Méid an Téacs

Young gaelgóirí enjoy the Colaiste Lú summer camps

Meán Fómhair 1, 2014

Young gaelgóirí from all over the county descended on the gaelcholáiste this month for a fun-filled and worthwhile week at Coláiste Lú’s annual summer camp.

In its second successful year, the summer camp offers an opportunity to students aged between 10 and 13 to practice their Irish and make new friends while engaging in a range of activity workshops.

Students at this year’s summer camp enjoyed music, sport and art workshops each day.

The wide range of activities included learning Haka na Gaeilge on the camp’s rugby day, brushing up on their gaelic football skills and creating safe-havens for their pocket money by building piggy banks.

Teacher Maria NicEochaidh, who co-ordinated the Coláiste Lú summer camp, was delighted with this year’s

campers.

Maria told The Democrat: “It was great to hear the school filled with young voices full of energy and enthusiasm for the language even in the middle of the summer.

“In Coláiste Lú we always encourage collaborative and child-centred learning.

“As the week progressed confidence and friendships grew and the students went from strength to strength.

“ It was wonderful to see.”

Coláiste Lú is an all-Irish post-primary school offering a wide range of subjects and a variety of extra-curricular activities in a complete Irish immersion environment in the heart of Dundalk.

The school is now accepting applications for First Year 2015/16. Deadline for Applications is 17th October 2014.

Application forms and admissions policy available from Coláiste LúChapel St, Dundalk.

You can see more photographs and videos from the Coláiste Lú summer camp and keep up to date with other school activities by following the school twitter feed, @ColaisteLu.

Dundalk Democrat

Gaeltacht scholarships for Realt na Mara pupils

Meitheamh 23, 2014

Sixteen lucky primary school pupils from Scoil Náisiúnta Réalt na Mara have chosen Pobalcholáiste Chú Chulainn and Gaelcholáiste Chúchulainn as their respective secondary schools, which they will progress to in September this year.

The pupils have been enjoying a Tús Maith preparation programme which aims to make the transition between primary and secondary school an easy and enjoyable experience.

Last week Deirdre Uí Liatháin, Príomhoide of both schools together with Mícheál Ó Coillte, stiúrthóir of Gaelcholáiste Chú Chulainn joined Mr. Mc Caul Príomhoide of Scoil Náisiúnta Réalt na Mara, Bn. Uí Chiaráin, Club na Gaeilge, sixth class teachers, Miss Mc Ateer and Mrs Callen and the sixth class graduates to Scoileanna Chú Chulainn at a coffee morning in Scoil Náisiúnta Réalt na Mara to celebrate and commend a group of eight students from fifth and sixth class in Scoil Náisiúnta Réalt na Mara who have won scholarships to the Gaeltacht.

The lucky recipients will spend one week in Coláiste Aoidh Mhic Bhricne in Teileann, Co Donegal at the beginning of July.

The school would like to thank sponsors Tomás Ó Searcaigh, Maria Doyle, Oliver Morgan, Marianne Butler and of course the school’s own Club na Gaeilge for their generosity.

This year Pobalcholáiste Chú Chulainn will open its doors to the inaugural group of first years, a momentous moment in local history.

Dundalk Democrat

Smarmore summer camp a great success

Meán Fómhair 10, 2013

Now in its second year, Gael Champa took place at Smarmore Castle just a few miles from Ardee in the middle of August.
“We had 24 children from the ages of 5- 13 who attended and participated in the Irish language summer camp,” said Clodagh McClean, who has BSA in Irish. Clodagh and Kenny Rabbitt supervised and co-ordinated the camp, assisted by Éadaoin McClean, Aelish Lambert, Andrea Meade and Claire McGrory. “The idea behind this summer camp was to encourage children to welcome and enjoy the Irish language as a fun and funtional means of communication. As the week progressed, the children were speaking more and more Irish and their confidence grew as they practiced and experienced Irish as a practical language. “The week consisted of many activities for the children. From table quizes to treasure hunts and relay races to ‘Capture the Flag’. “Fun through Irish was always the prime concern.

“Throughout the course of the week, the children were divided into four teams: Eireann, Na Buaiteoirí, Club Chorcra and Daoine Gan Stóp, and could earn points for their teams by succeeding in the activities, team spirit, good sportsmanship and through their use of the Irish Language. Despite the close competition thorughout the week. It was Club Chorcra that finished in first place of the leaderboard at the end of the week. “By the end of the week, each child went home with prizes for their excellent use of Gaeilge throughout the week,” said Clodagh. Clodagh McClean, would like to thank everyone who helped make this year’s camp a success, especially Smarmore Castle for their use of their grounds, to all of the people who helped out with the camp over the week and to all of the children who were an absolute pleasure to have for the week.

A special word of thanks goes out to all of the parents who encouraged their children throughout the camp to speak through Irish.Gael-Champa is a summer sports camp as Gaeilge, providing cultural, educational and sporting activities for children through the medium of Irish! Séan Óg Ó hAilpín launches Gael-Champa! The camp caters for children from English speaking schools as well as Gaelscoileanna. Activities include Gaelic football, hurling, rugby, volleyball, soccer, etc. If you would like more information about Gael Champa 2014, please contact Clodagh at clodagh.mcclean2@mail.dcu.ie

www.dundalkdemocrat.ie

Smiles all round at St Joseph’s summer camp

Iúil 10, 2013

Thirty-six students from St. Josephs N.S. in Muirhevnamor celebrated the start of their summer holidays in style as they participated in the week long Irish language Summer Camp, ‘‘Is Fiu, Is Feidir, 2013’’.

The purpose of the summer camp is to help children across Ireland enhance their Irish language skills in a fun, informal way. The school corridors were buzzing all week as the children took part in a wide range of activities including sport, art, drama, music, cooking and many more, through the medium of Irish. The packed schedule of events culminated in a Ceili Mor on Friday to celebrate the tremendous week. The traditional Ceili was given a new lease of life as the children engaged in a ‘Campa Samhraidh- Gangnam Style’ dance off! Led by Karol Caulfield, Tess Hughes and Alan Nelson, the St. Joseph’s teachers were well aware that the camp offered the children an excellent opportunity to learn Irish in a fun way. With smiles a plenty Friday afternoon, the summer camp was undoubtedly a resounding success.

www.dundalkdemocrat.ie

Children’s Book Festival

Samhain 1, 2012

THE National Children’s Book Festival ran in libraries around the country throughout the month of October. Louth libraries were busy schedule of events running for children. As part of the festival Children’s Books Ireland were lucky enough to secure some very limited funding from Foras na Gaeilge to programme a small amount of projects around the country.

The aim of the project is to connect communities of young readers nationwide with authors, illustrators and storytellers who work in the Irish language in an in-depth manner.

The library in Dundalk was picked to take part in the project. The renowned children’s writer Aine Ni Ghlinn facilitated three workshops with 6th class from Gaelscoil Dhun Dealgan, along with their teacher Áine Uí Choinne throughout October.

Áine Ní Ghlinn has had eighteen children’s books published by various publishers as well as four collections of poetry for adults. She spent several years working as a journalist and Clár Reachtaire with Raidió na Gaeltachta & RTE and a number of years lecturing in DCU.

She has written occasional scripts for TG4’s Ros na Rn and now divides her time between rearing her three sons, writing, working on creative writing projects in gaelscoileanna and lecturing part-time in the Church of Ireland College of Education in Dublin. She is at present working on a new children’s novel as well as some drámaí bunscoile.

Over the years, she has received several bursaries from Clár na Leabhar Gaeilge/Foras na Gaeilge and the Arts Council and has won many awards for both poetry and children’s books. Three of her novels for ?young and teenage readers – Fuadach, Tromluí and Úbalonga – have ?won Oireachtas awards. Her most recent publication was Bronntanais agus Féiríní Eile a collection of poetry for children.

Foilsithe The Dundalk Democrat 31 Deireadh Fómhair 2012/ Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com 01 Samhain 2012

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Omeath celebrates major milestone of its past

Deireadh Fómhair 30, 2012

This year 2012 marks the centenary of the establishment of Coláiste Bhríde in Omeath.

In the early part of the last century, it was established that a small Gaeltacht survived In Omeath, with the older population speaking Gaelic.

A Gaelic college (Coláiste Bhríde) was established as an attempt to capture the remaining Gaelic which lived on among the older inhabitants of Omeath. This college was instrumental in ensuring that Omeath Irish lives on. A programme of events took place to celebrate the centenary.

The event was officially opened by Senator Marie Louise O’Donnell who explained her links with the village. Her mother came from Omeath and her grand-mother Louie Kirwen was in receipt of a silver medal won at Coláiste Bhríde. The family received a certificate for their dedication to Gaelic from Douglas Hyde.

The function room in the Granvue House was adorned with a series of pop-up posters which gave a dramatic visual enhancement to the event. These 6 foot high posters detailed many of the local characters who gave of their time to Coláiste Bhríde.

Other events included a guided tour of the cottages of the last Gaelic speakers, conducted by Eamonn Ó Gribín and Séamus Murphy of An Ciorcal Comhra Óméith. Cúchualinn Gaels re-enacted the famous Bavan Football match, with all stars from a number of different counties appearing in retro kit.

Paddy O’Hanlon, the great-grandson of the last native Irish speaker Áine Uí Annluain, read the poem which commemorates the match both in English and as Gaeilge.

A craft fair took place in the Dolmen Centre which saw a display of different crafts produced in the area. Perhaps the most exciting element of the celebrations was the revival of a Gaelic college in the village. For the first time since 1926 Gaelic was being taught again in a non-primary school setting.

Thanks to these teachers for their hard work and dedication to the language. August 2013 will see an extended cúrsa with not only the Gaelic language being taught, but also music, song and other traditional pursuits.

www.dundalkdemocrat.ie