mainoff.gif
lastdyoff.gif
lastwkoff.gif
treeoff.gif
searchoff.gif
helpoff.gif
contactoff.gif
creditsoff.gif
homeoff.gif


The Daltaí Boards » Archive: 2005- » 2010 (January-February) » Archive through January 26, 2010 » Permanent North American Gaeltacht « Previous Next »

Author Message
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Paploo
Member
Username: Paploo

Post Number: 21
Registered: 06-2009


Posted on Wednesday, January 13, 2010 - 01:28 pm:   Small TextLarge TextEdit Post Print Post

I was reading about this on wikipedia and a few things stuck me as weird. I have never been there nor do I know much about it but the thing that most stood out was:

quote:

It is also the only gaeltacht in the world without any population[citation needed], thus not a gaeltacht in the Irish sense of the word, an area where Irish remains the daily language.



So the name is the Permanent North American Gaeltacht but no one lives there so I don't see how it can be considered permanent if people only move there once a year or how its considered a gaeltacht without anyone speaking the language on a daily basis.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permanent_North_American_Gaeltacht

I just wanted to hear other peoples opinions.

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Seánw
Member
Username: Seánw

Post Number: 384
Registered: 07-2009


Posted on Wednesday, January 13, 2010 - 01:39 pm:   Small TextLarge TextEdit Post Print Post

I think permanent in the sense that it isn't sometimes Irish, sometimes English. I don't see any mention of permanent on their website.

http://www.anghaeltacht.ca/GAELTACHT/gaeltacht_index.htm

(Message edited by seánw on January 13, 2010)

I ndiaidh a chéile a thógtar na caisleáin.

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Antaine
Member
Username: Antaine

Post Number: 1442
Registered: 10-2004


Posted on Thursday, January 14, 2010 - 09:43 am:   Small TextLarge TextEdit Post Print Post

It's permanent in the sense that groups like Daltaí na Gaeilge run immersion programs in North America...when they do, a "gaeltacht" appears for three days or a week (depending on the month, there are three weekend programs, a full-week program and several single-day programs in any given year)...but Daltaí holds its program at a retreat center or conference center that is given to other uses at other times (they don't own it). When the program is over, the "gaeltacht" dissolves.

What this group has done is to purchase its own property for its own facility (it's very small now...building buildings takes money), so it's essentially a year-round immersion program that exists 24/7/365 even though any given individual is not likely to be there during the entire period.

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Aonghus
Member
Username: Aonghus

Post Number: 9543
Registered: 08-2004


Posted on Thursday, January 14, 2010 - 10:34 am:   Small TextLarge TextEdit Post Print Post

How active is it, does anybody know? The website seems not to have changed much (or at all) since 2007.

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Taidhgín
Member
Username: Taidhgín

Post Number: 610
Registered: 07-2006
Posted on Thursday, January 14, 2010 - 02:57 pm:   Small TextLarge TextEdit Post Print Post

Is deas an smaoineamh é. It is a good idea.

I would wish it to succeed. Thinking about it however I can see many pitfalls (driseacha cosáin)that make me think it will not be easy.

Here in Ireland volunteers are scarce now.

Worse still the deontas has almost killed off the idea of people getting together themselves without Government assistance and forming a cooperative, kibbutz, commune, limited company, consortium, or such like with a view to furthering any objective such as an Irish language centre.

George Orwell's "Animal Farm" predicted the demise of such "combinations of like-minded people" and even the powerful motivation of religion has lost its power.

All the best salmon rivers of Ireland have the ruins of once-prosperous monasteries along their banks. Even those that survive are unlikely to outlast this generation. Who now remembers the religious Sodalities of long ago.

Trade Unions still thrive however and the modern economy is founded on companies and corporations whose objectives are far from philanthropic as we all know from bitter experience. (ciall cheannaithe) Nevertheless they and Governments go some way to restrain the greed and avarice that drives the human race.

If those who own this land have a legal entity that can be validated and are a registered "Charity" or "Company Limited by Guarantee" they could raise a vast amount of money from people like me. If it is some private individual who has bought a tract of land and owns it personally no one will subscribe to the building of a college or even an Irish-speaking community on it.

It could be done however.

Regarding the word Gaeltacht I think we should reserve it for areas where Irish is used in public as a community language and where families speak Irish and are rearing children through Irish. A Gaeltacht without a school has no future.

I hope the Canadian idea prospers but paper never refused ink and I suspect it is a story that sprouted legs in the media.

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Taidhgín
Member
Username: Taidhgín

Post Number: 611
Registered: 07-2006
Posted on Thursday, January 14, 2010 - 03:17 pm:   Small TextLarge TextEdit Post Print Post

Some further ideas before I move on: what was bought can be sold! Unless there is some legally binding provision for permanent dedication to the promotion of the Irish language it will be impossible to raise funds from the public. Whoever received the money could spend it as they liked. Said he, thinking "Las Vegas here I come." Honesty seems to be in short supply these days.

One of the beauties of the Gaelscoil movement is that donations and gifts are obviously going to a school and to the children and teachers who form the school. Donors can see the little children in their distinctive uniforms and can hear them speaking the language.

Most Gaelscoileanna have members of staff who came through Irish-medium education themselves so self-generating growth is well-established.

Whether the same generosity and sense of purpose can be harnessed for any other kind of language centre is debatable. Even in Ireland although "Straitéis 20 Blian" envisages such a development at least in major cities. "Sabhail Mór Ostaig" san Eilean Sgitheanach in Albain / Scotland is an example of a venture that succeeded however.

I hope people will pursue this idea both in Ireland and abroad.

Sin a bhfuil agam don uair seo.

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Seánw
Member
Username: Seánw

Post Number: 387
Registered: 07-2009


Posted on Thursday, January 14, 2010 - 05:58 pm:   Small TextLarge TextEdit Post Print Post

Authentic grassroots movements often rekindle the flame of passion people have for something, or lead to a discovery of a passion someone lacked. You also then take that flame and place under the arse of the government. They then, hopefully, rediscover what they are supposed to be there for. Often past movements were incorporated into the government, but then over time it gets bogged down by bureaucracy and conflicting motives. People can't be afraid to just try something to see if it sticks. This Gaeltacht managed to get some influential eyes to look upon it. It can't hurt, right? It also sends the true message that Irish interests a lot of people in relation to the population of Ireland. People will continue to regard Irish as a valuable national asset to be protected and promoted.

I ndiaidh a chéile a thógtar na caisleáin.

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Bodhrán
Member
Username: Bodhrán

Post Number: 63
Registered: 09-2009
Posted on Thursday, January 14, 2010 - 08:23 pm:   Small TextLarge TextEdit Post Print Post

quote:

I hope the Canadian idea prospers but paper never refused ink and I suspect it is a story that sprouted legs in the media.


?

I am one of the early shareholders in this wonderful Canadian idea and it has been money well spent. I've attended classes at this Gaeltacht which are run by Aralt's very active group and you couldn't ask for nicer and more knowledgeable people. The North American Gaeltacht folks remind me alot of all the wonderful teachers and others who support Daltai here in the States.

David


(Message edited by bodhrán on January 14, 2010)

www.IrishBooksAndGifts.com

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Guevara
Member
Username: Guevara

Post Number: 54
Registered: 04-2007
Posted on Friday, January 15, 2010 - 07:24 am:   Small TextLarge TextEdit Post Print Post

Just wondering if there are plans for the Gaeltacht area to have a North American Irish college providing Irish language courses and other arts and crafs courses from March to October each year a la Oideas Gael as there is a North American Gaelic College called the Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts in St.Anne's Cape Breton Island, Nove Scotia which gives classes in Scots Gaelic, bagpiping, fiddle and singing.



©Daltaí na Gaeilge