Maura Mulligan

...de Maura Mulligan:

Join one of my classes at the New York Irish Center, 1040 Jackson Avenue, Long Island City.

The focus is on conversation.

Total Physical Response (TPR), and the thematic approach, give students practice in using the language in a social setting….

Hillary Clinton

…de The Scotsman:

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton last night threw her weight behind calls for the Northern Ireland Assembly to take responsibility for running the region's justice system.

Mrs Clinton arrived in Dublin ahead of talks with political leaders in Belfast today on the economy and on the devolution of further powers from Westminster…

Mrs Clinton said: "Clearly, there are questions and some apprehensions but I believe that, due to the concerted effort of the British government, Irish government and support of friends like us in the US, that the parties understand this is a step they must take together."It will take the leaders of both communities working together to continue not only the devolution but then to make day-to-day governing a reality."

*SEOLTA / ADRESOJ:

.Hon. Hillary Rodham Clinton
.U.S. Department of State

.2201 C Street NW

.Washington, DC 20520
.Stáit Aotaithe Mhéiriceá

.Domhnall Ó Ruanaigh, Uas.
.Ambasáid na Stát Aontaithe Mheiriceá
.Droichead na Dothra
.Baile Átha Cliath 4
.Éire

.Kamala S. Lakhdhir, Uas.
.Ard-Chonsalacht na Stát Aontaithe Mheiriceá
.Teach Dúin na Lochlannach
.223 Bóthar an tSrutháin Mhilis
.Béal Feirste BT9 5GR
.Northern Ireland

Béal Feirste agus Nua Eabbhrac

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

Bhí ceiliúradh iontach ann don Ghaeilge in Aonach Naomh Sheoirse i mBéal Feirste inniu, a bhuí le Pobal.

Bhí na sluaite ann agus i measc na n-imeachtaí iontacha bhí rap-cheol againn le Tura Atura as Zimbabwe, ar an téama 'Tír Gan Teanga, Tír Gan Anam'.

Tá trí bliana ann anois ó gheall Rialtas na Breataine Acht Teanga, ach mar a dúirt Janet Muller, ní hé amháin nár choimhlíon na Breatanaigh an gheallúint sin ach mheall siad na haontachtaithe leis an chonradh sin a shíniú leis an mholadh go bhféadfadh siad acht teanga a choisc!

Ach cé gur céiliúradh a bhí ann, thug sé teachtaireacht an-láidir nach féidir glacadh leis an tséanadh cirt seo.

Agus deir ár gcomrádaí Daithí Mac Lochlainn gur éirigh thar barr le Micheál Ó Flannagáin (iphone pic le Kate McCabe?) i Nua Eabharc aréir agus é ag tabhairt faoin chosc ar an Ghaeilge sna cúirteanna ó thuaidh — cosc a théann siar go dtí aimsir na bPéindlíthe!

Troid ar ais ar dhá mhórroinn, ní miste sin.

RAJTOJ KAJ FESTO!!!

Scott de Buitléir

…de Scott de Buitléir:

A recent article by Eithne Shortall in the Irish edition of The Sunday Times newspaper caused concern for Irish-language writers, as apparently only “76 copies” were sold between a number of Irish-language writers, despite a total of €74,000 in grants being given to them.

While the article can be read on the Gaelport.com website (with my response available on my Irish-language blog) it seems that the information that Ms. Shortall has was incorrect. Having posted my response on ‘Dialann Scott,’ I soon received an e-mail from Ailbhe Ní Ghearbhuigh, one of the writers mentioned in Ms. Shortall’s article. According to Ní Ghearbhuigh, roughly 400 copies of her last publication, Péacadh, were sold within the last 12 months – 80% of the total number of copies published. It is apparent, in this case, that Ms. Shortall did not have all the figures required to write on such a topic.

So, is this a deliberate attempt to put Irish-language publishing in an unpleasant light? Possibly, but I’m going to give both the journalist and newspaper the benefit of the doubt. Maybe Ms. Shortall could not have gotten all the facts, but if this were the case, then the piece should have been neither written nor published. If the intention was, however, to paint Irish-language publishing in a bad light, then it was a very good attempt. Read the article for yourself and make your own decision.

Egaleco & la Irlandalingvo en la Nordo de Irlando

…de la Irish Echo:

The Irish American Unity Conference and the Brehon Law Society will host Belfast lawyer Michael Flanigan at NYU's Glucksman Ireland House this Saturday, Oct. 10.

Flanigan recently challenged the 1737 ban on the use of Irish in the North's courts. Domhnall O Cathain of the Brehon Law Society and Mike Breen of the IAUC will also speak.

The event is free, open to the public and begins at 7 p.m.

"The British are backsliding on the commitments made under the Equality and Human Rights terms of the Good Friday Agreement," said IAUC National President, Kate McCabe.

"It is unfortunate that their commitments to take resolute action to support, promote and facilitate the Irish language have yielded no tangible results," she said.

Earlier on Saturday, Daithí MacLochlainn will host a walking tour of lower Manhattan featuring points of interest relating to the Irish language.

The tour will start at 2 p.m. at South Street Seaport Museum, 19 Front St. It is free of charge and will last two to three hours.

€973.68 por Unu Libro?

…de la Sunday Times:

Five Irish-language authors who received €74,000 in total from the Arts Council last year have sold only 76 books between them since 1998 — 70 of which were sold by just one of the writers.

According to official industry data, Padraig Standun*, who received a bursary of €10,000, accounted for the lion’s share of the sales, while Darach O Scolai, who was awarded €30,000 in grants over two years, clocked up six.

This means that Padraig O Gallachoir, who was granted €20,000 over two years, Ailbhe Ni Ghearbhuigh, who got €9,000, and Aifric Mac Aodha, who received €5,000, all appeared not to sell any books.

However, Nielsen BookScan, which monitors book sales and claims 90% accuracy, said that works by Standun, O Scolai and the three other authors could have been sold at independent bookshops or in such small quantities that they did not register with it...

* Tá Club Leabhar Nua Eabhrac ag léamh Sobalsaol le Pádraig Standún faoi lathair. / .Club Leabhar Nua Eabhrac estas aktuale leganta Sobalsaol de Pádraig Standún.

Kornvalaj Piratoj!

…de The Tribune:

As I learned more about British history, I learned about “piracy” in Cornwall and the adjacent Scilly Isles. The Cornish Peninsula is the most westward part of England. It’s both extremely rugged and remote.

By 1860, more than 692 shipwrecks were recorded off southwest England’s dangerous coastline. While there were sometimes French pirates off the coast, most often it was the indigenous population of Cornwall that was engaged in piracy….

… The locals would then plunder the wrecked ship’s hold for what they referred to as “legal salvage.”

There were numerous squadrons of soldiers and police sent by officials in London to suppress these acts of piracy.

But the Cornish had their own Celtic language dating to pre-Roman days, and they could be most secretive. As W. S. Gilbert wrote, “A policeman’s lot is not an easy one.” …

Chicopee Abú!

...de The Republican:

A center born of the suffering and triumphs of an island people known for preserving their language and culture even in their diaspora will celebrate a decade of its presence in the Pioneer Valley during the weekend of Oct. 9.

“Not only is the center 10 years old, but it also is growing. We offer an increasing number of programs and continue to attract new audiences, all the while keeping our faithful members, many who have been members since the beginning,” said Sister of St. Joseph Judith Kappenman, director of the Irish Cultural Center at Elms College in Chicopee.

Anniversary weekend celebrations feature a brunch with Irish American author Peter Quinn as guest speaker on Oct. 11 at the Elms; workshops including ones on the Irish langugage, Irish set dances and Gaelic games during the day there on Oct. 10, and a concert Oct. 10 at 7:30 p.m. by a group that numbers the sons of legendary Irish folk singer and musican Tommy Makem at The Wherehouse in Holyoke...

Weston Gaela Grupo

...de la Weston & Somerset Mercury:

An Irish themed event saw people from all over Weston learn about the country's cultures and music.

The Gaelic Gathering was held in the Winter Gardens on Saturday and saw visitors trying traditional foods and learning the language.

The event was organised by Weston Gaelic Group and was attended by the mayor, Dr Mike Kellaway-Marriott.

Traditional Irish songs were performed by Marianne McAleer and her son Fin played the fiddle.

Group member Trish Evans said: "We had about 70-80 people through the doors, which was great."We were very pleased with how well it went and there was a lovely atmosphere….

Anticipa Balotado?

....de la Belfast Telegraph:

With speculation that Sinn Fein will force an election on the Assembly, let's pull back from the argument that they will use as a springboard and consider their options.

That argument is that the DUP is hesitant to allow the devolution of policing and justice powers to the Assembly.

Martin McGuinness has defined the problem more starkly by saying that he does not, in fact, have a working relationship with First Minister Peter Robinson....

...Certainly, if Sinn Fein takes the First Minister's post it will want to flaunt its success and make Northern Ireland look a lot more Irish.

Expect it to seek an early referendum on Irish unity, for instance. Anticipation of that will set the unionists in a right flurry during an election campaign.

Yet, Sinn Fein as top dog may find that securing its dream goals, like an Irish Language Act, will be no easier then than it is now, given that it will always need to secure the agreement of a unionist partner, even a junior partner.

The current rumour in Stormont is that Sinn Fein will force an election after Christmas...

Lowender Peran Festo

….de Travelbite:

From delightful dancing to majestic music, local traditions are rejuvenated every year with a Cornwall festival.

In a celebration of the region's Celtic roots, the Cornish town of Perranporth comes alive as it hosts the Lowender Peran Festival. Taking place every October, the event serves up a wide range of things to see and do for all the family.

Five days of festival fun…

…Meanwhile, those looking to get a true taste of culture during cottage holidays in Cornwall may wish to take a Cornish language lesson. And doing so may mean that visitors are able to feel - and speak - like one of the locals in no time...

Gaelaj Menuoj

…de la Press & Journal:

Menus at an Inverness hotel have given new food for thought.

For the Royal Highland Hotel is one of the first in the city to have its menus in both English and Gaelic.

The hotel in Academy Street is also planning to introduce multi-lingual signs around the premises.

The new menus were introduced to help increase the popularity of the traditional Highland language and to link it to food.

Yesterday, a member of staff, who did not want to be named, said: “We found that most of the places we looked at don’t use Gaelic.

“It’s the traditional language of the Highlands, and we decided to use it to link it back to the country and with food.“Our customers seem to really appreciate it."...

Idir Dhá Cheann Stoirme

...de la Derry People / Donegal News:

A West Donegal man launches his very first novel at a very special night of music and entertainment at Leo's Tavern, Meenaleck, this month.

On Saturday, October 17, guests from all over West Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Scotland and Wales will gather in the well-known Rosses pub to celebrate the launch of Séamus (Jimmy) Mac Grianna's Irish language novel, Idir Dhá Cheann Stoirme (Two Ends Of A Storm).

Set at the turn of the 20th century, the novel tells the story of twin brothers who grow up by the seaside.

"Although there are similarities to my home of Rannafast the story could apply to any seaside village around Ireland," said Jimmy.

"The story revolves around twins who choose very different career paths. Both do very well in their chosen careers, but while one of them takes an academic path and goes to college the other becomes a fisherman."