Hi,

I'm a student from Belgium writing a paper about the Irish language. I'm looking for a complete list of state organisations that have to do with the Irish language. I have found an extensive list at www.gaeilge.ie, but it doesn't state whether the organisation is a state organisation or a voluntary organisation...
can anyone help me out please?

thanks very much!
Stephanie

Stephke, in Ireland bodies are sometimes set up by government to administer certain functions that it does not necessarily wish to have administered directly by the Civil Service. Sometimes these bodies are non-statutory, that is they are not based on and controlled by legislation - an act of the Oireachteas (i.e. the three functions or Dáil, Seanad and Presidency). A non-statutory body will have fairly tight terms of reference and is usually closely overseen (not managed - although there can sometimes be secondment) by civil servants in the appropriate government Department. A statutory body, however, is based on a piece of legislation which defines its functions and powers. It tends to be more independent of central control. The act may also specify other practical matters, such as staffing levels, where the body is to be located etc.

Foras na Gaeilge, if I remember correctly, has replaced what used to be known as Bord na Gaeilge. Certainly, it seems to be located at the address of the former Bord.

I suggest that you contact the Foras and enquire directly of them on what basis they are set up. On the briefest of glances the website doesn't seem to give the give the kind of information that you would need in this regard. Quite an omission, I would think.

I hope this helps you.

Foras na Gaeilge also administers grants to voluntary organisations - so it is hard to say where the state sector ends and the private sector begins.

The main ministeries responsible are

http://www.pobail.ie The dept of Rural, Community and Gaeltacht Affairs and

The department of science and education.

http://www.education.ie/home/home.jsp?pcategory=11116&ecategory=11116&language=G A

A large part of the problem is the state's lack of a coherent and cohesive policy.

Another good source of Information is Comhdháil Náisunta na Gaeilge - an umbrella group for many voluntary organisations - see http://www.gaelport.com

Stephke, Foras Na Gaeilge is the body overseeing our dying language.The body has to submit spending plans for projects to the Minister(s) of the Dept of Education and the Dept that deals with the Gaeltacht(Irish speaking regions).Like most depts they are not given enough funds to do a decent job to conserve /promote our ancient language.The irish language is at least 2000 years old but it is not "something that can be traded/sold"."WE are a global economy " is our Govt's mantra and the imperative is Trade,wealth creation, consumerism and to hell with "anything of insignificance that does not promote the Celtic Tiger".From this you can surmise Stephke, that an almost dead language that the Global consumer does not need is irrelevant.
The websites sponsored by the govt give a "sense everything is Rosy in the Garden" when it comes to the Govt's promotion and conservation of the language.
If you can, go to Blogs that have content about the language but do not use Wikipedia for any research as it is "Riddled with inaccuracies"

>>> our dying language.

1. Which is increasing it's no. of speakers at every census.


>>> our ancient language.

2. Which is no more ancient than any other human language. The person who wrote pessimistically above meant: 'our relatively old literature which started with Dallán Forgaill's poem 'Amra Choluim Chille' in the year 597 AD.'
While possessing a word for the equivilent of 'helicopter' in our early literature
https://listserv.heanet.ie/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0006&L=old-irish-l&T=0&P=9033
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mog_Ruith
http://www.shee-eire.com/Magic&Mythology/Warriors&Heroes/Druids/MugRuith/page1.h tm , the modern 'ingearán' is in use and works perfectly in modern society (for a language described as being 'ancient'), as does 'scipéad' which works perfectly for 'cash register' and 'staigre beo' for 'scalator' and one can go on, but just note Stephke a chara, that a language is described according more to the standard of the describer than to it's innate capability as a vehicle of expression, be that modern, industrial, or 'ancient'. Take a lot of what you're told with a pinch of salt, because there are as many ways of demonstrating to others how broken one is as there are broken people to tell a tale.


>>> an almost dead language

3. see point no. 1.

>>> is irrelevant.

4. Pessimism isn't going to make the rest of us take down the violin and cry to some lonesome celtic strain about the wiles of the global market.


>>> The websites sponsored by the govt give a "sense everything is Rosy in the Garden" when it comes to the Govt's promotion and conservation of the language.

5. They can do this and get away with it because those who should be doing something about it, don't bother and just get on-line and let their pent up feelings degenerate into pessimism which they release to all and sundry, Stephke included. They now feel good about it as it has become someone else's problem now. They've done their bit.

An bhfuil an ceart agam nó an bhfuil mé róghéar ort?

Ní fheicim aon mhaith san olagón a dhuine. Nach bhfuil smeachadh den troid fanta ionat? Nach teanga í ar fiú troid ar a son? Nach bhféadfása duine amháin eile a tharraingt chun na Gaeilge, rud a chiallódh go raibh beirt in áit an aon duine amháin?

Braithim ort go bhfuil an cheist ina thromluí ort, rud nár cheart a bheith ar na saolta seo, mar tá cuid againn deimhnithe go bhfuilimid le cur ar son an fheabhais agus an dul chun cinn feasta is go brách. Labhraím le dream atá c. 20-25 bl. d'aois agus níl aon amhras orthusan faoi Acht Teanga a thabhairt isteach ó thuaidh; faoi chur lena gceart agus lena n-éileamh ó dheas.

Molaim duit do mhisneach a chur i mbun do mheanman. Má tharlaíonn do chroí san áit cheart agus tú féin in áit ghá, b'fhéidir go bhféadfá cuidiú go mór le gnóthaí na Gaeilge.

Does anyone here know of a good total immersion program in Ireland?

North Donegal:

http://www.crannog.ie/



For info on courses in Co. Meath’s Ráth Cairn:

http://www.rathcairn.com/gaeilge/failte.htm



UCG’s courses in An Cheathrú Rua, Conamara:

http://www.nightcourses.com/features/arasmhairtin/



Courses in Kerry:

http://www.corca-dhuibhne.com/cindex.html


In South Donegal, with which I must confess a connection, the area is breac-Ghaeltacht only, I post the following. If you are a bunleibhéal starter, you may do more damage going to a Gaeltacht láidir - a strong Gaeltacht area bringing English with you so you may wish to consider a breac-Ghaeltacht area for your first immersion period:

http://www.oideas-gael.com/

Go n-éirí sé leat.

Awesome! GRMA.