Thursday, October 20, 2011

Recent news

...from Gaelport, which has many additional interesting items and is a highly recommended stop for info. Seriously, I had something like sixteen articles open to mention, but that amount seemed egregious. Go look around for yourself.

The Irish language in urban areas (Oct 4, 2011)
http://www.gaelport.com/default.aspx?treeid=37&NewsItemID=6810

"At a public seminar organised by Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge in Cork last week, the public were informed on the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish language."
[Includes link to PDF of presentation slides]


Draftplan for Gaelic in Scotland 2012-2017 (Oct 7, 2011)
http://www.gaelport.com/default.aspx?treeid=37&NewsItemID=6834

"This is second national Gaelic language plan and it sets out the role of various organisations and supports which will be required to boost the number of Gaelic speakers in Scotland."

Countdown to Oireachtas na Samhna (Oct 18, 2011)
http://www.gaelport.com/default.aspx?treeid=37&NewsItemID=6897

"Ireland’s longest running arts festival, Oireachtas na Samhna, will take place from 1st-6th November in the Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney, Co. Kerry. Thousand of visitors are expected to attend the festival which has been travelling the country since the end of the nineteenth century."

Gtv live from Oireachtas na Gaeilge (Oct 18, 2011)
http://www.gaelport.com/default.aspx?treeid=37&NewsItemID=6906

"A new website will be launched into cyberspace shortly, hosted by Gaelscéal and Gréasán na Meán, the new service will cater to those who can’t make it to Killarney at the beginning of next month to attend Oireachtas na Gaeilge."

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Writer O'Nolan honoured by stamp

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/1004/breaking38.html

Writer O'Nolan honoured by stamp (Oct 4, 2011)
(click link to see image of stamp)

A commemorative stamp celebrating the centenary of the birth of writer and columnist Brian O’Nolan has gone on sale.

The popular author, who wrote under a number of pseudonyms including Flann O’Brien and Myles na gCopaleen, was known and loved for his satirical style.

The 55c stamp is adorned with a portrait of the writer by his brother, artist Micheál Ó Nualláin.

O’Nolan was born in Strabane, Co Tyrone, on October 5th 1911 but spent most of his life in Dublin.

He entered the civil service in 1935 and served as private secretary to three successive ministers in the Department of Local Government.

His first novel, At Swim-Two-Birds , was published in 1939 and was followed by several books and plays including The Third Policeman (1940), Faustus Kelly (1943), The Hard Life (1960), and The Dalkey Archive, produced on the Dublin stage in 1965.

Under the name Myles na gCopaleen, he wrote the comical Cruiskeen Lawn column in The Irish Times from October 1940 until his death in 1966, aged 56.

An Post said the stamp and a special first day cover by Irish designer Steve Simpson may be viewed and purchased at irishstamps.ie, at the GPO in Dublin and main post offices.

Irish language pack for schools stresses rights

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0928/1224304856772.html

Irish language pack for schools stresses rights (Sept 28, 2011)
By Lorna Siggins, Western Correspondent

STUDENTS FROM Coláiste na Coiribe in Galway were told yesterday by the official Irish Language Commissioner that they were “guardians of an important and endangered aspect of world heritage”.

The students were present at the launch of a new information pack which is to be presented to every second-level school in the country by An Coimisinéir Teanga Seán Ó Cuirreáin.

The multimedia educational initiative developed by his office in An Spidéal, Co Galway, aims to give students an insight into language rights in the overall context of universal civil and human rights.

Bilingual lessons and projects on the theme will be taught as part of the Junior Certificate course in civil, social and political education, Mr Ó Cuirreáin said yesterday.

The initiative was also endorsed by Minister of State for the Gaeltacht Dinny McGinley.

The Junior Cert module will address the advantages and challenges of multilingualism, and explore the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The pack for classes includes an award-winning short film, Yu Ming Is Ainm Dom (My Name Is Yu Ming), about a young Chinese man who learns Irish before visiting Ireland. He experiences communications difficulties at first, until he finds himself a job as a barman in the Gaeltacht.

Images of Irish national identity compiled by Nuacht TG4/RTÉ with a soundtrack from The Coronas will form part of a lesson on culture and nationality.

A novel element is the inclusion of a set of task cards that will ask students to explain elements of Irish society to a visiting Martian. Another lesson involves developing bilingual stationery and signage.

Mr Ó Cuirreáin said that the initiative had been tested in 15 schools on a pilot basis last year.

He explained that the module can be taught through Irish, through English or bilingually.

“More than anything else, this project should ensure that students are given a context for their learning of Irish in schools and that they understand and respect the concept of language rights,” he said.

Mr Ó Cuirreáín forecast that it could be “potentially the most important initiative undertaken by this office since its establishment, if it sees significant numbers of students each year being taught the importance of language rights”.

© 2011 The Irish Times