cairde teo

CAIRDE Teo, the Irish language promotional company based in Armagh City, has launched a packed programme of events for ‘Seachtain na Gaeilge 2014’. Seachtain na Gaeilge (Eng: Irish Language Week), or SnaG as it is now better known, is a national festival catering for people with a passion for the Irish language. You don’t need to be fluent to join in the fun as there are events for every level of competency.

Dublin footballer Ciarán Kilkenny, TV and Radio Presenter Lynette Fay &TG4 star Máire Treasa Ní Dhubhghaill are this year’s festival ambassadors! You will see them throughout the festival in the media and around the country promoting the Irish language. Armagh Planetarium – which itself provides astronomy shows in the Irish language – recently hosted perhaps the universe’s most famous Irish language ambassador, Commander Chris Hadfield of the International Space Station. Commander Hadfield made history by being the first ever person to tweet in Irish from space!

As you can see from the list of events above, there is no shortage of Irish language events going on in Armagh. Local activities will kick off on Monday 3^rd March with the official launch and an invitation from CAIRDE Teo to register with the Líofa campaign.Líofa is an initiative which aims to motivate you to pledge to become ‘Líofa’ or fluent in the Irish Language by 2015. Cultural Minister Carál Ní Chuilín launched the campaign in September 2011 with the aim of engaging 1000 people to embark on the Líofa challenge and achieve Gold Fáinne level in spoken Irish by 2015. Such is the interest across the north (and beyond) that this target has been revised to aim to ensure that 5000 more people are fluent in Irish by 2015. So come along to Armagh City Shopping Centre on Monday 3^rd March and sign up for the challenge or register online at: http://www.dcalni.gov.uk/index/language-cultural-diversity-r08/liofa_introduction.htm

On Tuesday 4^th March, Gael Linn will be hosting COIRM 2014 in the Marketplace Theatre Armagh. Coirm festivals are organised throughout the country in theatres with first class facilities. Each school performs a variety show of no more than 20 minutes duration. Children participating may come from different classes and there is no age limit. To enhance their enjoyment of the day Gael Linn will provide a short performance by professional artistes. Participating children receive a memento of their day at Coirm. To ensure an Irish language ethos at the festivals, Coirm is aimed primarily at Gaeltacht schools and Gaelscoileanna. However, other primary schools are invited to participate if the pupils are prepared to make a commitment to speak Irish at all times. Coirm aims to promote the use of Irish among primary school pupils by providing a stage for them to display their talents in a non-competitive Irish-speaking environment.

For anyone who has never visited Glasnevin Cemetery and Museum in Dublin, keep Saturday 8^th March free in your diary. Glasnevin tells the story of the birth of the Irish nation and contains the graves of many of Ireland’s most prominent national figures. These include the graves of Daniel O’Connell, Charles Stewart Parnell, Michael Collins, Éamon de Valera, Jim Larkin, Maude Gonne, Kevin Barry, Roger Casement, Constance Markievicz, Pádraig Ó Domhnaill, Seán MacBride, Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa, Frank Ryan, Brendan Behan, Christy Brown and Luke Kelly of the Dubliners.

As well as a bilingual guided tour of the cemetery, CAIRDE has arranged a visit to the awarding winning onsite museum which currently houses a fantastic exhibition celebrating the centenary of the formation of the Irish Citizen Army and the Irish Volunteers. Neither would any visit to Glasnevin Cemetery be complete without a social visit to the world famous Gravediggers Inn at the edge of the cemetery – not to be missed!

The Irish language has been much in the news in recent times and the publicity has not always been good. However, CAIRDE Teo ascribes to Oscar Wilde’s assertion that there is only one thing worse than being talked about …. In recent times the Irish language has been spoken by US President Barack Obama, Queen Elizabeth of England and even beyond the earth’s atmosphere. With that in mind, we have organised a lecture and panel discussion on Wednesday 12^th March at 7pm, featuring Ian Malcolm, an author (‘Towards Inclusion: Protestants and the Irish language’), self-professed unionist and Irish language enthusiast. Ian will share a platform with Feargal Mac Ionnrachtaigh, author of the book ‘Language, Resistance and Revival’ and an activist and campaigner for Irish language rights with Forbairt Feirste in West Belfast. The discussion will be chaired by Réamonn Ó Ciaráin of Gael Linn who will precede the panel discussion with a presentation on the influence of Gaelic on the English language spoken in the north of Ireland.

Rith 2014 is a Basque-inspired national Irish language festival that will take place between the 7-15 March 2014 during Seachtain na Gaeilge. A 1000km course has been laid out for a massive cross-county relay race, running from morning to night, starting in Baile Bhuirne (Ballyvourney, Cork) to Béal Feirste (Belfast) over a 9 day period, with thousands of people taking part across the 200 towns/townlands on route.The relay will be coming through Armagh City on Friday 14^th March and hundreds of runners will carry a hand carved baton with a concealed message hidden inside from Bunscoil Ard Mhacha through Armagh City Centre, finishing up at the Athletic Grounds in Armagh.

Rith 2014 is an enjoyable and innovative way for communities to celebrate the Irish language and culture in a visual way across Ireland. Rith 2014 is also a fund-raising activity, with a special fund established as a result of Rith that will be used to promote the development of Irish in the community. Encourage your sports club, youth group, community association to join the relay and raise funds for both themselves and the Irish language.

In 2013, CAIRDE commissioned independent Irish language media company Macha Media and Digital Key Productions to build and develop two new mobile, digital GPS Apps for Armagh’s most understated tourist attraction – the world heritage site at Eamhain Mhacha (Navan Fort). With funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Armagh Council, CAIRDE Teo has developed the new service for the benefit of both the local community and tourists to the area. The Apps will contain multi-media resources in the form of adventure games triggered by satellite GPS.  Downloading the Apps is free of charge and they are designed to sit on iPhone, iPad and android devices. After the launch of the bilingual Apps on Friday 14^th March at the Navan Centre, they will be downloadable from the CAIRDE Teo and Armagh City and District Council’s websites and will be available in the Irish language as well as in English.

A brand new SnaG App is also available to download now on iTunes and Google Play! It’s never been easier to find Irish language events near you. So why notjoin the thousands of people who are getting behind the Irish language revival, not only here in Ireland but all over the world (and beyond)! For more information on any of the above events contact Seán or Gearóid on 028 37515229 or email sean@cairdeteo.com . Alternatively, check out our website www.cairdeteo.com or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

Tá CAIRDE Teo, an eagraiocht Ghaeilge i gcathair Ard Mhacha, i ndiaidh clár imeachtaí a lainseáil do Sheachtain na Gaeilge 2014. Féile náisiúnta atá i Seachtain na Gaeilge a fhreastalaíonn ar dhaoine a bhfuil grá acu don Ghaeilge. Ní gá bheith líofa le páirt a ghlacadh ann nó bíonn imeachtaí d’achan leibhéal cumais sa teanga.

Is iad na hambasadóirí d’fhéile na bliana seo ná Ciarán Kilkenny, imreoir peile le Baile Átha Cliath, an láithreoir raidió Lynette Fay, agus an láithreoir teilifíse Máire Treasa Ní Dhubhghaill! Feicfidh sibh an triúr acu i rith na féile sna meáin agus thart ar an tír, iad triúr ag déanamh a ndícheall leis an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn.

Is cinnte nach mbeidh pobal na Gaeilge díomhaoin leis an iliomad imeachtaí ag tarlú in Ard Mhacha. Cuirfear tús leis na himeachtaí in Ard Mhacha ar an Luan an 3ú Márta nuair a lainseálfar an fhéile go hoifigiúil agus tabharfaidh CAIRDE Teo cuireadh don phobal clárú leis an fheachtas Líofa. Tionscnamh is ea é Líofa a bhfuil mar aidhm aige daoine a spreagadh le líofacht a bhaint amach sa Ghaeilge roimh 2015. Láinseáil an tAire Cultúir Carál Ní Chuilín an feachtas i mí Mheán Fómhair 2011 le 1000 duine a spreagadh tabhairt faoi dhúshlán Líofa agus leibhéal an Fháinne Óir a bhaint amach roimh 2015, ach bhí an oiread suime sa scéim i dtuaisceart na hÉireann agus níos faide anon gur cuireadh leis an sprioc seo le 5000 a mhealladh i dtreo na líofachta roimh 2015. Mar sin de, is féidir bualadh isteach chuig Ionad Siopadóireachta Chathair Ard Mhacha ar an Luan 3ú Márta le clárú don fheachtas nó is féidir clárú ar line ag: http://www.dcalni.gov.uk/index/language-cultural-diversity-r08/liofa_introduction.htm

Ar an Mháirt 4ú Márta, beidh Gael Linn ag cur COIRM 2014 ar an ardán in Amharclann Phlás an Mhargaidh in Ard Mhacha. Eagraítear feiseanna Coirm in amharclanna móra le rá ar fud na tíre. Cuireann achan scoil seó ilsiamsa i láthair a mhaireann 20 bomaite. Bíonn páistí ann ó ranganna difriúla agus ní bhíonn aon teorainn aoise ann. Le cur leis an sult a bhaineann na páistí as an lá, bíonn ealaíontóirí gairmiúla ann chomh maith. Tugtar suaitheantas beag do gach páiste a ghlacann páirt ann. Le hatmaisféar lánGhaelach a chinntiú ag na féilte, bíonn Coirm dírithe ar scoileanna Gaeltachta agus Gaelscoileanna den chuid is mó. Ach tugtar cuireadh do bhunscoileanna eile bheith páirteach má tá na daltaí sásta tiomantas a thabhairt Gaeilge a úsáid i rith an ama. Tá mar aidhm ag Coirm úsáid na Gaeilge a chothú agus a éascú i measc daltaí bunscoile trí ardán a chur ar fáil dóibh a gcuid buanna a chur i láthair i dtimpilleacht Ghaelach neamhiomaíoch.

Más rud é nár thug tú cuairt ar Reilig agus Iarsmalann Ghlas Naíon riamh, moltar daoibh Dé Sathairn 8ú Márta a bhreacadh síos i do dhialann. Insítear stair an náisiúin ag Glas Naíon nó tá uaigheanna ann de chuid mhór de phríomhphearsana náisiúnta na hÉireann. Ina measc sin, tá uaigheanna ann do Dhónall Ó Conaill, Charles Stewart Parnell, Mícheál Ó Coileáin, Éamon de Valera, Jim Larkin, Maude Nic Ghoinn, Caoimhín de Barra, Ruairí Mac Easmainn, Constance Markievicz, Pádraig Ó Domhnaill, Seán MacBride, Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa, Frank Ryan, Breandán Ó Beacháin, Christy Brown agus Lúc Ó Ceallaigh ó The Dubliners.

Chomh maith le turas treoraithe thart ar an reilig, tá cuairt ar an iarsmalann socraithe ag CAIRDE Teo fosta, nó tá mórthaispeántas ar siúl faoi láthair le comóradh a dhéanamh ar chéad bhliain ó bunaíodh Arm Cathartha na hÉireann agus Óglaigh na hÉireann. Ar a bharr sin uilig, tabharfaidh an grúpa cuairt ar an Gravediggers Inn, ceann de na tithe tábhairne is clúití sa tír atá suite ar imeall na reilige.

Bhí an Ghaeilge i mbéal an phobail ar an nuacht ar na mallaibh agus ní bhíonn an phoiblíocht i gcónaí maith. Ach creideann CAIRDE Teo sa rud a dúirt Oscar Wilde nach bhfuil ach rud amháin atá níos measa ná daoine ag caint uirthi …. Le blianta beaga anuas, chuala muid Gaeilge ó Uachtarán Mheiriceá Barack Obama agus chuala muid Gaeilge ó Bhanríon Elizabeth Shasana agus ar ndóigh baineadh úsáid as an Ghaeilge taobh amuigh d’atmaisféar an domhain féin. Mar sin de, tá léacht agus plé painéil eagraithe again ar an Chéadaoin 12ú Márta ar 7pm, le Ian Malcolm, údar an leabhair Towards Inclusion: Protestants and the Irish language, aontachtaí agus díograiseoir Gaeilge. Beidh Ian ar an ardán céanna le Feargal Mac Ionnrachtaigh, údar an leabhair Language, Resistance and Revival agus gníomhaí agus feachtasóir do chearta teanga le Forbairt Feirste in Iarthar Bhéal Feirste. Beidh Réamonn Ó Ciaráin as Gael Linn mar chathaoirleach ar an phlé agus bhéarfaidh sé cur i láthair roimh an phlé ar an tionchar a bhí ag an Ghaeilge ar an Bhéarla mar a labhraítear i dtuaisceart na hÉireann.

Féile náisiúnta Gaeilge atá i Rith 2014 a bheas ag tarlú idir 7-15 Márta 2014 i rith Sheachtain na Gaeilge. Tá cúrsa 1000km leagtha amach d’ollrith sealaíochta ó Bhaile Bhuirne i gCorcaigh go Béal Feirste thar 9 lá agus 9 oíche, leis na milte ag glacadh páirte in achan chuid den tír. Beidh an rith sealaíochta i gCathair Ard Mhacha Dé hAoine 14ú Márta agus beidh na céadta ag iompar bata sealaíochta ina bhfuil teachtaireacht on Uachtarán Mícheál D. Ó hUiginn. Cuirfear tús leis an rith in Ard Mhacha ag Bunscoil Ard Mhacha agus rachaidh siad tríd an chathair sula gcríochnóidh siad ag an Pháirc Lúthchleasa.

Bealach nuálach agus sultmhar don phobal atá in Rith 2014 le ceiliúradh breá feiceálach a dhéanamh ar an Ghaeilge agus ar an chultúr ar fud na hÉireann. Imeacht tiomsaithe airgid atá ann chomh maith, agus tá ciste speisialta ag Rith le cuidiú le forbairt na Gaeilge sa phobal. Cuirigí in iúl do chlubanna spóirt, do ghrúpaí óige agus do chumainn phobail bheith páirteach sa rith le hairgead a bhailiú dóibh féin agus don Ghaeilge.

Sa bhliain 2013, choimisiúnaigh CAIRDE na comhlachtaí meáin Macha Media agus Digital Key Productions le dhá aip digiteach GPS a fhorbairt don tseoid is luachmhaire turasóireachta in Ard Mhacha ag Eamhain Mhacha. A bhuí le maoiniú ó Chiste an Chrannnchuir Oidhreachta agus ó Chomhairle Ard Mhacha, tá an tseirbhis úr seo forbartha ag CAIRDE Teo le cur le turasóireacht do mhuintir na háite agus do chuairteoirí araon. Beidh acmhainní ilmeáin ar na haipeanna trí chluichí eachtraíochta a athróidh de réir GPS saitilíte. Ní bhíonn costas ann leis na h-aipeanna a íoslódáil agus tá siad deartha don iPhone, don iPad agus d’uirlisí android. I ndiaidh an tseolta ar an Aoine 14ú Márta ag Ionad Eamhain Mhacha, beifear in ann iad a íoslódáil ó shuíomhanna idirlín CAIRDE Teo agus Chomhairle Ard Mhacha agus beidh siad ar fáil i nGaeilge agus i mBéarla.

Tá aip úrnua SnaG ar fáil le híoslódáil anois fosta ó iTunes agus ó Google Play! Ní raibh sé chomh furasta riamh teacht ar imeachtaí Gaeilge in gar duit . Mar sin de, bígí leis na mílte atá ag tacú le hathbheochan na Gaeilge, ní amháin anseo in Éirinn ach ar fud na cruinne (agus níos faide anon)! Le tuilleadh eolais a fháil ar cheann ar bith de na himeachtaí in Ard Mhacha, dean teagmháil le Seán nó le Gearóid ar 028 37515229 nó cuir r-phost sean@cairdeteo.com . Tabhair cuairt ar ár suíomh idirlín www.cairdeteo.com nó lean muid ar Facebook nó ar Twitter.

Beidh dianchúrsa Gaeilge ar siúl sa Pháirc Lúthchleasa Dé Sathairn 22 Feabhra idir 11am agus 4pm. Beidh bunrang, meánrang agus ardrang ann ar chostas £10, agus lón san áireamh ar an chostas sin. Más mian leat áit a chur in áirithe, dean teagmháil le Seán sean@cairdeteo.com nó 028 3751 5229 le go dtig go leor bia a ordú. Bheinn buíoch dá dtiocfadh libh an scéal a chur ar aghaidh chuig duine ar bith a mbeadh suim acu.

There will be an intensive Irish language course in the Athletic Grounds in Armagh on Saturday 22 February between 11am and 4pm. There will be classes for beginners, intermediate and advanced and the cost of £10 includes lunch. If you would like to book a place, you are asked to contact Seán sean@cairdeteo.com or 028 3751 5229. It is important that I have a rough idea of numbers for lunch. Please inform anyone who may be interested or spread on Facebook or Twitter.

Tá an spásaire Chris Hadfield ar chamchuairt in Éirinn faoi láthair. Bhí sé in Ard Mhacha Dé Domhnaigh agus d’fhreagair sé ceisteanna a chuir na daoine óga, Tiarnán Ó Mórdha ó Bhunscoil Ard Mhacha san áireamh. Bhain Tiarnán cóip shínithe de leabhar Chris as an cheist is fearr a chur ar an lá. Thug an spásaire cuairt ar Bhun Abhann Dalla, áit ar chleacht sé a chuid iománaíochta agus d’imigh as sin le Gaeilge a fhoghlaim ó pháistí na Gaelscoile i mBun Chranncha. Bhí mír ar Bharrscéalta an Mháirt fán Ghael speisialta seo. Mar a tharlaíonn, beidh club Gaeilge ag tosú ar an Aoine seo i bPláinéadlann Ard Mhacha. Tá an club a reachtáil ag CAIRDE Teo le cúpla bliain anois le deis a thabhairt do pháistí Gaelscoile foghlaim faoin domhain, faoi na pláinéid eile agus faoi Bhealach na Bó Finne. Mairfidh an club ceithre sheachtain le neart cluichí agus imeachtaí speisialta ar siúl agus níl amhras ar bith ann ach go mbeadh Chris Hadfield féin iontach bródúil go bhfuil Gaeil Ard Mhacha ag spreagadh na bpáistí le suim a chur sa réalteolaíocht. Tá ceangal dlúth idir an réalteolaíocht agus an Ghaeilge in Ard Mhacha agus bíonn seónna sa phláinéadlann i mBéarla agus i nGaeilge araon.

Commander Chris Hadfield is currently on a tour of Ireland. He visited Armagh on Sunday and answered questions from the children who attended the event in the planetarium, including Tiarnán Ó Mórdha from Bunscoil Ard Mhacha. Tiarnán won a signed copy of Commander Hadfield’s autobiography for asking the best question on the day. Commander Hadfield then went on to Cushendall, where he tried out his hurling skills and he also visited the Gaelscoil in Buncrana, where the children taught him some Irish. Tuesday morning’s edition of Barrscéalta on Raidió na Gaeltachta included a feature about this inspirational Gael from Canada. Meanwhile, Armagh Planetarium will be hosting an Irish language club, which starts back on Friday. The club has been organised by CAIRDE Teo for the past two years to offer children from Gaelscoileanna the opportunity to learn about the earth, other planets and the Milky Way. The club will last for four weeks with plenty of Irish language games and activities and there is no doubt that Commander Chris Hadfield would be extremely proud of the Gaels of Armagh who are encouraging Irish speaking children to take an interest in astronomy. There is a strong relationship between astronomy and the Irish language in the city, with Armagh Planetarium offering shows in both Irish and English.

Ba mhian le rúnaí Fhéile an Iúir den Fhéile Scoildrámaíochta cuireadh a chur ar mhúinteoirí gearrdhráma a chur isteach ar Fhéile Scoildrámaíochta an Iúir 2014. Bíonn daltaí ar gach aois (4-11 agus 11-18) ag glacadh páirte san fhéile seo atá ar an fhód ó 1977. Bíonn roinn faoi leith ann fosta do na hÓgchumainn. Beidh an Fhéile ar siúl i Halla na Cathrach, Iúr Chinn Trá, Aoine 7 Márta 2014. Maireann na drámaí idir 15 agus 30 bomaite. Bíonn ranna ar leith sa chomórtas le cothrom féinne a thabhairt do gach léiriú sa dóigh is nach mbíonn scoil bheag san iomaíocht le scoil mhór srl.

Léirítear na drámaí as Gaeilge ar ndóigh. Tá roinnt scripteanna ag an Chumann a fhóireann do gach aoisghrúpa agus beidh comhairle agus cuidiú le fáil má tá múinteoir / scoil ag léiriú suime san Fhéile. Cuirtear fáilte faoi leith roimh scripteanna nuascríofa. Bíonn £50 ann don script nuascríofa is fearr gach bliain.

Má éiríonn le dráma ainmniúchán a ghnothú ag Féile an Iúir rachaidh an dráma ar aghaidh chuig Féile Uladh a bheas in Amharclann an Ghrianáin, Leitir Ceanainn 20-21 Márta 2014. Ar an dul chéanna, má éiríonn le dráma ainmniúchán a ghnothú ag Féile Uladh rachaidh an dráma ar aghaidh chuig an Fhéile Náisiúnta a bheas in Amharclann an Bhaile Mhóir, An Muileann gCearr, 2-4 / 7-9 Aibreán 2014. 

Ba chóir foirm iontrála – ceangailte (leagan leictreonach / cruachóip) a chur chugam ag an seoladh thuas roimh an Aoine 21 Feabhra 2014. Ná bíodh leisce ar bith ort teagmháil a dhéanamh liom má bhíonn ceist nó cuidiú de dhíth.

Tá tuilleadh eolais le fáil ar http://www.scoildramaiocht.ie/nacomortais.php

Beidh Club Iarscoile Gaeilge ar siúl ag Pláinéadlann Ard Mhacha do pháistí na bunscoile ó Rang 3 go Rang 7 ón Aoine seo chugainn 17 Eanáir go dtí an Aoine 7 Feabhra agus ceardaíocht tuí in iarsmalann Ard Mhacha 21 Feabhra. Níl ach 25 spás ann agus mar sin de, iarrtar ort bheith gasta le háit a dheimhniú do do pháiste. Ní mór foirm a chomhlánú in oifig Cairde Teo nó foirm a iarraidh ó Seán ar sean@cairdeteo.com.

There will be an Irish language afterschools club at the Planetarium for children between Rang 3 and Rang 7 from the bunscoil starting next Friday 17 January to Friday 7 February, as well as a straw craft workshop in the County Museum on Friday 21 February. There are only 25 spaces available so you are advised to contact Seán asap to guarantee a space for your child. You must fill in a form in the Cairde Teo office or request a form from Seán on sean@cairdeteo.com.

Irish language classes for all levels of learners recommence in St Catherine’s College in Armagh on Wednesday 15 January at 7pm. The classes cater for beginners, lower and higher intermediate and advanced levels and take place in the Irish medium unit, Coláiste Chaitríona. The classes are extremely popular and focus on spoken Irish to help the learners obtain fluency in the language. This term will finish on Wednesday 9 April and the cost for the 12 classes will be £30 or £15 concessions. If you are interested in improving your Irish or you have made a new year’s resolution to learn something new, you can contact Seán on 028 3751 5229 or sean@cairdeteo.com or call in to the Cairde Teo office, which is located upstairs in the Eurospar, to enrol for the classes or to find out more information. Cairde Teo support the Líofa 2015 initiative which was developed by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure to encourage people to sign up to a pledge to become fluent in Irish by the year 2015, which will coincide with the opening of Armagh’s planned cultural centre Aonach Mhacha.

Beidh ranganna Gaeilge do gach leibhéal ag tosú ar ais i gColáiste Chaitríona in Ard Mhacha Dé Céadaoin 15 Eanáir ar 7pm. Bíonn bunrang, meánrang íochtair, meánrang uachtair agus ardrang ar siúl sa tSruth Ghaeilge. Bíonn an-dúil ag daoine sna ranganna a dhírítear ar an teanga labhartha le cuidiú le foghlaimeoirí líofacht a bhaint amach. Mairfidh an téarma go dtí Dé Céadaoin 9 Aibreán agus beidh costas £30 ar an chúrsa 12 seachtain le lacáiste de £15 do mhic léinn agus do dhaoine as obair. Má tá suim agat cur le do chuid Gaeilge nó má tá dea-rún agat don athbhliain rud nua a fhoghlaim, déan teagmháil le Seán ar 028 3751 5229 nó sean@cairdeteo.com nó buail isteach chuig oifig Cairde Teo, atá thuas staighre sa Eurospar in Ard Mhacha, le clárú do na ranganna nó le níos mó eolais a fháil amach faoina bheith ag foghlaim na Gaeilge. Tacaíonn Cairde Teo leis an scéim Líofa 2015 a d’fhorbair an Roinn Cultúir, Ealaíne agus Fóillíochta sna Sé Chontae le daoine a spreagadh gealltanas a thabhairt go mbeadh siad líofa sa Ghaeilge faoi dheireadh 2015, an bhliain ina n-osclófar Aonach Mhacha, an t-ionad nua cultúir in Ard Mhacha.

Tá baicle Gael óg as Ard Mhacha i ndiaidh cáilíocht a bhaint amach san fhiontraíocht shóisialta, i ndiaidh dóibh clár oideachais de chuid CAIRDE Teo a chur i gcrích. Bronnadh teastais ar an ghrúpa daoine óga, idir 17 agus 22 bliain d’aois, an tseachtain seo caite ag searmanas speisialta in Óstán Chathair Ard Mhacha.

Lainseáladh an tionscadal ógfhiontraíochta ‘SEAS’ i rith Sheachtain na Gaeilge agus bhí sprioc ag CAIRDE Teo cur le cumas Ghaeilgeoirí óga i gcathair Ard Mhacha le fostaíocht a chruthú agus airgead a dhéanamh agus iad ag baint leasa as a scileanna agus as a dtaithí féin. Mar chuid den chlár, rinne na daltaí cúrsaí a bhí creidiúnaithe ag Ollscoil na Ríona, Béal Feirste, chuaigh siad ar thurais staidéir, ar shocrúcháin oibre agus ar thréimhsí cónaithe agus d’fhoghlaim siad scileanna nua a chuideoidh leo bearnaí a aithint maidir le soláthar táirge agus seirbhíse agus le teacht ar fhreagraí sochfhiontraíocha ar cheisteanna áitiúla.

Bhí an Dr Tess Maginess, Stiúrthóir Chlár na bFochéimithe i Scoil an Oideachais d’Ollscoil na Ríona, agus an tOllamh Paul Stewart, Ollamh i Socheolaíocht na hOibre agus na Fostaíochta in Ollscoil Shrath Chluaidh, bhí siad i láthair le teastais a bhronnadh ar na daltaí sular fhreastail siad ar Chóisir Nollag ag an óstán.

Bhí na hiarrthóirí rathúla, an mhórchuid acu a d’fhreastail ar Ghaelscoileanna an cheantair, ábalta socrúchán oibre a dhéanamh le roinnt fiontair áitiúla agus fuair siad eolas agus taithí praiticiúil ar an obair shuimiúil a bhíonn ar siúl sa tríú earnáil seo. Fuair an tionscadal maoiniú ón chlár Ag Spreagadh ÓgFiontraíochta – tionscnamh de chuid an ghrúpa RBS, máthairghrúpa Banc Uladh, a thugann deontais le níos mó daoine óga a spreagadh le foghlaim faoin fhiontraíocht, le cur lena scileanna agus le gnóthaí a thoiseacht. Fuair CAIRDE Teo páirtmhaoiniú fosta ó chlár Chiste an Chrannchuir Mhóir.

Dúirt Joanne McDowell, Stiúrthóir le Ciste an Chrannchuir Mhóir: “Tá lúcháir orm go raibh muid in ann tacú le hobair CAIRDE Teo tríd an scéim Awards for All. Tugann an scéim maoiniú do thionscadail a chuidíonn le hathruithe dearfacha a dhéanamh i bpobail agus a fhorbraíonn scileanna nua ag an am céanna. Léiríonn an tionscadal seo é seo go foirfe agus tréaslaím leo ar rath an tionscadail.”

Chomh maith le dhá ghearrchúrsa a dhéanamh a bhí creidiúnaithe ag Scoil Oideachais Ollscoil na Banríona a dhírigh ar Chumarsáid agus Scileanna Meáin agus ar an Gheilleagar Sóisialta agus Fiontraíocht Chultúrtha, bhí na daoine óga bainteach leis an Chlár Sochfhiontraíochta de chuid Invest NI a chuidíonn le hábhar fiontraí gnóthaí a thoiseacht sa gheilleagar sóisialta. Soláthraíodh an chuid seo den tionscadal i gcomhar le Stephen McClelland as Gníomhaireacht Fiontraíochta an Iúr agus Múrna.

Agus é ag cur fáilte roimh an tionscadal, dúirt an tUasal McClelland:

“Tá tionscadal eile seolta ag CAIRDE Teo a chuirfeas leis an gheilleagar sóisialta in Ard Mhacha a bheas mar spreagadh eacnamaíoch, pobail agus cultúrtha. Deis iontach atá ann do na daoine óga agus tá súil agam go mbeidh ról lárnach ag roinnt acu in earnáil na sochfhiontraíochta as seo amach”.

Tháinig an smaointeoireacht leis an tionscadal SEAS a dhéanamh as na pleananna uaillmhianacha le hionad úr Gaeilge ar chostas £1.5 milliún a thógáil sa chathair. Tabharfaidh an infheistíocht seo sa gheilleagar áitiúil deiseanna nua do dhaoine óga atá ag cuartú fostaíochta in earnálacha na turasóireachta, na hoidhreachta cultúrtha, na meáin agus na Gaeilge. Tá sé fhiontar áitiúil i ndiaidh suim a léiriú lonnú sa lárionad fiontraíochta cultúrtha cheana féin. Tá curtha in iúl ag stiúrthóirí an ionaid úir, Aonach Mhacha, gur mhaith leo go mbeadh an foirgneamh nua ina lárionad d’fhiontair nua cultúrtha.

It was a case of lucky 13 for a group of local students last Friday night as they took centre stage at an awards presentation ceremony in Armagh City Hotel. Friday 13th marked the graduation of thirteen young people aged 17 to 22 years old who successfully completed a ten month programme of engagement with local Irish language social enterprise, CAIRDE Teo.

The ‘SEAS’ youth enterprise project was launched during ‘Seachtain na Gaeilge’ (Irish Language Week) back in March 2013 and was intended to increase the capacity of young Irish speakers in Armagh City to generate revenue and employment using their own unique set of skills and experience. A combination of Queens University Belfast accredited courses, field trips, study visits, work placements and residentials were designed to equip the young people with the necessary skills and experience to identify gaps in local product and service provision and to explore social entrepreneurial solutions to local issues.

Dr Tess Maginess, Director of Undergraduate Programmes in the School of Education at Queens University and Professor Paul Stewart, Professor of the Sociology of Work and Employment at the University of Strathclyde presented the students with their scroll certificates at presentation ceremony that was accompanied by traditional music, a wine reception and a gala Christmas Party in the City Hotel.

The successful applicants, most of whom attended Irish medium schools in the area, were able to avail of work placements in a number of local enterprises, gaining first-hand knowledge of what it takes to work in the vibrant third sector. The project was co-funded by the Inspiring Youth Enterprise programme – an initiative of the RBS group, parent of Ulster Bank in Northern Ireland, which provides grants to encourage more young people to explore enterprise, build their skills, start up and succeed in business. CAIRDE Teo also received funding for the project from the Big Lottery Fund Awards for All programme.

Joanne McDowell, the Big Lottery Fund’s NI Director said: “I am delighted that we have been able to support the work of CAIRDE Teo through our Awards for All programme. Awards for All funds projects that help bring about positive changes in communities and develop skills. This project is a great example of that and I would like to congratulate them on their success.”

In addition to completing two short courses, accredited by Queens University School of Education, focussing on Communication and Media Skills and the Social Economy and Cultural Enterprise, the young people also engaged with Invest NI’s Social Entrepreneurship Programme which assists budding entrepreneurs to set up new businesses in the social economy. This aspect of the project was jointly delivered with Stephen McClelland of Newry and Mourne Enterprise Agency.

Welcoming the project, Mr McClelland stated:

“CAIRDE Teo has launched yet another new project that enhances the potential of the social economy in Armagh and in the wider district to be an agent of economic, community and cultural regeneration. This is a tremendous opportunity for all the young people involved and I hope to see many of them go on to become significant players in the social economy sector”.

The SEAS project was partly inspired by ambitious plans to build a new £1.5million Irish language and cultural centre in the city. This significant investment in the local economy will offer new opportunities for young people who are seeking employment in the tourism, cultural heritage, media and Irish language sectors. Six local community based enterprises have already expressed interest in locating within the new cultural enterprise hub. Directors of the proposed new centre, named Aonach Mhacha, have expressed a desire to see the new building evolve as an incubation hub for new and emerging cultural enterprises.

Commenting on the double celebration, CAIRDE Teo Director, Professor Paul Stewart, said:

“The success of this project will go some way to helping us achieve our goal of inspiring a new generation of social and cultural entrepreneurs in Armagh. Youth unemployment is now an endemic feature of the local economy. As an alternative to low paid and insecure employment, CAIRDE is encouraging young people to look at creative and stimulating ways of generating income and jobs through cultural enterprise. By learning how to identify and to fill gaps left by the private and public sectors, our young people could potentially act as both agents of social change and stimulators of the local economy.

“I’d like to thank all our funders and our partners who have contributed to the successful delivery of the ‘SEAS’ project. The schemes would not have got off the ground without the tremendous help and support of Queens University Belfast, Invest NI, Newry and Mourne Cooperative Enterprise Agency, RBS Inspiring Youth Enterprise, Big Lottery Fund, Coláiste Chaitríona, Macha Media, Foras na Gaeilge and all the team at Aonach Mhacha.”