BBC Alba on Freeview on June 8 (May 23, 2011)
http://www.stornowaygazette.co.uk/news/local-headlines/bbc_alba_on_freeview_on_june_8_1_1640610
BBC Alba is to be available on Freeview from June 8.
Alasdair Allan MSP commented: “I am delighted that after much campaigning the BBC Trust has decided to allow BBC Alba on Freeview, where it will be going live in only a few weeks. I know that the channel also became available on Cable last week.
“This is a major step forward for both the channel and the Gaelic language. Every person in Scotland should soon have access to this excellent and important channel." (More at www.stornowaygazette.co.uk.)
New Gaelic scheme for teachers (May 25, 2011)
http://www.stornowaygazette.co.uk/news/local-headlines/new_gaelic_scheme_for_teachers_1_1643315
Twelve teachers from across Scotland are taking part in a unique pilot training programme to assist with the increased demand for Gaelic-speaking primary and secondary school teachers.
In a new partnership between Bòrd na Gàidhlig and Glasgow University, the teachers have spent a concentrated four days being taught various aspects of language development in the classroom. Demand for the programme has been overwhelming and preparations are already underway for it to be repeated. (More at www.stornowaygazette.co.uk.)
Teachers go back to classroom to learn to give lessons in Gaelic (May 26, 2011)
http://www.scotsman.com/news/Teachers-go-back-to-classroom.6774454.jp
Soaring demand for children to be taught in Gaelic has led to a pilot scheme to train non-native speakers.
Glasgow alone has seen the number of pupils taught by teachers speaking Gaelic rather than English almost double in less than four years.
Now a pilot scheme at Glasgow University has seen 12 teachers from across Scotland, who normally teach in English, learn how to teach in Gaelic. (More at www.scotsman.com.)
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Spirited Mylesday gathering would make 'the brother' proud
...And through that blog post (the one before this one), I found out about this event that I can't believe I didn't hear about before now!
Spirited Mylesday gathering would make 'the brother' proud (April 2, 2011)
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0402/1224293650126.html
by Frank McNally
The Irish literary calendar acquired a new holiday yesterday when an event to honour writer Brian O’Nolan – better known as Flann O’Brien and Myles na Gopaleen – drew a capacity attendance to its main venue: the back room of a Dublin pub.
There was standing room only in the Palace bar, at least for the many who did not get in early enough to occupy the few available seats. So the inaugural “Mylesday” was deemed an instant success. In fact the organisers were quick to remind us that the first Bloomsday – the event Mylesday deliberately echoes – was attended by only five people, including O’Nolan himself.
Mylesday was the brainchild of engineer John Clarke, who had been thinking about it for years “until I went with a friend to a rugby match a month ago and we got talking about it and I woke up next day organising a festival”.
He was motivated partly by disappointment that “most people under the age of 35” seemed never to have heard of Myles, and partly by what he thinks is the excess attention given to Joyce.
Introducing the event, he noted that the original Bloomsday appeared to have been a pretext for those involved to spend the day drinking. Then, surveying the packed attendance and the pints arrayed before them, he added: “How things have changed.” Drinking apart, the afternoon comprised readings by invited guests and volunteers, including actors Val O’Donnell and Jack Lynch and writers Carol Taaffe and Ed O’Loughlin. Most chose extracts from O’Nolan’s long-running Irish Times column, Cruiskeen Lawn, although O’Donnell’s readings also included an extract from the 1943 play Faustus Kelly, which features a diatribe about Irish banks.
Non-reading guests included O’Nolan’s only surviving sibling, Micheal Ó Nualláin, who was in time to hear a piece about one of Cruiskeen Lawn’s many stock characters, “the brother”.
It was hard to say whether the subject of the celebrations was present in spirit. Even when present physically, O’Nolan is remembered as someone who always stayed on the edge of the company, speaking little and barely visible.
Brendan Behan said of him: “You had to look twice to see if he was there at all.” If he was there yesterday, being a stickler for correct usage, he will have frowned at the commemorative T-shirts worn by the chief organisers. These quoted a verse from his deliberately bad poem about the pint of plain, The Workman’s Friend. But instead of “in time of trouble and lousy strife”, they had “lonely strife”. A chastened Clarke blamed the “spell-checker”.
Mylesday commemorates O’Nolan’s death which, with tragicomic timing, occurred on April 1st, 1966. But it is only the first of a series of events that will mark this, his centenary year, culminating with conferences in UCD and Trinity College, planned to coincide with his 100th birthday in October.
Spirited Mylesday gathering would make 'the brother' proud (April 2, 2011)
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0402/1224293650126.html
by Frank McNally
The Irish literary calendar acquired a new holiday yesterday when an event to honour writer Brian O’Nolan – better known as Flann O’Brien and Myles na Gopaleen – drew a capacity attendance to its main venue: the back room of a Dublin pub.
There was standing room only in the Palace bar, at least for the many who did not get in early enough to occupy the few available seats. So the inaugural “Mylesday” was deemed an instant success. In fact the organisers were quick to remind us that the first Bloomsday – the event Mylesday deliberately echoes – was attended by only five people, including O’Nolan himself.
Mylesday was the brainchild of engineer John Clarke, who had been thinking about it for years “until I went with a friend to a rugby match a month ago and we got talking about it and I woke up next day organising a festival”.
He was motivated partly by disappointment that “most people under the age of 35” seemed never to have heard of Myles, and partly by what he thinks is the excess attention given to Joyce.
Introducing the event, he noted that the original Bloomsday appeared to have been a pretext for those involved to spend the day drinking. Then, surveying the packed attendance and the pints arrayed before them, he added: “How things have changed.” Drinking apart, the afternoon comprised readings by invited guests and volunteers, including actors Val O’Donnell and Jack Lynch and writers Carol Taaffe and Ed O’Loughlin. Most chose extracts from O’Nolan’s long-running Irish Times column, Cruiskeen Lawn, although O’Donnell’s readings also included an extract from the 1943 play Faustus Kelly, which features a diatribe about Irish banks.
Non-reading guests included O’Nolan’s only surviving sibling, Micheal Ó Nualláin, who was in time to hear a piece about one of Cruiskeen Lawn’s many stock characters, “the brother”.
It was hard to say whether the subject of the celebrations was present in spirit. Even when present physically, O’Nolan is remembered as someone who always stayed on the edge of the company, speaking little and barely visible.
Brendan Behan said of him: “You had to look twice to see if he was there at all.” If he was there yesterday, being a stickler for correct usage, he will have frowned at the commemorative T-shirts worn by the chief organisers. These quoted a verse from his deliberately bad poem about the pint of plain, The Workman’s Friend. But instead of “in time of trouble and lousy strife”, they had “lonely strife”. A chastened Clarke blamed the “spell-checker”.
Mylesday commemorates O’Nolan’s death which, with tragicomic timing, occurred on April 1st, 1966. But it is only the first of a series of events that will mark this, his centenary year, culminating with conferences in UCD and Trinity College, planned to coincide with his 100th birthday in October.
Muine Gall (Moneygall) agus Muineacha Eile
Roslyn's been doing a series of articles on the noun declensions on her blog for Transparent Language, and this one touches on Moneygall and related place names:
Muine Gall (Moneygall) agus Muineacha Eile (May 15, 2011)
http://www.transparent.com/irish/muine-gall-moneygall-agus-muineacha-eile/
Muine Gall (Moneygall) agus Muineacha Eile (May 15, 2011)
http://www.transparent.com/irish/muine-gall-moneygall-agus-muineacha-eile/
Thursday, May 26, 2011
VIDEO: Barack Obama ag caint as Gaeilge in Éirinn
I was thinking of looking for a video clip, but one dropped in my lap! GRMA a Nancy and those who sent it to you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEjeyQw6KhA
Barack Obama ag caint as Gaeilge in Éirinn / Barack Obama speaking in Irish language in Ireland
3 min, 10 sec
("Embedding disabled by request")
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEjeyQw6KhA
Barack Obama ag caint as Gaeilge in Éirinn / Barack Obama speaking in Irish language in Ireland
3 min, 10 sec
("Embedding disabled by request")
Galway businesses support a bilingual city
Seems pretty well set that there will be an "Irish for Tourists" short course in late Fall (mostly issues and tidbits and pleasantries, little if any conversational stuff), so over the next few months I may be throwing a few things up here to consider using....
Galway businesses support a bilingual city (May 26, 2011)
http://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/40138/galway-businesses-support-a-bilingual-city
Galway has in recent years witnessed an increase in the use of bilingual signage in the city. This is largely due to the work of Gaillimh le Gaeilge in partnership with Galway City Council and the business community through the Galway Chamber and other groups, to develop Galway’s unique Irish image and to gain bilingual status for the city.
Gaillimh le Gaeilge is delighted to see local businesses continue to incorporate the Irish language into the overall image of their business. They believe that this is particularly important for businesses in the hospitality sector as the use of the Irish language helps them to deliver on the ‘unique experience’ and the ‘céad míle fáilte’ our visitors wish to experience when they visit our cultural city.
Cupán Tae is a tea shop which has recently opened its doors in the Spanish Arch in Galway city. The Irish name ensures that the language is an integral feature of the coffee shop with external bilingual signage welcoming people in. Manager of the tea shop Alison McArdle said that she was “overwhelmed by the response to the Irish signage and name of the shop. This has inspired us to move forward and introduce bilingualism into the tea-shop beyond the signage. We believe the name matches the concept which we would like to portray and creates a sense of nostalgia”.
Food 4 Thought is a family-run café on Lower Abbeygate Street that has been serving home made quality food to the people of Galway for the past 26 years. They were finalists in the Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh award and have revamped their shop front to incorporate the Irish language into the name of the café. Bilingual signage is also evident inside the café and the seanfhocal have become a talking point in the café.
The manager of Food 4 Thought Ken Walsh said, “We have received fantastic feedback and encouragement since including both visual and vocal Irish into our business, and have found people are interested and excited to use their ‘cúpla focal’. Galway is fortunate to be renowned both nationally and internationally for nurturing the Irish language and its culture and Food 4 Thought / Bia don Smaointeoireacht is delighted to play its part in this."
Eyre Square Shopping Centre incorporates over 70 international, national and local shopping and is currently celebrating 20 years in business. Over the last year or so, Eyre Square Shopping Centre has incorporated the use of the Irish language into its newly installed bilingual mall signage, floor directories and promotional material. They have also included some Irish in their 20 year birthday celebrations.
Gaillimh le Gaeilge’s role is to encourage business to use Irish in their visual material, such as signage, stationery, menus, marketing and in social media, so that both residents and visitors alike will feel like they are in a unique place as they wander the medieval streets of our city. They also impresses on business people that the Irish language is an irreplaceable element of the city’s identity.
Speaking on behalf of Gaillimh le Gaeilge, Gearóidín Ní Ghioballáin said; The Irish language is worth over €136 million to Galway City and to the Galway Gaeltacht anually. It’s important that Galway businesses continue to increase their use of the Irish language at every given opportunity so that both Irish itself and the benefit derived from it are maintained and strengthened in the city. We are delighted that businesses such as the Cupán Tae, Eyre Square Centre, and Food 4 Thought are using the Irish language in their signage. The Irish language is our ‘unique selling point’ and it also attracts ‘positive attention’ towards the company using it. The efforts of these businesses today will strengthen and further support Galway’s case for bilingual status.” she concluded.
If you would like to reap the benefits and advantages of using the Irish Language in your business, please contact Gaillimh le Gaeilge on 091 568876 or send an email eolas@gleg.ie. Gaillimh le Gaeilge works in association with Galway City Council, Galway Chamber and other groups in Galway city in promoting Galway as a bilingual city.
Ba mhaith le Gaillimh le Gaeilge gach rath a ghuí ar Cupán Tae, Eyre Square Centre agus Food 4 Thought don todhchaí. Go fada buan iad!
Galway Advertiser, May 26, 2011
Galway businesses support a bilingual city (May 26, 2011)
http://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/40138/galway-businesses-support-a-bilingual-city
Galway has in recent years witnessed an increase in the use of bilingual signage in the city. This is largely due to the work of Gaillimh le Gaeilge in partnership with Galway City Council and the business community through the Galway Chamber and other groups, to develop Galway’s unique Irish image and to gain bilingual status for the city.
Gaillimh le Gaeilge is delighted to see local businesses continue to incorporate the Irish language into the overall image of their business. They believe that this is particularly important for businesses in the hospitality sector as the use of the Irish language helps them to deliver on the ‘unique experience’ and the ‘céad míle fáilte’ our visitors wish to experience when they visit our cultural city.
Cupán Tae is a tea shop which has recently opened its doors in the Spanish Arch in Galway city. The Irish name ensures that the language is an integral feature of the coffee shop with external bilingual signage welcoming people in. Manager of the tea shop Alison McArdle said that she was “overwhelmed by the response to the Irish signage and name of the shop. This has inspired us to move forward and introduce bilingualism into the tea-shop beyond the signage. We believe the name matches the concept which we would like to portray and creates a sense of nostalgia”.
Food 4 Thought is a family-run café on Lower Abbeygate Street that has been serving home made quality food to the people of Galway for the past 26 years. They were finalists in the Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh award and have revamped their shop front to incorporate the Irish language into the name of the café. Bilingual signage is also evident inside the café and the seanfhocal have become a talking point in the café.
The manager of Food 4 Thought Ken Walsh said, “We have received fantastic feedback and encouragement since including both visual and vocal Irish into our business, and have found people are interested and excited to use their ‘cúpla focal’. Galway is fortunate to be renowned both nationally and internationally for nurturing the Irish language and its culture and Food 4 Thought / Bia don Smaointeoireacht is delighted to play its part in this."
Eyre Square Shopping Centre incorporates over 70 international, national and local shopping and is currently celebrating 20 years in business. Over the last year or so, Eyre Square Shopping Centre has incorporated the use of the Irish language into its newly installed bilingual mall signage, floor directories and promotional material. They have also included some Irish in their 20 year birthday celebrations.
Gaillimh le Gaeilge’s role is to encourage business to use Irish in their visual material, such as signage, stationery, menus, marketing and in social media, so that both residents and visitors alike will feel like they are in a unique place as they wander the medieval streets of our city. They also impresses on business people that the Irish language is an irreplaceable element of the city’s identity.
Speaking on behalf of Gaillimh le Gaeilge, Gearóidín Ní Ghioballáin said; The Irish language is worth over €136 million to Galway City and to the Galway Gaeltacht anually. It’s important that Galway businesses continue to increase their use of the Irish language at every given opportunity so that both Irish itself and the benefit derived from it are maintained and strengthened in the city. We are delighted that businesses such as the Cupán Tae, Eyre Square Centre, and Food 4 Thought are using the Irish language in their signage. The Irish language is our ‘unique selling point’ and it also attracts ‘positive attention’ towards the company using it. The efforts of these businesses today will strengthen and further support Galway’s case for bilingual status.” she concluded.
If you would like to reap the benefits and advantages of using the Irish Language in your business, please contact Gaillimh le Gaeilge on 091 568876 or send an email eolas@gleg.ie. Gaillimh le Gaeilge works in association with Galway City Council, Galway Chamber and other groups in Galway city in promoting Galway as a bilingual city.
Ba mhaith le Gaillimh le Gaeilge gach rath a ghuí ar Cupán Tae, Eyre Square Centre agus Food 4 Thought don todhchaí. Go fada buan iad!
Galway Advertiser, May 26, 2011
Tributes to writer Tomás Mac Anna
As long as I'm still in the mental neighborhood, let me catch a couple more items....
Tributes to writer Tomás Mac Anna (May 18, 2011)
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0518/1224297221397.html
Tributes were paid last night to playwright, actor and director Tomás Mac Anna, who died yesterday.
Mr Mac Anna (87) died peacefully at St Michael’s Hospital, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin, after an illness of some five weeks.
Abbey Theatre director Fiach Mac Conghail last night said Mr Mac Anna had “lived for the Abbey”. He was a great believer in Irish heritage, language and folklore, Mr Mac Conghail added.
Pat Moylan, chairman of the Arts Council said he was a “ giant of Irish theatre” who was woven into the Abbey’s fabric and history.
Minister for the Arts Jimmy Deenihan said: “As a writer, director and actor, [he] played a key role in modernising Irish theatre in both the Irish and the English language. He will be sadly missed and fondly remembered,” he said.
More at irishtimes.com.
Tributes to writer Tomás Mac Anna (May 18, 2011)
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0518/1224297221397.html
Tributes were paid last night to playwright, actor and director Tomás Mac Anna, who died yesterday.
Mr Mac Anna (87) died peacefully at St Michael’s Hospital, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin, after an illness of some five weeks.
Abbey Theatre director Fiach Mac Conghail last night said Mr Mac Anna had “lived for the Abbey”. He was a great believer in Irish heritage, language and folklore, Mr Mac Conghail added.
Pat Moylan, chairman of the Arts Council said he was a “ giant of Irish theatre” who was woven into the Abbey’s fabric and history.
Minister for the Arts Jimmy Deenihan said: “As a writer, director and actor, [he] played a key role in modernising Irish theatre in both the Irish and the English language. He will be sadly missed and fondly remembered,” he said.
More at irishtimes.com.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Gaeilge ónár n-Uachtarán
Part two of the excitement:
Obama charms crowd with ‘cupla focal’ (May 23, 2011)
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/presidential-visit/obama-charms-crowd-with-lsquocupla-focalrsquo-2654999.html
Obama in Ireland: president searches for 'missing apostrophe' (May 24, 2011)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ireland/8532091/Obama-in-Ireland-president-searches-for-missing-apostrophe.html
Almost any other visitor who mauled the Irish language so severely might expect a reception as cold as the waters of the Liffey.
I thought that was a bit harsh, frankly. I wondered if that sub-heading might have been cooked up by the copy editors -- it's a British news org, after all -- but in the story that followed the reporter stated that Obama said "Ta athas orm le bheith in Eireann" [sic] and honestly there's no way I heard 'le' there. Nothing at all, maybe, but no 'le'. Granted, he said a chairde pretty darn clearly where there was no call for the vocative case, but, ahem, he's not a student of Irish! I'm willing to cut him some slack. End of rant. -- Ed.
Obama's hotel warm-up ensured good reception for cúpla focal (May 25, 2011)
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2011/0525/1224297715722.html
More details on the parts of the speech referring to/using Irish:
Hours of waiting a distant memory in presence of hero - May 24, 2011
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0524/1224297638686.html
And, to wrap up this tour of the news, a lighthearted comparison of the two visits:
The Queen Style versus The President (May 25, 2011)
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/features/2011/0525/1224297699207.html
I disagree with their verdict on the language issue, but they have a right to their opinion. I say the Queen's pronunciation may perhaps have been better, but Obama said more!
Obama charms crowd with ‘cupla focal’ (May 23, 2011)
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/presidential-visit/obama-charms-crowd-with-lsquocupla-focalrsquo-2654999.html
Obama in Ireland: president searches for 'missing apostrophe' (May 24, 2011)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ireland/8532091/Obama-in-Ireland-president-searches-for-missing-apostrophe.html
Almost any other visitor who mauled the Irish language so severely might expect a reception as cold as the waters of the Liffey.
I thought that was a bit harsh, frankly. I wondered if that sub-heading might have been cooked up by the copy editors -- it's a British news org, after all -- but in the story that followed the reporter stated that Obama said "Ta athas orm le bheith in Eireann" [sic] and honestly there's no way I heard 'le' there. Nothing at all, maybe, but no 'le'. Granted, he said a chairde pretty darn clearly where there was no call for the vocative case, but, ahem, he's not a student of Irish! I'm willing to cut him some slack. End of rant. -- Ed.
Obama's hotel warm-up ensured good reception for cúpla focal (May 25, 2011)
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2011/0525/1224297715722.html
More details on the parts of the speech referring to/using Irish:
Hours of waiting a distant memory in presence of hero - May 24, 2011
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0524/1224297638686.html
And, to wrap up this tour of the news, a lighthearted comparison of the two visits:
The Queen Style versus The President (May 25, 2011)
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/features/2011/0525/1224297699207.html
I disagree with their verdict on the language issue, but they have a right to their opinion. I say the Queen's pronunciation may perhaps have been better, but Obama said more!
Gaeilge ó Bhanríon Shasana
["ón mBanríon Shasana"? But it's a genitive phrase with a specific referent, so it feels weird....]
Sorry this has taken a while, I was doing some traveling when the news broke. (Plus, I couldn't imagine anyone was waiting with bated breath for a post on this site.) I'll start with the stuff that happened first.
Queen's conciliatory message and use of Irish draws widespread praise from many quarters (May 20, 2011)
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0520/1224297354176.html
Memories of a historic royal visit (May 21, 2011)
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2011/0521/1224297441669.html
Item: "Her majesty’s lovely cúpla focal at the start of her speech at Dublin Castle. The word from palace sources is that they were included at Queen Elizabeth’s suggestion."
Letters to the editor: The Queen's speech (May 20, 2011)
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/letters/2011/0520/1224297354036.html
The first is the simplest and my favorite:
"An Elizabethan conquest of Ireland through the medium of the Queen’s Irish?"
Text of the Queen's speech (May 19, 2011)
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0519/1224297287750.html
Poll shows how Queen was taken to Irish hearts - Sunday May 22 2011
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/queen-visit/poll-shows-how-queen-was-taken-to-irish-hearts-2654225.html
"'It was a great moment for this country when the Queen addressed our nation in Irish at the opening of her speech, really wonderful,' one female respondent said."
Sorry this has taken a while, I was doing some traveling when the news broke. (Plus, I couldn't imagine anyone was waiting with bated breath for a post on this site.) I'll start with the stuff that happened first.
Queen's conciliatory message and use of Irish draws widespread praise from many quarters (May 20, 2011)
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0520/1224297354176.html
Memories of a historic royal visit (May 21, 2011)
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2011/0521/1224297441669.html
Item: "Her majesty’s lovely cúpla focal at the start of her speech at Dublin Castle. The word from palace sources is that they were included at Queen Elizabeth’s suggestion."
Letters to the editor: The Queen's speech (May 20, 2011)
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/letters/2011/0520/1224297354036.html
The first is the simplest and my favorite:
"An Elizabethan conquest of Ireland through the medium of the Queen’s Irish?"
Text of the Queen's speech (May 19, 2011)
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0519/1224297287750.html
Poll shows how Queen was taken to Irish hearts - Sunday May 22 2011
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/queen-visit/poll-shows-how-queen-was-taken-to-irish-hearts-2654225.html
"'It was a great moment for this country when the Queen addressed our nation in Irish at the opening of her speech, really wonderful,' one female respondent said."
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Tweeting as Gaeilge: Social networking and the Irish language
From the Sociable
Tweeting as Gaeilge: Social networking and the Irish language (March 6, 2011)
http://sociable.co/2011/03/06/tweeting-as-gaeilge-social-networking-and-the-irish-language/
by Piers Dillon Scott
It is probably best, for full disclosure and to assuage my guilt, to admit that my Irish is not great. In fact it’s horrendous; I can remember the few stock phrases that we all recall from Primary School, “An bhfuil cead agam dul go dtí an leithreas”, as well as a couple of choice curse words. After that my lingual abilities become an embarrassment, yet on the social web there is a passionate community of Irish language speakers who are tweeting and status-updating as Gaeilge.
But what place does Irish hold in the social media age? Is the one of the oldest continuously spoken languages in the world surviving online or is it being drowned out by our colonial mother tongue.
I spoke to Niamh O’Sullivan, projects executive with Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge, an umbrella organisation that represents 24 Irish language bodies, including Conradh na Gaeilge, Gael Linn, Gaelscoileanna. Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge are frequent users of social networking websites to promote their activities and the Irish language, they can be found on Facebook and on Twitter @gaelport.
I began by asking Niamh if there was any value for Irish language speakers in using Twitter or Facebook.
“I would say that the development of social media has been of great benefit for Irish language organisations. It’s very cost effective and is a useful way of connecting with Irish speakers online.” These connections are important, social media, she tells me, is not simply the narcissistic tool that some parts of the media have painted it to be. Its value can be found in its ability to connect people with similar interests, regardless of their location.
“Irish speakers can often feel isolated, particularly those who are not living in a Gaeltacht region or are living in areas such as Dublin, Belfast or Galway where there isn’t real vibrant Irish language community. Social media gives them opportunity to join in a community and feel connected.
“Irish speakers or gaeilgeoirí can just log on to their Facebook and keep up to date with what’s happening, find out about events and news and can interact with each other.”
This community of users is not just limited to those with a grasp of Irish but people who’s passion for the language comes more from admiration than fluency. The passion for the language goes beyond some gaeilgeoirí clique but is open to all with an interest in Irish affairs.
“We get great feedback from other twitter users on stories we feature or ideas for promoting the language in other areas. The response during the election, in the wake of the controversy surrounding the Fine Gael proposal to reduce the status of Irish at Leaving Certificate level has been huge. As has the response to the debate on TG4.
“The response has been especially huge on Facebook. A large number of people have joined a page set up by the USI protesting against the move and other Irish language organisations campaigning on the matter. The feedback on our own Facebook page has been immense.
“Social networks have been an invaluable way of keeping people up to date on the policies of the parties and we have been using Vimeo and YouTube throughout the election campaign to record events. The parties’ various have been were discussed from Donegal to Dublin to Dingle and that has meant a greater level of engagement with Irish speakers and others who support the language.”
But Fine Gael’s view of Irish is not an isolated case, many Irish companies simply don’t use the language, either online or in more traditional media. This lack of visibility can make the job of promoting the language even more difficult,
“I think the top technology companies are doing their bit, both Google and Facebook provide Irish language versions of their services, but more indigenous companies could follow their lead. Google often contact us with press releases as Gaeilge- something many other companies don’t bother doing. Google, I think, has a very positive attitude to multilingualism which is very important.
“But I don’t think native companies realise how much goodwill is out there for the Irish language or how much Irish people want a connection with the language. I do think if a company did a proper social media campaign as Gaeilge that there would be a very good response. It’s something maybe more companies should look into.”
With this lack of Irish promotion the challenge for organisations represented by Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge is simply to remain visible
“Every year for past 2 or 3 years there has been a lá na Gaeilge on Facebook and Twitter on March 17th. This has helped but I do think that this shouldn’t be a one-off. You have to keep visible and in touch with what’s happening and I think it is important that the status updates should tap into the mood of the day and should take place all year.”
So, what would Niamh say to companies and people such as myself who rarely share a cupla focal online,
“Fáilte! Just go for it. Don’t get hung up on the grammar or spelling too much. Use the social media to practice your Irish, to meet other speakers online and to be part of the community online.”
Tweeting as Gaeilge: Social networking and the Irish language (March 6, 2011)
http://sociable.co/2011/03/06/tweeting-as-gaeilge-social-networking-and-the-irish-language/
by Piers Dillon Scott
It is probably best, for full disclosure and to assuage my guilt, to admit that my Irish is not great. In fact it’s horrendous; I can remember the few stock phrases that we all recall from Primary School, “An bhfuil cead agam dul go dtí an leithreas”, as well as a couple of choice curse words. After that my lingual abilities become an embarrassment, yet on the social web there is a passionate community of Irish language speakers who are tweeting and status-updating as Gaeilge.
But what place does Irish hold in the social media age? Is the one of the oldest continuously spoken languages in the world surviving online or is it being drowned out by our colonial mother tongue.
I spoke to Niamh O’Sullivan, projects executive with Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge, an umbrella organisation that represents 24 Irish language bodies, including Conradh na Gaeilge, Gael Linn, Gaelscoileanna. Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge are frequent users of social networking websites to promote their activities and the Irish language, they can be found on Facebook and on Twitter @gaelport.
I began by asking Niamh if there was any value for Irish language speakers in using Twitter or Facebook.
“I would say that the development of social media has been of great benefit for Irish language organisations. It’s very cost effective and is a useful way of connecting with Irish speakers online.” These connections are important, social media, she tells me, is not simply the narcissistic tool that some parts of the media have painted it to be. Its value can be found in its ability to connect people with similar interests, regardless of their location.
“Irish speakers can often feel isolated, particularly those who are not living in a Gaeltacht region or are living in areas such as Dublin, Belfast or Galway where there isn’t real vibrant Irish language community. Social media gives them opportunity to join in a community and feel connected.
“Irish speakers or gaeilgeoirí can just log on to their Facebook and keep up to date with what’s happening, find out about events and news and can interact with each other.”
This community of users is not just limited to those with a grasp of Irish but people who’s passion for the language comes more from admiration than fluency. The passion for the language goes beyond some gaeilgeoirí clique but is open to all with an interest in Irish affairs.
“We get great feedback from other twitter users on stories we feature or ideas for promoting the language in other areas. The response during the election, in the wake of the controversy surrounding the Fine Gael proposal to reduce the status of Irish at Leaving Certificate level has been huge. As has the response to the debate on TG4.
“The response has been especially huge on Facebook. A large number of people have joined a page set up by the USI protesting against the move and other Irish language organisations campaigning on the matter. The feedback on our own Facebook page has been immense.
“Social networks have been an invaluable way of keeping people up to date on the policies of the parties and we have been using Vimeo and YouTube throughout the election campaign to record events. The parties’ various have been were discussed from Donegal to Dublin to Dingle and that has meant a greater level of engagement with Irish speakers and others who support the language.”
But Fine Gael’s view of Irish is not an isolated case, many Irish companies simply don’t use the language, either online or in more traditional media. This lack of visibility can make the job of promoting the language even more difficult,
“I think the top technology companies are doing their bit, both Google and Facebook provide Irish language versions of their services, but more indigenous companies could follow their lead. Google often contact us with press releases as Gaeilge- something many other companies don’t bother doing. Google, I think, has a very positive attitude to multilingualism which is very important.
“But I don’t think native companies realise how much goodwill is out there for the Irish language or how much Irish people want a connection with the language. I do think if a company did a proper social media campaign as Gaeilge that there would be a very good response. It’s something maybe more companies should look into.”
With this lack of Irish promotion the challenge for organisations represented by Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge is simply to remain visible
“Every year for past 2 or 3 years there has been a lá na Gaeilge on Facebook and Twitter on March 17th. This has helped but I do think that this shouldn’t be a one-off. You have to keep visible and in touch with what’s happening and I think it is important that the status updates should tap into the mood of the day and should take place all year.”
So, what would Niamh say to companies and people such as myself who rarely share a cupla focal online,
“Fáilte! Just go for it. Don’t get hung up on the grammar or spelling too much. Use the social media to practice your Irish, to meet other speakers online and to be part of the community online.”
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Language activists blast FG's plan to make Irish optional
Irish Independent via http://www.gaelport.com/sonrai-nuachta?NewsItemID=5455
Language activists blast FG's plan to make Irish optional (January 12, 2011)
Controversy is likely to rage over move to scrap compulsory Gaeilge after the Junior Cert
"Fine Gael is set for a war with Irish language activists as it sticks by its plan to scrap compulsory Irish at the Leaving Cert. The party, which is set to lead the next Government, is committed to making Irish optional after the Junior Cert. Enda Kenny has frequently stated that compulsion has failed as the political engine to revive the language. If he presses ahead with his plan, he would be slaughtering one of the sacred cows of Irish education. Tens of thousands of students who see little value in learning Irish will welcome the move, but language activists warn that it could have a catastrophic effect."
More at Gaelport.com
Language activists blast FG's plan to make Irish optional (January 12, 2011)
Controversy is likely to rage over move to scrap compulsory Gaeilge after the Junior Cert
"Fine Gael is set for a war with Irish language activists as it sticks by its plan to scrap compulsory Irish at the Leaving Cert. The party, which is set to lead the next Government, is committed to making Irish optional after the Junior Cert. Enda Kenny has frequently stated that compulsion has failed as the political engine to revive the language. If he presses ahead with his plan, he would be slaughtering one of the sacred cows of Irish education. Tens of thousands of students who see little value in learning Irish will welcome the move, but language activists warn that it could have a catastrophic effect."
More at Gaelport.com
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Civil Unions for Gays and Lesbians Coming to Ireland
Ireland moves forward a bit! Civil unions is at least a good start.
Tugaigí píosa beag Gaeilge faoi dheara ann freisin!
Tugaigí píosa beag Gaeilge faoi dheara ann freisin!
Friday, December 3, 2010
Word play as Gaeilge: Irish Scrabble now available
Word play as Gaeilge: Irish Scrabble now available (November 27, 2010)
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/1127/1224284259365.html
“Droch-bhainc” sounds much more enigmatic than “bad bank”, while “taosc” is a pretty neat Irish word for “bailout”.
Such was the observation of one Scrabble addict in the west yesterday, as the world’s first version of the game as Gaeilge reached the market.
A licence for the Irish version was secured by Glór na nGael, the Irish language development organisation, along with An Comhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelaíochtas (COGG), the organisation supporting Irish teaching in schools.
Earlier this year, the two groups had been approved to produce Junior Scrabble (Puzal Ollmhór Urláir do Leanaí ).
“We hope people with a little less fluency will play this with their dictionary to hand,” said Eoghan MacCormaic, Glór na nGael development officer.
A “huge step forward in normalisation of the language” is how Lorcán Mac Gabhann, Glór na nGael chief executive, describes the new version of the popular game.
“We have developed this game as part of our strategy of creating and supporting opportunities for people to use Irish in everyday settings. We analysed the letter frequencies for Irish, and have produced this game after plenty of field-testing with different formats, some with consonants with the séimhiú (h) combined, some without, and of course there was much debate about fadas and úrú,” he said.
“We believe this game will now give learners, and fluent Irish speakers the same chance to score doubles, and triples and reach the same high scores as in any other versions of the game,” he said.
Scrabble was first invented as “Lexiko” in 1938 by architect Alfred Mosher Butts, who drew on the New York Times among other publications for a frequency analysis of letters. The game is now available in almost 30 languages. Glór na nGael’s next plan is to produce an Irish language version of Monopoly.
Scrabble is available in Irish language bookshops and online from www.udar.ie. Glór na nGael hopes it will reach toyshops by Christmas.
By Lorna Siggins
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/1127/1224284259365.html
“Droch-bhainc” sounds much more enigmatic than “bad bank”, while “taosc” is a pretty neat Irish word for “bailout”.
Such was the observation of one Scrabble addict in the west yesterday, as the world’s first version of the game as Gaeilge reached the market.
A licence for the Irish version was secured by Glór na nGael, the Irish language development organisation, along with An Comhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelaíochtas (COGG), the organisation supporting Irish teaching in schools.
Earlier this year, the two groups had been approved to produce Junior Scrabble (Puzal Ollmhór Urláir do Leanaí ).
“We hope people with a little less fluency will play this with their dictionary to hand,” said Eoghan MacCormaic, Glór na nGael development officer.
A “huge step forward in normalisation of the language” is how Lorcán Mac Gabhann, Glór na nGael chief executive, describes the new version of the popular game.
“We have developed this game as part of our strategy of creating and supporting opportunities for people to use Irish in everyday settings. We analysed the letter frequencies for Irish, and have produced this game after plenty of field-testing with different formats, some with consonants with the séimhiú (h) combined, some without, and of course there was much debate about fadas and úrú,” he said.
“We believe this game will now give learners, and fluent Irish speakers the same chance to score doubles, and triples and reach the same high scores as in any other versions of the game,” he said.
Scrabble was first invented as “Lexiko” in 1938 by architect Alfred Mosher Butts, who drew on the New York Times among other publications for a frequency analysis of letters. The game is now available in almost 30 languages. Glór na nGael’s next plan is to produce an Irish language version of Monopoly.
Scrabble is available in Irish language bookshops and online from www.udar.ie. Glór na nGael hopes it will reach toyshops by Christmas.
By Lorna Siggins
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Stephen Fry to appear in 'Ros na Rún'
Stephen Fry to appear in 'Ros na Rún' (November 16, 2010)
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/1116/breaking38.html
Actor, broadcaster and well-known Twitter user, Stephen Fry is to make a guest appearance on the Irish-language soap opera Ros na Rún.
Fry was invited to appear in the show after visiting the set in Connemara recently for a new BBC TV series on minority languages called Planet Word.
His cameo will be filmed in early December on a closed shoot in Spiddal, Co Galway.
Now in its fifteenth year, Ros na Rún is broadcast on TG4 every Tuesday and Thursday evenings with an omnibus edition airing on Sunday nights.
The show is also broadcast on WYBE public television in Philadelphia, in the US and on the Scottish Gaelic channel TeleG.
Ros na Rún , which celebrated its 1000th episode last New Year's Eve, has featured a number of strong storylines over the years covering issues such as domestic violence, suicide, rape, drugs, elder abuse and abortion.
The soap's series producer Hugh Farley said there is huge excitement on about Fry's forthcoming cameo appearance.
"Our team of scriptwriters are currently writing Stephen a cúpla focal for his special role and we plan to film a highly entertaining scene with Stephen and some of Ros na Rún’ s best loved characters,“ he said.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/1116/breaking38.html
Actor, broadcaster and well-known Twitter user, Stephen Fry is to make a guest appearance on the Irish-language soap opera Ros na Rún.
Fry was invited to appear in the show after visiting the set in Connemara recently for a new BBC TV series on minority languages called Planet Word.
His cameo will be filmed in early December on a closed shoot in Spiddal, Co Galway.
Now in its fifteenth year, Ros na Rún is broadcast on TG4 every Tuesday and Thursday evenings with an omnibus edition airing on Sunday nights.
The show is also broadcast on WYBE public television in Philadelphia, in the US and on the Scottish Gaelic channel TeleG.
Ros na Rún , which celebrated its 1000th episode last New Year's Eve, has featured a number of strong storylines over the years covering issues such as domestic violence, suicide, rape, drugs, elder abuse and abortion.
The soap's series producer Hugh Farley said there is huge excitement on about Fry's forthcoming cameo appearance.
"Our team of scriptwriters are currently writing Stephen a cúpla focal for his special role and we plan to film a highly entertaining scene with Stephen and some of Ros na Rún’ s best loved characters,“ he said.
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