Eastáit na Sí

...de la Irish Times:

Ghost Estates are a recent phenomenon. Housing developments lie empty throughout the country, thanks to the magical disappearing act of the Celtic Tiger. Being a recent Irish phenomenon, it has taken a little time for Irish language wordsmiths to come up with a translation.

“Eastáit na Si” or “Fairy Estates” is, of course, open to misinterpretation in today’s sexually-oriented parlance, but is an elegant Gaelicisation of this modern landmark feature and can be linked to the longstanding regard in which the Irish have held the “little people” or those from an “domhan eile”…

...My proposal is to designate a number of these estates as new Gaeltachtaí. There hasn’t been a new Gaeltacht, officially, since 1956, when the current boundaries for the Irish- speaking areas were set in legislation by Patrick Lindsay, the then Minister for the Gaeltacht.

There have been other attempts to establish Gaeltachtaí by dedicated communities in Cork and Belfast and these have had spectacular success with a significant benefit to society as a whole – though they haven’t received official recognition…

Novaj Limoj por la Irlandalingvujo

…de la Connacht Sentinel:

Knocknacarra, Terryland and Menlo may lose out.

A 20-year blueprint for the Gaeltacht due out next month will recommend a redrawing of the boundaries, which will have major implications for the city with large suburbs contained within its realm.

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív said this week that he will seek the postponement of the Údarás na Gaeltachta elections, due to be held by next October, because of the implications of the report. He will have to seek Dáil approval of the postponement by way of an amendment to legislation.

An array of grants payable for housing programmes, Irish speaking children and various social programmes and businesses have been available in Gaeltacht areas, which encompass several suburbs of the city.

Knocknacarra, Menlo and Terryland are all officially within the Gaeltacht, although for the last five years Polish has been become the second language rather than Irish with the multicultural mix that has evolved.

Under revised boundaries these are likely to be taken out of the Gaeltacht, Minister Ó Cuív said.
“This 20-year strategy will deal with the definition of the Gaeltacht, which is based on a 1956 Act – it’s very dated. It will also look at how we can develop the Irish language and how to develop it around Gaelscoileanna and where there are clusters of Gaelic speakers that are outside the Gaeltacht,” he said.

“Is maith an t-anlann…”

…de la Sunday Business Post:

Chef Sauce, a Jacob Fruitfield brand, is to sponsor the new season of TG4’s award-winning soap opera, Ros na Run.Chef said the move would reinforce its association with the Irish language.

‘‘Chef has already established a strong association with the Irish language, through our popular TV ad set in the Gaeltacht and our subsequent sponsorship of the Des Bishop show, In the Name of the Fada,” said Loretta Dignam, marketing director of the Jacob Fruitfield Food Group.

‘‘As a strong Irish brand, we are very happy to further strengthen that association through the Ros na Run sponsorship.”

Ros na Run has been an anchor in the TG4 programme schedule since the channel began broadcasting in 1996. It airs five times a week and is produced in the Galway Gaeltacht by independent producers Eo Teilifis and Leirithe Thir Eoghain.

Serĝento Seamus O’Fianghusa

…de la Irish Voice:

Sergeant Seamus O’Fianghusa was born patriotic. At a young age he knew serving his country was something that was a must.

He also realized learning the language of his Irish ancestors was a high priority.

Growing up bi-lingual, (his father, James, is Irish American and his mother, Helen, is Korean), the 33-year-old U.S. Army sergeant wasn’t content with just speaking English and Korean. He wanted to learn Irish.

“My father used to speak a lot about the Gaeilge and I knew someday that it would be my duty to learn this language, the language of my ancestors,”…

…It was an encounter with a native Irish speaker from Donegal a few years ago that got O’Fianghusa’s skates on.

“I met a lady from the Gaeltacht in Donegal who was fluent in Irish and I was so embarrassed that I couldn’t speak her -- and my -- language,” he said.

“Right there and then I made a decision to learn Irish. I couldn’t delay it any longer.”

In a short few months, O’Fianghusa, who studied linguistics in college, was spouting the Irish language just like the natives in Donegal….

Peticio por Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge

Iarraimidne, saoránaigh de chuid na hÉireann a bhfuil ár n-ainm leis seo, ar ár dTaoiseach Brian Ó Comhain tacaíocht agus cosaint a thabhairt do ghluaiseacht na gColáistí Gaeilge trí Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge a chaomhnú...

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Ni, la mal, civitanoj de la Irlanda Respubliko, alvok nia Taoiseach Brian Cowen promesi protekti kaj subteno la estonteco de Irlandalingvaj Kolegioj tra la konservo de Scéim bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge…
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*** Klaku ĉi tie signi la peticion. / Gliogáil anseo chuige an achainí a shíniú.

La Nor-Amerika Irlandalingvujo

…de la Napanee Guide:

A handful of enthusiasts are gathering near Erinsville this week to explore Irish language and culture.

Teachers and students pitched tents on Sunday night 20 minutes north of Napanee at the Gaeltacht in Erinsville, a 60-acre property that has been officially designated by the Irish government as an Irish-speaking region. It is the first of its kind in North America.

Sheila Scott has been involved with the project since its inception in 2007. Though she is pleased with the course of events, she hopes that the immersion week will continue to grow each year.

“We want this to be very welcoming to anybody who might want to participate,” says Scott. “The township has really embraced the idea of this place, and we want as many people in the area as possible to be involved, and we want to give back to the community.”

Participants will come and go throughout the week, some staying for the whole event and others spending as little as a day or two. Whatever length of time chosen, the event promises exposure to some fascinating Irish arts, such as dancing, pottery, stained glass, story telling, singing and various other music workshops, and of course instruction in the Irish language...

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[*** Sheila estas membro kaj Vicprezidanto de la Nordamerika Asocio de Keltalingvaj Instruistoj. ..Ŝi prezentis paperojn ĉe niaj Konferencoj.]

Cripil Inis Meáin

…de la Irish Times:

Small and big worlds collide in Martin McDonagh’s Cripil Inis Meáin, and no more so than in the Irish language translation of the play, performed during the Galway Arts Festival’s first week by An Taibhdhearc.

The venue was Amharclann Chois Fharraige in Seanscoil Sailearna, Indreabhán, within clear view of the Aran Islands framed by a setting sun.

The national Irish language theatre has been borrowing locations since a fire at its premises in November, 2007, and set designer Dara McGee made the most of the Sailearna school stage where a week of performances were sold out every night. Translator Micheál Ó Conghaíle recalls, in his programme notes, how he once worked in a shop similar to that run in the play by the Osbourne sisters (Bridie Ní Churraoin and Bríd Ní Neachtain) selling plugs of tobacco, bags of tea and eggs, and collecting story after story from customers in return....

Colm Mac Con Iomaire

…de Hot Press:

Frames violinist Colm Mac Con Iomaire gives his The Hare’s Corner solo album the official launch treatment this September when he plays – where else? – Whelan’s.

Colm will launch his new solo record on September 7 in Whelan's, Dublin.

While not out and out trad, the collection has a pronounced Irish flavour.

“The phrase ‘The Hare’s Corner’ comes from the ancient Irish custom of at harvest time leaving a corner of a field uncut for the hare to escape to,” he explains. “I first heard my father Liam, mention the phrase in a conversation we had about the famous writer and Irish language activist Máirtín Ó Cadhain. Ó Cadhain identified the Gaeltachtaí as being like the Hare's Corner of Ireland.

Thankfully the linguistic uniqueness of the Gaeltacht endures, but our language is still in jeopardy.”

Coláiste Aodáin

…de la Sunday Business Post:

The Jesuits like to describe their education philosophy as ‘give me the boy and I’ll give you the man’.

Caoimhín Ó hEaghra is no Jesuit, but he says that if you give him your child for three weeks in the summer, he will give you back someone who speaks Irish and who has a real love of Irish culture.

Ó hEaghra, 37, is the director of Coláiste Aodáin, a new Irish college in his home village of An Cheathrú Rua in the south Connemara Gaeltacht. The area featured in the television series made by comedian Des Bishop, In The Name Of The Fada...

"Dingle Daingean Ui Chuis"

…de Agence France-Presse:

The town of Dingle, one of Ireland's best-known tourist destinations, won its battle on Tuesday against a government edict to adopt the Irish language version of its name.

Under a 2004 order enacted by Irish Affairs Minister Eamon O Cuiv, Dingle became Daingean as part of a move requiring over 2,300 towns to adopt Gaelic names.

The order reversed a British mapping programme that started in 1824 and resulted in mainly anglicised names.

But in a local plebiscite two years ago, 1,005 of the 1,222 residents of the southwestern town opted for the bilingual compromise of "Dingle Daingean Ui Chuis"...

Raidió na Gaeltachta

...de la Irish Independent:

There are no plans to allow any advertising on Irish language radio station Raidio na Gaeltachta despite interest from some potential advertisers.

The head of advertisers' body IAPI told the Irish Independent that RnaG could certainly secure some advertising "if the price was right".

"With Irish becoming an EU language you'd have advertising from Government departments, then there's the likes of Conradh na Gaeilge, and then there's all the brands associated with Gaelic games," said IAPI's Sean McCrave.

"There's also been a real revival in Irish amongst the nouveau riche, so you could see some interest in advertisers targeting them."...

Dentkuracado en la Irlandalingvujo

…de Irish Dentist:

The Tuarascáil Bhliantúil Annual Report 2007, launched on 8 April, has revealed the Health Service Executive, as a result of an investigation, apologised for providing public health dental services in English only for a Gaeltacht school, in breach of an agreed statutory obligation.

A parent of a child attending a national school in the Gaeltacht complained to the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs at the end of April 2007 that a Health Service Executive dentist working in the school on 24 April dealt with her child through English.

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Afiŝo de Glór na nGael

An bhFuil Cead Agam?

…de la Irish Film & Television Network:

Mind the Gap Films has launched a nationwide search for participants for their latest documentary series ‘An Bhfuil Cead Agam’. Producers want children to nominate their parents and “turn the tables on the annual Irish bootcamp” by sending them to the Gaeltacht.

For one week in July five men and five women will be banned from talking English, will have to work out shower rosters, soothe their blistered feet after an overly energetic Céilí and be in bed by 10pm, all under the strict supervision of a seasoned Bean an Tí.

Along the way they’ll be expected, like everyone else at the Gaeltacht, to learn a lot of Irish in a very short space of time. The cameras will be there 24/7, exposing the goody two shoes who never steps out of line and the rebels who try to sneak out to the pub at every turn…

Éamon Ó Cuív en Usono

...de la Press Association:

Ireland needs 250,000 Gaelic speakers by 2028 to save the future of the language, Gaeltacht Minister Eamon O Cuiv has said.

Speaking during a visit to the US, Mr O'Cuiv called for more courage and leadership to ensure the native tongue thrives in a globalised world.

The Government is currently preparing a 20-year strategy for the Irish language, due to be launched before the end of the year…

Duonirlandalingvujo

...de la Irish Independent:

The population of the Gaeltacht could be cut by more than half and Dingle could lose its designated all-Irish status if the Government introduced new linguistic criteria.

The criteria are set out in a detailed study on the use of Irish in Gaeltacht areas which was commissioned by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and published late last year.

Now a detailed analysis of that study, carried out by maths lecturer and Connemara-based Gaeltacht expert Donncha O hEallaithe, has revealed the full implications of the findings and recommendations.

Currently, the Gaeltacht areas of the country have a population of 95,500, but following a comprehensive analysis of each of the 162 electoral divisions making up the official Gaeltacht, Mr O hEallaithe has revealed that the population would drop to 44,000.

Towns such as Dingle, Belmullet in Co Mayo, Dungloe and Burtonport, in Co Donegal, and parts of Galway city would all lose their Gaeltacht status if the linguistic criteria were to be implemented...

Limoj de la Irlandalingvujo

...de Foinse:

Ba chóir Coimisiún Neamhspleách nach mbeadh aon ionadaíocht pholaitiúil air a bhunú le tabhairt faoi cheist theorainneacha na Gaeltachta, dar le hurlabhraí Gaeltachta Fhine Gael, Michael Ring.

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Bhí an Teachta Dála Ring ag aontú le moladh atá déanta mar chuid den anailís chuimsitheach ar staid na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht atá foilsithe ar Foinse na seachtaine seo.

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San anailís sin, leis an léachtóir matamaitice ó GMIT, Donncha Ó hÉallaithe, moltar Coimisiún Neamhspleách de chúigear saineolaithe, ar a mhéid, le nuatheorainneacha na Gaeltachta a rianú i bhfianaise a bhfuil molta sa Staidéar Teangeolaíoch ar Úsáid na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht a foilsíodh anuraidh.

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Sa staidéar sin leagadh síos critéir chun idirdhealú a dhéanamh idir na limistéir éagsúla Gaeltachta agus moladh go dtabharfaí stádas Catagóir A, B nó C do na limistéir éagsúla ag brath ar a láidre is a bhí an teanga iontu….

…Dúirt an Teachta Dála ó Pháirtí an Lucht Oibre agus an t-iarAire Gaeltachta Michael D Higgins le Foinse nach mbeadh sé “i gcoinne” Coimisiún Neamhspleách a bhunú chun tabhairt faoi theorainneacha na Gaeltachta. Dúirt sé, áfach, nár chóir go mbeadh gá leis agus gur cheart go mbeadh Airí “go maith in ann cinneadh a dhéanamh faoi cheist atá chomh soiléir”.

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...

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...

Gaelakanada vs. la Reĝino

…de Lá Nua:

Thiocfadh dó go gcuirfí bunaitheoir Ghaeltacht Cheanada go príosún as a bheith ag léiriú mídhílseachta don Bhanríon.

Ar 21 Eanáir, chaill Aralt Mac Giolla Chainnigh an babhta is déanaí dá throid sna cúirteanna chun nach mbeadh air dílseacht a léiriú do Bhanríon na Breataine.

De réir Acht Cosanta Náisiúnta Cheanada, alt 94, thiocfadh príosúnacht suas le 7 mbliana a ghearradh ar shaighdiúir ar bith a léireodh mídhílseacht don Bhanríon.

Tá an tUasal Mac Giolla Chainnigh, captaen in arm Cheanada, ag fanacht anois le feiceáil an gcuirfear an dlí air mar gheall ar a sheasamh i gcoinne comharthaí dílseachta do Bhanríon na Breataine.

Agus é ag caint le Lá Nua ar seisean, ‘Bhí an breithiúnas sa Federal Court mícheart.

‘Tá cuid de na comharthaí dílseachta seo don Bhanríon glan i gcoinne Chairt Ceart agus Saoirse Cheanada.

‘Tá achomharc tuillte, ach is ceist airgid an mbeadh sé ar mo chumas dul ar aghaidh agus sin a dhéanamh.”...

Seosamh Ó Ceallaigh

…de Seosamh Ó Ceallaigh:

Cllr. Joe Kelly has welcomed the comprehensive research on the Linguistic Study of the use of Irish in the Gaeltacht which was presented in Gweedore on Monday night. The three year study was initiated by Minister Ó Cuiv and it gives a detailed and up to date perspective on the state of the spoken language throughout the Gaeltachts.

While the study shows that spoken Irish is still a community language in a large area is western Donegal, it raises nonetheless serious questions for the people of the Gaeltacht. The report highlights that there is a clear threat to the survival of the Irish language, a threat which is intensifying.

Evidence form the research shows that the Gaeltacht education system is not transforming those who come to school as English speakers into active Irish speakers. Furthermore it is alleged that students outside the Gaeltacht outperform Gaeltacht students is some language ability tests. Clearly this raises critical linguistic questions in relation to educational aims and practices currently implemented in Gaeltacht schools.

Cllr. Kelly stated that 'Padraig Pearse who visited Cloughaneely regularly, had claimed that "the Irish speaking child is the most valuable living thing in Ireland." 'This still holds true today' Cllr. Kelly asserted and added that this new Lingusitic Report further highlighted that fact.

While the comprehensive Report offers detailed analysis, maps and figures as well as recommendations, Cllr. Kelly believed that immediate focus was needed on the Irish speaking child. He suggests that Naíonán beaga class sizes in Gaeltacht schools should be reduce to ten pupils so as to allow the teacher to foster the language and to facilitate the positive developments of Cuntoirí teangaí.

Undoubtedly, State organisations can help to further promote the Irish language, nevertheless, Cllr Kelly asserted that the onus rest ultimately with the people of the Gaeltacht. 'I urged the people of the Gaeltacht to cherish the language and to rise to the challenge of ensuring that we sustain our native language- let it not be said by future generations that the language died on our watch' he concluded.