Maria Horan

Open Door series: As Gaeilge!

mariahoran — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 10:36:13 +0000

New Island is delighted to announce the Irish Language edition of the Open Door series, the brainchild of best-selling author Patricia Scanlan and New Island Publisher Edwin Higel. Published for the first time in the Irish language, previous Open Door stories by literary superstars such as Roddy Doyle, Marian Keyes, John Connolly, Deirdre Purcell, Julie Parsons, Vincent Banville, Maeve Binchy and Patricia Scanlan have now been released in a special edition – As Gaeilge!

Irish Histories That Bind Us

mariahoran — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 16:34:38 +0000

I am writing this post in response to a recent comment from Patrick James and at the risk of being insensitive. Patrick in an article discussing “In the name of the fada” raises a valid point regarding our personal histories and how they affect our links to our Irish heritage. It’s no secret that I am perplexed by the abandonment of the mother tongue by so many Irish people. The article goes on to explain that his school experience alienated him from his willingness to talk Irish – an experience that is mirrored by many Irish people. The school system of the past has a lot to answer for in, its dealings with its responsibility to the teaching of Irish. I don’t believe we need to go over old ground but we do need to be conscious of it, in order to avoid the same mistakes. Irish in schools, as well as being educational needs to be functional, but more importantly, relevant and enjoyable. It’s easier to build a pride in our language than repair a shame of it.

Gaelscoileanna – Not just the Student

mariahoran — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 13:50:04 +0000

I think it should be obligatory, if not encouraged, for parents who send their children to gaelscoileanna to learn the language, otherwise it suggests that they are not taking their child’s education seriously. It is as though they wish for the trappings of the Irish language (perhaps as a talking point for their friends, etc.) but are not willing to assist the language in its development and survival. They expect an Irish language education for the child, but couldn’t be bothered doing anything more for Gaeilge. I certainly think eight years was long enough for this mother to learn a few basics even, as her daughter progressed through the bunscoil. She could have learnt the language as her daughter did, studying the books brought home on a daily basis. Sadly, this seems to bring me back to the age-old “reasons” why the Irish seem to refuse to learn the Irish language (as well as the obligatory ‘chip-on-the-shoulder’). At the end of the day, when you get back to basics, the excuses revolve around (i) laziness and (ii) a fear of seeming inferior to Gaeilgeoirí / those who actually make an effort, however little Irish they have, to take pride in it and use it.

R-Cartaí

mariahoran — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 07:00:22 +0000

I have come across some pretty cool e-cards on the Internet as Gaeilge, with ones for newborn babies, birthdays and of course, romantic cards among various others! They come with sound effects, also! Check them out on BBC-Northern Ireland-Blas

Youtube: Beginning Irish – Lessons

mariahoran — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:26:42 +0000

I came across this while surfing on the Idirlíon and it features a whole load of clips of Irish speakers actually speaking the language. It seems to have been greeted with a positive response, judging by the comments left by those who logged (including a few giving out about the Irish language curriculum for the Leaving Cert, but that’s another day’s story…) There is also a series of Youtube on: Beginning Irish-Lessons (Pt. 1 of 11):Ná bí cuthaileach! (Don’t be shy!).

Beginning Irish-Lessons (Pt. 1 of 11):

More Irish than the Irish (Part I)

mariahoran — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 08:50:26 +0000

As a secondary school teacher, I have taught international students who are not actually obliged to learn Irish (once they move here after eleven years of age), but actually start to learn the language… why? Because they are actually INTERESTED! Wow! And I don’t often see such enthusiasm. When they pass out the Irish students in language acquisition (which generally doesn’t take too long) the resentment among the others becomes very apparent.

One student recently informed me: “Irish is our language. They (i.e. immigrants) shouldn’t be allowed to speak it.” A case of misguided nationalism (and thinly disguised racism), I think. Believe me, if an international student wants to learn Irish and speak it, I am more than happy to help out. The Irish refuse to speak it and use it. The aforementioned student seems to come without all the emotional “baggage” that the Irish-born student is usually laden-down with. Why should I object? I’d quite happily swap a couple of disgruntled Irish students for a dozen ‘immigrant’ students, who are eager, enthusiastic and seem to take a pride in acquisition of the language that I rarely see elsewhere. If Irish-born students have an objection to this, that’s their problem. With each passing day, I am more and more convinced that the future of the Irish language lies increasingly in the hands of ‘immigrants’ settling in Ireland and their young children who will study Irish here in school.

Irish Independence Relevant to Tibet

mariahoran — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 09:36:12 +0000

On this day, Easter Monday, I feel that it is fitting to mention the 92^nd anniversary of the Easter Rising, where so many fought bravely and lost their lives, so that we, the generations to come would have an Irish republic in which to live. Lá Nua included an Irish Proclamation of Independence as Gaeilge in the most recent edition of the paper dated 19/03/08, which can be downloaded from the above link. I also feel that it is fitting for us to remember today the struggle that continues in Tibet, as the Tibetans continue to fight for their independence from the oppression and barbarity of China. Ireland is but a young republic and it isn’t that long ago since we were fighting for our own independence. Public support is needed for Tibet and this day symbolises that importance poignantly. However, may it be gained through peace and not through bloodshed, as it was in Ireland, the pain of which continues to the present day.

i Measc na nDaoine

mariahoran — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 05:30:03 +0000

I have discovered the existence of a group (amazing what you can find on the Internet, with a bit of time on your hands) called iMeasc, which is basically a group of Irish immigrants and those coming from an ethnic background, now living in Ireland, with fluency in the Irish language and wishing to get more involved in promote the language, etc. Lobbying campaigns include gaelscoil places for immigrant children and distribution of trilingual phrasebooks, as recounted by John Waters in a particular article on Gaelport.com.

In fact, the above group has expressed its dismay at the removal of the Irish language requirement for entry to An Garda Síochána. I agree with this opinion. In our attempt to be “politically correct”, we are destroying our own culture to please those who have not even been included in the Irish language debate, a move which is patronizing and simply bad-mannered. Do the Irish feel it is beyond the capabilities of immigrants (many of whom already speak a number of languages) to learn the Irish language? Or maybe we are just afraid that they may show up our poor language capabilities. Imagine if they actually ended speaking Irish better than us! Which wouldn’t actually be very difficult…

Gaelscoil commitment to language needed

mariahoran — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 10:00:56 +0000

A student of mine who is struggling with the curriculum and who previously attended a gaelscoil, informed me that her mother cannot help her with her Irish homework, since she does not have a word of Irish. This amazed me. How can a parent send a child to an Irish-medium school for EIGHT years and (i) not make it a personal ambition to acquire enough Irish to help the child with homework, study, etc. (ii) not be expected by the school itself to make some sort of reasonable attempt to get a basic grasp of the language, since their child is using it daily and is gaining an education through that language. I think it should be obligatory for parents who send their children to gaelscoileanna to learn the language, otherwise it suggests that they are not taking their child’s education seriously. It is as though they wish for the trappings of the Irish language (perhaps as a talking point for their friends, etc.) but are not willing to assist the language in its development and survival. They expect an Irish language education for the child, but couldn’t be bothered doing anything more for Gaeilge. I certainly think eight years was long enough for this mother to learn a few basics, as her daughter progressed through the bunscoil. She could have learnt the language as her daughter did, studying the books brought home on a daily basis. Sadly, this seems to bring me back to the age-old “reasons” why the Irish seem to refuse to learn the Irish language (as well as the obligatory ‘chip-on-the-shoulder’). At the end of the day, when you get back to basics, the excuses revolve around (i) laziness and (ii) a fear of seeming inferior to Gaeilgeoirí / those who actually make an effort, however little Irish they have, to take pride in it and use it.

Ó Searcaigh Scandal

mariahoran — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 16:03:47 +0000

In an era where the Irish language makes few headlines, it seems a great pity that one of them has to be for negative reasons. According to the Evening Herald (12/2/08) the Irish language poet Ó Searcaigh has supposedly fled his Donegal bungalow, in the light of the recent allegations regarding his under-age sexual relations with Nepali boys. The director, Neasa Ní Chianain was “supposedly” forced to contact the police when Ó Searcaigh went into details on his “relationships” with these boys in her documentary “A Fairytale in Nepal”. What makes the allegations even worse are the other writers/artists (including the renowned Máire Mac an tSaoi) who have leapt to the poet’s defence, in the light of his clearly criminal actions. Both of the above writers are on the Irish Leaving Certificate and I can only hope that Ó Searcaigh’s work is removed from the curriculum ASAP. This man does not deserve to be associated with the beauty and history of the Irish language.