Gaelscoil open day bids to resolve row
June 28, 2011
A SCHOOL at the centre of bitter controversy over plans for a new building has invited public representatives to an open day today to hear its side of the story.
The newly formed Parents and Teachers Action Group from Gaelscoil an Goirt Álainn in Cork said they are “extremely hurt and frustrated” and feel strongly that the pupils have been forgotten and neglected throughout the long-running saga. “We have tried our best as parents and teachers to reach out to the community to allay fears in the public and have been constantly beaten down by certain people,” the group said. “We have been likened to the Taliban, been called ‘snobbish’ and referred to as ‘elitist’, while all the time remaining positive and keeping the greatest need, that of our children, to the fore of our energies.
“This is despite 24/7 intimidation of those ‘Save Our Tank Field’ signs publicly displayed along the children’s route to school, to their local shops or even to Mass.” The school has been based in temporary prefab accommodation on the grounds of Brian Dillon’s GAA Club next to the Tank Field for the last 13 years. After years of campaigning, the Department of Education finally lodged a planning application with Cork City Council for a 16-classroom school on a portion of the Tank Field, which is zoned for sports use.
A rezoning, which would require two-thirds of the city’s 31 councillors to vote in favour, was needed for the building go ahead. City planners gave the project the green light but in July 2007 just 15 councillors voted in favour of rezoning.
The Department of Education appealed the vote and in March 2008, An Bord Pleanála granted planning. However, problems with the plan emerged in September 2009 and the project went back to the drawing board. Almost a year later, former city manager Joe Gavin said a new planning application would be needed. In the meantime, the school secured permission for an extension to its prefabs. Last March, the department lodged its revised plans and last month, city planners gave the new project the green light. Now another rezoning vote is imminent. The controversy has split the community in Mayfield. The Murmount Park Residents’ Association has been among the most vocal opponents arguing that the green space should be retained. It has also argued that the department should build the school on other sites. Supporters of the new school have marched through Cork city, and pointed out that of 376 observations and submissions lodged during the planning process, 269 were in favour of the new school. The action group has invited all councillors and media to an open day at the school today.
Irish Examiner – Eoin English
Gaelscoil groups take issue with report
May 3, 2011
TWO groups involved in the country’s growing number of gaelscoileanna have rejected the report on future primary school provision, claiming it blocks children’s chances of an all-Irish education.
Around 40,000 children attend 139 all-Irish primary schools, representing 6.5% of all 3,169 primary schools, in addition to the 106 Gaeltacht primary schools.
An Foras Pátrúnachta na Scoileanna Lán-Ghaeilge, which is patron to 58 non-Gaeltacht all-Irish schools, says the recommendation that parental surveys be used to identify the type of school to be built in areas of population growth will leave those seeking all-Irish education in the minority so the system is not likely to meet their needs.
In a letter published with the report of the Commission on School Accommodation, An Foras Pátrúnachta chief executive Caoimhín Ó hEaghra also says the organisation does not agree with a proposal to establish all-Irish units within some existing English-medium schools to cater for local demand.
“The majority of the population do not have any practical alternative to English-medium education for their children. This is not right. There should be a choice available to them for all-Irish education,” he wrote.
“An Foras cannot support this report because it effectively places an obstacle to the provision of all-Irish education to the children of the country.”
Gaelscoileanna, the voluntary organisation supporting the development of all-Irish schools, also had its concerns published with the report, saying it cannot support it. While it welcomed the positive approach of the Department of Education to date on all-Irish education, it said that all-Irish units have not worked in English -medium schools.
“Over the past 10 years, seven all-Irish units have closed at second level due to lack of support from the department. In addition, it is hard for all-Irish units to create an Irish language ethos since they are surrounded by English,” wrote Gaelscoileanna’s acting chief executive Nóra Ní Loingsigh.
She said there is a need for all-Irish primary schools to have an opportunity to establish in areas of growing population as well as in areas of stable population where there is demand for all-Irish education. “We believe that a change of patron or ethos will not take place in schools for a long time and that in the meantime, many children will lose out on the opportunity to be bilingual at a young age and all the advantages this entails,” Ms Ní Loingsigh wrote.
Irish Examiner
Give us a choice of two Irish subjects
March 31, 2011
I AM writing to you to express my opinion on the way I feel Irish should be taught in schools.
A recent report has suggested that the teaching of Irish in the education system be split into two different subjects – Irish language and Irish literature. What a brilliant idea. The language itself can be a fun and interesting subject to do. This interest is dampened by the fact that students have to learn ancient stories and poems, in Irish, to pass their exams. This burden makes the subject unenjoyable and stressful, which puts many students off liking the subject. I’m all for learning the “cúpla focail”, but having to learn a poem about jam – for instance – really does seem ridiculous. By all means, keep Irish on the curriculum, but I think students should have a choice as to whether to do the language, the literature, or both. This would maintain a healthy interest in the subject and prevent it from dying out.
Daisy May Pemble (14)
Kinsale
Co Cork
Irish Examiner
Change how Irish is taught at primary level
March 30, 2011
I REFER to Ross Watchorn’s letter (March 25). I agree that the teaching of Irish should be overhauled.
The Government says it is going to increase the number of points for the oral in the Leaving Certificate from 40% of the exam to 50%. This will be a welcome move, although is not even currently challenging for native Irish speakers and others with good Irish, so we should have a second Irish language subject for the Leaving Cert. Conradh na Gaeilge and the Oireachtas Joint-Committee, who published recommendations on the 20-year strategy for the Irish language, are both in favour of this. But we need to go further and overhaul the way Irish is taught in primary school and for the Junior Certificate. Oral Irish should be focused on throughout school with grammar only being taught when a child reaches at least fifth class. The decision agreed by the two government parties in the Programme for Government to postpone looking at whether Irish should be optional for the Leaving Cert until reforms have been carried out is, I believe, the correct one. I would welcome a bigger debate in the next general election on the question of Irish being compulsory or not for the Leaving Cert, in the context of a radical overall having taken place. The question has been parked but will be revisited.
Darren Mac an Phríora
Caisleán Cnucha
Baile Átha Cliath 15
Irish Examiner
Time to drop Irish as core subject
March 28, 2011
I AM writing concerning the discussion of making Irish an optional subject for the Leaving Certificate.
As a second-year student, I study Irish in school every day, and find it a chore to have to learn the extensive amount of grammar that accompanies it. The emphasis is never on speaking the language and the teachers seem reluctant to encourage this. The recent introduction of an oral exam for the Junior Cert, is an attempt to try and change this attitude. I don’t think this will have the desired effect, unless the monotonous teaching methods are changed. I think it is time to drop Irish as a core subject, and feel it is very unfair to have it as a requirement for college entry. The truth is, after 14 years of learning Irish in school, the majority of students leave unable to hold a basic conversation. While I think it is time to move on, I recognise that the patriotic fluent Irish speakers will most likely win the day.
Ross Watchorn
Lucan
Co Dublin
Irish Examiner – Litir chuig an Eagarthóir
Bring Irish back to its roots
March 3, 2011
I would like to make a cupla focal, or couple of comments, regarding your editorial, The future of Irish – A daunting challenge.
It is not often that your illustrious newspaper gives recognition to the existence of the Irish language, and its speakers, which in a way is sad, considering that communities of native Irish speakers still live on your doorstep in Cork and have been living there for hundreds, if not thousands of years, and their ancestors have left an indelible linguistic mark on the surrounding landscapes.
Yes, as you rightly point out, strengthening the use of Irish in the modern world is a daunting task. No more daunting, might I suggest and possibly less so, than restoring Ireland’s economy and finances to a sound footing; I don’t think you will write an editorial recommending that we throw in the towel because restoring the economy is a daunting task and will require difficult mandatory measures.
What has been missing in the debate about Irish, including your editorial, is the current state of the Irish language itself. Because of Irish State indifference, and possibly administrative contempt for the Irish language, a serious divergence is taking place between historic Gaelic and so called modern Irish which is undermining Irish Gaelic, and, in my opinion, is bringing the language into disrepute, especially in the eyes of its English speaking learners. This is mainly due to the huge influx of English derived words into Irish Gaelic and which is morphing Irish into something approaching a dialect of English. Examples abound.
For instance “usaid” use, “canbhas” canvas and of course the ubiquitous “sasta” satisfied. There are authentic Gaelic equivalents for nearly all of the English derived words in official State sponsored Irish. I believe that students of Irish in the schools recognise that something quite not right is being taught and they are turned off. If money will be spent cleaning up the language and bringing it closer to its Gaelic roots, then the “product” will be more acceptable to Irish language learners. Finally, despite your pessimistic prognosis for Irish, other languages have faced daunting existential prospects, possibly more so than Irish, for example Russian, Armenian and Hebrew, and successfully overcome the daunting challenge.
Micheal Ó Cathail
Sandycove
Co Dublin
Don’t force students to study Irish
March 3, 2011
FORCING students to “study” Irish up to Leaving Cert level is unfair and does little to revive the language in so far as the majority of the students are involved.
In the majority of mainstream primary and second-level schools the standard of written and spoken Irish has declined. I know this from my own experience in education for the past 40 years and from my experience in dealing with children and young people outside the school environment. The all-Irish schools and the gaeltacht schools are doing well principally because the parents and families are engaged with Irish and support their children in learning the language. They deserve to get every support possible and they do a great job.
However, in the other schools the interest may be there but the engagement of parents and the general population certainly is not . Could we not have an honest debate about how we might best hope to revive the language The pious aspirations of politicians will not bring about change and it is unfair to impose a subject on young people who do not choose it and have little interest in it and see little active support from adults, including the politicians. The Leader’s Debate does not reflect the situation in the Dáil and Senate. We need to respect our students and let them decide in the present unsatisfactory situation. By the way, I love and I am fluent in the language. I have written poetry and prose in Irish which has received some acclaim, I even promote the language where I get the opportunity, but I will not impose it on others.
Can we not have a national debate on where Irish is at, where we want it to go and draw up a realistic plan on how we can get there. There are many of us who would involve ourselves in this debate as we would dearly love to work with others in improving the situation.
David J Fitzgerald
Dun Laoghaire
Co Dublin
LANGUAGE DIVIDE
February 24, 2011
Fine Gael’s proposal that Irish should be an optional subject in the Leaving Certificate is dividing opinion even among enthusiasts. Here we present both sides of the issue.
FOR
Compulsory Irish only fosters resentment, writes Tomás Mac Eochagáin
LIKE “compulsory” redundancy, compulsory Irish is an extraordinarily unwelcome and blunt instrument. Unquestionably, for many students, its continued retention can only serve to sustain a long-lasting resentment and antagonism towards the language. The recent discussion on the Irish language is most welcome. Even better was the fluency of the television debate in Irish by the leaders of Fine Gael, Labour and Fianna Fáil which showed it is no longer the unique preserve or inheritance of one political tradition, but a modern shared language capable of effortlessly accommodating detailed discussion and robust argument about all aspects of our lives.
For too long, much of what has passed for policy has been blinded by emotional affection or disaffection. The perceived political wisdom was to let “sleeping dogs lie” while maintaining superficial support for the language through patronising use of the “cúpla focal”. Those fond of Irish know that the political rhetoric was rarely backed by real support. Why else would we see public road signs to “Gaineamh” (Sand) instead of “Gaillimh” (Galway), and signs for pedestrians stating “Féach Ceart” (look correct) instead of “Féach ar dheis” (look right)?
National critical reflection has found so many of our systems unfit for purpose, exposing deficiencies in financial regulation, the Church, our health system, and the reduction in the literacy and mathematical abilities of our children when compared to their international counterparts. Surely it is no longer heresy to question whether our current policies in relation to the development and use of the Irish language are optimal. In removing emotion from the debate, it is worth stating key facts. ‘Compulsory Irish’ for the Leaving Certificate requires students who have already been taught Irish for 10 or 11 years to be taught Irish for a further two years. No such requirement exists in relation to mathematics, english or any other subject. This requirement applies irrespective of whether the student likes or dislikes Irish, and is entirely indifferent to his or her ability, anticipated attainment level and future career aspirations.
There have been huge educational developments, both nationally and internationally, in respect of “£learning outcomes” and common language frameworks which exist for all European languages including Irish. Yet, despite these improvements, students are not required to actually “learn” Irish or to gain any particular “competence” ” whether it’s simply to have enough Irish to ask directions and order food, to hold a conversation with a friend, or to assimilate and produce highly specialised discipline specific material. The earlier requirements for specific attainment levels in order to enter certain professions and university courses have in the main, long since been removed. At this critical juncture in Ireland’s development, it is entirely appropriate to review the effectiveness of compulsory Irish.
Fortunately, modern Ireland is inclusive and tolerant. Its workforce is educated. Increasingly, it is extending the democratic values, rights and entitlements of its citizens to make informed choices about how they live their lives, while requiring they in turn respect the different preferences made by others. Importantly, none of these social developments have been advanced through compulsion. Non-smokers do not require smokers to quit smoking. Sexual and religious rights were not advanced through the imposition of counter practices on others. Similarly, removing compulsory Irish need not equate with its prohibition or unavailability for others. Modern Ireland can and does embrace Irish. The gaelscoileanna are flourishing. TG4 has given us a new and refreshingly open generation of competent bilingualists who are unrecognisable from the “gaeilgeoirs” of the past. In their debate, Enda, Eamon and Micheál presented a modern Ireland, equally competent in both English and Irish, and without the pretence or baggage of the “fáinne”.
The recent language act affords every citizen the right to conduct his or her business “as gaeilge”. This is entirely appropriate as more than 1.6 million people stated that they can speak Irish (Census 2006). What’s needed now is joined-up cost-effective thinking and implementation As we already can choose to eat vegetarian meals in smoke-free restaurants, surely it is not beyond our national capacity to plan for restaurants with bilingual menus and even dare to dream of having one staff-member capable of mastering the limited vocabulary involved in taking an order. Who knows, by Irish becoming visible, it could become audible. After all, “beatha teanga í a labhairt”. In the current straitened times, modern Ireland could immediately cease the translation of all county development plans, and instead provide funding support for more effective language development.
The debate on compulsory Irish and the passionate responses and protests it has prompted are to be welcomed. For once, let the thinking begin. Beir Bua.
– Tomás Mac Eochagáin, director of academic programmes, Griffith College, Dublin.
AGAINST
Making Irish optional will irreparably damage the language, says Áine Ní Shléibhín FILL a room with people and ask them if Irish should be made optional for the Leaving Certificate, and there is no faster way to create a divide – it is a divisive issue. People’s opinion of the Irish language is very much coloured by their own experience. Many people have had a very bad experience of the language and their views reflect that. I have chosen to write this article based on my experiences of the language, which have been positive.
I have watched the political debates, read letters to the editor and commentary pieces with interest. Why bother with Irish? Sure, no one speaks the language anyway? Ireland should concentrate its efforts on looking to international markets, international languages. Yes, it should. The world is getting smaller and speaking another language is an advantage. Butwhy should this be at the expense of our own language? There are a number of myths surrounding the language, including that Irish is archaic. I disagree. Irish is alive and well. It is a vibrant, living language. It’s also a working language for many people every day. I have been fortunate to have worked through the medium of Irish since I have left college. I began working in Irish language television production, on programmes such as Ros na Rún, Bean an Tí and Paisean Faisean. All of my colleagues over the years have been talented, skilled people; cameramen, sound technicians, directors and producers, all of whom conduct their business through the medium of Irish. I am currently working with Gael-Taca, an Irish language organisation based in Cork city centre. Irish has never hindered my employment opportunities – it has enhanced them.
Irish adds value to business, as it is appreciated by customers. Visibility of the language is also attractive to tourists and adds to the authentic Irish image of business. Gaillimh le Gaeilge recently commissioned a report to find out the economic value of the language to Galway city and county. They found that the Irish language is worth EUR136 million annually to the economy in Galway. Irish is alive and well and generating jobs, even in these difficult times. Gael-Taca is working with businesses in Cork to increase the visibility of the language and enhance the landscape of our own city for Corkonians and tourists. The Irish language is an inherent part of our identity. In western society, dominated by global brands and images, where everyone and everything is the same, Irish is the one unique thing that Ireland has.
Irish is our language, it is a valuable asset. It transcends race, class, colour and creed. An Ghaeilge belongs to everyone who is Irish. It is independent of the IMF, bank bailouts and the recession, though it is all too often politicised. The Irish language is one of our greatest exports. Irish is now taught in universities in the US, Canada and Australia. Ironically, a large number of my friends who have had to emigrate have gone to teach Irish in these areas. Making Irish optional for Leaving Certificate will have a massive impact on the teaching of the subject from primary level. Its importance will be diluted beyond repair. The most frightening thing about this decision is that it will be so difficult to reverse.
There are undoubted problems with the teaching of Irish. There are issues to be addressed. Why not look at Irish in primary schools and make people’s experience of the language more positive from a young age? Put more emphasis on Irish as a communicative language – eg have another class such as art or PE through Irish, so that children learn to speak Irish in a natural way. So should the language be made optional for the Leaving Certificate? No. The long-term ramifications for the language would be catastrophic. Let us move forward out of recession and into the future as a multicultural, multilingual, diverse society. But at the heart of this, let us cherish and protect our own language. If we don’t, who will?
– Áine Ni Shléibhín
Gael-Taca, Corcaigh le Gaeilge
Irish Examiner
Hanafin: FG policy puts Gaeilge in danger
February 24, 2011
MINISTER Mary Hanafin has said the survival of the Irish language is in the balance if Fine Gael is given a mandate to implement its education policy.
She said the party’s plans to stop making Irish a mandatory Leaving Cert subject would repeat the mistakes made in Britain when students opted to turn their back on languages.
Ms Hanafin said it was a “live or die” situation for the country’s native tongue and she feared for its status if Enda Kenny’s policy was adopted. “There is considerable evidence to suggest such a move would lead to the marginalisation and the eventual decline of the Irish language.
“If you look to see what happened when a similar measure was introduced to the teaching of modern languages in Britain, I think we see what the real outcome of this would be. The decision to make teaching of languages optional [in Britain] had a catastrophic impact on the number of students taking language. “The consequences for Irish, competing with the highest status languages in the world, would be even more dramatic,” she said. Ms Hanafin was speaking at FF headquarters where she spoke with fellow minister Pat Carey about its 20-year strategy for Irish.
She criticised the claim by Mr Kenny that the policy had been developed after talking to school children and she questioned if the same students asked for school to be abolished would the Fine Gael leader oblige. Ms Hanafin said it was important to improve the way Irish was taught but to retain its status in the exam system. And she said voters could not underestimate her contention that Mr Kenny wanted to “get rid of that one part of our cultural identity that ensures the Irish people are standing out”. “We are people with a very distinct culture and the language is a very distinct part of it,” he said.
Ms Hanafin and Mr Carey denied the launch of the strategy and the organising of a press conference was motivated by a desire to expose a weakness in Fine Gael rather than a genuine concern for the teaching of the subject. “It has always been at the central core of our manifestos,” Ms Hanafin said.
Irish Examiner – Conor Ryan
Caithfidh an Gaeilge a bheith éigeantach
February 24, 2011
