Friday 29 February 2008

Letero al EuroManx

Cumann Gaelach Chnoc na Ros


...de la Derry Journal:

Cumann Gaelach Chnoc na Ros will be holding a celebration of Irish language and culture in a number of venues throughout the city.

The first of the Seachtain na Gaeilge events will begin tonight with an Irish language quiz in the AOH Hall in Foyle Street hosted by quizmaster, Alan Clifford.

On Saturday, members of the Cumann will take part in a trip to the Gaeltacht in Gweedore and on Tuesday night a traditional session will be held upstairs in the Park Bar beginning at 9 pm...

Patroj Lernas la Skotgaelalingvon


...de la Stornoway Gazette:

Sharing the bond of a new challenge, an increasing number of parents with children in Gaelic Medium education are now attending their own language lessons.

With many parents having little or no Gaelic at all, the chance to pick up some basic phrases has been invaluable in helping them encourage their children and offer help with homework.

And with the number of Primary one pupils in Gaelic Medium Education throughout the islands at its highest level yet, it seems that even those moving to the islands are embracing the local culture...

Translations


...de la Houston Chronicle:

Cultural identity is the signature theme of Brian Friel, widely considered Ireland's greatest living playwright. Though he's best known for his Tony-winning Dancing at Lughnasa, Friel has devised no more inspired construct for exploring his signature theme than Translations, the 1981 play regarded by many as his masterpiece.

Following the play's acclaimed 2007 Broadway revival, Main Street Theater is offering an appropriately thoughtful rendition.

Set in 1833, in the fictitious hamlet of Ballybeg that is home to much of Friel's work, Translations shows how Gaelic-speaking townsfolk are affected when a detachment of England's Royal Engineers arrives to map the area and convert its place names from the original Gaelic to the King's English...

Mudiadau Dathlu’r Gymraeg


...de la Daily Post:

Welsh language groups have voiced concerns over the dearth of outdoor pursuits instructors who can speak the language.

Tomorrow’s Aberystwyth Farmers’ Market will support Mudiadau Dathlu’r Gymraeg (Movements to Celebrate Welsh), a coalition of 12 organisations which aims to celebrate Welsh and boost its legal status.

Two member organisations – Wales YFC and Menter Iaith Conwy, the Welsh language initiative – have linked up to encourage more youngsters to take up outdoor pursuits...

La Irlandalingvo en Londono


...de la Granda Londona Instanco:

The London Irish Symphony Orchestra, the only ensemble in the UK working solely to promote classical music of Irish origin, is performing Seán Ó Riada’s stirring score to the iconic Irish language film Mise Éire the London Irish Centre in Camden, conducted by Marion Wood (7 March 2008)....

….For film buffs there is the Irish Film Festival, which includes screenings at the Tricycle Cinema, Prince Charles Theatre, Barbican and the London Irish Centre (13-16 March). Films include the British premiere of the 'Kings', directed by Tom Collins, the first Irish language film to be nominated for an Oscar, which is having gala charity screening in aid of the Aisling project on Friday 14 March.

"Ag Caint"



With Seachtaine na Gaeilge and Leaving Cert Oral Irish examination almost upon us, the Irish Independent have teamed up with Sharon Ni Bheolain to create ‘Ag Caint’, a FREE and indispensable Irish Language double-CD course specifically designed to help students prepare for this important exam.

Written by secondary school teachers and the Fiontar team at Dublin City University, Part One of this Double CD will be inside every copy of the Irish Independent on Saturday, 1st of March, with Part Two inside on the 8th of March...

Contae na hIarmhí


...de la Athlone Advertiser:

Westmeath County Council is looking forward to an improvement in the provision of public services in Irish, according to Cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council, Cllr Mick Dollard, who officially launched the Council’s Official Languages Scheme on Monday in Belvedere House.

The scheme provides an overview of the services provided by Westmeath Local Authorities and the level of services which is to be made available through Irish, English, and bilingually.

The actions to be taken include the provision of all application forms, brochures, information leaflets, and major policy documents published by the Council in both English and Irish...

Thursday 28 February 2008

Ĉikaga Irlanda Filma Festo


...de la Southtown Star:

The ninth annual Chicago Irish Film Festival will show off the Green Island's splendor as well as some of its dark corners…

…"Oilean Thorai: Tory Island" and "The McDonagh Pictures," two documentaries, will screen together at 2 p.m. Saturday.

The first is the portrait of a remote island where 150 people live off the coast of Ireland…

…"Poitin," which was the first film ever released in the Irish language when it came out in 1977, will be screened 2 p.m. Sunday.

Directed by Bob Quinn, "Poitin" focuses on a whisky bootlegger exacting revenge on two agents who have cheated him.

"When it was first released, it was booed," Blackburn said, explaining that people in the 1970s felt the movie presented a negative view of Ireland.

Since then, "Poitin" has come to be seen as a classic. The film's back now, with remastered image and sound as well as a new musical score.

"Poitin" will be shown with "Cinegael Paradiso," a documentary by the director's son, Robert Quinn...

Limdato por Nòs Ùr


...de la Inverness Courier:

There are only two weeks left for minority language singers and song-writers to enter Nòs Ùr - the first song contest to be held in Inverness as part of four regional finals held across Europe. The deadline for song applications is March 14th.

Meaning 'New Style' in Gaelic, the Nòs Ùr competition is seeking songs entered in languages such as Scottish Gaelic, Scots, Ulster Scots, Irish, Manx, Welsh, Cornish and Breton. The winners of the West European competition will be entered into the final of the pan-European Liet Lavut competition which takes place in Lulea, Sweden in October…

Des Bishop


...de la Irish Independent:

American 'exile’ Des Bishop is learning to perform his comedy stand-up routine in the Irish language.

The native New Yorker’s biggest challenge so far has been to move to the Connemara Gaeltacht to learn Irish and make people laugh by gigging ‘as Gaeilge.’

His new television series about his Irish-learning adventure is aptly named ‘In the Name of the Fada.’

He has spent the last 11 months living in the Gaeltacht and his experiences will evoke in viewers some of their own memories of struggling with Irish. The six-part series begins on March 13 at 10.15pm on RTE1...

Wednesday 27 February 2008

Bi Beo


...de la Stornoway Gazette:

Something special is happening in the Uists as the first Gaelic album to have been written, composed and produced on the islands in over 20 years - since Runrig's iconic 'Play Gaelic' - gets set for release at the end of this month.

'Beo an Duil' is the debut of band Bi Beo who, over the past two years, have been slowly and quietly developing their unique brand of Gaelic music in a small corner of North Uist.

That's about to change however, as already the album is creating waves both locally and internationally, being hailed by those in the know as 'the kind of musical injection that Gaelic needs'...

Oxfam kaj la Irlandalingvo


...de Lá Nua:

Shéan Oxfam Éireann inné go raibh cosc ar dhánta Gaeilge i gcomórtas filíochta atá ar bun ag an gcarthanacht faoi láthair.

Rinne an foilsitheoir, Pádraig Ó Snodaigh, gearán faoi fhógra ag Oxfam ar na mallaibh ag lorg dánta le haghaidh tionscnamh bailithe airigid de chuid na carthanachta.

De réir Uí Shnodaigh, tugadh le fios san fhógra go gcaithfeadh na dánta a bheith clóscriofa agus i mBéarla.

Ag labhairt dó, inné, le Lá Nua, dúirt an file agus úinéir Coiscéim, gur dar leis gur smaointeoireacht mhíshlachtmhar a bhí sa choinníoll go gcaithfeadh an t-ábhar a bheith clóscríofa.

“Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil filí amuigh ansin nach bhfuil clóscríobh, clóscríobhán nó clóscríobhaí ar fáil acu agus iad i mbun pinn,” arsa an tUasal Ó Snodaigh. “Fág sin i leataobh agus tabhair suntas don éileamh eile, na dánta a bheith i mBéarla.”...

Literumilo


...de la Daily Post:

A Welsh language spell-checker designed in Bangor has proved so successful it is to be copied in computer systems across the world.

Speech-recognition software developed by a team at Bangor University’s Language Technologies Unit is being used in Sri Lanka and India to help blind people communicate.

Head of the unit, Delyth Prys, told the Welsh Affairs Committee, which is investigating globalisation, generic software was being created for Welsh speakers that could be easily adapted by overseas small-language communities…

…But projects tailored to Manx and Cornish speakers failed to win £426,000 of funding because it was of no commercial or industrial value, MPs were told.

Seachtain na Gaeilge en Clare!


…de Dunphy Public Relations:

Hundreds of people from across County Clare are expected to participate in Seachtain na Gaeilge 2008, which will be launched with a concert by Kíla in Glór Irish Music Centre this coming Friday (29th February).

The seven-piece band will participate in the annual celebration of the Irish language and culture along with a number of other high profile participants.

They include Éanna Ní Lamhna, botanist, writer, radio personality and President of An Taisce; Ceoltóirí na Mainistreach, an Ennis-based Ceilí band; Ré Ó Laighléis, the biggest selling contemporary writer in the Irish language; Theo Dorgan, award winning Cork-born poet and broadcaster; Pádraig Mac Fhearghusa, Poet, Editor of Feasta magazine and Chair of the Joint Committee on the Irish Language; Bríd Ní Mhóráin, poet and author of an acclaimed study of Iveragh peninsula Irish; and artist Ceara Conway…

Shabby go Chic


...de Northern Ireland Screen:

The opening programme of Waddell Media's first Irish language commission goes out on TG4 on Monday 3rd March at 10pm.

Shabby go Chic’ is a brand new series (13 x 25’) for the Galway-based Irish language broadcaster TG4. It trawls second hand stores for old junk and defunct furniture, with the aim of transforming them into eye-catching pieces fit for a celebrity’s home.

In each programme, two pairs of interior design enthusiasts take up the hallenge of transforming shabby into chic, by producing a piece of furniture for a room in the home of a local celebrity. The celebrity will decide which item to keep and which to bin….

Jane Puplett


...de la Evening Leader:

An English couple, who moved to Wales so their children could learn a second language, have been reaping the benefits of a Flintshire support group.

Jane Puplett, of Mold, attends regular family group events organised by Menter Iaith Sir y Fflint, an organisation set up to encourage children and adults across the county to learn the Welsh language.

Jane and her family decided to move to Wales from Ellesmere Port in June last year, after picking up a
Cymraeg – Kids Soak It Up campaign information pack, organised by Menter Iaith, in their local supermarket…

Lingvoj en Glasgovo


...de la Evening Times:

The growing number of ethnic minority families in Glasgow means that more than 100 different languages are now spoken in homes across the city.

A report by the Scottish Government shows that in 2007 there were 8853 city pupils whose home language was not English 511 more than the previous year.
Research shows there are 102 different languages spoken at home by city youngsters. The most common after English, Gaelic, Scots, Doric and sign language are Punjabi, Urdu and Arabic…

Tuesday 26 February 2008

Brezhoweb


...de Le Télégramme:

Une Parisienne vraiment très citadine ; un militant breton vraiment très militant; une Saint-politaine vraiment très léonarde ; une Vannetaise vraiment « vraie blonde »; une jeune fille des monts d’Arrée vraiment très baba cool ; un Roumain vraiment très étranger à la culture celte mais qui parle parfaitement breton... Les sept étudiants et le prof qui se croisent dans cette cuisine de cité U d’une fac de breton ont des caractères vraiment très affirmés, tout autant que leur parler. « Les différences grammaticales du parler de chaque région participent aussi au comique ».

Lionel Buannic, le créateur de Brezhoweb et Samuel Julien, directeur de Dizale (2) ont poussé le partenariat plus loin que le doublage de longs métrages ou de dessins animés. Cette fois, ils coproduisent une sitcom.

« Il n’y a pas que les acteurs, toute l’équipe (ou presque) parle breton. Jusqu’au budget, qui est écrit en breton ». L’exception, le réalisateur et coscénariste, l’Alsacien Etienne Strubel, n’en parle pas un traître mot...

Le Capiste Per Vari Kerloc’h


...de Le Télégramme:

Le Capiste Per Vari Kerloc’h a été élu par le Gorsedd de Bretagne sixième grand druide de Bretagne à la suite du décès de Gwenc’hlan Le Scouëzec.


La Gorsedd de Bretagne, née au tout début du XX e siècle, compte une cinquantaine de membres. Per Vari Kerloc’h, âgé de 56 ans, était l’adjoint au grand druide depuis 1997.


Cadre de La Poste, il est connu comme militant syndical. Auteur-compositeur-interprète en langue bretonne, il a publié de nombreux articles (politique, histoire du mouvement ouvrier, nouvelles littéraires) dans la presse bretonne.


Per Vari Kerloc’h est aussi l’auteur d’un recueil de chansons et poèmes en langue bretonne : « E kreiz Breizh ha reizh ».

Monday 25 February 2008

Colcannon


...de PR-Inside:

Just in time for St. Patrick's Day, Irish folk music group Colcannon joins the Kettle Moraine Symphony to create a surefire combination.

Performing Saturday, March 15 at 3:00 and 7:30 pm at the Schauer Center, Colcannon is renowned for their irrepressible sense of humor and unquenchable zest for life. Formed in 1984, Colcannon has developed a distinctive, inventive, and contemporary style that maintains the heart and essence of Ireland.

While their focus is on the beautiful wealth of traditional Irish music -- all acoustic instrumentation, with some of the songs in native Irish language - Colcannon's true message is the story of the resilient and joyous human spirit.

Tilda Swinton


....de Stuff.com.nz:

Scotland's Tilda Swinton was named best supporting actress in Michael Clayton ahead of pre-award favorite Cate Blanchett, while French star Marion Cotillard beat Julie Christie as best actress with her acclaimed performance as troubled chanteuse Edith Piaf in La Vie En Rose.

Cotillard was the first French woman to win the award since Simone Signoret in 1960.

"Hollywood is built on Europeans," said Swinton. "Go back and look. I'm just really sad I couldn't give my speech in Gaelic. Don't tell everybody. We're everywhere."...

Jennie Eirian Davies


...de la Western Mail:

The life of a prominent campaigner against the establishment of a dedicated Welsh- language-only TV channel is the subject of a new drama-documentary.

Jennie will be screened on S4C tomorrow – 25 years after the channel was launched.

Jennie Eirian Davies’s main concern stemmed from her belief that Wales lacked the necessary depth of talent needed to support a Welsh-language- only service, which would inevitably lead to poor programming standards and in turn long-term damage to the language.

Actress Rhian Morgan plays Jennie – one of the most significant members of the Welsh establishment between the 1950s and ’80s – on screen.

The programme features contributions from Branwen Jarvis, Dafydd Elis-Thomas, Gwilym Owen, and Jennie’s eldest son Siôn Eirian...

Manifestacio por Kimralingvo


...de la Western Mail:

More than 200 people attended a weekend rally in Cardiff calling for a new Welsh Language Act.


The rally was organised by Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg, the Welsh Language Society, as a part of a two- week celebration of the new umbrella group Mudiadau Dathlu’r Gymraeg, which includes 14 organisations from across Wales, which all want a comprehensive new Language Act.

Lá Gaeilge / Irlandalingva Tago


…de Scoil Ghaeilge Ghearóid Tóibín:

Mar chuid de Sheachtain na Gaeilge, agus mar cheiliúradh ar 20 bliain ó bhunaíodh Scoil Ghaeilge Ghearóid Tóibín, beimid ag reachtáil Lá Gaeilge, ar Dé Sathairn, an 8ú Márta, 2008.

Tosóidh na himeachtaí ar 1:30 i.n. agus beidh críoch ann ar 6:00.

Beidh sé ag halla Ord Ársa na nÉireannach in Bablyon, Nua-Eabhrac, ar Inis Fada.

Tá an halla seo an-chóngarach do ardán Iarnród Inse Fada, agus tá carrchlós ann, freisin.
Bígí linn!

Friday 22 February 2008

Pankelta Festo


…de Travel Video TV:

Would you enjoy learning about Irish culture and experiencing the music and traditions of times past? The Pan Celtic Festival is a unique festival where Celtic countries (including Ireland, Scotland, and Wales) meet and exchange traditions in music, dance and sports. Now in its 35th year, the festival will be taking place between 25 - 30 March 2008 in County Donegal, a region renowned for its beautiful natural setting on Donegal Bay, surrounded by the Blue Stack Mountain range.

…The festival is taking place near the Gaeltacht areas (where Gaelic, the Irish language is spoken) of County Donegal so it offers the visitor an ideal opportunity to learn ‘a cupla focail’ or ‘a few words’ in the Irish language...

Letero al la Boord o Ulstèr-Scotch


22 February, 2008

Mr. George Patton
Tha Boord o Ulstèr-Scotch
Franklin Haw, 5t Flare
10-12 Brunswick Raa
Bilfawst, BT2 7GE

Dear Mr Patton:

I am in receipt of a letter from Ms. Suzanne Clark of Aer Lingus’ Chief Executive Office addressing the controversial issue of that organisation’s banning Irish-language announcements on Belfast flights.

She offers the rationale that “it would be operationally impractical to deliver anouncements in English, Irish and Scots Ulster [sic].”

I think that we can both agree, sir, that before pretending to address the needs of language communities, Aer Lingus would do well to learn the proper names, even in English, of their correlative languages.

Even more so, I find it rather disheartening that Aer Lingus is using one language community as a ready excuse to exclude another. In this way, both Ulster Scots and Irish are cast aside.

Although I am comfortable with Irish, I enjoy hearing all languages, as all are intriguing to me. Indeed, as a resident of New York’s Borough of Queens, I undoubtedly live in the most linguistically diverse 462 square kilometres on the planet. Here, 150 languages are spoke on a daily basis.

In addition to socialising in Irish, I very much enjoy conducting neighbourhood business in Spanish, and of course, as a native New Yorker, my English is peppered generously with Yiddish words and phrases.

Languages don’t frighten me. Ignorance does.

Aer Lingus’ ignorance manifests itself in their arrogance which sells short the people of Northern Ireland.

In truth, Aer Lingus’ Irish-language announcements were always quite short and amounted to little more than a “welcome”.

Indeed, it is impossible to believe that adding “Fáilte go Béal Feirste” and "Walcome tae Bilfawst” to “Welcome to Belfast” would in any way prove to be “operationally impractical” to any intelligent flight crew or would cause any serious consternation to their passengers.

If any difficulty were to persist, a live announcement could be replaced with a recording in English, Irish and Ullans. Here, both the Boord o Ulstèr-Scotch and Foras na Gaeilge would be well-equiped to direct Aer Lingus to good languages services.

Aer Lingus’ misguided and ill-advised policy denies opportunities to both language communities in question.

It is my hope that you would reach the same conclusion and bring your concerns to the attention of Mr Dermot Mannion, the airline’s Chief Executive Officer.

Lá Nua Sekura!


...de la blogo, From the Balcony, de Máirtín Ó Muilleoir:

Irish Language daily newspaper Lá Nua announces new plan to secure its future.

With fresh investment from shareholders, support of Irish language organisations and measures to both cut costs and drive revenues, Lá Nua, which was to close on 1 March, will be able to see out its current contract period (end Dec 08) and build for the future.

Publisher Máirtín Ó Muilleoir said: “We have bowled over by the support of the Irish language community, including the 3,000-plus people who signed a petition of support, and have been heartened by intervention of Irish language groups, politicians and organisations who have come together with shareholders to ensure Lá Nua can continue and prosper. The reiteration by Foras na Gaeilge of the importance of the printed media in Irish in its discussions with the Northern Government departments has been particularly helpful in our battle to ensure these departments advertise in the Irish language media...

Kimra kaj Mandan Lingvoj


...de la Minot Daily News:

Edwin Benson, believed to be the only living person who speaks fluent Mandan, said there’s no foundation to the stories which have been circulating for many years that there’s a connection between the Mandan Indians and the Welsh people...

...The legend or myth of a relationship between the Mandan Indians and the Welsh is one of the most widespread myths in American history, and occasionally resurfaces...

...Madoc was a Welsh prince who is reputed to have discovered America in 1170, more than 300 years before Christopher Columbus. He and his followers are believed to have settled in the South and eventually moved to the Upper Missouri where they were assimilated into a tribe. Some believe that tribe was the Mandan tribe...

Thursday 21 February 2008

Irlandalingva Tajpilo por Tom Hanks?



...de la Belfast Telegraph:

When Hollywood star Tom Hanks sends word to Northern Ireland Screen that he will be in Belfast next autumn for the premiere of his blockbuster City of Ember, it won't be by email or any other 21st Century form of communication.

Hanks, who once appeared in a movie called You Got Mail, which had to do with the internet and computer messages, will be writing his letter on a plain old fashioned typewriter.

In fact, if the Commission put themselves out and find an Irish language typewriter to present to the actor/producer at the screening next September, probably in the Waterfront, he will be delighted beyond words.

You see, Hanks is a typewriter collector and he goes nowhere without a portable on which to knocks out his correspondence.. He knows exactly where to get ribbons for each of his 80 machines which are his pride and joy. In fact he has typewriters that were manufactured in countries that no longer exist.

But I have checked and Tom definitely hasn't got an Irish language typewriter. So never mind Aer Lingus and its controversial language order to its cabin staff on the London-Belfast route - wouldn't it be lovely if someone could turn up such a keyboard for the man?

Oh yes, there are antique Irish typewriters out there. The Underwood company produced one unique to the Emerald Isle and there is a Royal Irish machine and both of them have Gaelic forms of the letters on their keyboards...

Du Leteroj



Vetkuro por la Bretonalingvo


…de Le Télégramme:

À l’occasion de ses trente ans, Diwan organise une course à travers la Bretagne. Un témoin passera de main en main sur 600 km. Une sculpture originale qui contiendra un message écrit par une personnalité, dont le contenu sera révélé à l’arrivée à Carhaix, sera au cœur de la fête des trente ans de l’association.

« C’est la première fois qu’un tel événement est organisé en Bretagne. C’est une initiative de parents d’élèves de Diwan, aidés par différentes associations œuvrant à la transmission de la culture et de la langue bretonnes, qui se sont inspirés de la Korrika basque parcourant 1.360 km et réunissant 10.000 personnes à l’arrivée », indique Jean-Michel Sanner, qui organise l’événement à l’échelon régional.

Kevin Kiely


…de la Arbiter:

Fulbright Scholar and native of Ireland Kevin Kiely spoke about the history of Ireland and its literature Wednesday afternoon in the Student Union Building.

In around an hour, Kiely was able to give listeners a brief overview of Irish history, through the lens of Irish literature.

"I am standing on the top of great giants," Kiely said of the authors of whose work he spoke….

…Kiely continued to describe the following centuries under English rule, characterizing each period through the works of famous Irish poets and authors.

"We have a huge sense of the poet in Ireland," said Kiely. But he also explained how Irish poets were not able to write in the Irish language at this time...

Martin Osler


...de All Media Scotland:

Geronimo Communications has announced that Martin Osler will be operating out of Edinburgh, and - from the days of him operating his own PR business - will be bringing a bunch of clients to his new employers…

…The clients he is bringing include the General Teaching Council for Scotland and Bòrd na Gàidhlig, the Gaelic Development Agency. Martin is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and a CIPR accredited practitioner.

Huw Lewis


...de la Western Mail:


Blaming “phantom” opponents of the Welsh language for Labour’s disappointing election results risks splitting the party, Valleys AM Huw Lewis has warned.

He claims he has never encountered Labour opposition to Welsh language rights and believes it is “bonkers” to blame election losses in West Wales on such antagonism.

He said, “To say the reason why Labour did badly last May was this spectral anti-Welsh Labour party member who’s floating around upsetting everyone is self-delusion.”

At last weekend’s Labour conference in Llandudno, Eluned Morgan MEP said, “Every time someone in the party attacks the language, it does damage in the West. They have to take the blame, to an extent, for keeping us in a situation where we need a coalition.”...

Wednesday 20 February 2008

“La Irlandalingvo estas malpraktika” ~ Aer Lingus


...de la Irish Post:

Aer Lingus has banned staff from giving in-flight announcements in Irish on flights to and from Belfast as they feel the messages take up too much of the crew’s time.

Although Ireland’s national carrier could not confirm just how long that is, stating “onboard announcements in different languages vary in length” they have also removed the use of Scots Ulster, a tongue widely used in counties in the North of Ireland, from their in-flight messages.

An Aer Lingus spokesperson said: “In relation to our new base at Belfast, we looked at the operational requirements of onboard announcements and decided that it would be operationally impractical to deliver announcements in English, Irish and Ulster Scots and so the decision was taken to make announcements in English.”…

…Are you a regular passenger on Aer Lingus’ Belfast route? If so we would love to hear your opinions on the language ban. Contact the newsroom on 020 8735 9415.

Internacia Tago de la Gepatra Lingvo


...de la Daily Star:

Imagine that you were the last person in the world who spoke your language. You would live with the knowledge that when it was your time to go, the world that lived through the words you used to speak and think and dream would be gone forever…

…At present rates, fully one half of all the languages spoken around the world will be gone by the year 2040. For example, in France, there are about 500,000 people over 50 years of age who speak the Breton language, but fewer than 2,000 are under 25 years of age. It is highly likely that this language, which is related to Welsh, Cornish and Gaelic in the British Isles, will die out in the next half-century…

…Bangla is the language that inspired a movement that led to a country's independence. The movement demonstrated that mother tongues should be celebrated and, if necessary, defended.

Bengalis did the latter with their blood. The date chosen to commemorate
International Mother Language Day is, therefore, February 21. On this day in 1952, a group of students on Dhaka University campus were gunned down by security forces while claiming their right to use their mother tongue rather than an imposed lingua franca.

Today, the language has up to 230 million speakers in three Bengals; independent Bangladesh, West Bengal state of India, and the Bangla-speaking diaspora around the world…

Continental Airlines, Aer Arann kaj la Irlandalingvo


...de Lá Nua:

Dheimhnigh Aer Arann inné nach raibh gearán ar bith faighte acu i leith fógraí Gaeilge a dhéantar ar eitiltí na haerlíne as Béal Feirste.

Tá seirbhís laethúil ar bun ag Aer Arann idir Béal Feirste agus Corcaigh, agus dúirt an comhlacht inné go ndéantar na fógraí Gaeilge céanna ar an tseirbhís is a dhéantar ar gach eitilt eile de chuid Aer Arann…

Tá iarratas ar fhógraí Gaeilge ar eitiltí ó SAM go hÉirinn diúltaithe ag Continental Airlines.

feachtas litreacha tosaithe ag cainteoir Gaeilge atá ina chónaí i Nua-Eabhrac, Daithí Mac Lochlainn, ag moladh do Continental fógraí gairide réamhthaifeadta a dhéanamh ar eitiltí go hÉirinn, ach níl an aerlíne sásta glacadh leis an moladh faoi láthair.


D’eisigh Continental ráiteas go Lá Nua a dúirt “cé nach é an aidhm s’againn aon teanga ar leith a chur ó dhoras, úsáideann muid príomhtheanga an bhunphointe agus an cheannphointe.

“Baineann ár n-aerlíne úsáid as Béarla i gcomhair cumarsáide ar eitiltí as Éirinn agus go hÉirinn de bharr go ndéanann céatadán i bhfad níos airde de mhuintir na hÉireann cumarsáid i mBéarla ná i nGaeilge.”

Dúirt urlabhraí Aer Arann freisin go raibh sé mar aidhm acu leagan Gaeilge de shuíomh idirlín an chomhlachta a chur ar fáil roimh dheireadh na bliana.

“Tá aitheantas orainn mar chomhlacht a thagann ón nGaeltacht agus comhlacht a bhfuil fear Gaeltachta mar phríomhfheidhmeanach air, agus ar bhealach amháin, tá iómhá ‘ró-Éireannach’ againn, ach tá sé mar rún againn an suíomh a aistriú go Gaeilge amach anseo,” arsa sé.

Tá leagan Béarla agus Fraincise den suíomh, ann faoi láthair.

Espero por Lá Nua?


…de la blogo, From the Balcony, de Máirtín Ó Muilleoir:

In Dublin yesterday for a very useful meeting of Lá Nua shareholders — 100 Irish language groups own shares in the not-for-profit company which runs Lá Nua and the unanimous opinion around the table was that this paper must not close.

How to do that is the challenge facing the shareholders (which include this newspaper group) and Foras na Gaeilge but I'm confident that with a move by government in the North to lift its ban on advertising in Irish (and by continuing to work closely with Foras) a breakthrough can be made before our 29 February deadline.

Signolingvo kaj Keltalingvoj


…de la Ormskirk Advertiser:

Ormskirk MP Rosie Cooper joined a party of sign language users who met Gordon Brown to ask for sign language to be given the same legal status enjoyed by the Welsh and Cornish languages.

Members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Deafness supported the delegation with examples of their personal knowledge of the discrimination experienced by sign language users.

Éamon Ó Cuív en Usono


...de Laois Today:

Gaeltacht Affairs minister Eamon O Cuiv is promoting the Irish language during a two-day trip to Boston.

The West Galway TD will visit Boston College, the Centre for Irish Studies and the Irish Cultural Centre. He will also deliver a keynote address at the Department of Celtic Languages and Literatures in Harvard University.

The minister's itinerary also includes meetings with members of the Irish community living and working in the Massachusetts state capital. On Thursday Mr O Cuiv will participate in a workshop on post-Famine Irish by Dr Robert Savage of Boston College.

Brita Civito kaj Keltalingvoj


...de la Press Association:

A Green Paper will propose that people who want to take UK nationality will have to prove a number of new requirements, and "earn" their citizenship.

The deal is expected to focus on learning the English language and obeying the law…

…The new "Path to Citizenship" Green Paper will focus on foreigners already living in Britain who want to become UK nationals, rather than on people outside Britain who are seeking to enter the country.

Under current rules, people taking British citizenship are required to take an oath of allegiance or a pledge at a public ceremony, and learn English, Welsh or Gaelic to certain standards.

They also have to pass a citizenship test, which contains questions about British traditions, government and laws..

The paper may look at introducing English language tests for migrants who arrive after marrying British citizens…

Tuesday 19 February 2008

Irlandalingva Gazeto Falas


...de icWales:

An Irish language newspaper held up as an example for future Welsh publications is on the verge of collapse.

Heritage Minister Rhodri Glyn Thomas earlier this month announced an extra £200,000 a year to support Welsh language media and praised the record of Gaelic daily Lá Nua saying, “Therefore, if there is anyone out there who wishes to establish a Welsh-language daily newspaper, this would be possible.”

Lá Nua’s 10 staff have been given redundancy notices and the tabloid is expected to close at the end of the month.

Plans to launch a Welsh- language daily, Y Byd, were abandoned last week...

...Concubhar Ó Llatháin, editor of Lá Nua told the Western Mail, “We need £100,000 to carry on printing to the end of the year. This is because of a shortfall in advertising revenue due, in the main, to a ban on advertising in the Irish language by the Northern Ireland Executive.”

Festo de Sankta Patriko 2008




St. Patrick's Day celebrations have come a long way from the days of the half-hearted parade with a couple of dodgy floats and some frost-bitten cheerleaders. In fact, the celebrations have come a long way since St. Patrick's Day was just a day! After all, why limit yourself to 24 hours of national pride when you can make a whole festival of it? And this year, the folks behind the St. Patrick's Festival have pulled out all the stops to bring us the most spectacular celebrations to date, with five days of fun-packed events for catering for everyone from the tiniest of tots to your granny's granny, if she can make it along!...


...Speaking of music, where would the St. Patrick's Festival without performances from some of Irelands top acts? This year,
Kila and Mary Black are set to thrill festival audiences with exclusive performances on St. Patrick's day.

There'll also be a fantastic series of Irish language events, promoting the use of the Irish language amongst visitors and residents in fun and novel settings. Participants can join in workshops, tours, gigs, and film suitable for all ages (and, maybe more importantly, ALL LEVELS OF IRISH)!...

Diru TÁ!


...de la Andersonstown News:

Thousands of people took to the streets of Belfast city centre on Saturday to show their support for the Irish language and cultural diversity.

The march, organised by POBAL, the umbrella organisation for Irish language groups in the North, was hailed by the Chief Executive of POBAL, Janet Muller, as a huge success.

A 20-foot Chinese dragon led supporters from West Belfast to Writers’ Square in the city centre for an afternoon of music and poetry from Irish language speakers and multi-ethnic groups from as far away as Poland and Ghana.

Several groups attended to show support not only for the Irish language and cultural diversity itself, but also for Ciste Craoltóireachta na Gaeilge (the Irish Language Broadcast Fund) which is under threat at present. They were also supporting the call for an Irish Language Act and backing the threatened Irish language paper Lá Nua. Ms Muller said the large crowd and colourful atmosphere showed the depth of support for the ‘Say Tá to the Irish Language’ campaign.

Fògarraich na Grèine


...de This is North Scotland:

A new Gaelic play dealing with environmental issues is touring Scottish primary schools this month.

The Sun Refugees - or
Fogarraich na Greine - will be performed in 60 Gaelic-medium schools as part of a tour funded by Highland and Islands Enterprise, Highland Council and Bord na Gaidhlig.

Written by Seonaid MacDonald, it deals with the future of the planet, including whether man's lifestyle has brought about environmental changes.



Characters include a young Inuit from Alaska who talks about the changes he has seen over the years.

"Welsh Not"


...de icWales:

Of course there was not, but three English, non- Welsh-speaking Anglican clergy commissioners acted like “language police”. Their “Commission of Enquiry into State Education in Wales” was published in 1847. The report was at once named “Brad y Llyfrau Gleision – the Treason of the Blue Books” because of its distortion of facts and its obvious bias against the Welsh language and towards anglicisation.

The Welsh language and culture were utterly damned and blamed for low moral standards, a high criminal rate and a manifold barrier to moral progress and commercial prosperity. It was the most notorious and libellous government report ever published in Wales. During this period the “Welsh Not” was prevalent in schools as a deterrent to the use of Welsh.