Crisis in Irish-speaking community following resignation, warn activists
Nollaig 6, 2013
The decision by Seán Ó Cuirreáin to resign his position as Coimisinéir Teanga this week points to an emerging crisis in the Irish-speaking and Gaeltacht community, language activists and politicians have warned.
Mr Ó Cuirreáin told the Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions on Wednesday that the Irish language is being marginalised by the system of public administration. He said he was tendering his resignation following repeated failures by Government to implement measures that would improve access to State services for Irish speakers.
Irish language groups, politicians and academics have voiced concern at Mr Ó Cuirreáin’s resignation and have criticised the Government for not implementing the Official Languages Act.
Conradh na Gaeilge called on the Government to undertake to “immediately resolve” these problems in partnership with An Coimisinéir Teanga. Donnchadh Ó hAodha, president of Conradh na Gaeilge, said Mr Ó Cuirreáin’s resignation was “undoubtedly the worst blow to the Irish language in many long years”.
Dr John Walsh, NUI vice-dean for research at the College of Arts, Social Sciences & Celtic Studies in Galway,said he believed Mr Ó Cuirreáin had no alternative.
“I don’t think Seán Ó Cuirreáin had any choice. He presented evidence that the Government and the Department of the Gaeltacht together have not been serious about the implementation of the Official Languages Act for some years.” Dr Walsh said he was concerned the vacuum left by Mr Ó Cuirreáin’s resignation would be used in a forthcoming review to weaken the Act.
Sinn Féin Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh said it was “a dark day” for the Irish language. Speaking on Raidió na Gaeltachta yesterday, Mr Ó Clochartaigh said Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs Dinny McGinley should resign.
Fianna Fáil spokesman on Gaeltacht Affairs Michael Kitt said the resignation was “a wake-up call” for the Government. Welsh language commissioner Meri Huws expressed her disappointment at the resignation and thanked Mr Ó Cuirreáin for the role he played in establishing the International Association of Language Commissioners.
www.irishtimes.com
An Réiltín is Gile – dráma le Fíbín
Nollaig 5, 2013
Tá Réiltín ar ais chun an gig is tabhachtaí dá saol a thabhairt… ’s tá cinneadh le déanamh aici agus í ar chamchuairt.
Gheall siad dúinn go mbeadh ár lá againn
Bhí siad cinnte nach mbeadh deireadh leis
Gur linne an domhan
Tar éis gur díoladh amach camchuairt náisiúnta leo, tá Fíbín ar ais le seó úrnua, Réiltín, le Clíona Ní Chiosáin sa phríomhról. Tá Fíbín ag obair i gcomhar leis an scríbhneoir agus stiúrthóir Paul Mercier a scríobh Sétanta.
Is í Clíona Ní Cliosáin atá ag tabhairt faoin bpríomhról dúshlánach ‘Réiltín’. Le déanaí, bhí Clíona sa phríomhról i léiriúchán eile de chuid Fíbín An Triail agus tá aithne ag gach duine uirthi mar Aifric ón tsraith teilifíse den ainm céanna. “Tá mé iontach bródúil go bhfuil mé ag obair ar thogra nua le Paul. Is dóigh liom gur rud an-speisialta atá ann go h-áirithe mar nach bhfuil aon rud cosúil leis déanta trí mheán na Gaeilge.”
Tá cáil ar Fhíbín as an leas a bhaineann siad as teicnicí samhlaíocha, fís agus ceol tarraingteach i measc gnéithe eile agus tá an stíl seo le feiscint i Réiltín freisin. Tá an ceol ar cheann de phríomhghnéithe an léiriúcháin seo, ceol atá cumtha go speisialta ag Simon Noble. Seo an méid a bhí le rá ag an Stiúrthóir Bainistíochta, Darach Ó Tuairisg ina thaobh, “Tá ríméad orainn a bheith ag obair ar an léiriúchán spreagúil, fuinniúil seo le foireann iontach mar atá Paul, Clíona, agus Simon. Tá muid ag iarraidh teorainneacha na drámaíochta a iniúchadh leis an seó nua seo”.
Is é Reiltín an seó deiridh atá á léiriú ag Fíbín i mbliana, comhlacht drámaíochta atá ag ceiliúradh 10 mbliana ar an bhfód i 2013. Bliain iontach don chomhlacht ab ea é le dhá chamchuairt náisiúnta, Sétanta agus An Triail, léiríodh An Rón Dall i Nua Eabhrac agus le déanaí Stair na gCeilteach seó a léiríodh amuigh faoin aer i gcoiléar i gCamus, Conamara.
Tá Réiltín ar siúl ón Luan go Déardaoin 9-12 Nollaig ag an Townhouse Bar & Venue, An Póirse Spáinneach, Gaillimh. Tá ticéid ar fáil ó www.fibin.com nó ar an bhfón ar 091 593823. Tuilleadh eolais ar www.fibin.com
Tuilleadh eolais:
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Nuachtlitir Ráth Chairn
Nollaig 5, 2013
Drama Áras Pobail 7ú Nollaig 2013
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Glór na nGael Teo.
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Is é amárach an sprioc d’iarratais ar phost an phríomhoide ag Gael-Choláiste an Phiarsaigh
Nollaig 5, 2013
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Lá dubh, dorcha don Ghaeilge
Nollaig 5, 2013
Aiféala agus imní léirithe ag pobal na Gaeilge i leith fhógra éirí as an Choimisinéara Teanga
D’fhógair an Coimisinéir Teanga, Seán Ó Cuirreáin, ar 4 Nollaig 2013 go bhfuil sé le héirí as a ról, le feidhm ón 23 Feabhra 2014.
Rinne an Coimisinéir an scéal seo a fhógairt agus é ag cur síos ar Thuarascáil Bhliantúil an Choimisinéara Teanga 2012 don Chomhchoiste um Fhormhaoirsiú ar an tSeirbhís Phoiblí agus Achainíocha. Ag tagairt don tuarascáil bliantúil, dúirt sé nár “sárbhliain a bhí in 2012 maidir le cur chun cinn na Gaeilge i státchóras na tíre, agus ar scáth aon choiscéim a tugadh chun tosaigh, ba chosúil go raibh péire á dtabhairt ar gcúl”.
Bunaíodh Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga in 2004 faoi Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla 2003 mar fhoras monatóireachta i leith comhlíonadh fhorálacha an Achta sa státchóras.
Le linn an phlé, chuir an Coimisinéir síos ar lagú chóras na scéimeanna teanga, idir chur i bhfeidhm agus chaighdeán na bpolasaithe, easpa inniúlacht Ghaeilge an státchórais, agus cinneadh an Rialtais cumhachtaí agus feidhmeanna reachtúla an Choimisinéara Teanga a aistriú chuig Oifig an Ombudsman, cé nach bhfuil sonraí ina leith curtha ar fáil ó mhí na Samhna 2011.
Cháin an Coimisinéirbeartas úr lochtach earcaíochta na Státseirbhíse agus mheas sé go dtógfadh sé thart ar 28 bliain le líon na foirne riaracháin sa Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna le líofacht i nGaeilge a mhéadú ón 1.5% atá ann faoi láthair go dtí 3%.
Ag tagairt d’fholús i dtaobh athbhreithniú Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla 2003 a fógraíodh i mí na Samhna 2011, dúirt an Coimisinéir gur gá don Stát aghaidh a thabhairt ar dhá mhórghné, is é sin úsáid na Gaeilge i mbun cumarsáide le pobal na Gaeltachta gan cheist, gan choinníoll, agus cinntiú go mbeadh dóthain foirne le cumas sa Ghaeilge sa chóras riaracháin phoiblí. Dúirt sé mura dtabharfaí aghaidh ar na gnéithe áirithe seo “gur mugadh magadh, briolla brealla nó bréaga a bheas i gceist” le haon leasú.
Dúirt an Coimisinéir nach bhfuil “an oiread ísle brí agus lagmhisnigh” feicthe aige i measc lucht na Gaeilge in imeacht 30 bliain agus go bhfuil an Ghaeilge á himeallú ag an gcóras riaracháin phoiblí reatha.
Tar éis deich mbliana a bheith caite aige sa ról, agus dhá bhliain fágtha sa téarma ceapacháin aige, dúirt an Coimisinéir “gur beag eile a d’fhéadfainn a bhaint amach go pearsanta sa tréimhse ama sin i dtaca le cearta teanga phobal na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta. Is trua liom a rá, mar sin, go bhfuil cinneadh déanta agam seasamh siar ó mo cheapachán mar Choimisinéir Teanga ar an 23 Feabhra seo chugainn. Tá an cinneadh seo curtha in iúl inniu agam i scríbhinn d’Uachtarán na hÉireann mar a leagtar síos sa dlí.”
Ag caint ar chinneadh an Choimisinéara seasamh siar, thug an Seanadóir Trevor Ó Clochartaigh “lá dubh, dorcha” ar 4 Nollaig 2013. Dúirt sé gur “léir gur cinneadh ar bhunphrionsabail atá i gceist agus nach ar aon chúis eile atá seo socraithe aige”. Ag tagairt do thuarascáil cháinteach an Choimisinéara, dúirt sé gur léir dó “nach bhfuil an tacaíocht á fháil ag an oifig ón Rialtas agus na h-eagrais stáit agus dá bhrí sin nach féidir leis an gCoimisinéir a chuid dualgais a chomhlíonadh mar is ceart”.
Dúirt an tAire Stáit Donncha Mac Fhionnlaoich, T.D., “Is trua liom, ar ndóigh, go bhfuil cinneadh tógtha ag an Choimisinéir gan a théarma ceapacháin – a mhaireann go dtí Aibreán 2016 – a chríochnú”.
“Buille tubaisteach don Ghaeilge” a thug Conradh na Gaeilge ar sheasamh siar an Choimisinéara Teanga.
“Is cinnte gurbh é an cinneadh le héirí as oifig atá fógartha ag an gCoimisinéir Teanga inniu an buille is mó don Ghaeilge le fada an lá. Tuigeann Conradh na Gaeilge go maith na cúiseanna atá aige le héirí as; tá droch-chinntí i leith forbairt na Gaeilge glactha ag an Rialtas ó thosaigh siad i 2011. Ní gá ach breathnú ar an gcinneadh le COGG a chur isteach leis an CNCM, an neamhaird a rinne an Rialtais ar na leasuithe ar fad a moladh don Acht Gaeltachta 2012, agus fiú an t-athrú a bhí le teacht ar Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga féin,” a dúirt Uachtarán Chonradh na Gaeilge, Donnchadh Ó hAodha.
Dúirt Stiúrthóir Chomhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge, Kevin De Barra, “Ní fhéadfadh níos mó a bheith déanta ag Seán Ó Cuirreáin agus ag a fhoireann le deich mbliana anuas chun a chinntiú gur cuireadh Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla i bhfeidhm oiread agus ar féidir. Bhí an ról sin ag éirí níos déine le blianta beaga anuas toisc easpa tacaíochta an Rialtais, agus easpa tola polaitiúil i gcoitinne”.
“Bhí dóchas ann don Acht nuair a fógraíodh athbhreithniú ar Acht an dTeangacha Oifigiúla i mí na Samhna 2011 ach dhá bhliain níos déanaí níl torthaí an phróisis sin curtha ar fáil go fóill. Is mór an buille é don Ghaeilge, go bhfuil duine chomh stuama agus chomh hildánach le Seán Ó Cuirreáin ag éirí as post chomh tábhachtach le post an Choimisinéara Teanga, ach tuigim go hiomlán na cúiseanna agus na prionsabail a bhí laistiar de chinneadh Sheáin”.
“Mura bhfuil tacaíocht an Rialtais á fáil ag Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga, céard is fiú di a bheith ann, mar nach féidir leis an gCoimisinéir nó lena oifig a gcuid dualgais a chomhlíonadh mar is ceart sa chomhthéacs sin”, a dúirt sé.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Uasdhátú ar Gael-Choláiste an Phiarsaigh, ag oscailt i 2014
Nollaig 5, 2013
Eolas do thuismitheoirí scoláirí na céad bhliana (2014-15):
Ba mhaith leis an mBord Bainistíochta cuireadh a thabhairt duit, agus tuismitheoirí eile atá tar éis a bpáistí a chlárú don scoilbhliain 2014/15, chuig cruinniú i gClub Theach Naoimh Eoin, CLG, Baile an tSaoir ar an gCéadaoin, 18/12/2013 ag 8.00in.
Language chief quits over lack of Irish in civil service
Nollaig 5, 2013
THE head of one of the main Irish language groups has resigned, claiming many of those working for the civil service and other public bodies can only conduct business through English.
An Coimisineir Teanga Sean O Cuirreain accused the Government of being “hypocritical” on the issue. The former deputy head of Radio na Gaeltachta said the authorities insisted on Irish as a mandatory Leaving Cert subject – while at the same time denying citizens the provision of various services through Irish. An Coimisineir Teanga monitors compliance by public bodies with the Official Languages Act. Mr O Cuirreain was formally appointed as the first Coimisineir Teanga in 2004 and was reappointed for a second term in 2010. But yesterday he said that we were moving towards a situation where the use of English would be compulsory for citizens wishing to interact with public bodies. He said Irish speakers in Gaeltacht areas were not being catered for, and warned it was now time to confront this issue “once and for all”.
SURVIVAL
“Requiring the people of the Gaeltacht to conduct their business in English with state agencies flies in the face of any policy which suggests the survival of the Gaeltacht is on the State’s agenda,” he said. He told a sitting of the Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions that the absence of staff competent in Irish was a key problem. Accordingly, recruitment and promotion in the civil service needed to be “immediately” examined. He stressed that the Official Languages Act should be reviewed in this context otherwise the process would be seen as “a fudge, a farce or a falsehood”. The Irish language group Conradh na Gaeilge described the shock resignation as “undoubtedly the worst blow to the Irish language in many years”.
Donnchadh O hAodha, President of the Gaelic League, said he could “understand his reasons” for stepping down as the Government had made “bad decision after bad decision” in relation to the Irish language. Minister of State for the Gaeltacht Dinny McGinley said: “I regret, of course, that An Coimisineir has decided not to complete his term of appointment – which extends to April 2016. “
www.independent.ie
Commissioner resigns over Government failures on Irish
Nollaig 5, 2013
An Coimisinéir Teanga Seán Ó Cuirreáin has announced his intention to step down following the failure by Government to implement legislation designed to improve services to the public through Irish.
The Coimisinéir Teanga, whose role is to monitor compliance by public bodies with the provisions of the Official Languages Act, told a sitting of the Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions that he believed the State was quickly moving towards a situation where the use of English would become compulsory for citizens wishing to interact with public bodies. The former deputy head of Radio na Gaeltachta said it was “hypocritical” of the Government to insist on Irish as a mandatory subject for the Leaving Cert only then for the State to deny citizens the provision of services through Irish.
Citing the widespread failure of departments and public bodies to take measures to ensure the right of citizens to use Irish when interacting with state agencies, Mr Ó Cuirreáin said three quarters of statutory language schemes had expired without renewal by the end of 2012 with a quarter of them out of date for three years or more. The failure to promote these “fundamental pillars” of the legislation – agreed by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht with state bodies – represents a “significant risk”, Mr Ó Cuirreáin said. Criticising of the lack of services provided through Irish for Gaeltacht communities, Mr Ó Cuirreáin said it was time to deal with the issue “for once and for all”. “Requiring the people of the Gaeltacht to conduct their business in English with state agencies flies in the face of any policy which suggests that the survival of the Gaeltacht is on the State’s agenda,” he said.
The absence of staff with competence in both official languages is one of the main obstacles to the delivery of services in Irish as well as in English, Mr Ó Cuirreáin said. He added that it is “essential” that the issue of the Irish language in recruitment and promotion in the civil service be revisited “immediately”. Mr Ó Cuirreáin warned that any review of the Official Languages Act would be seen as “a fudge, a farce or a falsehood” if these failures are not addressed. “As we begin to regain our economic sovereignty, it would be a travesty if we were to lose our linguistic sovereignty – a cornerstone of our cultural identity, heritage and soul as a nation. I believe this to be a clear and present danger.” Mr Ó Cuirreáin was formally appointed as the first Coimisinéir Teanga in February 2004 under the Official Languages Act and was reappointed for a second term in 2010.
www.irishtimes.com
Resignation of Irish Language Commissioner Seán Ó Cuirreáin
Nollaig 5, 2013
Seán Ó Cuirreáin announced this evening that he is resigning from his role as Irish Language Commissioner.
Mr Ó Cuirreáin said he was concerned about the State’s lack of commitment to the protection of Irish speakers’ rights. The former deputy head of Radio na Gaeltachta said that he felt he was left with no other choice but to resign from his position. Mr Ó Cuirreáin was the first person to be appointed to the role of An Coimisnéir Teangain in 2004. Part of his remit was to ensure the implementation of Irish language legislation. His resignation is due to take effect in February.
www.independent.ie
Bua an Cheoil – JJ Ó Dochartaigh
Nollaig 5, 2013
Is as cathair Dhoire do JJ Ó Dochartaigh, fear atá tar éis clú mór a bhaint amach le tamall anuas mar gheall ar a chuid ceoil. Bhí spéis mhór aige ann ó bhí sé an-óg agus d’fhoghlaim sé amhráin Ghaeilge sular fhoghlaim sé aon cheann i mBéarla. Tá éileamh mór ar na haistriúcháin a dhéanann JJ ar amhráin cháiliúla Bhéarla agus na mílte cnag faighte acu ar Youtube. Chomh maith leis an aistriúchán bíonn JJ ag cumadh a chuid ceoil féin, amhráin nua-aimseartha lán spraoi a chuidíonn go mór le daoine óga a spreagadh i dtreo an cheoil agus na teanga. Tá súil ag JJ albam a chur amach sa todhchaí agus seans go mbeidh sé ag bunú banna ceoil fosta, mar sin is cinnte go mbeidh sé féin le feiceáil agus le cloisteáil timpeall na tíre lena chuid ceoil.
Féach an físeán ar www.meoneile.ie
