A new period in the history of Foras na Gaeilge was marked as An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD opened Foras na Gaeilge’s new head office at 63-66 Amiens Street at a special event tonight.  An Taoiseach toured the new offices which include new Raidió na Life studios and was very impressed by the facilities. Government Chief Whip and Minister of State at the Department of Culture with responsibility for Gaeilge, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Joe McHugh TD, accompanied An Taoiseach at the event.

Foras na Gaeilge Chief Executive Seán Ó Coinn said, “I am delighted that we have found a permanent home for our Dublin staff, who had been previously located in two separate offices, especially given the present high demand for office space in the capital. We have now found a long-term office space, close to the city centre and public transport hubs, which will be easily accessible for the public and staff alike. The offices are suitable for the nature of Foras na Gaeilge’s work, and have facilities the public can use. I hope that the city’s Irish language community can make this building their own as they did 7 Merrion Square, and we can therefore create a new history for the building in what is Bliain na Gaeilge 2018 … the beginning of a new era for the Irish language in the capital.”

Ó Coinn gave particular recognition to former Chief Executive Ferdie Mac an Fhailigh, who saw the need for and started the search for a new head office as far back as 2015, and to all, both staff members, board members and others, who had an input into the move to Amiens Street.

A mix of employees, former employees, current and former board members, ministers and departments of state, lead organisations and Irish language organisations as well as organisations based in the area attended the launch of the head office of the all-island organisation in Dublin 1. Gráinne McElwain, television producer and presenter and current board member of Foras na Gaeilge, lead the proceedings as bean an tí. Award winning Irish language band IMLÉ brought the event to a close with a special performance of the song Críochfort, which won Song of the Year at Nós Music Awards 2017.

Notes to the editor:

About Foras na Gaeilge

Foras na Gaeilge, the body responsible for the promotion of the Irish language throughout the whole island of Ireland, was founded on the second day of December 1999.

In the Good Friday Agreement, it was stated that a North/South Implementation body be set up to promote both the Irish language and the Ulster Scots language. Under the auspices of this body, Foras na Gaeilge carries out all the designated responsibilities regarding the Irish language. This entails facilitating and encouraging the speaking and writing of Irish in the public and private arena in the Republic of Ireland, and in Northern Ireland where there is appropriate demand, in the context of part three of the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages. The staff of Bord na Gaeilge, An Gúm (Publishers), and An Coiste Téarmaíochta (Terminology Committee) and their activities have all been transferred to the new body.

Foras na Gaeilge is proud of its role in advising administrations, North and South, as well as public bodies and other groups in the private and voluntary sectors in all matters relating to the Irish language as well as the supportive projects it undertakes with grant-aiding bodies and groups throughout the island of Ireland.

About 63-66 Amiens Street

Since Foras na Gaeilge was established the cross-border body’s head office was in the premises previously occupied by Bord na Gaeilge at 7 Merrion Square, Dublin 2. Bord na Gaeilge came to an end when Foras na Gaeilge was established in 1999, and Bord na Gaeilge staff transferred to Foras na Gaeilge. The old Georgian house on Merrion Square had a long history and some staff members were based there from 1981 until Dublin staff transferred to 63-66 Amiens Street, Dublin 1, in October 2017.

The facilities at 63-66 Amiens Street include the innovative radio studios of the Raidió na Life, 106.4fm, and a venue where Foras na Gaeilge and Irish language organisations will hold events.

Clúid Housing was based at 63-66 Amiens Street in recent years and is now based on Sheriff Street Lower, Dublin 1.

About IMLÉ:

IMLÉ is an unconventional band with a unique sound arising out of the diverse backgrounds of the three singers. Poetry, rap and pop are woven together in the band’s sound in a new style not heard before – especially through Irish. The otherworldly voice of Ferghal Moloney is mixed with the lithe addictive rapping of MC Muipéad.

‘To create something different, uncompromising and honest’; this was the band’s mission statement when the bass guitarist Cian Mac Cárthaigh first set up the band, and their first album looks at the big questions in life: the meaning of life, our relationship with the planet and finding hope in hopelessness.

Further information:

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

Tel: 0035387 673 6175    

Email: adavitt@forasnagaeilge.ie

Foras na Gaeilge is pleased to announce that grants worth €1,215,491 have been approved at a Foras na Gaeilge board meeting today. Grants in the areas of literature, publishing and community were approved along with significant funding which will consolidate the programme of events for Bliain na Gaeilge 2018.

€389,209 was approved for the lead organisation Conradh na Gaeilge to provide a comprehensive and versatile programme during Bliain na Gaeilge 2018. As part of that grant Foras na Gaeilge has approved a grants fund which will provide small grants to groups which organise events throughout the country. Funding will also be provided for the Bliain na Gaeilge 2018 Creative Programme along with the Fund for School Prizes as part of the international celebration of the Irish language.

€40,000 has been approved for an art, theatre and music production, Aisling?, based on a newly composed work by renowned Gaeltacht artists. The project will be directed by dramatist, writer and film maker, Darach Mac an Iomaire, and will be performed in more than ten venues north and south during Bliain na Gaeilge 2018.

As well as funding for Bliain na Gaeilge 2018 Foras na Gaeilge has approved grants to the value of €112,310 to promote reading and literature in Irish, and €644,885 for Irish language publishers, including: Coiscéim, Cló Iar-Chonnachta, Futa Fata and Leabhar Breac.

Welcoming the board’s decision today, Foras na Gaeilge Chief Executive Seán Ó Coinn said, “We congratulate all those organisations for whom Foras na Gaeilge has approved grants today for their work and creativity. The most important role of Foras na Gaeilge is promoting the use of Irish in the community. Through the grants approved today by Foras na Gaeilge we will be helping Irish language organisations to continue with their great work publishing excellent books, presenting them to the public, and we will be ensuring that all of the public on the island can take an active part in Bliain na Gaeilge 2018.”

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Note to the editor:

TG4 will bring in Bliain na Gaeilge 2018 with a live programme sponsored by Foras na Gaeilge, Fáilte 2018, which will be broadcast on New Year’s Eve 2017 from the Dingle Peninsula, Co. Kerry.

Further information:

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

Tel: 0035387 673 6175    

Email: adavitt@forasnagaeilge.ie

The examination for the Seal of Accreditation for Translators will take place in early December in the National University of Ireland, Galway. This examination is aimed at those with a high standard of Irish and who have not yet gained the Seal of Accreditation for Translators. The examination will take place on Saturday 2 December 2017 in two venues in the university:

• The Galway City campus
• The University Centre, Gaoth Dobhair, Co. Dhún na nGall

The Seal of Accreditation for Translators is a recognised professional qualification for Irish language translators which was set up by Foras na Gaeilge in 2006. Since the inauguration of this accreditation process 194 people have succeeding in gaining the Seal. The Seal is the most important of all professional awards for freelance Irish language translators seeking work from organisations in the public sector and from other clients. The name and contact details of all those who gain the Seal are placed on a panel of accredited translators which Foras na Gaeilge publishes, and Irish language translators are mostly recruited from this panel.

There is a limited number of places available for this examination; priority will therefore be given to the earliest received applications. Applications will not be accepted after 4 p.m. Thursday 16 November 2017.

Further information on the Seal of Accreditation for Translators is available here.

Foras na Gaeilge is pleased to announce that spending of €5,405,000 has been approved at a Foras na Gaeilge board meeting today at Oireachtas na Samhna in Killarney today.

Welcoming the board decision today, Foras na Gaeilge Chief Executive Seán Ó Coinn said, “We are pleased to announce this large sum of money approved today. This is the largest portion which will be approved from the 2018 budget and the funding covers wide range of grants including the budgets of the Irish language Lead Organisations, for which €4,646,547 was approved. The grants approved today depend on the sponsoring departments deciding on funding for Foras na Gaeilge in 2018; the departments have given confirmation that that funding will be made available to the cross-border body to fulfil its statutory duties in 2018”.

As well as the Lead Organisations’ grants, grants were approved for St. Mary’s University College for the Irish-medium Áisaonad (£272,486), for Gael Linn for the Irish Language Flag project (€120,000), and to the Irish language media sector through Rua Media (NÓS)(£68,700), Comhar Teo (€120,000) and Tuairisc.ie (€126,285).

The Board of Foras na Gaeilge approved the Scheme for the two Cultúrlanna in the North 2018-2020, which will provide an opportunity for funding to Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich in Belfast and Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin in Derry City from January 2018 to December 2020. A fund of a total budget up to £672,000 will be made available through this scheme over a three year period; an annual budget of £222,400.

Foras na Gaeilge Chief Executive, Seán Ó Coinn, said, “Foras na Gaeilge wants to emphasise the development of the Irish language at community level, and partnership with other interested parties in the community, something which is vitally important to influence the community.  All Foras na Gaeilge schemes provide the public with opportunities to foster and consolidate the Irish language, and all information on schemes in the various areas, as well as our first online scheme, Groups with Irish, is available on the Foras na Gaeilge website.”

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Note to the editor:

Breakdown of the grants approved at the Foras na Gaeilge board meeting, 3 November:

Further information:

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

Tel: 0035387 673 6175    

Email: adavitt@forasnagaeilge.ie

Foras na Gaeilge is pleased to announce a series of information nights to promote funded schemes available from the north/south Irish language body in 2019. The first will take place at Aonach an Oireachtais at Oireachtas na Samhna in Killarney on 2 November.  At these nights Foras na Gaeilge will share information on the organisation’s work, its funding scheme and the supports available. The public will have an opportunity to give feedback on the use and promotion of Irish in their own area.

 Foras na Gaeilge Chief Executive, Seán Ó Coinn said, “We have recognised certain areas north and south where the number of applications to various funding schemes has been relatively low in recent years. To tackle this, visits were organised in February and November 2017 to speak with the public in these areas with the aim of raising awareness of the opportunities for funding and support available. These sessions were very beneficial as the participants shared valuable feedback with us which we have taken on board. We look forward to engaging with the public again with this third series of visits to present the 2019 funding schemes.“

Among the schemes to be discussed are the Youth Activities Scheme, the Summer Camps Scheme and writing schemes. Foras na Gaeilge will also provide funding in the business, arts, media and publishing sectors. Visit the Foras na Gaeilge website, www.forasnagaeilge.ie/sceimeanna, for a full list of the available schemes.

Foras na Gaeilge will present the following sessions in the coming weeks:

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About Foras na Gaeilge

Foras na Gaeilge was founded under the Good Friday Agreement and are responsible for the following:

• promotion of the Irish language;
• facilitating and encouraging its use in speech and writing in public and private life in the South and, in the context of Part III of the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages, in Northern Ireland where there is appropriate demand;
• advising both administrations, public bodies and other groups in the private and voluntary sectors;
• undertaking supportive projects, and grant-aiding bodies and groups as considered necessary;
• undertaking research, promotional campaigns, and public and media relations;
• developing terminology and dictionaries;
• supporting Irish-medium education and the teaching of Irish.

Further information:

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

Tel: 0035387 673 6175    

Email: adavitt@forasnagaeilge.ie

Colm Ó hArgáin, Higher Executive Officer: Education, Foras na Gaeilge

Tel: 00353 1 639 8400

Email: cohargain@forasnagaeilge.ie

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.”

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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.

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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.”

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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