Chairmans welcome
Failtiú an Cathaoirligh
Tá Fáilte Uí Cheallaigh romhaibh ag láinseáil ar chlár an fhomhair s’againn inár súil linn tógáil ar deáthoradh an cláir iontach a reachtáil muid san Earrach.
I Mí Eanair, ghlac muid cinneadh bheith féinmharthánach le dtiocfadh linn laghdú suntasach a chuir ar an mhéid a bhí ar mhic léinn ó Phobal s’againn a íoc do chúrsaí chreidiúnaithe.
Go dtí an phointe seo, cosúil le mórchuid na ngrúpaí ar fud na cathrach, chláraigh muid cúrsaí s’againn le hOllscoil na Banríona agus BIFHE, rud a chiallaigh go raibh orthu suas go £90 a íoc do chúrsa cúig sheachain dhéag. Go deimhin, ní féidir le daoine i gceantair bhunaicmeacha cosúil leis an cheantar seo, a leithéid d’airgead a íoc.
An tearma seo caite, áfach, sholáthraigh mé cúrsaí créidiúnaithe 15 seachtaine s’againn féin, ar chostas £30, a d’oibir amach ag dhá phunt in aghaidh an ranga. Chríochnaigh seo le turas saor den scoth chuig Gaeltacht Thí Chonaill, áit ar bhain níos mó na 50 mic léinn an dushult as deireadh seachtaine iontach
Leanann an clár, arb é ár gclár is uaillmhianaí go dtí seo, an cur chuige céanna. Aithníonn muidne go bhfuil i bhfad níos mó i gcéist le foghlaim na Gaeilge ná an go díreach ag freastal ar rang.
Tá cur chuige iomlánaíoch againn d’fhoghlaim na Gaeilge agus tugann muid deis do mhic léinn feiniúlacht s’acu a athghabháil fríd bheith páirteach in athbheochán na Gaeilge ag cibé leibheál ina bhfuil siad compordach.
Tá clár an fhomhair seo pacáilte le cúrsaí nua agus nualaíoch ar a bharr ár bpríomhranganna teanga idir leibheál a 1 agus 5. Le ranganna giotár, ranganna staire, ranganna A’Leibheál, Cumann óige agus traenail san obair óige, sraith léachtanna phobail agus Féile Gaeilge le Bród i Mí na Samhna, ta rud againn d’achan duine.
Tá muid ag iarraidh ar phobal Uachtar Chluanaí agus iad siúd níos faide anonn, an deis seo a bhaint as múinteoirí díograiseacha s’againn agus an seans a ghlacadh ár dteanga dhúchais a fhoghlain i dtimpeallacht shultmhar.
Tá an teanga ann le do dtig le gach duine í a úsáid, a fhoghlaim agus a chur chun cinn. Tapaigh an deis seo chun teacht ar bord linn agus rol a imirt i bhforbairt ár bpobal áitiúil fríd athghbháil chultúrtha.
Is mise le meas,
Feargal Mac Ionnrachtaigh
Chairperson’s welcome
I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome you to the new look website of Glór na Móna, the Irish language and cultural group based in Upper Springfield, west Belfast.
On this site, you can find out more about our jam-packed Autumn Programme, where we hope to build on the success of this year’s fantastic Spring programme.
In January, we took the decision to become self-sufficient in order to drastically reduce what Irish language students from our community pay for accredited language courses.
Up until this point, like most Irish language groups across the city, we registered our courses with Queen’s and BIFHE adult learning institutions and this meant that people were paying up to £90 for 15 week courses.
People in working-class areas such as our own, simply can’t afford this type of money. Last term, however, we provided our own accredited 15 week courses for a fee of just £30, which worked out at exactly £2 a class. This culminated with a fantastic free trip to the Donegal Gaeltacht, where over 50 students enjoyed a great weekend in Teach Jack.
This programme, which is undoubtedly our most ambitious to date, follows the same template. We recognise that there can be more to learning Irish than merely attending a class.
We have an holistic approach to the learning of the language and offer students the chance to reclaim their Irish identity by becoming involved in the cultural revival at whatever level they are most comfortable. This year’s Autumn programme is packed with new and innovative courses in addition to our main language classes from level 1 to 5.
With guitar classes, history classes, A’ level classes, the Irish Medium Youth Club, Youth Work training, community lecture series and Féile Gaeilge le Bród in November, we have something for everyone.
We’re appealing to people in the Upper Springfield area and beyond to avail of our committed teachers and take this unique opportunity to learn our native tongue in an enjoyable environment.
The language is there for everyone to use, promote and learn.
Take this chance to join us and play a part in developing our local community through cultural reconquest!
Is mise le meas,
Feargal MacIonnrachtaigh
