Sobaldhráma 2009

as Gaeilge: http://www.tg4.ie/tspo.htm
"Fáilteoidh TG4 roimh iarratais ar chonradh do léiriú sobaldhráma le craoladh i gclársceideal Fhómhar 2009."
i mBéarla: http://www.tg4.ie/Bearla/tspo.htm
"TG4 would welcome applications for the production of a soap opera. Up to three seasons of the soap opera might be involved commencing in September 2009."

Clash over school closure criteria

(Sept 18, 2007)
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/education/article2974245.ece
"Education Minister Caitriona Ruane was accused of sectarianism over school closures in an Assembly clash with the DUP's William McCrea. He said Ms Ruane approved an Irish language school in Co Tyrone with 12 Primary One pupils while closing Minterburn Primary School in Caledon which had double the numbers."

'Na Dódaí’

Imagine Media's 'Na Dódaí’ To Start Shooting In Belfast's Blackstaff Studios (Sept 18 2007)
http://www.4rfv.co.uk/industrynews.asp?id=66015
"Series 2 of ‘Na Dódaí’, Imagine Media’s landmark series for young Irish learners, produced for BBC NI and the Irish Language Broadcast Fund, begins shooting in Blackstaff studios on September 19."

Ireland selects 'Kings' for Oscars

(Sept 11, 2007)
from http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117971767.html?categoryid=13&cs=1
"'Kings,' directed by Tom Collins and starring Colm Meaney, has been selected as Ireland's entry for best foreign-language film at next year's Academy Awards. It's believed to be the first time an Irish-language movie has been entered in the Oscar race."
[EDIT Sept 12 -- Here's another story with some additional info: Kings is selected for Irish Oscar bid]

Vista boost for Gaelic speakers

For our compatriots literally or figuratively on the other side of the Irish Sea:
Vista boost for Gaelic speakers (August 30, 2007)
from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/highlands_and_islands/6971566.stm
"The Gaelic Development Agency Bord na Gaidlaig welcomed the move, which they said was a major development in the learning and teaching of Gaelic."

Tidy Towns

(Sept 11, 2007)
from http://www.mayonews.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2355&Itemid=38
"Westport retained its Gold Medal Award, County Award and Regional Award and added the Building a Bilingual Society Award to its list of honours."

Local boys!

With thanks to Suin for pointing it out:
Hurly Burly (August 27, 2007)
from http://www.startribune.com/389/story/1385224.html
Subscription may be needed. Waaaay down on the page you'll see a mention of Killian, who has been known to show up for class or conversation group when hurling doesn't conflict:
"Ex-pats such as Condon, who provides running commentary during hurling sessions in both English and Gaelic, have kept the sport viable on these shores."

Crochadóir?

So I'm sitting here slogging through a long article on using technology for second-language learning when I'm suddenly bowled over by the memory of playing a Hangman game as Gaeilge on my old old computer. Obviously all progress must halt. Does anyone know of one that's currently available? I suppose I'd settle for an internet-based version, as long as it's good. And yes, I've done some looking of my own, but so far I'm not impressed.

Article mentioning Irish in Tyrone

MCSC Irish summer school (Sept 6, 2007)
from http://www.nwipp-newspapers.com/SC/free/321070698140137.php
"When Peadar Joe Haughey died in January 1951 a piece of Tyrone's Gaeltacht heritage died with him."

Fun family experiences await at Irish Festival

From Sept 7, 2007 -- Danbury CT again:
http://www.newstimeslive.com/news/story.php?id=1186570695&source=tabbox
"There will be an Irish language workshop for beginners and an evening Ceili (6:30-10:30 p.m.) with the Green Gates Ceili Band."
Hey!:
"Teachers and students of the Irish language classes will give out names in Irish for children and adults."
Oh, fine, I suppose we weren't the first to have this idea. And we're certainly not doing it this weekend, so they're welcome to it.

Irish festival will feature Mass celebrated in Gaelic

Sept 7, 2007 -- Syracuse NY I'm assuming:
http://www.syracuse.com/articles/news/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1189155935185390.xml&coll=1
"For about 20 years, McColgan, a teacher at Fayetteville-Manlius High School, also has taught Irish to adults in Central New York. Saturday, she and a group of her Irish students will participate in a Roman Catholic Irish Mass being celebrated in Syracuse's Clinton Square as part of the eighth annual Guinness Syracuse Irish Festival."

Tensions grow in language act debate

(Sept 7, 2007)
from http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/Tensions-grow-in-language-act.3175209.jp
"Tensions were last night rising between the DUP and Sinn Fein, after the unionist party made it clear it will stand in the way of the bid to pass an Irish Language Act."
Nice adverbial phrase placement, there.

Guinness good for you - official

At the risk of making this into the Gaeilge-and-beer blog....
Guinness good for you - official (Nov 13 2003, but still as true as ever)
from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3266819.stm
With thanks to Glenn for pointing this out to us, and to Mia for pointing it out to Glenn!
"A pint of the black stuff a day may work as well as an aspirin to prevent heart clots that raise the risk of heart attacks."
And on this note...don't forget to come out and see us at the Ren Fest this weekend!
[EDIT] Okay, fine, here's some Irish to tie it all together. The magnet on my fridge says "Guinness -- deoch an fhuinnimh" (if I'm seeing all the dots). I like to think this is an assertion that Guinness is the original energy drink.