Recession busting Irish summer course for only €570
Márta 5, 2013
Tá Coláiste Cholumba ag rith cúrsaí Gaeilge ar an gCeathrú Rua ar feadh caoga bliain.
Le dhá bhliain anuas tá muid ag rith cúrsaí speisialta coicíse chun an seans a thabhairt do gach duine taithí a fháil ar ár dteanga dúchais i gceartlár na Gaeltachta.
Last year Coláiste Cholumba, an Irish summer college in the Connemara Gaeltacht, launched a recession busting two-week summer course to huge success. This year extra spaces have been added to cater for the huge numbers applying. However spaces are very limited and with all courses being oversubscribed last year, all indications are that this trend will continue for 2013. You can now enjoy 14 days of the same Gaeltacht experience with all its spraoi, spóirt, craic and ceol, while learning Irish, which has made Coláiste Cholumba a huge success for
more than 40 years.
These courses are inclusive of accommodation, food, tuition, sports activities, and travel. Also included are the college’s famous theme nights, discos, barbecues, and beach parties. It is hard to imagine a more fun-filled experience in one of the most popular Irish summer colleges. Coláiste Cholumba also runs special courses for those sitting the Leaving Cert and Junior Cert 2014 and for sixth class primary and first year post primary students.
Two-week courses will take place from June 26 to July 10, and from July 19 to August 2. Three-week courses will take place from June 6 to June 25, from June 26 to July 18, and from July 19 to August 10.
For further details visit www.colaistecholumba.ie, phone 091595184, or email colaistecholumba@gmail.com.
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Seachtain na Gaeilge i gCeatharlach
Márta 5, 2013
Tá Mí an Mhárta buailte linn agus dá bhrí sin Seachtain na Gaeilge á cheiliúradh fud fad na tíre agus thar lear fiú.
Tá clár iontach lán le himeachtaí spleodracha oiriúnach do gach aoisghrúpa curtha le chéile ag Glór Cheatharlach don fhéile mar chuid de chomóradh Bhliain na Gaeilge 2013. Cuirfear tús le Seachtain na Gaeilge beo ar an stáisiún raidió áitiúil Kclr96fm le heagrán speisialta den chlár Tobar an Cheantair ar an gCéadaoin, 6ú Márta idir 7.00 agus 8.00i.n. Cuirfear fáilte roimh chách ag Gaeilge le Chéile i dteach tábhairne Reddys ar an Déardaoin, 7ú Márta ag 9.00i.n. Seolfar clár na Féile Idirnáisiúnta Pan Cheilteach maidin Dé hAoine, 8ú Márta ag 11.00r.n.in Ostán Seven Oaks agus is liosta le háireamh atá le nochtadh.
Tá rogha leathan d’imeachtaí oiriúnach do pháistí bunscoile ar chlár na Seachtaine ina measc féile drámaíochta do bhunscoileanna nuair a léireoidh na páistí óga a ndrámaí ar stáitse na hamharclainne G.B. Shaw ar an Mháirt, 12ú Márta. Beidh ócáid san amharclann do dhaltaí iarbhunscoile chomh maith nuair a thaispeánfar an scannán Scéal na Gaeilge. Is scannán den scoth é seo eisithe ag Comhlacht Rosg agus a léiríodh ar TG4 anuraidh. Tugann an scannán léargas iomlán ar stair na tíre agus scéal na Gaeilge ó tugadh go hÉirinn ar dtús í go dtí an lá atá inniu ann. Is fiú go mór an scannán a fheiceail ar an Déardaoin, 14ú Márta ach ní foláir do mhúinteoirí áiteanna dá gcuid ranganna féin a chur in áirithe gan mhoill.
Tréigfidh daltaí na Gaelscoile a gcuid seomraí ranga ar an Aoine, 15ú Márta agus tabharfaidh siad aghaidh ar chlós na scoile le haghaidh Céilí Faoin Aer. Nach iontach an radharc a bheidh ann agus 500 páiste ag gabháil de Bhallaí Luimní agus Ionsaí na hInse faoi stiúir a múinteoirí. Ar ndóigh is é Lá Le Pádraig an fhéile mhór agus ní bheidh aon easpa imeachtaí ceiliúrtha i gCeatharlach ar an lá. Beannófar an tseamróg ag Aifreann as Gaeilge ag 11.00r.n. ins an Ardeaglais agus cuirfear tús le Mórshiúl na Féile ag 3.30i.n. Beidh Céilí Mór an oíche sin i gClub Iomána Bhaile Cheatharlach ag tosnú ag 9.00. Is é an rún atá ag Seachtain na Gaeilge ná deiseanna a chruthú d’fhoghlaimeoirí agus do chainteoirí líofa agus don phobal i gcoitinn chun an Ghaeilge a labhairt agus cuirfear míle fáilte roimh gach aon duine chuig na himeachtaí agus na hócáidí éagsúla a bheidh ar siúl i gCeatharlach i rith an ama. Iarrtar ar chuile dhuine idir óg agus fásta iarracht an-speisialta a dhéanamh an Ghaeilge a labhairt i rith na Seachtaine agus spraoi a bhaint as an cúpla focal a usáid i siopaí, scoileanna, san áit oibre, ar na sráideanna agus ar ndóigh i mbun siamsaíochta dóibh. Tugtar cuireadh do gach éinne a bheith páirteach agus taitneamh a bhaint as an bhFéile Ghaelach.
Gach eolas faoi Sheachtain na Gaeilge ar fáil ó Glór Cheatharlach ar 059 9158105 nó 087 2857048.
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Seachtain na Gaeilge 2013 has something for all
Feabhra 28, 2013
Seachtain na Gaeilge, the rather more than a week-long festival of events celebrating the Irish language, heritage, culture, and life, returns from March 2 to 17.
Events will take place across the city and county, involving music, dance, theatre, debates, competitions, and storytelling, culminating in the St Patrick’s Day Parade. The festival was launched on Monday by TG4 presenter and Seachtain na Gaeilge ambassador Róisín Ní Thomáin, along with pupils from Gaelscoil Dara. The theme for this year’s festival is ‘Give Irish a Go’. The emphasis is on public participation and is aimed at those with little or no Irish, the ‘cúpla focail’, or who are fluent. Is leor Beirt – get talking as Gaeilge
The Is leor Beirt strand of the programme entails a small group of people meeting in a local cafe or in their workplace restaurant to chat together in Irish on a regular basis. “There is no extra cost or time needed to get involved with the Is Leor Beirt network,” said Conradh na Gaeilge’s Siobhán Ní Dhubhfaidh. “The scheme revolves around coffee breaks or lunchtimes that people would be taking anyway, only now they’ll be relaxing in a new setting in the company of other people interested in Irish.” Is Leor Beirt events will be taking place in Lohan’s and The Oslo Hotel in Salthill (Monday March 4, Monday 11, at 8pm); Hennellys Pub, Corrundulla (Monday 4, 8pm); McCambridges, Shop Street (Tuesday 5 and Tuesday 12, 10.30am); Hope’s, Loughrea (Wednesday 6, 11am); Loughrea’s Irish Office (Monday 4 at 10am, Wednesday 13, 11am).
Similar events include a coffee morning with Age Action West and the Cumann Craic in the Age Action West office, the Small Crane, at 12 noon on Tuesday 5. Club Áras na nGael will host oíche na bhfoghlaimeoirí social night with ceol agus craic for Irish language learners from 8.30pm. On Friday 8 there will be a coffee morning and conversation at An Comharchumann, Cill Rónáin, from 11am; an Irish taster class in Teach na Gaeilge, Maigh Cuillin (3pm for beginners, 3.30pm learners, 4pm higher, 4.30pm grammar class). Admission is free. For more information contact 086 – 00660483. The public can also practice their Gaeilge at the coffee morning in The Galway Cakery, Moycullen (Saturday 9, 11am); parent and toddler morning, Teach na Gaeilge, Maigh Cuilinn (Monday 11, from 10am); coffee morning, Café Áras na Gaeilge, NUIG, (Monday 11, from 10am); My First Gaeilge, Áras na Gaeilge, NUIG, (Monday 11, from 3pm).
Coffee morning, Gaelscoil Riada, Athenry (Tuesday 12, 11am); Ciorcal cómhra with wine and cheese reception, Aras na Gaeilge, NUIG (Tuesday 12, 3pm); Ciorcal comhra with caint agus craftmaking in Teach na Gaeilge, Moycullen (8pm, also Tuesday 12, for more information (086-0660483). On Wednesday 13 NUIG will host its ‘No English Day’; while Áras na Gaeilge, NUIG will hold an Irish breakfast (10pm) and My First Gaeilge (3pm); Oíche na bhfoghlaimeoirí in Club Áras na nGael, social night for Irish language learners, from 9.30pm. Concerts, events and talks SnaG begins on Saturday with NUI Galway’s Drama Festival for the Colleges, celebrating and hosting theatre as Gaeilge. For more information see www.drama-gaeilge.com
On Tuesday 5 Club Áras na nGael on Dominick Street will host a Breton night from 8pm; and the Róisín Dubh will host an ‘Irish Silent Disco’ from 10pm. On Wednesday 6 there will be a screening of the films Cré na Cille and Kings in Áras na Gaeilge, NUIG at 6pm; and Celtic rock band The Waylanders will play Kelly’s, Bridget Street at 9pm.
Thursday 7 will see an Irish trad session in The Western hotel, Prospect Hill, at 9.30pm and on Friday 8 there will be a talk entitled Cultural Resistance in the Basque Country in Áras na nGael, Dominick Street, at 7pm. On Tuesday 12 there will be a music session in the Westside Library, Galway at 6.30pm; a lecture on the poet Raifteirí with NUIG’s Prog Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh at 8pm; and the Irish Silent Disco at the Róisín Dubh at 10pm. Thursday 14 will see the sean nós night in Maigh Cuillin with Johnny Mháirtín Learaí, Josie Sheáin Jeaic, Máirtín Tom Sheainín, Máire Phete Uí Dhroighneáin, Treasa Bn Uí Chonaill, Treasa Uí Cheannbháin, Róisin Elsafty, Joe John Mac an Iomaire, Seosamh Ó Fátharta, Pól Ó Ceannbháin, and Catríona Ní Cheannbháin in Regans Pub at 9pm, admission is free.
That same evening will see a trad session in The Western Hotel, Prospect Hill (9.30pm) and a céilí with JCI Galway, Club Aras na nGael, at 9pm. Dara Ó Cualán will give a lecture on the Galway Oireachtas 1913 in the Galway City Museum at 2pm on Saturday 16. Music events for St Patrick’s Day (Sunday 17) include the St Patrick’s day Trad Music Session in Club Áras na nGael, from 2pm and Don Stiffe and Marcus Ó hIarnáin in The Forge, Moycullen, at 8pm. Storytelling for children SnaG will host storytelling events as Gaeilge for children in the Galway City Library (Friday 8 and Friday 15, 11.15am), in the Westside Library (Friday 8 and Friday 15, at 3.30pm), a reading morning for children in the Moycullen Bookshop (Saturday 9, 11am); The programme is available from Conradh na Gaeilge, Áras na nGael, 45 Dominick Street (091 – 567824, conradh@bradan.iol.ie, www.arasnangael.ie)
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Seoladh Sheachtain na Gaeilge na Gaillimhe
Feabhra 28, 2013
Rinne ambasadóir Sheachtain na Gaeilge agus láithreoir TG4, Róisín Ní Thomáin, clár na Gaillimhe do Sheachtain na Gaeilge a sheoladh ag tús na seachtaine seo.
Bhí Róisín timpeallaithe ag daltaí Ghaelscoil Dara agus í i mbun na hócáide, tráthúil go leor agus líon ollmhór scoileanna páirteach i Seachtain na Gaeilge na bliana seo. Cuirfear tús le Seachtain na Gaeilge na Gaillimhe an deireadh seachtaine seo romhainn le Féile Náisiúnta Drámaíochta na gColáistí tríú leibhéal. Rannpháirtíocht an phobail atá mar theachtaireacht Sheachtain na Gaeilge na bliana seo agus go deimhin tugann clár na Féile deis do gach mac máthair, bíodh siad líofa nó lag sa teanga, páirt ghníomhach a bheith acu in imeachtaí na seachtaine.
Chomh maith le clár imeachtaí na féile tá craobhacha Chonradh na Gaeilge ar fud chontae na Gaillimhe i mbun feachtais chun lucht gnó, scoileanna agus grúpaí pobail a mhealladh i dtreo deiseanna a chur ar fáil don phobal chun an Ghaeilge a úsáid leis an bhfeachtas Seachtain na Gaeilge – Give Irish a Go. Cheana féin tá lear mór den lucht gnó agus grúpaí eile rannpháirteach san fheachtas seo. Tá Clár na Gaillimhe ar fáil anois ó Oifig Chonradh na Gaeilge ag 45 Sr. Doiminic. Deir Siobhán Ní Dhubhfaidh ó Chonradh na Gaeilge “ó thús mhí Eanáir táimid ag obair le grúpaí Gaeilge, grúpaí pobail, bunscoileanna agus meánscoileanna, cumainn tríú leibhéal, lucht gnó agus réimse leathan grúpaí eile agus daoine aonair ag ullmhú an chláir agus tá áthas orainn go bhfuil sé ar fáil anois. Táimid i mbun an chláir a dháileadh fud fad an chontae anois nó is féidir le daoine teagmháil a dhéanamh linn ag 091 567824, conradh@bradan.iol.ie nó tá fáil air freisin ag www.arasnangael.ie.
Dúirt Siobhán go mbeidh dlúthbhaint ag Seachtain na Gaeilge na bliana seo leis an scéim Is leor Beirt, an gréasán náisiúnta de chiorcail comhrá atá forbartha ag Conradh na Gaeilge. Bainfear leas as Is leor Beirt chun sraith imeachtaí a chur ar fáil don phobal le linn Sheachtain na Gaeilge.
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Contracts signed for purchase of Gaelscoil de hÍde site
Feabhra 27, 2013
The new Gaelscoil de hÍde at Oranmore has taken a major step towards becoming a reality after contracts were signed for the purchase of a site.
The acquisition of land for the school finally cleared the way for the project to advance. The purchase of the site was the main stumbling block in delaying the new building. Gaelscoil de hÍde was included in the Department of Education’s five-year building programme last March and it was envisaged that construction would commence on the project in 2015.
The proposed new school will be a 16- classroom national school, with a two-class special needs unit, and ancillary accommodation with a general purpose room. The developers are now in the process of signing the contracts and it is expected this will be completed by March 16. Outline planning permission has already been granted.
The next step is the design stage and an application for full planning permission. Gaelscoil de hÍde currently has almost 300 pupils and 20 staff, all of whom are housed in temporary accommodation with no playground space or other resource facilities.
The cost of renting the pre-fab accommodation amounts to €200,000 a year. The news has been welcomed by Galway West TDs Independent Noel Grealish and Fine Gael’s Brian Walsh. The acquisition of the site for the new school has cleared the way for development to be fasttracked,” said Dep Walsh. “I have made this case directly to the Minister for Education.”
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Teorainn ar fhás na meánscolaíochta ó Thuaidh?
Feabhra 27, 2013
Scoilteanna Idé-eolaíocha, bacanna á gcur ar iarrachtaí scoileanna néamhspleacha á mbhunú, sruthanna á mbunú i meánscoileanna Béarla; ní bheidh ann sa deireadh leis an meánscolaíocht lán-Ghaeilge ach eireaball ruball ar an chorás Bhéarla?
Níl aon amhras ach go bhfuil fás na meánscolaíochta i bhfad taobh thiar den fhorbairt atá tagtha ar an Ghaeloideachas ag leibhéal bunscoile agus naíscoile.Faoi láthair is é Coláiste Feirste, i mBéal Feirste, an t-aon mheánscoil lán-Ghaeilge ‘saor scartha’ ó Thuaidh, a bhfuil 541 dalta ag freastal uirthi. Go dtí seo, tá teip ar dhá iarracht meánscoil neamhspleách lán-Ghaeilge a bhunú i nDoire agus i dTír Eoghain.
Tá trí mheánscoil aitheanta ag an Roinn Oideachais mar shruthanna san am i láthair, a chuireann roinnt ábhar ar fáil trí mheán na Gaeilge; Coláiste Chaitríona in Ard Mhaca, Scoil Iósaef i dTír Eoghain agus Ardscoil Mhaolmhaodhóg i gCo. an Dúin. Ó 2005, tá Coláiste Phádraig i gCo. Dhoire ag cur roinnt ábhar ar fáil trí mheán na Gaeilge chomh maith, gan aon aitheantas ón Roinn Oideachais.
De réir figiúirí atá bailithe ag Gaelscéal, tá 256 dalta ag fáil oideachais trí mheán na Gaeilge i roinnt ábhar ón chéad bhliain suas go dtí an cúigiú bliain i sruthanna sna Sé Chontae. Tá soláthar níos leithne ar fáil do dhaltaí ón chéad bhliain suas go dtí an tríú bliain (‘Eochair Chéim’ 3), le 5-10 n-ábhar/35-65% á chur ar fáil i nGaeilge, ag brath ar an scoil ar leith. Cuirtear deich n-ábhar go dtí an triú bhliana agus ceithre ábhar ar fáil ag leibhéal GCSE i gColáiste Chaitríona, an t-aon sruth a chuireann oideachas trí mheán na Gaeilge ar fáil ag leibhéal GCSE.
Bunaíodh an sruth i gColáiste Caitríona in 2002 agus tá 144 dalta cláraithe ann faoi láthair, an sruth is mó ó thaobh líon na ndaltaí de agus na n-ábhar a dhéantar trí mheán na Gaeilge. Cé go gcuireann an Roinn Oideachais síos ar Choláiste Chaitríona mar ‘shruth’, aithnítear mar ‘aonad’ é go coitianta, mar go bhfuil a ionad féin aige atá scoilte amach ón mháthairscoil, rud nach bhfuil amhlaidh i gcás na sruthanna eile.
Cuireadh tús leis an sruth Scoil Iósaef in 2010 agus tá an sruth in Ardscoil Mhaolmhaodhóg ag feidhmiú ó 2011. Tá Coláiste Phádraig ag reáchtáil sruth Gaeilge le hocht mbliana anuas, ach gan aitheantas níl d’acmhainn ag an scoil aon soláthar a chur ar fáil ag leibhéal GCSE. Níl sólathar ar bith sna haonaid Ghaeilge ar mhaithe le hábhar A-Leibhéal.
“Gan aitheantas ní féidir linn ach soláthar oideachais teoranta a chur ar fáil. Go dtí go bhfaighidh muid aitheantas ní thig linn múinteoirí eile a fhostú chun cur leis na hábhar atá ar fáil i nGaeilge,” a dúirt Rónán Ó Dónaill, múinteoir Gaeilge atá i bhfeighil an tsrutha i gColáiste Phádraig.
Dar le Seamús Mac Seáin, gníomhaire teanga iomráiteach as Béal Feirste, tá sruthanna ag cur “sceach i mbéal bearna” agus tá siad “le moladh go mór as roinnt ábhar a chur ar fáil i nGaeilge.”
Ach, maíonn sé gur “mór an difear idir sin agus coláiste cosúil le Coláiste Feirste”, a bhfuil 26 ábhar ar fáil suas go dtí leibhéal GCSE agus 19 ábhar ag A-Leibhéal, iad uilig trí mheán na Gaeilge.
Creideann Tomás Ó Donnghaile, duine de bhunaitheoirí Mheánscoil Dhoire, meánscoil a bhí ag feidhmiú idir 1994-2006, go bhfuil sé soiléir nach bhfuil ag éirí le polasaí Chomhairle na Gaelscolaíochta agus Iontaobhas na Gaelscolaíochta agus go bhfuil easnaimh mór ann maidir leis an bhfreastal atá á dhéanamh ar pháistí gaelscoile, “a bheas i gcónaí ag bogadh i dtreo oideachais darna leibhéal.”
I ráiteas a chuir Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta (CnaG) chuig Gaelscéal dúradh : “Aithníonn CnaG gur an soláthar saor scartha an múnla is oiriúnaí faoi láthair go fadtréimhseach agus go mbunaítear múnlaí scoile ag gach leibhéal de réir éilimh agus de réir an mhúnla is cirte scoile don cheantar.” “Tá CnaG aontaithe ar ‘phrótacail chun sruthanna iar-bhunscolaíochta a fhorbairt ina scoileanna saor scartha. Tabharfar faoi seo i gceantair a bhfuil sruthanna ann ag an iarbhunleibhéal.’
Ach tá cuid mhór deacrachtaí a bhaineann le sruthanna agus aonaid, dar le Tomás Ó Donghaile, mar go mbíonn siad ag brath go mór ar an mháthairscoil Béarla.
“I dtaca le mo thaithí féin, tá an polasaí mícheart in úsáid. Is céad chúram na máthairscoileanna Béarla forbairt agus fás á scoileanna féin. Is guth beag fann a bheadh ag urlabhraí an aonaid Gaeilge i dtaca le pleanáil, forbairt agus caiteachas maoine, i measc bhord gobharnóirí na máthairscoile.”
Tá taithí praiticiúl ag Ó Donghaile ar an mhéid sin agus é lárnach sna hiarrachtaí chun Meánscoil Dhoire a fhorbairt. Bunaíodh Meánscoil Dhoire in 1994, le hiarrachtaí tuismitheoirí, agus bhí sí ag feidhmiú gan aitheantas ar feadh sé bliana. Sa bhliain 2000, bhronn an Roinn Oideachais aitheantas agus maoin ar an scoil ar acht go rachadh an scoil faoi bhainistíocht Mheánscoil Bhríde, scoil áitiúl a raibh aitheantas aici cheana. Bhí 51 dalta cláraithe leis an sruth a bhí ag feidhmiú i Meánscoil Bhríde i 2002 agus in 2006, d’fhogair bord bainistíochta na scoile nach mbeadh siad ag glacadh le daltaí don sruth.
Chomh maith leis na fadhbanna a bhaineann leis an bhainistiú, tá laigí ag na haonaid ó thaobh na Ghaeilge a fhorbairt mar ghnáth-theanga labhartha. Tá sé ráite ag Muireann Ní Mhóráin as COGG, “ní éiríonn le haonaid, (seachas nuair a bhíonn siad scoite amach ón mháthair-scoil) ná le sruthanna oideachas Gaeilge agus tá teipthe ar aonaid agus sruthanna thar na blianta.
“Ní bhíonn iontu i ndeireadh an lae ach grúpa faoi leith daltaí a dtagann múinteoirí chucu á dteagasc trí Ghaeilge ach feidhmíonn an scoil trí mheán an Bhéarla – an príomhoide go minic gan Gaeilge, oifig riaracháin, fógraí ar challaire, ceaintín, foirne peile agus a leithéid. Dá bharr sin, ní bhíonn aon Ghaeilge, de ghnáth, thar tairseach na seomraí ranga.”
Tá taighde díreach coimisiúnaithe ag COGG agus Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta agus Foras na Gaeilge ar ábhar bainteach leis seo – ar sholáthar oideachas trí Ghaeilge sna múnlaí éagsúla – scoil neamhspleách, aonad nó sruth.
Sainmhíniú ar mhúnlaí scoile ó Chomhairle na Gaelscolaíochta
– Scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge Saorscartha: idir bhunscoileanna agus iar-bhunscoileanna: Is í an aidhm atá acu ná suíomh lántumtha a sholáthar do na páistí nach máthairtheanga an Ghaeilge dóibh, de réir mar a thugtar oideachas dóibh, mar a fhásann siad agus mar a fhorbraíonn siad.
– Aonaid lán-Ghaeilge ag bunscoileanna: Bíonn na cinn seo ceangailte le scoil lán-Bhéarla óstach, go tipiciúil nuair nach mbíonn go leor daltaí ann chun scoil neamhspleách a bhunú. Is í an aidhm atá acu seo fosta ná eispéireas an tumoideachais a sholáthar do pháistí nach bhfuil an Ghaeilge ina máthairtheanga acu, agus an teagasc go léir san aonad á dhéanamh trí mheán na Gaeilge de ghnáth.
– Sruthanna lán-Ghaeilge ag iar-bhunscoileanna lán-Bhéarla: Sa socrú seo foghlaimíonn grúpa daltaí cuid dá n-ábhair trí mheán na Gaeilge, agus cuid eile trí mheán an Bhéarla. Is cur chuige páirt-thumtha é seo do phaistí nach bhfuil an Ghaeilge ina máthairtheanga acu a aistríonn ó sholáthar na gaelscolaíochta.
www.gaelsceal.ie
Paráid na Féile Pádraig i gCeatharlach
Feabhra 27, 2013
Tá na socruithe don mhórshiúl ar Lá le Pádraig i mbaile Cheatharlach fógartha agus beifear ag súil le tacaíocht agus rannpháirtíocht forleathan i mbliana.
Tionólfar na rannpháirtithe ag 2.30i.n. agus cuirfear tús leis an mórshiúl ag 3.30i.n. Baileoidh na coisithe le chéile i gcarrchlós Penneys agus is ar Shráid na Boirne a dhéanfaidh na flótaí scuaine réidh don mhórshiúl. Iarrtar ar scoileanna, clubanna spóirt, grúpaí rince agus drámaíochta, eagrais dheonacha agus an lucht gnó tacú leis an bparáid agus páirt a ghlacadh sa chomóradh. ‘Sé téama na bliana seo ná Ceiliúradh Cheatharlach 2013 agus faoin téama áirithe seo luaitear an Fhéile Idirnáisiúnta Pan Cheilteach, Ceatharlach 800 agus Tóstal 2013. Beidh Banna na bPíobairí Ghleann Uisean ag soláthar ceoil . Siúlfaidh na Comhairleoirí áitiúla ag ceann na paráide agus ní bheidh aon seastán athbhreithnithe ann.
Mar sin le cinntiú go mbeidh mórshiúl den scoth ag baile Cheatharlach i mbliana cuirfear fáilte roimh gach tacaíocht. Iarrtar ar ghrúpaí clárú gan mhoill agus roimh an Luan, 11ú Márta ar a dhéanaí. Tá foirmeacha ar fáil ó Halla an Bhaile agus is féidir gach eolas a fháil ach glaoch ar 087 2857048.
www.carlow-nationalist.ie
Féile Drámaíochta na mBunscoileanna i gCeatharlach
Feabhra 27, 2013
Eagróidh Glór Cheatharlach Féile Drámaíochta do Bhunscoileanna in amhraclann G.B. Shaw ar an Mháirt, 12ú Márta i rith Sheachtain na Gaeilge.
Tá cuireadh tugtha do mhúinteoirí agus bunscoileanna uile timpeall an chontae drámaí a ullmhú agus a léiriú ar an stáitse ar an lá. Tá roinnt mhaith drámaí cláraithe cheana féin agus páistí i mbun cleachtaidh. Is cinnte go mbeidh sceitimíní ar na daltaí agus iad i mbun aisteoireachta ar stáitse na hamharclainne. Taispeántas a bhíonn i gceist san fhéile drámaíochta gach bliain leis an mbéim ar spraoi agus siamsaíocht seachas ar iomaíocht. Ní bhíonn comórtas ná duaiseanna san áireamh. Tá an ócáid oscailte do rang ar bith ó naíonaín bheaga go rang a sé. Is i rith am scoile a bheidh an fhéile ar siúl agus beidh fáilte roimh lucht féachana. Cead isteach saor. Tá gach eolas agus foirmeacha iarratais ar fáil ó Glór Cheatharlach ach glaoch ar 059 9158105, 085 1340047 nó rphost a sheoladh chuig eolas@glorcheatharlach.ie
www.carlow-nationalist.ie
Let’s not lose our native tongue in outer space
Feabhra 21, 2013
OPINION: A celestial tweet as Gaeilge was loved. We should treat Irish far better on Earth
On Monday night, Chris Hadfield became the nation’s favourite Canadian astronaut when he tweeted a picture of Ireland from space accompanied by a message in Irish – “Tá Éire fíorálainn!” In charming us with a few judiciously chosen words of our native tongue, the commander was following the recent example of two more illustrious foreigners. In May 2011, the Queen of England left our then president Mary McAleese open-mouthed in disbelief with a majestically delivered “Go raibh maith agat” and, just a few days later, Barack Obama had a crowded College Green in raptures with that riff on his can-do battle cry for the ages, “Is féidir linn”.
On both occasions, the decision to respectfully acknowledge the existence of the Irish language was greeted with widespread approval. It appears that the sound of a stranger speaking Irish gives us a fuzzy feeling of self-worth, a feeling not to be had from, say, speaking Irish ourselves. Hadfield’s tweet from the great beyond brought a similar jolt of affirmation, and the Irish language became – for one night on Twitter at least – a little reminder that, as the poet Michael Hartnett once wrote, “We are human, and therefore not a herd.” On Monday, the tweet machine was positively glowing with gratitude, much of it for the commander’s use of a few words in Irish. “Wow, I can feel the warmth of the Irish all the way up here…” Hadfield later tweeted, adding a “go raibh maith agaibh!” that ensured there was more Irish used in the International Space Station this week than most Irish people would use in a year.
Lip service
It is easy to be cynical about these fleeting public expressions of warmth towards Irish, a language that has all but had the life sucked out of it by years of lip service.
Still, there was something genuine about the affection for the language evident in the response to Hadfield. Maybe this was because the commander’s tweet, for all its otherworldliness, was more authentic than either Obama’s or the banríon’s cúpla focal. While Obama’s mantra has entered the mainstream like no other phrase in Irish since “an bhfuil cead agam dul go dtí an leithreas?”, there was a hint of the rock star’s “Good evening, wherever we are! We love you!” about his “Is féidir linn.” For her part, Queen Elizabeth’s “go raibh maith agat” was burdened with such historical significance that McAleese’s silent “Wow!” felt like an overreaction almost immediately.
Oldest living vernacular
In the end, the charming Canadian commander outdid them both. Here was a language that clings stubbornly, if a little forlornly, to its status as the oldest living vernacular in Europe, fully alive again for a brief moment in the cosmos. And with those three words – “Tá Éire fíorálainn!” – Hadfield brought a little light from afar to our evening.
Meanwhile, in a galaxy not so far away called the Gaeltacht, Irish is dying as the language of the home and community. It is dying because that is what usually happens to languages like Irish, but it is also dying because of official neglect and a failure to take the measures needed to save it. The most recent study in this area suggested that unless radical action was taken, Irish had only 15 to 20 years left as the primary community language in even the strongest Gaeltacht areas.
That was in 2007.
In response, three years later, in 2010, the last government published a 20-year strategy for the language. Three years on and the present Government has been slow in implementing that strategy. Instead, it has diluted what was already an overly aspirational plan by making several decisions that undermine it. For example, it has withdrawn the support given to trainee teachers to study in the Gaeltacht, whereas the strategy is committed to allowing students to spend a greater length of time in Irish-speaking communities. It is difficult to ascertain how many people really care about the preservation of Irish as no government has been willing to take a political gamble that the type of affection provoked by Hadfield’s tweet might be sincere. This is despite the existence of plenty of earthly evidence that proves a considerable majority of us have a favourable attitude to Irish. Would the public support a radical, well-resourced plan to save the Irish language? Would such a plan work? We might never know. Because it seems that, to adapt the tagline from the movie Alien, in the Gaeltacht, nobody can hear you scream.
www.irishtimes.com
Irish language podcasts launched
Feabhra 20, 2013
Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin is now offering a series of free podcasts online to help people learn Irish.
The ‘Cultúr le Comhrá’ programme, funded by the Big Lottery Fund, was launched by the Mayor of Derry, councillor Kevin Campbell, and is designed to allow people to learn Irish from home.
The course is suitable for those who want to start from scratch and for those with some Irish already who want to improve their language skills. Each podcast is available to download free of charge from the Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin website.
Ciara Nic Lochlainn, project co-ordinator said: “Cultúr le Comhrá means Culture with Conversation and these podcasts which are based on conversation between two speakers are like mini Irish lessons.
“They give learners the opportunity to learn Irish in an easy way without spending any money and fit perfectly with the Líofa 2015 initiative launched some time ago.
“This series will run for 30 weeks and there will be five programmes broadcast per week. Cultúr le Comhrá will be divided into 3 Sections, 10 weeks of podcasts for complete Beginners, 10 weeks of podcasts for Intermediate learners and 10 weeks of podcast for advanced learners.”
The first podcast became available for download or to listen to yesterday at www.culturlann-doire.ie
For more information contact 02871 264132
www.derryjournal.com
