Irish Language Scholarship Scheme launched by Ulster GAA
There was cause for celebration in the MAC in Belfast on Monday 8 September as Martin McAviney, the President of the GAA Ulster Council, officially launched the Gaeilge sa Chlub (Irish in the Club) scholarship scheme. There were representatives present from the School of Irish Language and Literature, University of Ulster, and the GAA Ulster Council, at this occasion which celebrates this extremely important joint initiative between the University and the GAA.
This is the second year of the Gaeilge sa Chlub (or ‘Irish in the Club’) scholarship scheme for adult learners of the Irish Language. It aims to promote the use of Irish within clubs throughout Ulster by providing financial assistance to GAA members who sign up for a Diploma in Irish Language course.
Last year, 21 adult GAA members availed of scholarships to undertake university Irish courses at the University of Ulster Belfast and Magee campuses, and in Cookstown. Starting on the 22nd September, the two-year (part-time) course runs for three months in the autumn and three months in the spring. Classes are taught in each centre every Monday evening and one Wednesday evening per month. Additional tasks are completed online and guidance is provided for those with no computing experience. Students are instructed in listening, speaking, reading and writing, and many graduates progress to the degree course in Irish Language and Literature.
Martin McAviney, Uachtarán Chomhairle Uladh CLG, emphasised the continuing importance of Irish promotion to the Ulster Council; “We in Ulster GAA were delighted with the success of Gaelige sa Chlub last year and welcome the opportunity to extend our partnership with the University of Ulster. This scholarship scheme represents an investment in GAA volunteers at grassroots level and will enable many people to achieve a university qualification in Irish, developing their own career prospects and enriching their clubs and communities.”
Dr Malachy Ó Néill, Head of School of Irish Language and Literature at the University of Ulster, has praised this Ulster GAA initiative: “This commitment from Comhairle Uladh enables us to build on a highly successful inaugural year of this scheme. The increased level of support for 2014/15 will enable more GAA members to participate in our new blended programme, maximising the possibilities of traditional teaching methods and digital technologies.”
Prof Ailbhe Ó Corráin, the Director of the Irish and Celtic Studies Research Institute made reference to the importance of this link between the University and the GAA: “An integral part of our work in the University is to have an impact in the wider local community and given that many of our Institute/School members of staff have a connection with various clubs throughout the province I greatly welcome this investment from the GAA which affords people the opportunity to sample our work in University while studying for the Diploma”.
There is sure to be much interest in this scheme throughout the clubs of Ulster and one prominent Tyrone GAA member, Damian Mór Ó Néill, has given a strong endorsement of the course. Speaking at the event he said “Not only has this course helped me fulfil my aim of achieving fluency in Irish, I’ve also acquired new employment as a result of my qualification in Irish and have been greatly assisted in doing so by the Gaeilge sa Chlub initiative.”
For further information on the Diploma in Irish, contact Mrs Ros O’Hagan @ r.ohagan1@ulster.ac.uk or 028 7167 5277. (course at Cookstown and Magee) or Sharon McKee @ s.mckee@ulster.ac.uk or 028 95367482 (courses at Belfast).
To apply for a Gaeilge sa Chlub scholarship, contact Dónal McAnallen, Ulster GAA Cultural Education & Outreach Officer: donal.mcanallen.ulster@gaa.ie or +44 (0)28 37517180.
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Bhí cúis cheiliúrtha sa MAC i mBéal Feirtse Dé Luain 8 Meán Fómhair nuair a rinne Máirtín Mc Aibhne, Uachtarán Chomhairle Uladh CLG an scéim scoláireachta Gaeilge sa Chlub a sheoladh go hoifigiúil. Bhí idir ionadaithe ó Scoil Theanga agus Litríocht na Gaeilge, Ollscoil Uladh agus ionadaithe ó Chomhairle Uladh CLG i láthair ag an ócáid seo a bhí ag déanamh ceiliúradh ar an chomhthionscnamh mórthábachtach seo atá ar bun idir an Ollscoil agus Cumann Lúthchleas Gael.
Seo an dara bliain den mhórchlár urraíochta ar son daoine fásta atá ag foghlaim na Gaeilge. Is é an cuspóir atá ag an scéim úsáid na Gaeilge a spreagadh sna cumainn ar fud Chúige Uladh trí chuidiú airgid a chur ar fáil do bhaill de chuid CLG a chláraíonn leis an chúrsa Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge.
Anuraidh, bhain 21 bhall fásta de chuid CLG leas as scoláireachtaí le tabhairt faoi chúrsaí Ollscoile sa Ghaeilge in Ollscoil Uladh ar champais Bhéal Feirste, Mhig Aoidh agus ar an Chorr Chríochach fosta. Bíonn an cúrsa dhá bhliain (páirtaimseartha) ar siúl ar feadh trí mhí san Fhómhair (ag tosú 22 Meán Fómhair) agus ar feadh trí mhí san Earrach (ag tosú 26 Eanáir) agus déantar ranganna a theagasc i ngach ionad gach tráthnóna Luain (5.30-8.45) agus aon tráthnóna Céadaoin amháin sa mhí. Déantar tascanna breise ar líne agus cuirtear treoir ar fáil do na daoine sin nach bhfuil taithí acu ar na ríomhairí. Déantar an éisteacht, an labhairt, an léitheoireacht agus an scríbhneoireacht a theagasc do na mic léinn agus is iomaí mac léinn a leanann ar aghaidh le céim a dhéanamh i dteanga agus i litríocht na Gaeilge i ndiaidh dóibh an dioplóma a bhaint amach.
Rinne Máirtín Mc Aibhne, Uachtarán Chomhairle Uladh CLG, trácht ar a thábhachtaí atá cur chun cinn leanúnach na Gaeilge ag Comhairle Uladh: “is infheistíocht í an scéim scoláireachta seo in oibrithe deonacha CLG i measc na cosmhuintire agus cuirfidh sé ar chumas cuid mhór daoine cáilíocht ollscoile a bhaint amach sa Ghaeilge, rud a chuirfidh go mór lena ndeiseanna fostaíochta féin chomh leis an phobal thart orthu a shaibhriú.”
Mhol an Dr Malachy Ó Néill, Ceann Scoil Theanga agus Litríocht na Gaeilge in Ollscoil Uladh, an tionscnamh seo de chuid CLG Chúige Uladh. “Cuireann geallúint seo CLG Chúige Uladh ar ár gcumas tógáil ar an an chéad bhliain den scéim seo a raibh rath mór uirthi. Cuireann an tacaíocht bhreise seo do 2014/15 ar chumas níos mó ball de chuid CLG páirt a ghlacadh inár gcúrsa cumaisc úr, cúrsa a dhéanfaidh a mhó de mhodhanna tráidisiúnta teagaisc agus de theicneolaíochtaí digiteacha.”
Thagair an tOllamh Ailbhe Ó Corráin, Stiúrthóir Institiúid Taighde na Gaeilge agus an Léinn Cheiltigh don tábhacht a shiúlann leis an nasc seo idir an Ollscoil agus CLG “is cuid bharrthábhactach den obair s’againn san Ollscoil dul i bfheidhm ar an mhórphobal áitiúil agus ó tharla baint mhór a bheith ag baill foirne na Scoile/ na hInstitiúde le cumainn éagsúla de chuid CLG ar fud an Chúige cuireann sé lúcháir orm go bhfuil an infheistíocht seo déanta ag CLG le deis a thabhairt do dhaoine blas a fháil den obair s’againn san ollscoil agus iad ag gabháil don Dioplóma.”
Is cinnte gur mór an tsuim a bheas ag cumainn ar fud Chúige Uladh sa scéim seo agus tá Gael mór le rá as Tír Eoghain, Damien Mór Ó Néill, i ndiaidh an cúrsa a mholadh go hard na spéire. Ag labhairt dó ar an ócáid dúirt sé “ní hé amháin gur chuidigh an cúrsa seo liom líofacht a bhaint amach sa Ghaeilge, ach tá mé i ndiaidh post a fháil mar gheall ar an cháilíocht seo atá agam sa Ghaeilge agus is mór a chuidigh an tionscnamh Gaeilge sa Chlub leis seo”.
Le haghaidh tuilleadh eolais ar an Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge, déan teagmháil le Ros O’Hagan @ r.ohagan1@ulster.ac.uk nó 028 7167 5277 (cúrsaí ar an Chorr Chríochach agus i Mag Aoidh) nó Sharon McKee @ s.mckee@ulster.ac.uk nó 028 95367482 (cúrsaí i mBéal Feirste).
Le cur isteach ar scoláireacht de chuid Gaeilge sa Chlub, déan teagmháil le Dónall Mac an Ailín, Oifigeach Oideachais Chultúrtha agus For-Rochtana CLG Chúige Uladh: donal.mcanallen.ulster@gaa.ie nó +44 (0)28 37517180.
