Frank Feighan the infamous Fine Gael Gaetacht Spokesperson who doesn't have Irish has in todays Gaelscéal proposed that english speaking Clare Island off Westport in Mayo become a pilot project of changing to a Gaeltacht. He has suggested that the local school on the island (population 160) become a Gaelscoil and has met with the Development officer on Clare Island Donal Ó Sé who is also very taken with the idea. I think this is a great idea as islands have a small population and just say 10 people changing to Irish on an island could make a huge effect also being a Gaeltacht could give less visited islands more year round income - a win win situation all round! This could be rolled out to other islands most notably Rathlin Island pop 70 off the coast off Antrim which would be perfect for such a project. As we know from this forum Irish was spoken up to the 1930's as a community language there and a few semi-native speakers have survived up to recently. Anyone here support such an idea or think it will work?

It might work, if that is what the people on the island want.

Especially the parents of schoolchildren.

Secondary schooling might be an obstacle, though.

The story:
http://www.gaelsceal.ie/nuacht/feighan-ag-iarraidh-oile-n-chliara-ghael

What seems to happen in this country is that communities that were recently Irish-speaking become English-speaking over a relatively short period of time. This happens without much resistance from the communities involved and even with the tacit cooperation of these same communities. Only when the position of the Irish language is so weakened that it can no longer be transmitted naturally from generation to generation do the communities involved become concerned enough to take some sort of action to prevent further language erosion. Then it's too late. The horse has bolted; the stable door can't be closed. Is this what's happening on Clare Island?

The time to put in place structures to support the Irish language is when the language is still strong not when it's so weak that it can't really be revived.

Anyone else got any opinions?

(Message edited by joe on August 06, 2010)

I think any action by any community is to be welcomed.

But the focus of external assistance should be on the strong communities.

I have just returned from Inis Meáin. It is almost 100% Irish-speaking but ... but ... but there are very very few children.

In our Bible of Irish long ago (Peig Sayers) there is a terrifying sentence: Gaelainn a bhí á labhairt sa tigh ach amháin leis an gclainn. (It was Irish that was spoken in the house except to the children.) I fear that habit may also be endemic in all the Irish-speaking areas now: Irish among the adults but English with children.

If only people could learn that speaking the weaker language to the children first gives them an advantage that they will never have again. If only they could be brought to the age of ten speaking Irish only they would never lose it and would aquire a grá for it that would remain with them throughout their lives.

I am in favour of turning Clare Island -- and every other island -- into a Gaeltacht. Are the people of the island in favour?

Could it be just a ruse to get Irish-language grants for the English speakers of the former "Congested Districts" of old? Giving the language grants to all and sundry will ruin the efforts being made to support those who speak Irish already. What might seem like a great "leap forward" could well be the end of the project to recognise the fíor-ghaeltacht. Avaricious eyes have long viewed with envy the grants paid to families who speak Irish and provide accommodation for children learning the language in the summer schools. Why can't the English speakers have those as well? What is the definition of "Gaeltacht". In Scotland it seems to be just the mountainous regions where once the Gaidhlig was spoken but not any more. They've moved on.

We have conducted sociolinguistic research into the various areas where Irish is spoken and there is plenty of information on where and on whom the money for the promotion of spoken Irish should be spent. Is all of that to be ignored by the "cute h--rs" who are currently ruining the country? I mean running ...

Hopefully Frank Feighan will also support those who actually learn and use the language in the rest of the country as well.

I think it's very encouraging-because if it comes to pass,maybe other areas might follow suit.But if this is ever going to work as best as possible,the people of Clare Island need to have a genuine willingness and interest in the language,rather than having it forced onto them.The Gaelscoil will should be a great asset,as children will be taught Irish at as early an age as possible.I think the children of today will play a huge part in the future of our language.

Or not.

Focus should be on areas where the language is still widely spoken. There are Gaelscoils all over the country but this hasn't resulted in the communities becoming Irish speaking.

still, a little-visited island represents a small, closed system. Such would offer the greatest possibility of turning an english speaking area Irish speaking over a generation as compared to an english-speaking town near, and well-connected, to english-speaking towns in the surrounding area.

I agree Antaine but you would need to take local politics into account. There has been longseated barely concealed animosity between English-speaking islands and Irish-speaking islands due to the latter appearing to have access to more funds.

Fine Gael is opposed to Irish in the Leaving Cert and intends to end the study of Irish for most pupils after Junior Cert. (In ten years time? After Primary School? Then ten years later?)

Fine Gael has appointed a chap who doesn't know very much Irish as Shadow Minister for the Gaeltacht. Now he has discovered votes. If he promises to include Cliara in the Gaeltacht he hopes they will vote for him and his party.

Even if the people of Cliara made an all-out effort they might find it difficult to come up to his standard. Still the attitude is what matters. We're really in favour of Irish. Give us the money.

Looked at realistically: who wants to live on an island? Those born there who own land and property and who are used to the old ways look longingly at London, New York and Dublin on TV. Who remains? The old folk. How many young families are there on the island?

Those living on the island have said they like it as it is. What difference is a Gaelscoil going to make? In 50 years time the sons and daughters of the present inhabitants will have returned from their sojourn in America or in some other part of Ireland to take over the farm and life will continue as before.

It's the money and the votes. Irish doesn't count.

In former times during the Highland Clearances -- or even now in the Middle East -- a powerful landlord could clear an island like that of its existing population and replace them with people more to his liking. Not any more. We don't like that kind of bullying in Ireland.

Try money!

Quote:

'Fine Gael is opposed to Irish in the Leaving Cert and intends to end the study of Irish for most pupils after Junior Cert.'

An bhfuil sé sin fíor?

Agus má tá sé,cén fáth?

Tá. Toisc go gcreideann siad go bhfuil vótaí le gnóthaí as an seasamh sin.

http://www.finegael.org/news/a/2788/article/

quote:

after students have completed the Junior Certificate, they should be offered the choice to take Irish to Leaving Certificate level.

Bhí alt ana mhaith i bhFeasta mí nó dhó ó shin a léiríonn go beacht gur baineadh triail as a leithéid de pholasaí i leith teangacha i Sasana; agus gur theip go tubaisteach air.

Tá sé intuigthe cén fáth nach bhfuil sé ag teastáil ó Fhine Gael iallacht a chur ar daltaí an teanga Gaeilge a dhéanamh.Ach ag an am céanna,nuair a bhíonn an Roinn Oideachais i gceist,i m'intinn féin ba chóir le Gaeilge a bheith chomh tábhachtaí le(nó níos tábhachtaí ná) Béarla agus Matamaitic.Mar i ndáiríre,ag deireadh an lae,is ár dteanga é.Is é an chaoi sin i ngach tír eile lena dteanga féin.

Ach,ar an drochuair,má tárlaíonn agus nuair a thárlaíonn sé sin,ceapaim nach mbeadh staidéar a dhéanamh ar Gaeilge ach ar roinnt níos lú na daltaí,mar tá ábhair eile spéisiúila le déanamh,dar leis an roinnt níos mó.

Má tá an ceart agam faoi sin,déanfaidh sé dochar breise don teanga Gaeilge.

quote:

tá ábhair eile spéisiúila le déanamh

Níos fusa; pointí níos fearr...

Tá an córas ina iomláine briste, agus ní bheidh aon tionchar ag spraoi thart leis an nGaeilge sa chóras ar sin.

Múinteoirí líofa, spreagtha atá de dhíth. Sa Bhéarla, sa Ghaeilge, sa Mhata agus i ngach ábhar eile. Ach ansin córas nach gcuireann dris cosáin rompu.

"It's the money and the votes. Irish doesn't count. "

Such is the same case when it comes to any western government's involvement in anything.

There's an old saying, "a man has two reasons for doing anything, a good reason and the real reason"

Money and votes are always the "real reason" when it comes to government. The trick for the voters is to elect people who can be used as tools to get the "good reason" accomplished as well...

Níos fusa freisin,cinnte.

Agus an lúide daltaí atá ag staidéar Gaeilge faoi láthair,an lúide múinteoirí líofa spreagmhar Gaeilge a bheidh ann sna blianta ar ball.

Sin atá ag tarlú leis na blianta, faraor.

Ní sa Ghaeilge amháin - níl cúrsaí mata mórán níos fearr.

Geilleagar cliste, mo thóin!

Go deimhin,tá an ceart agat go h-iomlán.Mise ar aon intinn.

Dob'fhearr liom go roghnaítí áit beagáinín níos mó chun Gaeltacht nua a chur ar bun ann, áit gurbh fhéidir meánscoil a bheith ann chomh maith. Mar shampla, dá socaraítí Gaeltacht Oileán Chléire a dhéanamh níos treise, dob'fhéidir an Sciobairín go léir a chur lastigh de theorainneachaibh na Gaeltachta, agus mar sin do bheadh meanscoil ann do pháistíbh Oileán Chléire chomh maith.

Más ón bpobal aníos atá an smaoineamh ag teacht, feidhmeoidh sé le tacaíocht ón Stát. Ní oibreoidh a mhalairt. De réir mo thuiscint, ag tacú le scéim áitiúil a bhí ann roimhe a bhí Feighan, i. an ghnáth cleas - polaiteoir ag teacht i dtír ar shaothar dhaoine eile, chun aird a tharraingt óna lochtanna féin...

Ní fheicim and buntáiste atá ag baint le seo, in fhírinne. Nuair a amharcann tú ar Oileáin Acla nó Inis Bigil nó Béal a Mhuirthead, áiteachaí atá cheanna féin faoi bhrat an nGaeltacht, tá siad ag troid go tréan sna háiteachaí siúd chun í a chosaint, agus níl ag eirigh go maith leofa caitear a rá, agus tá easpa áird, infrastructúr, suim agus maoinú caite ar a son mar atá sé. Ba chóir dófa díriú isteach ar na Gaeltachtaí atá againn i Mhaigh Eo cheanna féin sular thosaíonn siad ag baint triail as tograí eile.

I would like to see how well this project goes and see if they succeed.

But in my opinion saving Irish in places like An Spidéal is more importnant than making Clare island Irish speaking.