part of the admission process.
The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn TD, has published a draft General Scheme for an Education (Admission to Schools) Bill, 2013 as well as draft regulations for discussion ahead of enacting legislation.
The heads of bill, approved by the Cabinet, propose a new parent-friendly, equitable and consistent framework to regulate school admissions policy for all 4,000 primary and post-primary schools. If enacted, this framework will improve access to schools for all pupils and will ensure there is consistency, fairness and transparency in the admissions policies of all schools.
The Minister aims to improve the admissions process to ensure that the way schools decide on applications is structured, fair and transparent. The draft bill seeks to remove the burden from parents of appealing school decisions to refuse a place to their child – this will see an end to the current complex system of appeals to the Department under Section 29 of the Education Act, which sometimes leads to court cases.
The proposed measures empower the Minister for Education and Skills to require schools to co-operate where disputes around admissions arise. The Minister could also ultimately appoint an independent person to operate the enrolment process where a school refused to amend its practices in accordance with the legislation.
The draft regulations seek to bring a level playing pitch for families newly settled or returning to live in an area and to ensure a parent’s income or ability to pay admission fees cannot be a factor that will determine school admission. The regulations will also bring an end to the “soft barriers” that can affect children with special educational needs.
Under the proposals:
- Schools would not be allowed to accept applications for admission before October 1st of the year preceding the year of enrolment with a longer period allowed for boarding schools.
- The Minister may regulate that no admission fees may be sought or charged as a condition of application for admission to a school.
- Schools would not be able to conduct interviews with parents and children ahead of enrolment
- Schools that can establish that they have waiting lists in place may, under a derogation, be allowed to clear those lists over a period of a few years
- Schools will be allowed to prioritise places for an applicant who is a sibling of an existing or former student
- Appeals to be dealt with at school level under simplified arrangements.
“I believe there is a better way of dealing with school admissions. These measures are about what might be described as ‘good housekeeping’ and will bring about greater transparency, fairness and consistency in the way schools operate their admission processes,” Minister Quinn said.
“While I don’t want to overly intrude in day-to-day school management the proposed new regulatory framework strikes a balance between school autonomy and fairness in our education system and would require schools to provide a better service for parents. The framework constitutes a significant public service reform aimed at substantially improving the experience between the public and schools on student admission.”
The draft General Scheme and draft regulations will be issued to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection today, to allow a full public discussion, including inputs from parents and the education partners.
“I hope the Committee gives this early consideration so that we can proceed to the next stage of legislation as soon as possible” the Minister said. “Throughout this process, I have been anxious to ensure that we have a fair and balanced school admissions process. I know that many parents are happy with the schools their children attend. But there are cases where there is disappointment and dissatisfaction, with limited means of dealing with this.”
The publication of the heads of bill and draft regulations follows a public consultation process held in 2011.
“I would like to thank everyone who has engaged with the public consultation on this matter to date, and I am confident that we can continue to work together to change the system for the benefit of all students, schools and families,” said Minister Quinn.
Current appeals process for enrolment decisions-
The existing provisions of the Education Act, 1998, limit the options available to the Minister to resolve difficulties that may arise on the ground. The legislation does provide a power for the Minister to regulate the “admission of children to schools”. However this power is general and the Act does not set out explicitly the extent or scope of such regulations.
The other relevant provisions of the Act specify that establishing and maintaining an enrolment policy is a function of a school, and allow for an appeal process under Section 29 of the legislation.
There are at present effectively only two remedies provided for in law for resolving difficulties relating to school admission practice. One is the Section 29 appeal system noted above. The second allows for the patron of a school or the Minister to exercise powers that bring about the removal of the board of management where there is a concern about how a Board has discharged its functions. Suspected malpractice in relation to school admission could be classed as a concern.
While Section 29 does provide an appellate process for parents and students it is a one size fits all approach and does not distinguish between a refusal to enrol simply because the number of applications exceeds the number of available places (oversubscription) as distinct from a situation where a student cannot get a place in any school in an area. The Section 29 process had triggered multiple appeals in oversubscription cases and has created a significant administrative burden for schools.
Oifigeach Tionscadail de dhíth do Scéim ‘Gaelbhratach’
September 2, 2013
Búla bos for Cúla Búla!
August 30, 2013
As children all over Ireland return to school, one Irish children’s entertainment company is working hard to make sure that the Irish language is one thing they can look forward to this year. Cúla Búla parties provides new options for children’s parties that allows them enjoy themselves through the medium of the Irish language.
Drawing on experience in Irish education and theatre for young children, Cúla Búla Parties has developed a magical, fun-filled, Irish language experience that brings a love of the language into the home. It is due to sister company Dagda Theatre’s success with practical language learning through workshops and performance that Cúla Búla’s founder Clódagh Nic Gabhann recognised a need for furthering this early love of language through party entertainment, in the form of magic, puppets, face painting and balloon modeling; “The reason that I started Cúla Búla was simple. I personally have a passion for the Irish language and have seen in the past how quickly a child’s attitude can change. Give them positive experiences when they are young and a love will blossom.”
Cúla Búla Parties are putting the ‘Cúl’-a back in the Irish language. For further information about Cúla Búla, check out their website www.culabulaparties.com, call (01) 5357595 or find them on Facebook and keep an eye out for special offers www.facebook.com/culabulaparties.
Clódagh Nic Gabhann, 0852130384, clodagh@culabulaparties.com
Fíbín throws the biggest birthday party in the West!
August 30, 2013
Fíbín Theatre Company brings a vast rock-face to life in a free outdoor video-mapping spectacle on September 13th & 14th in a quarry in Camus, Connemara. Stair na gCeilteach or ‘History of the Celts’ is the action-packed story of the Celts told through the eyes of Vercingetorix, who is celebrating his 3,000th birthday.
Stair na gCeilteach also marks Fíbín’s 10th birthday. Fíbín are well-known for their highly visual style of theatre which often features masks, puppets, video projections and shadow puppetry. This is the company’s first site-specific show and first time to use video-mapping. Managing Director Darach O’Tuairisg says, ’This will be the most exciting visual spectacle Connemara has ever seen. It’s also an opportunity for Fíbín, not alone to celebrate its ten years, but to thank our loyal supporters and to invite people who’ve never seen a Fíbín show to see something new and really different.”
Video-mapping is a state-of-the-art technology of mapping the contours of any surface and projecting vast moving images onto it. The surface appears to spring into life, creating exhilarating 3D imagery and optical illusions. Stair na gCeilteach is directed by Rod Goodall and will be the biggest video-mapping show in Ireland this year. The show features music performed by the award-winning Galway choir Cois Cladaigh and soloist Sarah Grealish for these two special performances.
The show is a collaboration between Fíbín and video-mapping artists Improbable Films from Madrid and forms part of the programme for Culture Connects. Culture Connects is the culture programme connecting Irish artists with European artists and marks Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Stair na gCeilteach is supported by Ealáin na Gaeltachta, a joint venture between Údaras na Gaeltachta and The Arts Council, which promotes the development of the contemporary and traditional arts in the Gaeltacht.
Fíbín’s highly visual style transcends language barriers and has performed to over 400,000 people over its ten years.
The artist Joe Boske painted the poster for ‘Stair na gCeiteach’. People would know Joe’s work from previous Galway Arts Festival posters going down through the years.
Stair na gCeilteach is on September 13th & 14th at 9pm at the Quarry, Furnace Road, Camus, Connemara. Tickets are free but must be reserved by contacting fibinteo@gmail.com or by calling 091 593823. For more information see www.fibin.com
Scoileanna nua pléite ar Raidió na Life
August 30, 2013
Nationwide Project: ‘Life’s Like This’
August 29, 2013
We want you to be a part of our nationwide project: Life’s Like This
On Friday 20th September we want you to film your life and tell the world what you’re doing, feeling or seeing on this particular day. The footage submitted will be compiled into a unique documentary that will be broadcast later this year on RTÉ. Audiences will learn what it’s like to be growing up in Ireland today.
Life’s Like This is your documentary. It is about you. It’s about your day. It’s about things that are important to YOU. It’s open to everyone between the ages of 13 and 19. Further details on Life’s Like This will be available from September on www.rte.ie/trte/lifeslikethis.
Your films can be uploaded through www.rte.ie/trte/lifeslikethis from Friday, September 20th, to Tuesday, September 24th.
HOW AND WHAT TO FILM
• You can FILM ANYTHING ON ANYTHING
• You can film using your phone, camera, a webcam, iPad… you name it. If it records you can use it. Just try for the highest quality possible please!
• Sound and focus is important. We need to be able to hear and see clearly what’s happening.
• You can speak in any language at all – English, Irish, Polish, French..etc
• Your film should be a maximum 2 minutes long.
• At the start of your film tell us your name and what time it is when you’re filming.
• You can film anytime of the day and/or many different times of the day once it’s on Friday 20th September.
GETTING YOUR FILM TO US
• Submission deadline is 8PM on Tuesday 24th September.
• Remember to get permission before you film. Only films which are accompanied by a permission form signed by both parents can be used. Every person who appears in your film needs to have a permission form signed by their parents or themselves if they are 18 or over. You can upload, post or email them all together.
• Remember you must ask people’s permission to film them.
• If you have a scanner, scan the signed permission form and upload it together with your film on the tool on the right hand side.
• Include your parent’s mobile / contact phone number AND the names of the people featured in your film in the MESSAGE section when uploading (very important!)
• If you don’t have access to a scanner you can post a hard copy of the permission form/s to Life’s Like This, Macalla Teoranta, 7 Lombard Street East, Dublin 2 but ensure to include the full name of your film clip on this form.
• When saving your film on computer CALL the clip by YOUR full name (first name and surname).
• If you cannot upload your film then send it, along with your permission form by post to: Life’s Like This, Macalla Teoranta, 7 Lombard Street East, Dublin 2. It will not be possible to return films sent by post.
• A wide range of clips will be included in the documentary, unfortunately however it will not be possible to use every clip.
• Enquiries to: lifeslikethis2013@gmail.com or phone: 01 670 4012 or 01 670 4895
PLEASE REMEMBER:
IF WE DO NOT HAVE A SIGNED PERMISSION FORM FOR EVERY PERSON FEATURED IN YOUR FILM CLIP – WE WILL BE UNABLE TO INCLUDE YOUR FILM.
DOWNLOAD THE PERMISSION FORM FROM www.rte.ie/trte/lifeslikethis AND POST TO US AT: Life’s Like This, Macalla Teo, 7 Lombard Street East, Dublin 2.
On Friday 20th September you are a filmmaker.
You are part of history.
Do something real and make people think. It’s over to you.
MORE INFORMATION
On Friday September 20th we want you to film a maximum 2 minutes of your day. Anything goes:
• An appointment with the dentist
• Homework completed on the bus
• A haircut
• A song
• A cow milked at dawn
• A night out with friends
• A family get-together
• A sporting event
• A viral video or Facebook session
Published by Macalla Teo.
Trí Ghaelscoil nua le hoscailt ag an bhForas Pátrúnachta
August 28, 2013
Information for Parents from the NCCA
August 27, 2013
The NCCA have published a series of leaflets for parents to help them to support their children through school. The leaflets are available in Irish and English and can be downloaded from www.ncca.ie.
€742,438 awarded for Irish Language Assistants Scheme for 2013/2014
August 27, 2013
Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Dinny McGinley T.D., last week announced a grant of €742,438 for the 2013/2014 school year to run the Irish-Language Assistants Scheme.
This scheme, which was launched in 1999, focuses on enriching the level of Irish among students, and encouraging the use of the language as a default means of communication among the students. In April 2012, significant developments to the scheme were announced under the Family Language Support Programme as part of the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language. Under this scheme, 80 language assistants provide support services in 100 Gaeltacht schools.
For the 2013/2014 academic year, the grant will be divided between two organisations, Muintearas and Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne. Muintearas will hold responsibility for service provision in Gaeltacht schools in Galway, Mayo, Donegal and Meath, and Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne will assume the same responsibility for Gaeltacht schools in Kerry, Cork and Waterford.
This year’s allocation of funding sees the scheme reduce by 2.5% on last year’s figure of €762,378. As substantial changes were made to the scheme recently, last year’s figure represented an increase of over €150,000 on previous years. The increased funding allowed for further resources and greater contact hours with pupils.
‘Cluas sa Chlós’ (an ear in the yard), was a new initiative launched last year under the scheme to encourage the use of Irish outside of the classroom so that Irish would be the primary means of communication among students playing in the school yard. While the scheme previously focussed solely on the children in the school who did not have Irish, last year saw the introduction of supports for all pupils by providing extra contact hours to all schools located in areas where Irish is the primary language of the community.
Speaking on the announcement of the funding, Minister of State McGinley said: “When I launched that Programme in April 2012, I referred to the importance of an amended approach to the practical support of Gaeltacht families who are raising their children through Irish or who wish to do so. The grant announced today will enable the two organisations that administer the Irish-Language Assistants Scheme to continue to actively support the preservation and strengthening of the Irish language in the Gaeltacht.”
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
