English

 There was an inspiring energy and positive atmosphere at the public meeting organised by language enthusiasts in Dublin last week. It was announced that there was a new campaigning group with the aim to provide a radical voice for the Irish language community in Ireland.

More than fifty people listened to me and well known historian; Aindrias Ó Cathasaigh discuss the suitable methods for the recovery of the Irish language in the new millennium. There was an eager discussion after among the crowd and it was apparent that there was a wide acceptance that there is a dire need for an Irish language movement independent of state funding and non-party political.

Language enthusiasts played homage to the powerful symbolism and powerful politics that the strong leaders before them propagated by namingthe group MISNEACH.

When MISNEACH was established in the 60s with Máirtín Ó Cadhain et al declaring that the recovery of the Irish language equalled the recovery of the country, it was clearly understood that they were willing to challenge the state with regards to the constant failure regarding the progression of the Irish language and Gaeltacht.

They showed that you could inspire a spark of courage in the next generation with a radical act pressuring the authorities to follow through on their promises. They showed that the most important developments in the revival of the Irish language come from the bottom up.

They inspired a group of young Belfast Gaels from the Cluain Ard Club that established their own urban Gaeltacht and school that inspired a community based revival in the six counties. Ó Caidhain’s motto was in the ears of young Gaeltacht Gaels as well when they established their own radio station to shame the southern Government into addressing the needs and rights of the Irish language community.

Despite the Government in the South announcing “comprehensive policies” for the Irish language through the language’s 20 year strategy, for the first time in the history of the state, the commitments were proved false at once with severe cuts to the Gaeltacht Authorities’ budget; rationalization of Irish language organisations; the Government’s recommendation to close the language commissioner’s office and move the commissioners responsibilities to the Ombudsman’s office and to end the funding for teachers attending three week immersion education courses in the Gaeltacht.

In the north, it is apparent to the Irish language community all to regularly that it is only hot air regarding the “new era” where protection, support and development for the language is promised within the boundaries of the conflict resolution project that developed from the peace process here in the North.  It is a place where Gaels are treated as second class citizens and the democratic Council threaten that they will lose state funding from the Tourist Board if the tourist signs aren’t in English only, a place where travel services are refused to children receiving an Irish medium Education.

This modern context provides a place for a campaigning group that will be happy to elevate their voice; stand in solidarity with suppressed Gaels and to ask the hard questions when needed.

Enthusiasts at the meeting in Dublin agreed however, that the campaigning methodology utilised in the 60′s will not suit the new millennium.

An open, flexible and sensory approach is needed for the next generation of Gaels to form their own creativity for our language and our future.

 

 

 

Béarla

Glór na Móna started a new course sponsored by Foras na Gaeilge in the local primary schools back in January. The twelve week Irish language programme began in Ballymurphy’s St Bernadette’s Primary School and St Aidan’s Christian Brothers Primary School on the Whiterock Road. Brónagh Fusco, Glór na Móna’s development officer stated, “we began this project in St Benadette’s and St Aidan’s as we understand the importance of addressing not only the needs of fluent Irish speakers in the community but also those with no prior experience. It is important to educate and nourish young people’s interest with regards to their culture and language.” Project facilitator Máirtín MacGabhann added, “It’s a very enjoyable project to work on as a facilitator due to the children’s enthusiasm, their language skills are constantly developing. And that is what is important, developing the children’s language skills in an enjoyable environment.” It seems that the project is progressing nicely with a new generation of young Gaels coming through English medium primary schools.

Béarla

Glór na Móna’s leaners attended a Gaeltacht trip in Glencolmcille at the weekend. We went with Gaelphobal from Strabane and Glór an Ghleanna. It was an immersion trip and with regards to the ideology behind it, it provides learners with the opportunity to ommerse themselves in the language for a full weekend. Whilst visiting Donegal, everyone was encouraged to use their Irish as much as possible. The weekend’s motto was “Irish where possible,, English if neccessary” and everyone stuck with it.

The weekend was a thoroughly enjoyable one with great food, craic, entertainmment and company. A big thank you to everyone who participated and made the weekend. An Ghaeilge Abú!

 

English

This year marks 120 years since the founding of the Gaelic League, set up to revive the Irish language and this year Irish speakers and language enthusiasts all over the world are celebrating Bliain na Gaeilge (Year of the Irish language) including Glór na Móna.

Glór na Móna arranged a range of events to celebrate Seachtain na Gaeilge, an international Irish language festival runs from the 4^th-17^th of March. These events included a lecture with Jake Jackson on the Revival of the Irish language in Belfast,  a visit from Plúra Lúra agus na Bopóga for tiny Gaels and an interactive story circle with Seán MacSeáin agus Máire MhicSeáin in Cumann Óige Uachtar Chluanaí. We also launched the bilingual version of the Green Cross code with St Aidan’s Christian Brothers Primary School and Bunscoil an tSleibhe Dhuibh in partnership with the Upper Springfield Resource Centre with the Environment Minister.

One hundred young Gaels descended on Coláiste Feirste to celebrate Seachtain na Gaeilge which was a highlight. Glór na Móna organised a quiz between the local Gaelscoils, Gaelscoil na bhFál, Gaelscoil na Móna, Gaelscoil an Lonnáin and Bunscoil an tSléibhe Dhuibh were all in attendance and the competition was fierce. Every school wanted to lift the Glór na Móna cup and bring it back to their school but there could only be one winner! All the teams were great but it was Gaelscoil na bhFál and Gaelscoil na Móna who reached the final and in the end, Gaelscoil na Móna were victorious.

Glór na Móna’s Development Officer Brónagh Fusco commended all who participated, “well done to all the schools and the children and well done to Cumann Gaelach Coláiste Feirste who were a fantastic support on the day welcoming all the young Gaeilgeoirs to the event. Maith sibh.”

Feargal MacIonnrachtaigh , Glór na Móna’s chairperson said of Seachtain na Gaeilge’s events, “It is great to see young people embracing and enjoying their culture, and using their native tongue in the process is a promising sign that the revival of the Irish language is flourishing in the younger generation.”

 

English

Glór na Móna’s chairperson Feargal MacIonnrachtaigh will be launching his sensational new book Language, Resistance and Revival in Coláiste Feirste on Thursday the 18th of April at 19:30.

Language, Resistance and Revival tells the untold story of the truly groundbreaking linguistic and educational developments that took place among Republican prisoners in Long Kesh prison from 1972-2000.

During a period of bitter struggle between Republican prisoners and the British state, the Irish language was taught and spoken as a form of resistance during incarceration. The book unearths this story for the first time and analyses the rejuvenating impact it had on the cultural revival in the nationalist community beyond the prison walls.

Based on unprecedented interviews, Feargal Mac Ionnrachtaigh explores a key period in Irish history through the original and ‘insider’ accounts of key protagonists in the contemporary Irish language revival. Maith thú a Fheargail!

 

English

Seachtain na Gaeilge is coming up and plenty will be going on amongst all the language groups this year especially due to this year’s significance, it’s the year of the Irish language!

We have plenty of our own events planned, there are youth events with a storytelling workshop, a visit from the Bopóga, a residential and a competitive quiz between local gaelscoils all included. We also have an Intensive Irish language course on the 9th of March and a lecture by Jake McSiacais on “The Revival of the Irish language in Belfast” on the 5th of March especially for the adults!

Keep an eye out for our Seachtain na Gaeilge programme and for more information, contact the office on 90 234442 or oifig@glornamona.com

English

Glór na Móna do a monthly radio show with Ráidió Fáilte and we always try to address our young people and their interests. This month, we had the young people from Cumann Óige Chluanaí on speaking. The young Gaels were talking about their hobbies and their favourite music artists, and we were lucky enough to have the Cumann Óige Chluanaí members pick the music for the show.

We also  had Orliath an d Conchúr from Fórám n n-óg on the programme speaking as well. Orliath and Conchúr addressed the importance of Irish medium youth work and the importance of providing young gaels to use their language on a social basis outside of school time. It should be an interesting show, listen in to Ráidió Fáilte 107.1fm  on Tuesday the 26^th of February at 11:00am and Friday the 1^st of March at 1:00pm to hear the show.

English

OCN Training

Orliath Glennon and Conchúr ÓMuadaigh from Fóram na n-Óg facilitated a OCN training in Leadership in Youth Work and a wide range of Irish language groups took part. There were representatives from Glór an Ghleanna, An Droichead, Glór na Móna, Feachtas and Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta. The training took place over a weekend in Castlewellan and was enjoyed by all (despite the hard work involved). There is no doubt that that ever organisation who took part in the training will benefit from the great training that was provided. Well done to Orliath, Conchúr and everyone who took part!

 

 

English

 

Inez McCormack: a life of struggle on behalf of the marginalised

 

Le Feargal Mac Ionnrachtaigh

 

28-1-13

 

Disadvantaged communities and their advocates are undoubtedly much worse off following the tragic loss of Inez McCormack last week after a short illness. For it was those on the margins who benefitted from Inez’s life work, where her immense skills as an organiser, strategist, negotiator, visionary and leader where put at the service of ordinary people. Inez was a humble leader, though, who developed a modest approach, as ex-president of Ireland, Mary Robinson pointed out, that showed, ‘that you can achieve so much more if you don’t need the credit’.

 

It was in the midst of the turbulent struggle for civil rights in the late sixties that Inez learned that a sincere fight against injustice cannot be mounted unless you are willing to name the issue. She understood that change doesn’t drop from the sky and that you can’t wait for the right ‘circumstances’ to emerge because the right circumstances are never in place for those at the hard end.

 

Inez never backed down from the most difficult issues, regardless of whether it was hospital cleaners, Catholics without employment rights, Protestants without educational opportunities, Irish speakers from Glór na nGael or women suffering from domestic abuse, who were being victimised.

 

She was always willing to place her head above the parapet even when she suffered demonisation because of it. In the eighties, when she stood up for fair employment legislation on behalf of Catholics in the guise of the McBride principles, she was accused of supporting the war. She continued to raise her voice against poverty in the new dispensation, despite the prevailing view that this meant you were against the peace.

 

It could be said, however, that the greatest success of Inez’s life of struggle was that she organised from the bottom-up by believing resolutely in the dignity of marginalised people to take ownership of their own destiny when their participation is honestly sought.

 

As Inez said at a talk she gave in the Upper Springfield area in 2010, ‘the brutal struggle to name the issue is the first battle for change, but if the people who are affected aren’t involved in that struggle to name it, then you will win the day if you’re lucky, but power will regroup the following day.’

 

She showed us that campaigns on behalf of victims of inequality can’t work unless those victims participate fully in the process to name the issue and secure a solution. When Inez continually questioned ‘who wasn’t at the table’, she wasn’t merely seeking a seat at the table for the marginalised, but rather aiming to transform the furniture and shine the spotlight on the ability of power structures to be discretionary about who gets a seat at the table.

 

Since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, Inez understood that policies and legislation weren’t sufficient unless they were implemented in order to challenge patterns of discrimination. She spoke publicly about the ‘walls of exclusion’ that developed post-peace process that fortified deeper socio-economic inequality for the poorest areas in the North; ‘political progress cannot be broken on the backs of the poor’ she stated.

 

She consistently challenged the sectarian agenda and divisive discourse of the new dispensation with its relentless use of ‘good relations’ and a ‘shared future’ to obscure inequality; ‘‘good relations are not good relations if they’re built on silencing the poor’ said Inez.

 

Not only did she give voice to the hardship of victims of these ‘walls of exclusion’ but also organised campaigns by their side; Catholics in north Belfast on the housing waiting list, mental health patients and carers being failed by a system which refused to learn mistakes of the past, children in the Lower Shankill denied basic facilities and services, and the long term unemployed who are denied opportunities created through urban regeneration.

 

She formed the innovative PPR (Participation and Practice of Rights) organisation in order that her unique methodology of struggle could blossom. This inspired a new generation who are just as committed to bottom-up social justice activism that is rooted in the active participation of those on the downside of unequal power relations.

 

Inez has left a powerful legacy that proves how ‘democracy’ and ‘progress’ can only be measured by the change felt by communities on the margins. We should be eternally grateful to Inez for this and the richer understanding we now have as a result of her efforts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96utT_Lovvs