Students look to future Irish language careers at Liberty Hall
November 16, 2010
Continuing on its tour around Ireland, the Irish language careers seminar, ‘Buntáiste Breise na Gaeilge’ (the added advantage of Irish) took place in Liberty Hall in the heart of Dublin city on Thursday 4th November 2010.
Over 400 students from post-primary schools in Co. Dublin were present at the bilingual information seminar where well-known personalities and professionals from various sectors spoke on the advantages which the Irish language has afforded them in their chosen careers. Amongst the speakers were Spin 1038 DJ Eoghan Mac Diarmada, who presents Pop4 on TG4.
RTÉ Sports presenter Evanne Ní Chuilinn from Kilkenny spoke about ther own experiences working in broadcast journalism and the advantages which knowledge of two languages had afforded her both professionally and socially.
Anna Davitt, Director with Comhar na Múinteoirí Gaeilge in Dublin focused on her own personal experiences and outlined how Irish has shaped her career path opening up opportunities in the education sector which may not have been open to her but for her love of the
language.
Colm Mac an Iomaire, a noted solo-artist who performs with The Frames and The Swell Season gave an inspiring insight into this own experience growing up in Dublin in an Irish speaking household.
Colm also mentioned that he didn’t realise the full advantages of bilingualism and the importance of Irish as a national identity until a later stage when he began to travel abroad with his music.
The former Ros na Rún and Fair City actress Doireann Ní Chorragáin spoke about the doors which the language opened for her in her acting career. Doireann now has a successful career as a voice-over artist and is now focusing on drama and script writing for TG4 and RTÉ.
This was the ninth seminar of its kind which Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge have organised in the past two years. Other seminars were held in Dublin, Castlebar, Killarney, Cork, Galway, Belfast and Letterkenny.
Organisations and universities from all over Ireland were present on the day with information stands and share their knowledge and information with students on entry requirements and course descriptions of various third level courses.
A similar seminar will be held in the Tullamore Court Hotel in Tullamore on Thursday, 18th November 2010 where 350 students from schools from Co. Offaly, Westmeath, Co. Meath Kilkenny and Tipperary have already registered.
Guest speakers will include RTÉ/TG4 journalist Irene Ní Nualláin from Mullingar, as well as the talented Tipperary hurler, an Irish speaker and a teacher in Nenagh Darragh Egan.
Susan Folan from Galway city who lectures with Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, which is part of NUI Galway and focuses on third level Irish language education will give an insight into her own career as an interpreter and opportunities in Ireland and abroad for highly skilled language graduates.
Other guests include RTÉ’s sport presenter Evanne Ní Chuilinn while Bríd Ní Chofaigh who worked as a Development Officer with Comharchumann Ráth Chairn in the Meath Gaeltacht will share her experience working within the midlands Gaeltacht promoting the language within the community on a daily basis.
