Carlow College Students’ Union was recently recognised for it’s activities to promote the Irish language receiving a silver award at the Gníomhaí Gaeilge Awards on the 9th May.
The scheme, coordinated by Conradh na Gaeilge and The Union of Student’s in Ireland is a mentoring scheme for student’s involved with Irish Language at third level. As part of the mentoring scheme, CCSU identified a number of activities within an action plan that could be taken within Carlow College to help promote Irish language within the student body and amongst staff.
Key actions undertaken by CCSU included:
- Bilingual signage in Union offices and facilities
- Irish Language officer role added to Union’s Executive Committee
- Appointed a host with Irish at events
- Organised events through Irish as part of the Union’s campaign
- An article included in Irish in the Union’s constitution to give status to the language and culture
- Irish Sign Language Workshop hosted
- Organised a range of social events through Irish both for Seachtain na Gaeilge, as well as other parts of the year
Speaking of the Award, CCSU President, Jacqueline Casserly said: “I’m delighted that we were able to facilitate a space that encouraged people to speak the language of the island, our language and support their peers to put their Irish into practice. Being able to promote Irish to a point where people were able to causally use bits of Irish in their day-to-day conversation was an incredible feeling. ‘Is fearr Gaeilge briste, ná Béarla clíste’. I also want to say go raibh míle maith agat to the staff and students who supported these initiatives. We wouldn’t have been able to foster such a positive growing learning environment without you. “
38 individuals and 22 groups took part in the Gníomhaí Gaeilge scheme for the 22/23 academic year. On the 9th of May an award ceremony was held and 27 individuals and 19 groups were presented with awards. These awards were presented to the students by Rónán Ó Domhnaill – Coimisinéir Forbartha na Meán, Paula Melvin – Uachtarán Chonradh na Gaeilge and Richard Brophy from The Higher Education Access Authority.
Bhí Aontas na Mac Léinn in Choláiste Cheatharlach le gairid ar aitheantas as a ngníomhaíochtaí chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn, agus bronnadh gradam airgid orthu ag Gradaim Gníomhaí Gaeilge ar an 9ú Bealtaine.
Is scéim í seo, a eagraítear ag Conradh na Gaeilge agus Cumann na Mac Léinn in Éirinn, ar mhentoracht do mhic léinn a bhfuil baint acu leis an nGaeilge ag an tríú leibhéal. Mar chuid den scéim mhentoraíochta, d’ainmnigh AMLCC roinnt gníomhaíochtaí laistigh de phlean gníomhaíochta a bhféadfadh a dhéanamh i gColáiste Cheatharlach chun cabhrú le cur chun cinn na Gaeilge i measc na mac léinn agus na foireann.
Ar na gníomhartha tábhachtacha a dhearna AMLCC bhí:
- Comharthaí dátheangacha i n-oifigí agus áiseanna na hAontais
- Ról Oifigeach Gaeilge curtha le Coiste Feidhmiúcháin na hAontais
- Ceaptha duine mar óstach le Gaeilge ag ócáidí éagsúla
- Imeachtaí a eagrú trí Ghaeilge mar chuid de chomórtas na hAontais
- Alt a chur leis an mBunreacht Gaeilge san Aontas chun stádas a thabhairt don teanga agus don chultúr
- Ceardlann Gaeilge Chomharthaí Teanga
- Réimse imeachtaí sóisialta a eagrú trí Ghaeilge, i rith Sheachtain na Gaeilge agus i rith an bhliain
Ag labhairt faoin nGradam, dúirt Uachtarán AMLCC, Jacqueline Casserly: “Tá áthas orm go raibh muid in ann spás a chur ar fáil a spreag daoine chun labhairt teanga na h-oileáin, ár dteanga féin, agus tacú lena gcéilí chun a gcuid Gaeilge a chleachtadh. Bhí sé iontach go raibh muid in ann an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn go dtí an pointe go raibh daoine in ann sna cainteanna laethúla cúpla focal Gaeilge a úsáid go laethúil. ‘Is fearr Gaeilge briste, ná Béarla clíste’. Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis na comhaltaí foirne agus na mic léinn a thug tacaíocht do na tionscnaimh seo freisin. Ní bheadh muid in ann timpeallacht foghlama dearfach agus fásach a chothú gan bhur gcuid cúnamh
Ghlac 38 duine aonair agus 22 grúpa páirt i Gníomhaí Gaeilge sa bhliain acadúla 22/23. Ar an 9ú Bealtaine bronnadh gradam ar 27 duine aonair agus 19 grúpa ag an ócáid bronnadh na ngradam. Bhí Rónán Ó Domhnaill – Coimisinéir Forbartha na Meán, Paula Melvin – Uachtarán Chonradh na Gaeilge agus Richard Brophy ón Údarás Um Ard-Oideachais i láthair leis na gradaim a bhronnadh ar na mic léinn.
