Foras na Gaeilge has announced a new scheme today which supports opportunities for using Irish and applications will be accepted from now until 1 December 2017.  The basic aim of Grúpaí le Gaeilge (Groups with Irish) is to support opportunities for use in the community by providing funding for groups to run a programme of activities in connection with a particular interest they have through Irish. It will support different groups who use the Irish language but whose particular interest is not only Irish.

Foras na Gaeilge Chief Executive, Sean Ó Coinn said, “There are groups throughout the island who come together to engage in a common interest through Irish and we are happy that we can enable these groups, as well as new emerging groups, through this scheme. We aim to support groups that take part in different activities, whether that be yoga, sporting activities or a book club, to encourage the use of Irish as a social and community language. We have developed an online application process for the scheme and, for the first time ever, Foras na Gaeilge will be accepting applications from the public through our website. This is an important development because the system will facilitate the application process for the grantee as we move towards more innovative processes as technology develops. We are greatly looking forward to sharing information on the scheme with the public at a series of information evenings which will be announced shortly.”

An tOireachtas has an advisory role in the running of the Grúpaí le Gaeilge as well as providing support, advice and assistance to community groups interested in applying for the scheme.

Announcing the scheme Liam Ó Maolaodha, Director of An tOireachtas, said, “I am delighted that An tOireachtas have an advisory and support role in Grúpaí le Gaeilge. The scheme will provide an opportunity to networks with a particular interest throughout the country to create opportunities for using Irish as well as providing a clearer structure for the events provided. An tOireachtas hopes that this scheme will encourage a wide range of applications including opportunities to use Irish and for the public to enjoy the language. The development of walking, running, cooking clubs and many more special interest groups around the country is particularly important and worthwhile. Grúpaí le Gaeilge will greatly support the recognition and encouragement of these valuable networks.”

Ends

Queries about the scheme:

Foras na Gaeilge: www.forasnagaeilge.ie/grupai  |  grupai@forasnagaeilge.ie | 353 1 639 8400

An tOireachtas: eolas@antoireachtas.ie | 353 1 475 3857

Media queries:

Anna Davitt, Programme Manager: Communications, Marketing & Awareness, Foras na Gaeilge

Contact: 0035387 673 6175 | Email: adavitt@forasnagaeilge.ie

On Thursday 12 October the Irish language community and the arts community will come together in An Carn, Carntogher, in County Derry to discuss opportunities to promote the arts through Irish in the north. Oireachtas na Gaeilge is running this event in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Arts Council and Foras na Gaeilge, and as Majella Ní Chríocháin, the Oireachtas na Gaeilge Activities Officer, explained:

‘This arose from a discussion between ourselves, the Arts Council and Foras na Gaeilge about how best to develop Irish language arts in the north. We agreed that an opportunity should be given to Irish language organisations and to Irish language officers, and to arts organisations which are not Irish language organisations, to come together and to present them with examples of high standard Irish language projects. The visual artist Nuala Ní Fhlathúin will speak about a community arts project in which she dealt with the importance of Irish for a small rural community. The choreographer Ríonach Ní Néill will show her short film I Modh Rúin– Incognito about women in the 60s, 70s and 80s who raised their children with Irish, and about how her arts work is connected to the promotion of Irish. The title of the presentation which the poet and musician Marcus Mac Conghail will make is Buail Aríst Mé – Dé hÍde agus an Dúitseach.

As for giving a stage to Irish language arts, Aisling Ní Labhraí from the Cultúrlann in Belfast will speak on the role of the venues; Rossa Ó Snodaigh (KÍLA, and founder of the Irish Language Tent at the Electric Picnic) will give an account of the opportunities for including Irish language activities in the programme of arts festivals; and the singer and musician Dermott Mulholland will discuss the difficulties of developing an audience for the arts in rural areas.’

Edel Ní Chorráin, Deputy Chief Executive of Foras na Gaeilge, said of the event:

‘This day, organised by Oireachtas na Gaeilge, is a great opportunity to promote two aspects of Irish culture, the Irish language and the arts. We are very happy to be involved in the first event of its kind in the north and we hope that there will be further opportunities in the future for more projects with the Arts Council and Foras na Gaeilge working together.’

All the presentations will be made in Irish and there will be a simultaneous translation system available for those not fluent in Irish. The Fair will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. and tickets can be reserved free of charge at http://www.eventbrite.com/e/aonach-na-nealaion-arts-fair-tickets-37843393609?aff=es2. A free lunch will be provided as well and people will have an opportunity to share information about their own organisations at lunch time.

Nothing like this has ever been organised before and An tOireachtas, the Arts Council and Foras na Gaeilge hope that people will take part in the fair and that it will give rise to other arts projects.

ENDS

Further Information:

Majella Ní Chríocháin Events & Attendance Development Officer

+353 (0)87 977 6852 | majella@antoireachtas.ie | www.antoireachtas.ie

Foras na Gaeilge will be moving to a new head office in Dublin on 29 September.

Foras na Gaeilge Chief Executive, Seán Ó Coinn, said, “Foras na Gaeilge has had a long association with this Georgian house on Merrion Square, and some of the staff have been based here since the foundation of Foras na Gaeilge in 1999, and even further back as members of staff of Bord na Gaeilge which moved here in 1981. And of course the Irish language community have been using the offices since then, which means we are leaving a long history behind us. But we have found a new high quality head office which fits our needs, which are continually increasing as Foras na Gaeilge grows. An ambitious target was set for this relocation and the staff have done outstanding work to reach it. I am happy that all the Dublin staff will be based in one location and that we will have adequate space and resources for members of staff from the other Foras na Gaeilge offices coming to visit. I also hope, as was the case with 7 Merrion Square, that the Irish language community will see that the new building on Amiens Street belongs to them and that a new era in the history of the language will begin in the capital with this relocation. The Irish language is expanding at present north and south, and now Foras na Gaeilge will have a permanent home to support the promotion of Irish throughout the island. It is timely that we will be unveiling the new head office to the public at the start of the new year, Bliain na Gaeilge 2018.”

Foras na Gaeilge Communications, Marketing & Awareness Programme Manager, Anna Davitt said, “The Dublin staff aim to be moved in to the new office on Monday 2 October. The Foras na Gaeilge phone number will not change and we will still be available at (01) 639 8400, but all postal correspondence for the Dublin office will be sent to 63-66 Amiens Street, Dublin 1 from now on. We would appreciate the public’s patience as we settle into the new head office in the coming weeks.”

The Dublin office will be temporarily closed on 29 September to facilitate the relocation and Foras na Gaeilge will be operating from the new offices in 63-66 Amiens Street, Dublin 1, from Monday 2 October. If you have an urgent question for the Dublin office during the relocation, you can contact the Belfast office at 028 (048) 90890970 and your message will be passed on.

Ends

Further Information:

Anna Davitt, Programme Manager: Communications, Marketing & Awareness, Foras na Gaeilge

Tel: 0035387 673 6175    

Email: adavitt@forasnagaeilge.ie

Edel Ní Chorráin has taken up her duties as Foras na Gaeilge Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Education Services in the Belfast office.

Foras na Gaeilge Chief Executive Foras na Gaeilge, Seán Ó Coinn, congratulated Edel on her appointment in June 2017, saying that she would have “responsibility for education across the entire country at a crucial time in education as regards the Irish language”. She brings a wide range of skills and experience with her to this vitally important post in Foras na Gaeilge, of which one of the key functions is to support Irish medium education and the teaching of Irish. 

Edel has years of experience in education, in teacher training and especially in designing Irish language teaching aids for the classroom. Projects Edel has developed as Education Manager for Irish medium education, Post-primary, with the CCEA include an online dictionary called Ríomhfhoclóir Matamaitice (Mathematics Electronic Dictionary), which gives definitions of mathematics terminology. She will be focusing specifically on these areas in her new role as regards making developments in initial teacher training as well as a series of all-island seminars which will give strategic direction to organisations which design Irish language learning aids.  As Deputy Chief Executive and a member of the senior management team she will have a central role in planning, organising and managing Foras na Gaeilge business.

Speaking about her priorities in this new role Edel said, “now that there is particular attention being paid to Irish in the north Foras na Gaeilge’s legislative role in advising the governments will be important, with a particular emphasis on the leadership role of Foras na Gaeilge. As well as that it will be a priority for me to raise awareness of the advantages of bilingualism, especially the benefits of studying other subjects such as Mathematics through the medium of Irish. I was educated through English and I understand the importance of promoting Irish in schools in which English is the teaching language as well. Therefore I aim to raise awareness of the benefit of Irish for young people through the Gaelbhratach project, and to increase the number of pupils choosing Irish as a GCSE subject and for A level.”

Ends

Note to the Editor

Biographical note: Edel Ní Chorráin

Edel Ní Chorráin was raised in Garrison in Co. Fermanagh. She is a graduate of the University of Ireland, Galway (BA in Irish and Mathematics). She attended Queen’s University Belfast, where she gained a Post Graduate Degree in Education and an M.Sc. in Educational Multimedia. Edel has spent periods teaching in Coláiste Feirste in Belfast, in Coláiste Chineál Eoghain in County Donegal and as an Assistant Editor with Foras na Gaeilge.  She spent 10 years working as leader, teacher and then principal in the Magheroarty Irish College. She was appointed as Education Manager for Irish Medium Education, Post-primary, with CCEA in 2012 and during that time she was responsible for providing resources to the post-primary Irish medium sector in the north, including online resources.

Further Information:

Anna Davitt, Programme Manager: Communications, Marketing & Awareness, Foras na Gaeilge

Tel: 0035387 673 6175    

Email: adavitt@forasnagaeilge.ie

Call for applications for an 8-week literary creative residency, 15^th October to 15^th December, in the Basque Country  for Irish language writers.

Deadline for applications is 1 p.m. 8th September 2017.

The Other Words literary project is a partnership programme between cultural and language organisations in European regions which aims to establish a network of creative placements for European writers in small and minority languages. The partner organisations are:

• Donostia Kultura and San Sebastian 2016 (Basque Country)
• Foras na Gaeilge (Ireland)
• X-OP, eXchange of art Operators and Producers (Slovenia)
• Youth Forum na Mladi (Macedonia)
• Leeuwarde/Ljouwert 2018 (Friesland).

The objectives of the project are:

• To help literature written in small and minority languages to become known further afield.
• To highlight the importance of language diversity.
• To shed light on the literary creation process.
• To draw attention to social themes, issues and social groups connected to small languages.
• To promote cooperation between writers and artists in literature in small and minority languages.
• To give writers the opportunity to benefit from a literary placement to help them develop in their literary career.

The components of the project are:

• Placements: This is the essence of the project, which is based on the exchange of writers between different regions. Each participating region will send two writers to complete an eight week placement in two partner regions in each of the three years, and each region will also host two writers per year from partner regions. There will be a total of 10 writers participating each year.

• Creative literary projects: During the placements, the writers will work on subjects dealing with themes, issues and social groups connected with lesser used languages, the result of which will be a literary text dealing with these subjects, maintaining at all times contact and cooperation with the host community and shedding light on the creative process. To help achieve this the writers will participate in a series of initiatives during the placements.

• Translations: As stated one of the goals of the project is to foster literature produced in minority or small languages and to promote collaboration between writers. All of the texts created during the placements will therefore be translated into the languages of the partners and into English. This will enable us to share “other words” and “the words of others”.

• Website: The works produced under the Beste Hitzak/Other Words project, and the creative process itself, will be published on a specially created website. This website will provide a platform for dissemination of the project content.

We wish to encourage all writers to respond to our open call. This is an excellent opportunity to create a literary work and to become familiar with another region. As already stated, the selected writers will live in another region for eight weeks, all expenses paid. They will also receive financial remuneration.

There will be more placements and events in the future, which will be announced at the appropriate time.

For further information email focaileile@forasnagaeilge.ie or  go to www.focaileile.ie,  www.otherwordsliterature.eu

Is mian le Foras na Gaeilge, an comhlacht forfheidhmithe atá freagrach as an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn ar fud oileán na hÉireann, na ceapacháin seo a leanas a dhéanamh:

Oifigeach Feidhmiúcháin (Conradh Sealadach) Tagairt: OFCC/0617
Beidh an post seo lonnaithe in oifig Fhoras na Gaeilge i nGaoth Dobhair, Co.Dhún na nGall.

Eolas d'Iarrthóirí OFCC 0617

Foirm iarratais OFCC 0617

T: (00353) (01) 639 8412 R: poist@forasnagaeilge.ie
Nó is féidir scríobh chuig an seoladh thíosluaite agus an uimhir thagartha a lua.

SPRIOCDHÁTA
Ní mór cóip chrua d’fhoirmeacha comhlánaithe lámhshínithe bheith faighte ag an seoladh thíosluaite roimh 12 meánlae Dé hAoine, 1 Meán Fómhair 2017.
Poist,
Foras na Gaeilge,
7 Cearnóg Mhuirfean,
Baile Átha Cliath 2.

Ní ghlacfar le hiarratais ar ríomhphost

Tá Foras na Gaeilge tiomanta don chomhionannas deise agus cuirimid fáilte roimh iarratas ó iarrthóirí a bhfuil na cáilíochtaí cuí acu gan bheann ar chreideamh, ar inscne, ar mhíchumas, ar chine, ar dhearcadh polaitíochta, ar aois, ar stádas pósta, ar chlaonadh gnéis nó cé acu atá nó nach bhfuil cleithiúnaithe acu. De réir fiúntais amháin a mheasfar gach iarratas.

Proficiency in the Irish language, both written and oral, is an essential requirement for the above post.

 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Oifigeach Cléireachais Tagairt: OCSSF/0517
Beidh an post seo lonnaithe i gCeannáras Fhoras na Gaeilge, i mBaile Átha Cliath.

Eolas d'Iarrthóirí OCSSF 0517

Foirm iarratais OCSSF 0517

T: (00353) (01) 639 8412 R: poist@forasnagaeilge.ie
Nó is féidir na cáipéisí a íoslódáil díreach ó https://www.forasnagaeilge.ie/fuinn/foluntais/ nó scríobh chuig an seoladh thíosluaite agus an uimhir thagartha a lua.

SPRIOCDHÁTA
Ní mór cóip chrua d’fhoirmeacha comhlánaithe lámhshínithe bheith faighte ag an seoladh thíosluaite roimh 12 meánlae, Dé Luain, 28 Lúnasa 2017.

Poist,
Foras na Gaeilge,
7 Cearnóg Mhuirfean,
Baile Átha Cliath 2.

Ní ghlacfar le hiarratais ar ríomhphost

Tá Foras na Gaeilge tiomanta don chomhionannas deise agus cuirimid fáilte roimh iarratas ó iarrthóirí a bhfuil na cáilíochtaí cuí acu gan bheann ar chreideamh, ar inscne, ar mhíchumas, ar chine, ar dhearcadh polaitíochta, ar aois, ar stádas pósta, ar chlaonadh gnéis nó cé acu atá nó nach bhfuil cleithiúnaithe acu. De réir fiúntais amháin a mheasfar gach iarratas.

Proficiency in the Irish language, both written and oral, is an essential requirement for the above post.

Foras Gaeilge is delighted to announce that there will be more than 80 summer camps running throughout the island from now until the end of the summer. The Summer Camps Scheme 2017, which was announced earlier this year, will give young people between 3 and 18 years of age the opportunity to attend sports, drama, dancing, music and filming activities as well as trips. Grants to the value of €168,346, a maximum of €2,500 or £1,750 each, have been approved for 82 camps this year.

These camps will give a unique and fun experience to children to speak Irish in an enjoyable environment in their own area. There will be some new camps running for the first time this year which will run events through the medium of Irish in completely new areas of interest, including beekeeping and interaction with farm animals and country life.

Foras na Gaeilge CEO, Seán Ó Coinn, said, “This time last year we were announcing our regret that Foras na Gaeilge could not cater for the demand for summer camps. Although the number of camps qualifying under the scheme increased in 2016, we did not have an adequate budget to support them all and we had to refuse 23 of those requests. Therefore I am very happy that this is not the case this year and that grants have been approved for the 82 camps that qualified for the scheme. I have no doubt that the camps will have a positive impact on the use of Irish in different areas from west Belfast to Cork City, and that their experience will stand to the 3,500 children who will be attending the camps this year.”

To find a summer camp in your area visit www.peig.ie, the information hub for the Irish language, and search summer camps on the interactive map or in the activities directory.

The Screen Directors Guild of Ireland (SDGI) is honored to present the FORAS NA GAEILGE AWARD to Irish director Dathaí Keane in recognition for Outstanding Contribution in the Irish language in Film and TV.

Directed by Keane and starring Owen McDonnell (My Mother and Other Strangers), Dara Devaney (Rúbaí), and Seán T. Ó Meallaigh (Vikings), AN KLONDIKE tells the story of the Connolly Brothers; three Irish emigrants who travel from Montana to the Yukon during the Klondike gold rush of the 1890's in the hope of striking it rich.

The award was presented at Odessa Club and Restaurant today (20th June 2017) at 8:15pm with SDGI Director Birch Hamilton also in attendance.

Speaking about the award SDGI director, Birch Hamilton said, “It’s wonderful to present this award to Dathaí Keane for his outstanding efforts in Irish Language. We’re delighted to be honouring Dathaí with this award and are looking forward to seeing his work and how it develops and prospers in the future.”

Previous winners of the award include Darach Mac Con Iomaire (Corp & Anam), Tom Collins (An Bronntanas), Louis Marcus (Oscar Nominated director 1798 agus O’Shin, Famine) and Colm Bairead (director of Lorg nag Cos: Súil Siar ar Mise Éire, Screwed)

ENDS

Screen Directors Guild of Ireland (SDGI)
Established in 2000, the Screen Directors Guild of Ireland (SDGI) is the representative body for Directors involved in the Irish and international audiovisual industry. These include Directors of feature films, fiction, animation documentary, television drama, short films, video art and commercials. The ethos of the Guild is inclusive and proactive in encouraging a dynamic and supportive forum for directors to discuss their ideas or concerns and has grown to become a forum for very positive dialogue about making films.

About the award:
Foras na Gaeilge Screen Directors Guild of Ireland Award is a recognition award for outstanding contribution made in the Irish language across feature films, documentaries, short films both in animation and live action. The aim of this award is to send a message to the working directors of Ireland that their work made in Ireland is valued and to encourage them to continue to work in the Irish language.

For media information, images, and interview requests contact the Screen Directors Guild of Ireland – hello@sdgi.ie
087 126 2376

The Foras na Gaeilge board welcomed the announcement that Edel Ní Chorráin has been appointed as Deputy Chief Executive / Director of Education Services of Foras na Gaeilge. Speaking today the Chief Executive of Foras na Gaeilge, Seán Ó Coinn, said, “I would like to congratulate Edel on her appointment and the staff and I are keenly looking forward to working with her in her new role. This is a vital post and although Edel will be based in the Foras na Gaeilge office, she will have education responsibilities for the whole country during a critical time in education with regard to the Irish language. Edel will bring a range of skills and experience with her to the post from the time she has spent as a teacher and an administrator in education.”

Edel will take up her duties as Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Education Services of Foras na Gaeilge in the Belfast office in mid-August.

Biographical note: Edel Ní Chorráin

Edel Ní Chorráin grew up in Garrison in County Fermanagh. She is a graduate of the University of Ireland, Galway (BA in Irish and Mathematics). She attended Queen’s University Belfast, where she gained a Post Graduate Degree in Education and a M.Sc. in Education Multimedia. Edel has spent periods teaching in Coláiste Feirste in Belfast, in Coláiste Chineál Eoghain in County Donegal and as an Assistant Editor with Foras na Gaeilge. She was appointed as Education Manager for Irish-medium Education, Post-primary, with the Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) in 2012 and during that period she was responsible for providing resources to the Irish-medium post-primary sector in the north, including online resources.