2,500 students take part in Irish Career Seminars
December 14, 2010
Since the beginning of the year Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge has organised seven seminars focusing on Irish language jobs and careers in various venues around the country.
From January seminars have taken place in Castlebar, Galway, Killarney, Belfast, Letterkenny, Dublin and Tullamore a month ago. Up to 2,500 secondary school students from up to seventy four schools around the country have attended and participated in these seminars.
The Added Advantage of Irish’ is the theme of the seminar, and speakers working in a wide range of sectors spoke on the advantages which the Irish language has afforded them in their chosen careers.
Our tour commenced in Castlebar back in January with guest speakers such as Paisean Faisean’s Bláthnaid Ní Dhonnchadha, and IRadio’s broadcaster Barbara Ní Dhonnchadha gave an insight into how she uses her Irish as a bilingual broadcaster.
In Galway at the end of February over 400 students attended the event in the Salthill Hotel. Guest speakers included RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltacht broadcaster Eibhlín Ní Chonghaile along with one of Galway’s finest hurling stars and Irish language teacher Cathal Moore. Colm Ó Coisdealbha discussed his own experiences in his role as Compliance Manager with An Coimisinéir Teanga in An Spidéal while Gearóidín Ní Ghioballáin from Gaillimh le Gaeilge and Gráinne Ní Chonghaile from Conradh na Gaeilge in Galway highlighted the importance of the Irish language while promoting Irish language events and the language in Galway city.
At the beginning of May we headed south to the Kingdom to the Glengeagle Hotel in Killarney where Eibhlín Ní Choisdealbha from Lios a Phúca near Killarney who is a News Presenter with TG4 and the well known football star and broadcaster with RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, Dara Ó Cinnéide gave a great insight into their journeys in securing a career within the Irish language media.
Later in the year we travelled up to Belfast where pupils from fourteen schools from Northern Ireland attended the seminar. Guest speakers included journalist/broadcaster Tomaí Ó Conghaile from Newry and Ursula Uí Dhonnaile an Irish Language Officer with Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council and Cookstown District Council. Talented footballer and Irish Medium Teacher Conall Ó Máirtín gave an insight into the use of the language with his work with Campa Chormac.
A week later we headed Northwest to Letterkenny. Once again over 400 students from secondary schools all over the county listened to guest speakers including Kevin Cassidy a Donegal footballing hero and teacher. Loretta Ní Churraighín an executive with Oireachtas na Gaeilge, while Caitlín Uí Chlochláin discussed her career to date, and her role as an Irish language coordinator with Donegal County Council. RTÉ and TG4 journalist, Caoimhe Ní Chonchoille spoke of the many opportunities which the Irish language has afforded her.
In Liberty Hall in Dublin Anna Davitt, Director with Comhar na Múinteoirí Gaeilge in Dublin focused on her own personal experiences in the education sector while Ros na Rún and Fair City actress Doireann Ní Chorragáin spoke about the doors which the language opened for her in her acting career. Colm Mac an Iomaire gave an inspiring insight into this own experience in growing up in Dublin in an Irish speaking household and Spin 1038 DJ Eoghan Mac Diarmada, who presents Pop4 on TG4 also enthralled the full to capacity auiditorium.
And to close the 2010 tour, 440 students attended an inspirational event in Tullamore. Pupils from schools from Westmeath, Co. Laois, Meath, Kilkenny, Kildare and Tipperary heard TG4 agus RTÉ’s journalist Irene Ní Nualláin from Mullingar and RTÉ’s sports presenter Evanne Ní Chuilinn from Kilkenny give insights into the challenges of learning Irish and working with the Irish media. Darragh Egan ones of Tipperary’s talented hurlers and a teacher in Nenagh highlighted the importance of the language.
We are extremely grateful to all our sponsors who gave us wonderful prizes throughout the year: Gael-Linn, Coláiste Uisce, RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, Coláiste na bhFiann, Gaelscéal, Telegael, Scoil Surfáil Freedom, Coláiste Ó Direáin Summer College in Inis Mór, Raidió na Life, Campa Chormaic.
Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge hope to organize similar seminars around the country in 2011.
