News through an 30ú lá Mí na Samhna

Comedian and boxing club among recipients of multicultural awards (Nov 28, 2008)
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/1128/1227825379422.html
“Comedian Des Bishop and an Irish Olympian's boxing club were among those presented with a Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Award (Mama) at the Abbey Theatre yesterday.
“The awards, in their seventh year, recognise people, groups and companies that promote integration in Ireland.
“The Foras na Gaeilge award was given to Des Bishop for his programme In the Name of the Fada , documenting his year learning Irish in the Gaeltacht.
"Multicultural Ireland is one of the reasons the Irish language has grown in strength . . . people realise the importance of cultural identity," Bishop said.”

Belfast regeneration plans announced (Nov 28, 2008)
http://www.newrossstandard.ie/breaking-news/national-news/belfast-regeneration-plans-announced-1557180.html
“Two separate plans for the regeneration of different parts of Belfast have been announced within the past 24 hours.”
...“Meanwhile, the West Belfast and Shankill Enterprise Council, a think-tank of small and medium sized businesses, is proposing a major upgrade including a new urban village in Andersonstown, a Gaeltacht Quarter, and a project on the Black Mountain above the city.”

Plans will transform west of city (Nov 28, 2008)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7753881.stm
“West Belfast needs ‘big projects which investors can back’ to transform the area, a cross-community group has said.”
...“The council also has plans to turn the Falls Road into an Irish-speaking Gaeltacht quarter.”

Irish radio competition with great prizes (Nov 28, 2008)
http://www.advertiser.ie/mayo/article/5473
“Mayo Education Centre have announced an exciting new project for post-primary school students.
“In association with Gentique Jewellers, Castlebar and Togra Mhaigh Eo they are inviting post-primary students to record a short radio programme as Gaeilge (seven to ten minutes) for teams of between two and five students.”

Masterplan set to revive the greater Shankill (Nov 29, 2008)
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/Masterplan-set-to-revive-the.4744534.jp
“A wide-reaching masterplan, described as "ambitious and imaginative", for the regeneration of one of Northern Ireland's most deprived areas was unveiled yesterday.”
...“These include a Destination Centre on the Black Mountain, turning Andersonstown into an urban village, creating a Gaeltacht Quarter hub on the Falls Road, and undertaking a feasibility study exploring how best to attract investment into the Andersonstown Gateway area.”

ASimil8 to cash in on lucrative Chinese market (Nov 30, 2008)
http://www.sbpost.ie/post/pages/p/story.aspx-qqqt=IRELAND-qqqm=news-qqqid=37871-qqqx=1.asp
“The co-founder of an innovative new e-learning company has his sights set on far-flung markets, following his success as winner of this year’s Nova UCD Campus Company Development Programme.”
...“Groarke, ex-vice president of engineering with Baltimore Technologies, hit upon the idea for ASimil8 while brushing up on his own Irish language skills to help with his daughter’s schoolwork.
“‘If you can immerse yourself completely in an environment where all business around you is conducted through Irish, you will pick up the language much quicker. It is nothing new.
“‘Educators have known for many years that ‘immersion’ is a very effective way to learn languages. Irish speakers call it ‘tum-oideachas’ or immersion education.’”

Maintaining pride in our native tongue (Nov 30, 2008)
http://www.sbpost.ie/post/pages/p/story.aspx-qqqt=People+In+Business-qqqm=nav-qqqid=37877-qqqx=1.asp
“Caitriona Ni Cheallaigh’s family tree has a strong historical link to the Irish language - her grandfather, JJ O’Kelly, was minister for Irish in the first Dail. The chief executive of Colaiste na bhFiann has continued the tradition, spending most of her adult life helping to keep the Irish language alive.”