AHRC Centre for Irish and Scottish Studies
10th Language and Politics Symposium on the Gaeltacht and Scotstacht
Queen’s University Belfast, 20–21 September 2010
A Bilingual Strategy for the Irish Language? Implementation and Outcomes
Themes
Bilingualism
Education
Adult Learners
People and Institutions
Language Organisations
Research Basis
Údarás na Gaeilge
Policy
Northern Ireland
Scottish Gaelic
Confirmed Speakers (as of 6 August 2010)
François Grin, University of Geneva (not Tues PM)
Joseph Lo Bianco (via satellite?), University of Melbourne
Conchur Ó Giollagáin, National University of Ireland, Galway
Seosamh Mac Donnacha, National University of Ireland, Galway
'The Role of Capacity Building in Implementing the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language.'
Janet Muller, POBAL, and Dónall Ó Baoill,
‘POBAL’s 20 Year Strategy Proposal for Irish in Northern Ireland’
Helen Ó Murchú, Chair, Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge
Seán Ó Cuirreáin, Irish Language Commissioner
Colm Ó Coisdealbha, Compliance Manger, Office of the Irish Language Commissioner
‘Ensuring implementation/compliance: lessons learned from auditing language schemes’
Aodán Mac Póilin, ULTACH Trust
Dónall Ó Riagáin, Independent Lanuage Consultant, Naas
Liam Ó Cuinneagáin, Oideas Gael, Gleann Cholm Cille (not MON AM)
Ireland and Scotland
John Walsh, National University of Ireland, Galway (not Mon AM) and Wilson McLeod, University of Edinburgh
Gordon McCoy, ULTACH Trust
Scottish Gaelic
Rob Dunbar (Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Board of Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Board of BBC Alba) ‘Bilingualism and Policy’
Kenneth MacKinnon (University of Aberdeen; also Board of Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Board of BBC Alba)
Tim Armstrong (Sabhal Mòr Ostaig)
Dòmhnall MacNèill (Comunn na Gàidhlig)
Annie MacSween (Lews Castle College; also Board of Bòrd na Gàidhlig)
Brian Ó hEadhra (Bòrd na Gàidhlig & Alba Chruthachail) ‘Plans and Reality’
Part 2: A New Policy and Strategy for Scots?
Report from the Ministerial Advisory Group on Scots (chair J. Derrick McClure)
(by members of the group)
John Kirk
Andy Eagle (Scots-Online, Bielefeld)
Other confirmed participants
Maolcholaim Scott, Colmcille
Alasdair MacKinnon, Colmcille
Draft Programme
Sunday 19 September: arrivals (own arrangements)
Monday 20 September (PFC211)
AM: Section 1
PM: Section 2
The 20-year Strategy
Government and its Agencies
The Gaeltacht and its Agencies
Applications
Evening Reception and Meal (South Dining Hall):
Speakers invited: Pat Carey, T.D., Nelson McCausland, MLA, Mike Russell, MSP
Tuesday 21 September (PFC211)
AM: Section 3
Constituency 3: Researchers and Scholars on Irish
Constituency 4: Researchers and Scholars on Scottish Gaelic
PM: Section 4
Constituency 5: Researchers and Scholars on Scots
Business Session: Reports?
End of ‘Language & Politics’ series
Prospectus
A Bilingual Strategy for the Irish Language? Implementation and Outcomes
In this symposium, we wish to consider the bi- and multi-lingual aspect of the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language. In a nutshell, we wish to ask what it means to be ‘bilingual’ in Ireland, and what the role of policy and education to this end is supposed to be? And what wider concepts and experience need to be considered for implementing the Strategy?
Bilingualism
Repeatedly, throughout the Strategy draft, the notion of bilingualism is raised, but is it a policy for bilingualism which lies behind the Strategy, and if so what is that Policy? In the context of the Strategy, what does it mean to be bilingual? If a truly bilingual Ireland is to be achieved, what are the key elements needed to bring it about? The Strategy may be a springboard for bilingualism, but it isn’t a mission statement as there are many implications not spelled out, and many weak links. Besides, we will publish an edited volume of papers by Christmas – so far, despite discussion, we know of only one published response to the Strategy.
Education
In the strategy, much emphasis is placed on education. But how will all the resources which will be needed come from and be paid for, and where does education fit in? What is being done for teacher training? How is ‘school Irish’ to become communicative skills for and in a bilingual Ireland? Is education expected to deliver the target on its own? And how are educational methods to differ from those in the past?
Adult Learners
Is a bilingual Ireland to be achieved only through school education and therefore cross-generationally? And what of the much-larger adult population, with its diversified needs?
People and institutions
Many people and institutions will need to feed the 20-year bilingual Strategy. Who are these enablers or implementers? And what do they have to say? We will need to hear from them – particularly their analyses and proposals.
Language organisations
How will the merging of language organisations serve the 20-year plan? What are the implications for the stakeholders? How are they all to tie in with the bilingual strategy?
Research Basis
Fn its effectiveness, the Strategy has to depend on existing research. How is one to map notions of a bilingual Ireland on to this Strategy? What is the research evidence for doing so or for its likelihood of success? On what basis is the Strategy being driven or informed?
Údarás na Gaeilge
Also, is a co-ordinating, overseeing group needed? How is the Údarás na Gaeilge envisaged? Who will do its work, and wherefrom will the undoubtedly-needed expertise be drawn? What overlap will there be between Údarás and Foras?
Policy
A strategy presupposes a policy, but what is the policy in this case? Or even the plan? If the policy is about bilingualism, how is it to differ from present arrangements and practices? Does Foras na Gaeilge, a cross-border body, have the policy, and if so what is it, and what are Foras’s plans and desires?
Northern Ireland
How is the Strategy to affect Northern Ireland? In what ways can the envisaged bilingual society in the South be replicated in the North? We also note that there is a Northern Ireland Working Group on the Strategy, and that DCAL is to present A Strategy for Indigenous or Regional Minority Languages to the Executive this summer, about which similar questions could be asked. Considerable consultation needs to be done.
Scots and Ulster-Scots
The symposium will receive the first report and recommendations from the Ministerial Advisory Group on Scots. Will this amount to A New Policy and Strategy for Scots? And what of Ulster-Scots? Will there be a report or any strategy document for Ulster-Scots to match any new provisions in Scotland or to those for Irish in Northern Ireland?
http://www.pobail.ie/ie/AnGhaeilge/
