Anso is Ansúd i gCorca Dhuibhne

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

 

21ú Meitheamh 2016

An Ghaelainn i gcéin

An gcualaís mar gheall ar fhear Cheann Trá a chuaigh isteach ‘on nDaingean ag triall ar shlisín mairteola agus a thóg oiread san ama ag filleadh abhaile aríst gur baisteadh ‘Vancouver’ air? Mhair sé mar leasainm air as san amach. Gan dabht, is fada ó bhaile atá Vancouver in Iarthar Cheanada, áit ar chuir Fondúireacht Ollscoile Éireann agus Ceanada nó an ICUF mé i mí Feabhra le go dtomhaisfinn cén t-éileamh atá ag an bpobal Gaelach agus pobail eile nach é ar an nGaelainn sa chathair sin.

Eagraíocht chultúrtha is ea an ICUF dar ndó a chothaíonn naisc idir Ceanada agus an tír seo againne, agus ceann dos na cúraimí a bhíonn ar láimh aici ná An Clár Gaeilge a chuireann maoiniú ar fáil gach bliain do suas le seachtar teagascóirí Gaelainne in ollscoileanna ar fud Cheanada. Tá pobal na Gaelainne i gCeanada anois ag prapáil d’Oireachtas Cheanada a bheidh ar siúl i dtreo dheireadh mhí an Mheithimh, agus éinne a bhfuil sé sa cheann aige a bheith ar mhór-roinn Mheiriceá Thuaidh taca an ama san nó aon am eile, moltar dóibh geábh a thabhairt ar Ghaeltacht Bhaile na hÉireann (Erinsville) in Ontario!

Is é Ollscoil Oileán an Phrionsa Éadbhard an ollscoil is déanaí a chuaigh i bpáirt leis an ICUF, agus a bhuíochas san le hEoin Ó Beaglaoich Bhaile na bPoc a dhein éacht thall i rith na tréimhse a chaitheas-sa i Vancouver. Is é an fear céanna a chuirfidh tús le ranganna Gaelainne san ollscoil sin mí Mheán Fómhair seo chughainn.

In Oirthear Cheanada atá na hinstiúidí Ceanadacha ar fad a bhfuil baint acu leis an ICUF, ach ní bréag a rá go bhfuil an cultúr Gaelach leata chomh fada le Cósta an Aigéin Chiúin chomh maith. Is ann do phobal bríomhar Gaelach in Vancouver Cholóim na Breataine, agus ba léir sin i rith na sé seachtaine dom ann. Chuir idir bhunscoileanna agus mheánscoileanna, Fhranc-choláistí agus eile fáilte roimh mo chuid seisiún eolais ar an nGaelainn agus a mbaineann de chultúr léi. Ba í an bhuaic ar fad, is dóigh liom, ná curfá An Madairín Rua a mhúineadh do leanaí sé bliana d’aois i mbunscoil lán-Fhraincise ar Killarney Street, agus iad á chanadh le fonn i mo theannta.

Is ann a chuireas aithne, leis, ar an Dochtúir Scott Oser, fisiceoir a bhfuil sé de cháil air gurb é an saineolaí is mó ar domhan é ar cheist an ábhair dhorcha. Ábhar taighde eile dó is ea Gaelainn Chorca Dhuibhne, canúint a thagann go binn le caint an fhir seo arb as Chicago dó an chéad lá. Iarscoláire eile de chuid Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne é Mike Kelly ó Thuaisceart Chiarraí a éistíonn leis an Saol ó Dheas gach aon lá agus a thagann abhaile ó Vancouver chughainn go fóill ainneoin go bhfuil os cionn caoga bliain caite anois aige i gCeanada. Chuirfeadh a leithéidí an-fháilte roimh theagascóir Gaeilge de chuid an ICUF; tá sé de chuma ar an scéal gur sa chéad bhliain eile a bhainfear Vancouver amach, ach tá an páipéarachas sin fós á phlé.

Seaghan Mac an tSionnaigh

Meitheamh 2016

Mic léinn ó Mheiriceá ar an gClasach agus iad ar tí barra Shliabh an Iolair a bhaint amach.

 

Mic léinn ó Ollscoileanna in Montana, Idaho & Washington i gCorca Dhuibhne

Fágadh slán ag an mbreis is tríocha mac léinn ósna hollscoileanna thuasluaite i Meiriceá sa Lárionad Gaeilge & Gaeltachta ar an 10ú Meitheamh 2016. Gabhann Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne buíochas leis an nDr. Traolach Ó Ríordáin, Montana, an Dr. Jennifer Ní Ríordáin, Ollscoil Chaitliceach Washington agus le Garth Lambson, Idaho a chuir na mic léinn seo inár dtreo. Is í seo an ceathrú bliain den dtogra seo atá ag dul ó neart go neart ón gcéad lá ó thaobh spéise agus líon na mac léinn atá ag freastal ar an gclár. Gabaimid buíochas chomh maith le teagscóirí an chúrsa, leis na haoichainteoirí, le lucht lóistín agus le pobal na háite a chuir oiread fáilte roimis na mic léinn. Comhartha ómóis dá n-oidhreacht Ghaelach an turas seo ag mórán mac léinn chomh maith le ana-shampla den dturasóireacht chultúrtha i gceantar Chorca Dhuibhne.

Agus an barra bainte amach!

Lóistín i mBaile an Fheirtéaraigh

Má tá seomra/seomraí/tigh saoire le ligean
ar cíos i gceantar Bhaile an Fheirtéaraigh
idir an 7ú-14ú Lúnasa tar i dteagmháil le
Máire nó le Caitríona in oifig Oidhreacht
Chorca Dhuibhne ag 066 91 56100 nó ag
eolas@cfcd.ie ., le do/bhur dtoil.

Comharchumann Forbartha Chorca
Dhuibhne
Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne
066 91 56100 nó
eolas@cfcd.ie
www.oidhreacht.ie / www.cfcd.ie
@oidhreachtcd

Irish is a necessary language

Saturday, June 11, 2016

As a bean an tí currently preparing for the annual influx of teenage Irish language students, I was reminded of a particular incident which happened last year and will remain in my memory forever.

Having bid farewell to our 10 cailíní as they headed to the céilí, my seven-year-old little girl floated into our kitchen. Stinking of their perfume and her hair braided in the latest fashion, she was totally in awe of these urban creatures as this was our first year as a host family. She loved being their informal language teacher. “Oh mama,’ she said dreamily (and in her native Gaeilge), “I can’t wait to be 14.” “Why so?” I asked. “Because that’s when I’ll be going to Dublin with my friends to learn English of course!” she proclaimed.

I smiled at her innocence and, not wishing to break her bubble, I agreed and told her of the great time she would have.

“She’ll learn soon enough,” I thought. But then I began to both envy and admire her attitude. As all Gaeltacht children are now bilingual at a very early age, she would have no need to “learn” English. She was even by then an avid reader and a big fan of David Walliams and Jacqueline Wilson, but her confidence in her native minority Gaeilge was refreshing. Imagine putting it on par with the global Goliath that is the English language.

The struggles of a native Irish speaker are often not understood. While others bemoan how difficult it is to learn the language and argue the merits of compulsory Irish in State examinations, young native speakers are left with little or no support system.

Research indicates major language-acquisition problems in young native Irish speakers and shows that English is quickly becoming their main language of communication. Current primary- and secondary-school curriculums do not even recognise the native Irish speaker, leaving teachers and parents grappling with a system based on the learner.

Cherished language

I grew up in the beautiful Gaeltacht area of Rinn Ó gCuanach in Co Waterfordwhere the language was cherished and respected in the community, the education system in particular. Results of this can be seen in Conchúr Ó Giollagáin’s Updated Comprehensive Linguistic Study of the use of Irish in the Gaeltacht (2006-2011) in which Rinn Ó gCuanach was one of only two Gaeltacht areas to improve in its use of Irish. This I’m certain is because of the seed sown all those years ago.

Now raising my own family, I understand more than ever the need to cherish and respect the native speaker. Learners also need to be cherished and respected of course but, with such a strong support system, their needs are so much more easily fulfilled.

Coming from the smallest Gaeltacht and now living in the biggest, my husband’s native Connemara, I am in wonder on a daily basis at the richness of the dialect and the vastness of the geographical spread of the language here. This makes it all the more harder to contend with the doom and gloom that surrounds the language.
We accept that we are in the minority and we accept that the future is not all that bright if things go on as they are – but, against the odds, Irish-speaking families are blooming.

We are succeeding and it is very important to state that. We need support, we need to be positive and, most of all, we need hope. We need that hope to realise that there is a chance of making it.

The State has been accused of denying that the Gaeltacht is in trouble and the arguing goes on. People in suits play politics and talk of 20-year strategies, reports come and go, meeting are called, many statements are made and much banging of tables goes on. But where is the action?

I take solace in the success of Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta, an organisation I was involved in founding. Five years ago, a handful of brave mothers came together to organise social occasions for native-speaking families. Soon after, we decided to form an organisation and Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta was born. We were politely told by Gaeltacht funding authorities they had no money to give us and, even if they had, we were to prove the need for such an organisation. They found out the hard way to never underestimate women with a plan though, and acceded.

More than 450 families are using our services and we recently opened a purpose-fitted community centre for families in An Cheathrú Rua. Run on a voluntary basis by a committee of busy working mums, it adopts the parental approach – action not words. But sadly, we are only a drop in the ocean.

Language bashers

Our plight may pale in comparison to others but does not make it any more trivial. Opinions do not have to be agreed with and can be respected but I fully expect to be admonished for writing this piece. Seemingly level-headed people will ask “why bother?” and use the archaic argument of Irish being a dead language. I imagine the language bashers will be out in force and lists of action plans will be quoted in an effort to prove assistance by those in power.
I don’t believe in shying away from seeking the best for my children and for all those young native speakers who truly are the future of the language. I may fail, but when they grow up I will be able to look them in the eye and tell them that I did my best.
Sorcha Ní Chéilleachair is a journalist

Irish Times 08.06.2016

http://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/irish-is-a-necessary-language-1.2675667

Anso is Ansúd i gCorca Dhuibhne 7ú Meitheamh

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

 

7ú Meitheamh 2016

 

Litríocht na nÓg

Is baile beag ar an Stricín, Lios Póil é Lios Deargáin.  Tá finscéal suimiúíl ag baint leis an áit.  Lá amháin, fadó, fadó, bhí comórtas idir triúr fathach chun a fháil amach cérbh é an té ba láidre.  Bhían chéad fhathach lag agus níor chuaigh an chloch a chaith sé ach go dtí Lios Deargáin.  Bhían dara agus an tríú fathach láidir agus bhuail na cloche i gcoinne a chéile in Ard Mór.  Baineann a lá daoine cáiliúla leis an áit chomh maith.  BhíSteve Cooney ag maireachtaint i dtigh i Lios Deargáin ar feadh cúpla mí.  Rugadh agus tógadh an tSiúr Stanislaus Kennedy gar don bhaile seo agus rugadh agus tógadh an Teachta Dála, Seosamh Ó hUiginn míle síos an bóthar.


Comhghairdeas le Pádraig Ó hAiniféin, Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne, An Daingean a bhfuil an dán seo leis i gcló in Comhar na nÓg – iris litríochta don aos óg.  Ghlac Pádraig páirt i Scéim an Scríbhneora Chónaithigh fé stiúir an fhile Bríd Ní Mhóráin.  Scéim de chuid Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne do scríbhneoirí óga í seo.

Luach €1,000 duaiseanna bronnta ar scoláirí Phobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne ag Scéim Blagála is Léitheoireachta 2016

Bronnadh duaiseanna ar scoláirí Phobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne le déanaí mar chuid den Scéim Blagála a riarann Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne sa scoil i gcomhar le múinteoirí Gaeilge na scoile. Is í Bríd Ní Mhóráin, Scríbhneoir Cónaitheach na Scoile a bhíonn i mbun an t-aos óg a spreagadh le dul i mbun na léitheoireachta is na scríbhneoireachta. Is iad scoláirí na hIdirbhliana agus Bliain 2 a bhí páirteach agus Scoláirí Bliain 1 i mbun pinn ar Aistí Léirmheastóireachta. Treise leo go léir! Gabhann Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibne buíochas le na héinne a bhí páirteach sa Scéim agus le Bord na Leabhar Gaeilge/ Foras na Gaeilge a chuir maoiniú ar fáil dos na duaiseanna.

Sa phictiúr: An Idirbhliain, ó chlé : Siobhán Ní Neachtain, Bríd Ní Mhóráin, Aileen Witt, Orla Ní Mhuircheartaigh, Colm Ó Cinnéide agus Tomás Ó Dubháin. 

Seo a leanas Buaiteoirí
ó Bhliain 1 don Aiste Léirmheasa: Liam Ó Beaglaoich, Aodhán Ó
Dubháin, Tomás Ó Sé & Lisa Nic Gearailt.

Buaiteoirí ó Bhliain
2 don mBlagáil: Pádraig Ó hAiniféin; Síomha Ní Ainiféin;
Maxim Ó Súilleabháin; Clodagh Ní Shiúrdáin; Eddie Mac an
tSíthigh; Ryan Ó Cinnéide.

Súil ar aghaidh:  Cúrsaí do Dhaoine Fásta ag Oidhreacht Chora Dhuibhne do 2016

Cúrsa Gaeilge do Ghlantosnaitheoirí / Beginners Irish Language Course Deposit (€100) will secure a place.

An intensive Irish Language Course for Complete Beginners will be held in Ballyferriter from 11th – 16th July 2016.  This course is an introduction to the Irish language for those who have never studied the language before.  The emphasis is on giving participants basic communication skills.  This course is not suitable for those who have studied Irish in Primary and/or Post-Primary school in Ireland. (Course equivalent to TEG Level A1 / European Certificate in Irish Level A1).  Further information at www.oidhreacht.ie / eolas@cfcd.ie / 066 91 56100 / Facebook.

Maidean Chaife

Cíoradh focal agus cupa caife in éineacht!  Bígí linn sa Díseart maidean Dé hAoine as seo go dtí Lár Mhí an Mheithimh óna 11.30 – 1.00.  

Fáilte roimh chách.



Lóistín i mBaile an Fheirtéaraigh


Má tá seomra/seomraí/tigh saoire le ligean ar cíos i gceantar Bhaile an Fheirtéaraigh idir an 7ú-14ú Lúnasa tar i dteagmháil le Máire nó le Caitríona in oifig Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne ag 066 9156100 nó ag eolas@cfcd.ie., le do/bhur dtoil. If you have a house/double or single room in your house in the  area of Baile an Fheirtéaraigh, Ceann Trá, An Mhuiríoch, Dún Chaoin, Baile na nGall available for rent from 7th-14th  August 2016 (B&B or self catering) please ring Caitríona or Máire at 066 9156100.


Scléip an tSathairn

Lucht freastail Scléip an tSathairn ag Tús Maith (Oidhreacht Chora Dhuibhne) agus iad ar thuras lae ar Chom an Lochaigh le déanaí i dteannta Mhuiris ‘Mossie’ Ó Scannláin.  Ana-lá ag gach éinne, idir leanaí agus a dtuismitheoirí agus an mhóin á baint acu ar an bportach. 

Comharchumann Forbartha Chorca
Dhuibhne
Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne
066 91 56100 nó
eolas@cfcd.ie 
www.oidhreacht.ie / www.cfcd.ie
@oidhreachtcd