Joint Oireachtas Committee report

An tuairisc seo i nGaeilge

The report (see bottom of page) of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs regarding the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language was launched Wednesday, 28 July 2010, and is now asking the Government to ensure that all recommendations of the report are approved and included in full. It was warmly welcomed by Conradh na Gaeilge.

They especially welcomed the significant number of recommendations made by the Conradh - and by the Gaeltacht and Irish-speaking community in general - that were included in the report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee, in particular the recommendations regarding the sustainability of the Irish language in the Gaeltacht; the Údarás retaining responsibility for job-creation and enterprise in the Gaeltacht; the central role of the voluntary Irish-language organisations in the implementation of the Strategy; the provision of a proper fully integrated and graded course for the Irish language in schools; and putting the responsibility for evaluating the Strategy under the Office of the Language Commissioner with the Taoiseach reporting to the Houses of the Oireachtas on the progress of the Strategy.

Press Release from Houses of the Oireachtas (28/7/2010

Pádraig Mac Fhearghusa, President of Conradh na Gaeilge said: “Conradh na Gaeilge commends the Joint Oireachtas Committee for recognising the crisis in the Gaeltacht as the most urgent weakness to address in order to protect the Irish language, and for stressing the importance of sustaining the Gaeltacht by proposing to set out specific goals in the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language for increasing the number of native Irish speakers in the Gaeltacht.
“Conradh na Gaeilge also welcomes the Joint Committee’s recommendation that responsibility for infrastructure and economic development in the Gaeltacht should remain the main focus of Údarás na Gaeltachta/Gaeilge as it is under the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language, to ensure that the local economy continues to sustain the Gaeltacht areas.”

Julian de Spáinn, Conradh na Gaeilge General Secretary said: “It is imperative that the Government approves all the recommendations in the Joint Oireachtas Committee’s report in their entirety, that they are included in the final draft of the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language, and that cross-party agreement is fostered for the Strategy to ensure its value is appreciated and supported across the board in coming years.”

Conradh na Gaeilge believes that it is absolutely essential that Irish is taught effectively throughout our education system, and welcomes the proposal of the Joint Committee in the report on the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language that a proper fully integrated and graded course for the language be put into effect, to ensure continuity for students from pre-school to third level, in addition to trainee teachers and adult language learners. It is also very important that the Joint Committee has recognised the need to differentiate between the different linguistic development requirements of native Irish speakers and other capable students, and those whose first language is English, and Conradh na Gaeilge welcomes the proposal to include a more in-depth study of heritage and literature as part of as an additional Leaving Cert subject, Saíocht & Litríocht na Gaeilge.

The public have a vital part to play in the implementation of the Government’s 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language and Conradh na Gaeilge welcomes the recognition in the Joint Committee’s report that the voluntary Irish-language organisations have a pivotal role in the future of the language. The Conradh looks forward to working with the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht affairs and with the restructured Údarás in implementing the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language.

The full report, the appendix of which contains a translation in English, is available on the Oireachtas Website here. (pdf)

Culture centres open to community

Conradh na Gaeilge is making the organisation's two main buildings in Dublin and Galway available to the Irish-speaking community to use as centres for meetings, conferences, classes and more in an effort to develop the buildings belonging to the Conradh as cultural centres of Irish in the heart of the two cities.

There are already Irish-language courses, conversation circles, conferences, meetings, and social nights with music and dancing organised regularly in both Conradh na Gaeilge buildings in Dublin and Galway, and any other Irish-language organisation or individual persons can rent rooms from the Conradh on a daily, weekly, monthly or even yearly basis to operate from either of the two buildings during the year.

Pádraig Mac Fhearghusa, President of Conradh na Gaeilge says "Conradh na Gaeilge is the democratic forum for the Irish-speaking community and the organisation is committed to working with other Irish-language organisations to promote the language throughout the island. Community support and cooperation is key to our work, and Conradh na Gaeilge is delighted to have this opportunity to invite other organisations and individuals who are working to promote the Irish language also, to utilise the facilities we have in Dublin and Galway to strength the Irish-speaking community in both those cities, and indeed throughout the country."

In addition to the national head-office of Conradh na Gaeilge, many important organisations in the Irish-language sector are already operating from the building on Harcourt Street, including Oireachtas na Gaeilge; Ógras; Seachtain na Gaeilge; Glór na nGael, Leinster; Rith 2010; the Irish-language chart-station, Raidió Rí-Rá; the Irish-language FLAC Centre of the Four Courts' Branch, An tIonad Saor-Chomhairle Dlí; the Irish-language bookshop, An Siopa Leabhar; and the Irish-language club, Club Chonradh na Gaeilge.

Conradh na Gaeilge's Galway development project, Togra Ghael-Fhorbairt na Gaillimhe, operates from Aras na nGael at 45 Dominic Street (Pictured on right in Galway as well as Club Áras na nGael and Ógras, Connaught.

Conradh na Gaeilge's historical headquarters at Number 6 Harcourt Street, Dublin 2 were recently renovated and repaired thanks to the generous donations of the branches of the Conradh and the aid of the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs through the Irish-Language Fund, Ciste na Gaeilge, which is part-funded by the National Lottery, and the building is now being further developed as a place of work, a meeting facility and a cultural centre for the Irish-speaking community in the capital.

Áras na nGael is functioning as an Irish-language centre in Galway at present and Conradh na Gaeilge is also looking to find a new location on which to develop a bigger centre, so as to provide more facilities to the language community in the city in the future.

The original Irish version of this release with links!

A fully human language?

We talked about the Conradh na Gaeilge Árd Fheis in our piece, "A very modern contest," concentrating on the contest for the venerable position of President (Uachtarán), a position held first by by one of the founders, Dúbhglás de hÍde, who later became President of Ireland.

There was very little coverage of this in the English language media, and indeed the Irish language media had what could be regarded as a fairly light coverage. However the new kid on the block, Gaelscéal, has a report in this weeks issue which tries to give the flavour of the event.

Like all journalism it is perhaps concentrating on the contest and possible signs of division, young versus old, even Munster versus the rest. Certainly the election prospect seems to have galvanised attendance at this years event. The re-elected President (and indeed his opponent) were anxious that no bitterness should follow a keenly fought campaign. When asked about possible divisions he said firmly that he didn't want to continue in that vein at all . "I am not in the Conradh for controversy," he said. "I am in Conradh na Gaeilge for the work, for the unity, to put pressure on the civil servants that are against us. I wish to make it clear that I am not in the Conradh to foment disputes." The defeated candidate concurred and he vowed to continue his work with Pádraigh for the Conradh in the enthusiastic spirit of his campaign.

The re-elected President, Pádraigh Mac Fhearghusa, made a very spirited and indeed feisty address to the delegates. Possible, according to some sources, a much more envigourated speech that that he made as an election. He emphasised how welcome the young generation was to this, one of the oldest national movements, only Cumann Luathcleas Gael is older. He emphasised particularly the civil service. He obviously feels the antipathy emanating from some of these servants of the state. "Do you regard Irish as a fully human language?" he asked.

Clearly he understands the incredible damage that the intransigence of the state beaurocracy has done to the language, the most important still living part of our heritage.

Clearly as the Conradh advances into it's second century it is far from moribund and intends to take its rightful place again as the inspiration of the ancient Gaelic nation. An old fashioned notion?

Let's watch and see.

A very modern contest!

One of the most exciting events in the Irish language movements for some years passed virtually unnoticed in the English language media these past few weeks.

This was the Ard Fheis (or AGM) of Conradh na Gaeilge which was held in Limerick City 16th/17th Márta 2009. In recent years this might have passed with little notice in the Irish language media too. This say something perhaps about how apparently the movement who over a hundred years ago was arguably primarily instrumental in revitalising the Gaelic nation leading to the 1916 rising and what came after.

Na hIomathóirí Pádraigh Mac Fhearghusa Seán Ó hAdhmaill

However a small message in facebook by a young Belfast man took wing among the not insubstantial community of Irish-speakers who use that medium. The message read: (don't worry we give the translation in brackets!)

"Tá sé oifigiúil anois — tá mé ag seasamh d'Uachtaránacht Chonradh na Gaeilge! Má tá duine ar bith ag iarraidh tacú liom — cuirigí ríomhphost tapaidh chugam. Tá go leor oibre le déanamh idir seo agus an 16-17 Aibreán 2010, Óstán Strand, Luimneach. Beirimis bua! Fiú muna bhfuil tú ábalta freastal — tá neart stocaireacht le déanamh go fóill chun na baill a mhealladh síos go Luimneach"
(It's official now - I am standing for the presidency of Conradh na Gaeilge! If anyone wishes to support me — send a quick e-mail to me. There is much work to be done between now and 16/17 April 2010 Strand Hotel, Limerick. Let's win! Even if you are unable to attend — a power of lobbying is required still to encourage members attendance at Limerick!

That message on 22nd Márta, alone attracted seven open comments on face book and twenty "I like it" clicks and God knows how many private messages.

The young man's name was Seán Ó hAdhmaill and he is of the new crop of idealistic and enthusiastic Gaels from a branch of the Conradh called the Gael Óg, which have been creating ripples for the past number of years with campaigns like one to "Gaelicise" mobile phones and others. He comes from the active urban Gaeltacht community in Belfast, raised in Irish in the six counties, an area which politically, has been positively inimical to things Irish since its creation (rather than ambivalent as is the case in the 26 counties!).

This declaration was the start of a three week whirlwind of activity on the web, blogs were written, new ones instituted, radio interviews (all Irish language events). Perhaps the most famous of these was that on Glór Anoir (The voice from the East) on Radio na Gaeltacht where the two protagonists, the incumbent president Pádraigh Mac Fhearghusa and Seán Ó hAdhmail had a debate which quickly became quite heated, due, in this correspondent's view to a misunderstanding but also to a perceived view of the competition as a conflict between urban and rural viewpoints.

Another remark that incensed some was that of Pádraigh Mac Fhearghusa and sounded very patronising was one which intimated that Ó hAdhmaill was "too young" for the position although he welcomed young members for their energy and enthusiasm. A remark, even if it was true, is quite breathtaking in it's starkness. It is interesting that there were no more direct confrontations on air throughout the campaigns. The final addresses of both of these candidates at the Ardfheis itself was an amicable affair and thankfully lacked the

The campaign when viewed from the social media platforms looked very promising from the point of view of the Ó hAdhmail camp. Mac Fhearghusa was nowhere to be seen. In fact if one does a google on the two names there is hardly a better example of how important it is to have a presence there. The contest was in fact one between two approachs, two paradigms if you like. The new "brash, young" approach symbolised by use of the new "free" means of communication and the "old fashioned" less exciting and essentially slower person to person relationship.

Indeed when this correspondent spoke with Seán Ó hAdhmaill this was mentioned. The fact that the e-campaign was naturally skewed in his favour could engender a false security, whereas his opponent had two advantages, one being that he was "in situ" as existing president, and the other was that he had at least two years of contact with the various branches and members which no doubt he would find useful in his campaign.

In the event it appears that that is what won the day. The result was a comfortable victory for MacFhearghusa with 120 votes to 78 votes, in many ways a worthy candidate and a good steady, if unexciting pair of hands at the helm for another twelve months. Ó hAdhmaill's acceptance of the result was generous and he vowed to continue his work for the Conradh in the spirit of his campaign while thanking those who so enthusiastically supported him. As he said himself, quoting those Munster folk who comiserated with him, "Beidh lá eile ag an bPaorach..." (There'll be more chances!)

The opinion may have been given in the above that the Conradh IS old fashioned and backward looking. However this is not the impression given by it's embracing of the new technologies especially during the past few years, two of which have been under the stewartship of Pádraigh Mac Fhearghusa. In fact most of the Ardfheis was broadcast live as it happened over the web. There were some problems but by and large it was a successful Árdfheis hopefully we will be able to give a flavour of the campaigns and ideas being promulgated by this organisation and its members throughout the land.