Irish language increase in Donegal Gaeltachts

© Donegal Democrat

A Fine Gael Glenties electoral area councillor was delighted to learn the Donegal Gaeltacht area is the most vibrant in the State and the Irish language is being used on a more regular basis outside this area.



Councillor Padraig Ó’Dochartaigh was commenting on recent statistics that were made available to him at a recent sitting of Glenties electoral meeting. The survey outlined how the vibrant gaeltacht area in Donegal enjoyed being the region where Irish is spoken more frequently than any other area within the State. Cllr. Ó Dochartaigh said: ‘There is a lot of Irish being spoken in Letterkenny and other regions of the county. A lot of different households speak Irish. There are many Irish speakers living in the Letterkenny area. There is a huge demand for the Gaelscoileanna out there.’ In County Donegal in 2006 there was 50,415 households of which 25,620 households indicated that they were Irish households with Irish speakers. In addition there was 8,711 total private households in the Gaeltacht area of which over 80 per cent indicated that they were Irish speakers. County Donegal’s figure was above the average figure for the Gaeltacht area in the State at 80.1 per cent.

Enterprising Donegal Business Week 2009

Donegal County Enterprise Board would like to confirm that ‘Enterprising Donegal Business Week 2009’ will take place from March 20th until March 27th.
Included this year in the Business Week are a range of events including workshops, seminars and a number of local and national case studies that are hoped will give direction and practical help to both existing and planned businesses in surviving and in preparing for the future.
For further details, please see attached brochure and timetable.
Brochure
Timetable
Full details available at http://www.donegalenterprise.ie/dceb/Feature.aspx?ID=532

Citizens Information - Faisnéis do Shaoránaigh

A Free Advice & Confidential Service
The Dungloe Citizens Information Officer will be in attendance
In Comharchumann Oileán Árainn Mhóir Teo

On Friday the 24th of April 2009
Between 10.30am – 1.00pm

Dealing with Social Welfare Entitlements, Housing Grants, Insulation Grants, Health Entitlements; Employment Rights, Family Matters, Consumer Rights, Education etc.


No Appointment Necessary

EUROPE TO FUND ISLAND FERRIES PROJECT

An EU grant of more than £230,000 has been awarded to a special cross border partnership to establish how best to design and build a fleet of small ferries to serve remote communities off the Scottish and Irish coastlines.

Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) has partnered with the Department for Regional Development for Northern Ireland and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs in the south to examine a common design and procurement strategy for small ferries which could be used by all three countries.

Funded by the EU’s INTERREG IVA programme, at least eight routes will be examined which covers the West Coast of Scotland and Ireland, including the Ballycastle to Rathlin route in Northern Ireland.

This strategy will help reduce overhead costs and increase the potential for efficiency savings through more joined up working across the jurisdictions.

Ministers from Ireland, north and south, and Scotland have welcomed the development and the benefits that it will bring to the three countries.
Scottish Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said: “This partnership heralds a new way of working together which will improve and enhance ferry services for remote and island communities on both sides of the Irish Sea. In these challenging economic times it is important we improve transport links across Scotland so that communities and individuals can make the fullest possible contribution to our goal of increasing sustainable economic growth for years to come.”
Irish Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht affairs, Éamon Ó Cuív T.D. added, “We welcome this new partnership which draws the three Governments together with the shared goal of looking at delivering improved public services by sharing information and best practice while studying the advantages of common design and procurement.”

In welcoming the EU grant, Minister for Regional Development, in the North of Ireland, Conor Murphy said: “Joint co-operation through this partnership will bring benefits and improvements for our most remote communities. I look forward to the Small Ferries Project leading the way for further collaboration to assist the development of small islands.”


• The grant of £233,750 has been made by the Special EU INTERREG IVA Programme – a Cross-Border Territorial Cooperation Programme for Northern Ireland, the Border Region and Western Scotland. The overall aim of the INTERREG IVA Programme is to: ‘Support strategic cross-border co-operation for a more prosperous and sustainable region.’
• The areas covered will include :
 Alt an Chorrain to Leab Gharbn, Arainn Mor
 Alt an Chorrain to Toraigh
 Ballycastle to Rathlin
 Tarbert to Portavadie
 Gigha to Tayinloan
 Oban to Lismore
 Tobermory to Kilchoan
 Sconser to Raasay

• CMAL, who own property at piers and harbours at more than 21 locations throughout Scotland, are embarking on a programme of investment and improvements which will create better facilities and more opportunities for additional ferry services.
CMAL is a publicly owned company with Scottish Ministers as the sole shareholder.
• The Department for Regional Development (DRD) is one of 11 Northern Ireland Departments created in 1999 by the Departments (Northern Ireland) Order 1999. Their main responsibilities include regional planning, roads, water, public transport and certain policy and support work for air and sea ports;

• The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Ireland aims to promote and support the sustainable and inclusive development of communities both urban and rural, including Gaeltacht and island communities.



MAOINIÚ Á CHUR AR FÁIL AG AN EORAIP DO THIONSCADAL NA MBÁD FARANTÓIREACHTA OILEÁIN

Tá deontas AE os cionn £230,000 bronnta le haghaidh comhpháirtíocht speisialta teasteorann chun a dheimhniú conas is fearr cabhlach bád farantóireachta beag a chruthú chun freastal a dhéanamh ar phobail iargúlta amach ó imeallbhord na hAlban agus na hÉireann.

Tá comhpháirtíocht ar bun idir Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) leis an Roinn Forbartha Réigiúnaí do Thuaisceart Éireann agus an Roinn Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta sa deisceart chun imscrúdú a dhéanamh ar dhearadh coiteann agus straitéis soláthair choiteann do bháid farantóireachta a bhféadfadh na trí thír úsáid a bhaint astu.

Déanfar imscrúdú ar ocht mbealach ar a laghad, le maoiniú ó chlár INTERREG IVA an AE, a chlúdaíonn Cósta Iarthair na hAlban agus na hÉireann, lena n-áirítear bealach Ballycastle go dtí Reachlainn i dTuaisceart Éireann.

Cabhróidh an straitéis seo leis na forchostais a laghdú agus an poitéinseal atá ann do choigiltis éifeachtúlachta a mhéadú trí obair níos comhtháite ar fud na ndlínsí.

Chuir Airí ó Éirinn, an tuaisceart agus an deisceart, agus an Albain fáilte roimh an bhforbairt agus na tairbhí a mbainfidh na trí thír aisti.
Dúirt Aire Iompair na hAlban, Stewart Stevenson: “Cuireann an chomhpháirtíocht seo tús le bealach nua chun comhoibriú a dhéanamh le chéile, a fheabhsóidh agus a chuirfidh le seirbhísí bád farantóireachta do phobail iargúlta agus oileáin ar dhá thaobh Mhuir Éireann. I bhfianaise na gcúinsí dúshlánacha eacnamaíocha seo, tá sé tábhachtach go bhfeabhsaímid naisc iompair ar fud na hAlban ionas gur féidir le pobail agus daoine aonair cúnamh a thabhairt a mhéid is féidir lenár sprioc chun fás inbhuanaithe eacnamaíoch a mhéadú a bhaint amach ar feadh na mblianta amach romhainn.”
Dúirt an tAire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta, Éamon Ó Cuív T.D., leis, ”Cuirfimid fáilte roimh an gcomhpháirtíocht nua seo a thugann trí Rialtas le chéile agus sprioc comhroinnte acu chun féachaint do sheirbhísí poiblí feabhsaithe a sheachadadh trí fhaisnéis agus sárchleachtas a roinnt agus ag an am céanna staidéar a dhéanamh ar buntáistí an dearaidh agus soláthair choitinn.”

Dúirt an tAire Forbartha Réigiúnaí i dTuaisceart Éireann agus fáilte á cur aige roimh an deontas AE: “Maidir le comhoibriú trasteorann beidh buntáistí agus feabhsaithe i gceist dár bpobail is iargúlta trín gcomhpháirtíocht seo. Táim ag súil leis an treoir a chuirfidh Tionscadal na mBád Farantóireachta ar fáil chun a thuilleadh comhoibrithe a dhéanamh le cúnamh a thabhairt le forbairt na n-oileán beag.”


• Cuireadh an deontas £233,750 ar fáil trí Chlár Speisialta INTERREG IVA an AE – Clár Comhoibrithe Chríche Trasteorann do Thuaisceart Éireann, don Réigiún Teorann agus d’Iarthar na hAlban. Is í aidhm fhoriomlán an Chláir INTERREG IVA chun: ‘Tacaíocht a thabhairt do chomhoibriú straitéiseach trasteorann le haghaidh réigiúin níos rathúla agus níos inbhuanaithe.’
• Ar na ceantair a chlúdófar, áireofar :
 Alt an Chorráin go dtí Leab Gharbh, Árainn Mhór
 Alt an Chorráin go dtí Toraigh
 Ballycastle go dtí Reachlainn
 Tarbert go dtí Portavadie
 Gigha go dtí Tayinloan
 Oban go dtí Lismore
 Tobermory go dtí Kilchoan
 Sconser go dtí Raasay

• Tá CMAL, ar leo maoin ag céanna agus cuanta ag breis is 21 suíomh ar fud na hAlban, ag tabhairt faoi chlár infheistíochta agus feabhsuithe a chruthóidh saoráidí níos fearr agus níos mó deiseanna le haghaidh seirbhísí breise bád farantóireachta.
Is cuideachta faoi úinéireacht phoiblí é CMAL, a bhfuil Airí na hAlban ina scairshealbhóir aonair.
• Tá an Roinn Forbartha Réigiúnaí (DRD) ar ceann de 11 Roinn i dTuaisceart Éireann, a cruthaíodh sa bhliain 1999 leis an Departments (Northern Ireland) Order 1999. Áirítear ar a bpríomhfhreagrachtaí, pleanáil réigiúnach, bóithre, iompar poiblí agus obair áirithe bheartais agus tacaíochta do chalafoirt aeir agus farraige;

• Tá sé mar aidhm ag an Roinn Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta, Éire, forbairt inbhuanaithe agus uileghabhálach phobal, idir uirbeach agus tuaithe, a chur chun cinn agus a thacú, lena n-áirítear pobail Ghaeltachta agus oileáin.
Chun a thuilleadh faisnéise a fháil, déan teagmháil le Andrew Flockhart, CMAL, ar 01475-749920 nó cuir rphost chuig andrew.flockhart@cmassets.co.uk

Issued by the Press & Information Office at the Dept. of Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs
Eisithe ag Oifig Preasa & Eolais na Roinne Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta.

Earraí Leictreach Ré-caite/End-of-life White Goods

Is féidir earraí leictreach ré-caite a thabhairt go chlós an chomharchumainn le linn
uaireanta oscailte an stóir ar na dátaí a leanas:
De Luain 23 Márta go dtí De hAoine 27 Márta 2009

Má theastaítear éileamh a dhéanamh ar sheirbhís bhailithe, is féidir teangbháil a dhéanamh leis an chomharchumann ag 074 9520533. Gearrfar táille de €10.00 le haghaidh na seirbhíse seo.

End-of-life electrical goods can be taken to an comharchumann yard during opening hours only, on the following dates:
Monday 23 March until Friday 27 March 2009
A collection fee of €10.00 will apply to goods which are collected from households.
For Further Information: 074 9520533

Vulgar speech of masses translated into sweet tongue of the Gael

IRISH TIMES 18/3/2009

Once upon a time there was a country which had all but lost its native language. This was considered a great pity and a drive was launched to restore the fading tongue.

It was more than just a linguistic exercise - it was a movement for national renewal. It was felt that the people’s soul had crumpled under the weight of foreign oppression. The symptoms were seen to include the vulgarisation of common speech and thought. Dirty words and impure talk had polluted the crystal-clear stream of nationality. That country was Ireland of course, and the movement that emerged was based on the slogan, ‘Glaine inár gcroí, neart inár ngéag is beart de réir ár mbriathar’, which translates as, ‘Purity in our hearts, strength in our limbs and deeds to match our words’. But the ideals became somewhat fossilised and the role model turned into a stereotype. In time, Flann O’Brien would satirise male Irish-speakers as those who ‘have nuns’ faces, wear bicycle-clips continuously, talk in Irish only about ceist na teangan, and have undue confidence in Irish dancing as a general nationalistic prophylactic’. The policy of State compulsion having failed in its objective of achieving an Irish-speaking society, the language movement turned to persuasion: let’s meet the people half way, try a little bilingualism, and convert their common parlance into the first official language. This curious book could be seen as part of that scenario. The vulgar speech of the masses is here translated into the sweet and kingly tongue of the Gael by Garry Bannister, who has extensive experience teaching Irish at third level. As Alan Titley writes in his foreword, the author ‘does not shirk away from some of the more risqué, bawdy or crude street and back-lane turns of phrase’. Whatever about ‘purity in our hearts’, there is little purity of speech in this pocket-sized volume and it reflects the widespread vulgarisation of public discourse where ‘rude’ words are now commonplace. Many Irish variations of the F-word are provided. However, the author may have trouble with those latter-day puritans, the Politically Correct Brigade, as a number of formulations fall foul of PC standards: lexicographer beware. Although definitely not suitable for children and likely to offend quite a few adults, the book contains some interesting little nuggets. Along with the inevitable ‘Póg mo thóin’ for ‘Kiss my arse’, we have ‘Is fuath liom maidríní lathaí’ (I hate arse-kissers) and ‘Is í mo thóin-se ata le gaoth anseo’ (It’s my arse that’s on the line). Then there is ‘Mallacht Dé ar lucht an doichill’ (Feck the begrudgers) and ‘Is Muireann fireann i mbríste í’ (She’s very butch). Other words and phrases that may appeal include ‘maolsmigeach méileach’ (chinless wonder), ‘slis den seanmhaide’ (chip off the old block), ‘ceann cóc’ (cokehead), ‘rogha le fána’ (cop-out), ‘raiblín’ (nerd) and ‘gaothaire’ (windbag). Under ‘X’ we have: ‘Ba scannán le deimhniú X é’ (It was an X-rated movie). There was a time when this book would have been banned by the censorship board, which would have done wonders for sales and strengthened the argument of those who half-jokingly say the best way to revive Irish is to make it illegal.