19 North Americans presented with awards to study Irish in Galway
Press Release
For Immediate Release
19 North Americans presented with awards to study Irish in Galway
4 August 2015: Fifteen U.S. and four Canadian Irish language learners were presented with awards at Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge in An Cheathrú Rua in the Connemara Gaeltacht today.
Awards were also presented to four Irish Language Instructors selected by the Ireland Canada University Foundation (ICUF) to teach Irish at a range of locations across Canada for the academic year 2015-16.
These awards are the result of ongoing collaboration between the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, the Ireland-United States [Fulbright] Commission for Educational Exchange and ICUF. They reflect the deep interest in the Irish language in the United States and Canada where, every year, many Irish language learners choose to attend courses at the National University of Ireland – Galway, Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, An Cheathrú Rua and other venues. The awards are financed in partnership with universities and institutions in both the United States and Canada.
The Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Affairs, Joe McHugh T.D. congratulated all of the recipients and their teachers for their efforts in the promotion and preservation of the Irish language. Minister McHugh said, “I welcome very much the continuing collaboration between the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, the Fulbright Commission and the Ireland Canada University Foundation. These exchanges highlight the huge interest in the Irish language and Irish culture in the U.S., Canada and many other countries and they afford us the opportunity to celebrate the rich tapestry of Gaeltacht traditions that we mutually cherish.”
Speaking about the awards, U.S. Ambassador Kevin O’Malley said “The Gaeltacht Summer Awards are a wonderful addition to the Ireland – United States [Fulbright] Commission for Educational Exchange’s awards and activities. They complement the Commission’s core Fulbright awards by providing short immersive experiences for U.S. citizens in Ireland’s rich language and culture. We welcome the Irish Government’s continued support for this program which has enabled 67 U.S. citizens in total to visit Ireland and take part in Gaeltacht courses this summer.”
The new Executive Director of the Ireland – United States [Fulbright] Commission for Educational Exchange, Dr Dara FitzGerald said “The Gaeltacht Summer Awards, now in their fifth year, continue to expand and attract a diverse range of applicants. In total, 67 U.S. citizens have received Summer Gaeltacht Awards to attend Gaeltacht courses across Ireland this year.
The Awards are instrumental in supporting Irish language learners and teachers in the U.S, and offer an exceptional immersion experience that includes not only Irish language learning, but excursions, traditional Irish music and story telling in some of Ireland’s most picturesque locations. We are certain that Awardees will benefit enormously from this immersion and go on to share their experiences with many others in their home states. Tá an-áthas orainn faoin ráth atá ar an gclár seo.”
Chief Executive Officer of ICUF, James Kelly said “Ireland and Canada enjoy a rich shared culture and heritage, with a remarkable 4.5 million Canadians tracing their ancestry back to Ireland.
This year, we are appointing six Irish Language instructors who will bring the Irish language and culture to universities and communities across Canada over the coming academic year. We have also awarded 18 scholarships to Canadian students to attend intensive Irish language courses here in the Gaeltacht. For Irish and Canadian scholars alike, this is a most exciting and formative experience, as this programme enables a new generation to explore and contribute to a deeper understanding of the connection between our two countries.”
Click here to view Photos from Seán Ó Mainnín Photography
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IRELAND-UNITED STATES [FULBRIGHT] COMMISSION FOR EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGE
Gaeltacht Summer Awardees
Nicole Albee has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from the University of Southern Maine. She will travel to the NUI Galway International Summer School, An Cheathrú Rua, for her Gaeltacht Summer Award.
Dylan Cooper is an undergraduate at University of California, Berkeley with a double major in Linguistics and Celtic Studies. She will be going to the NUI Galway International Summer School, An Cheathrú Rua for her Gaeltacht Summer Award.
Gerald Costello is a volunteer at the Irish Cultural Center at Elms College. He will attend the NUI Galway International Summer School, An Cheathrú for his Gaeltacht Summer Award.
Neil Clayton lives on a small farm in southern Oregon where he studies biology, ecology, and enjoys a nice cup of tea. He will attend NUI Galway International Summer School, An Cheathrú Rua for his Gaeltacht Summer Award.
Andrea Eberle is an undergraduate at the University of California Berkeley studying Linguistics and Celtic Studies. She will attend NUI Galway International Summer School, An Cheathrú Rua for her Gaeltacht Summer Award.
Ilana Dresdner is an undergraduate at New York University studying Art History with minors in Irish Studies, Italian Studies and Studio Art. She will travel to the NUI Galway International Summer School, An Cheathrú Rua for her Gaeltacht Summer Award.
Tara Higgins has just graduated from the University of Connecticut with a Bachelor of Arts in English. She will travel to the NUI Galway International Summer School, An Cheathrú Rua for her Gaeltacht Summer Award.
Kevin Houston is a recent graduate from Monmouth University with a BA in Music Industry and minors in Irish Studies and Accounting. He will attend NUI Galway International Summer School, An Cheathrú Rua for his Gaeltacht Summer Award.
Howard Katen having previously completed undergraduate degrees in Romance Languages and Literature and in Nursing, and a Master’s in Romance Linguistics, is currently enrolled in the Irish Language Program as an Encore student at the City University of New York-Lehman College. He will go to the NUI Galway International Summer School, An Chearú Rua, for his Gaeltacht Summer Award.
Loren Weeks Langan is a frequent instructor of economics at University of St. Thomas in St. Paul where she studied Irish language. She will attend NUI Galway International Summer School, An Ceathrú Rua for her Gaeltacht Summer Award.
Zoë Langsdale is an undergraduate studying music and ethnomusicology at Smith College in Massachusetts. She will go to the NUI Galway International Summer School, An Cheathrú Rua for her Gaeltacht Summer Award.
Alessandra Moyer is a recent graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, with a B.A. in Integrative Biology. She will attend NUI Galway International Summer School, An Cheathrú Rua for her Gaeltacht Summer Award.
Renata Rua is a community language teacher and assistant director for the Irish Center of Kansas City and has an M.Phil. in Irish Studies from University College Dublin. She shall attend the NUI Galway International Summer School, An Cheathrú Rua for her Gaeltacht Summer Award.
Meghan Scott is an undergraduate student at the University of St. Thomas, working towards a BA degree in English with minors in Irish Studies and Catholic Studies. She shall attend the NUI Galway International Summer School, An Cheathrú Rua for her Gaeltacht Summer Award.
Abigail Smith is based at the University of St. Thomas. She will attend the NUI Galway international Summer School, An Cheathrú Rua for her Gaeltacht Summer Award.
IRELAND CANADA UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION AWARDEES
Canadian Scholars
Patrick Mairs From Montréal and attending Concordia University, studying Canadian Irish Studies.
Cynthia Houlden Living in Ajax, Ontario, Canada and currently works for the Government of Canada.
Pat Coutsos Living in Waterloo, Ontario, and has an undergraduate degree in Systems Design Engineering from the University of Waterloo.
Brian McElwain From Toronto and currently doing a Bachelor of Arts at University of Toronto.
Irish Language Instructors awarded to teach Irish in Canada 2015-2016
Oisín Montanari From Dublin and holds an MA sa Nua-Ghaeilge with NUI Maynooth. He will be travelling to St Thomas University, Fredericton.
Siobhán Ní Mhaolagáin From Dublin and has a Profession Diploma in Education and completed a Masters in Scríobh agus Cumarsáid na Gaeilge. She will be travelling to Concordia University, Montreal.
Cáit Ní Shiúrtáin From Cork and is a primary school teacher. Qualified with an M.A. in Irish Language Teaching from NUI Galway in 2011. She will be travelling to the University of Ottawa.
Sinéad Ní Mheallaigh From Donegal and is a Primary Teacher in Gaelscoil De hIde, Oranmore, Galway. Holds a BA in Gaeilge and IT and a post-graduate in Applied communications from Ollscoil na hEireann, Gaillimh. She will be travelling to Memorial University, Newfoundland.
Preasráiteas
Le scaoileadh láithreach
Dámhachtainí bronnta ar 19 duine as Meiriceá Thuaidh chun staidéar a dhéanamh ar an nGaeilge i gContae na Gaillimhe
4 Lúnasa 2015 Bronnadh dámhachtainí ar chúigear déag foghlaimeoirí Gaeilge as na Stáit Aontaithe agus ceathrar foghlaimeoirí Gaeilge as Ceanada in Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge ar an gCeathrú Rua i nGaeltacht Chonamara inniu.
Bronnadh dámhachtainí freisin ar cheathrar teagascóirí Gaeilge a roghnaigh Fondúireacht OllscoilÉireann Cheanada (FOÉC) chun an Ghaeilge a theagasc i réimse suíomhanna ar fud Cheanada don bhliain acadúil 2015-16.
Tá na dámhachtainí seo á mbronnadh mar thoradh ar chomhoibriú leanúnach atá cothaithe idir an Roinn Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta, Coimisiún na hÉireann-Stát Aontaithe um Malartú Oideachasúil (Fulbright) agus FOÉC. Léiríonn siad an spéis mhór atá sa Ghaeilge sna Stáit Aontaithe agus i gCeanada áit a roghnaíonn móran foghlaimeoirí Gaeilge freastal ar chúrsaí in Ollscoil na hÉireann – Gaillimh agus in Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, an Cheathrú Rua, agus in ionaid eile, gach bliain. Tá na dámhachtainí á maoiniú i gcomhpháirtíocht le hollscoileanna agus le hinstitiúidí sna Stáit Aontaithe agus i gCeanada araon.
Rinne an tAire Stáit sa Roinn Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta, Joe McHugh T.D., comhghairdeas leis na faighteoirí agus leis na múinteoirí as a n-iarrachtaí i gcur chun cinn agus i gcaomhnú na Gaeilge. Dúirt an tAire McHugh, “cuirim fáilte mhór roimh an chomhoibriú leanúnach idir an Roinn Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta, Coimisiún Fulbright agus Fondúireacht OllscoilÉireann Cheanada. Léiríonn na malartuithe seo an spéis mhór atá sa Ghaeilge agus i gcultúr na hÉireann sna Stáit Aontaithe agus i gCeanada agus in go leor tíortha eile agus tugann siad deis dúinn ceiliúradh a dhéanamh ar shaibhreas thraidisiún na Gaeltachta a bhfuil meas ag an dá dhream againn air.”
Agus é ag labhairt faoi na dámhachtainí, dúirt Ambasadóir na Stát Aontaithe, Kevin O’Malley, “Cuireann Dámhachtainí Samhraidh na Gaeltachta go mór le dámhachtainí agus gníomhaíochtaí Choimisiún na hÉireann-Stát Aontaithe [Fulbright] um Malartú Oideachasúil. Comhlánaíonn siad croídhámhachtainí an Choimisiúin trí ghearreispéiris thumthacha i dteanga agus i gcultúr saibhir na hÉireann a chur ar fáil do shaoránaigh na Stát Aontaithe. Cuirimid fáilte roimh thacaíocht leanúnach Rialtas na hÉireann don chlár seo a chuir ar chumas 67 saoránach de chuid na Stát Aontaithe cuairt a thabhairt ar Éirinn agus páirt a ghlacadh i gcúrsaí Gaeltachta an samhradh seo.
Dúirt Stiúrthóir Feidhmiúcháin nua Choimisiún na hÉireann-Stát Aontaithe um Malartú Oideachasúil, an Dr Dara FitzGerald, “Tá Dámhachtainí Samhraidh na Gaeltachta, atá anois sa cúigiú bliain, ag méadú i gcónaí agus ag mealladh réimse éagsúil iarratasóirí. San iomlán, tá Dámhachtainí Samhraidh na Gaeltachta faighte ag 67 saoránach as na Stáit Aontaithe chun freastal ar chúrsaí Gaeltachta ar fud na hÉireann i mbliana.
Tá na Dámhachtainí ríthábhachtach ó thaobh tacú le foghlaimeoirí agus teagascóirí Gaeilge sna Stáit Aontaithe, agus cuireann siad eispéireas iontach tumthach ar fáil a thugann san áireamh turais, ceol traidisiúnta, seanchas agus na háiteanna is breátha in Éirinn, gan trácht ar fhoghlaim na Gaeilge. Tá muid cinnte go mbainfidh na Dámhachtaithe leas mór as an tumadh agus go n-inseoidh siad do mhórán daoine sa bhaile faoin eispéireas a bhí acu. Tá an-áthas orainn faoin ráth atá ar an gclár seo.”
Dúirt Príomhfheidhmeannach FOÉC, James Kelly “Tá cultúr agus oidhreacht shaibhir, chomhroinnte ag Éirinn agus Ceanada, agus tá 4.5 milliún duine i gCeanada atá in ann a rá gur as Éirinn a tháinig a sinsir.
I mbliana, tá muid ag ceapadh seisear teagascóirí Gaeilge a thabharfaidh an Ghaeilge agus an cultúr Gaelach anonn chuig ollscoileanna agus pobail ar fud Cheanada le linn na bliana acadúla atá amach romhainn. Chomh maith leis sin, tá 18 scoláireacht bronnta againn ar mhic léinn as Ceanada chun freastal ar dhianchúrsaí Gaeilge anseo sa Ghaeltacht. Is eispéireas iontach agus múnlaitheach do mhic léinn na hÉireann agus Cheanada araon é an clár seo ó tharla go dtugann sé deis do ghlúin nua tuiscint níos fearr a fháil ar an nasc idir an dá thír, agus cur leis an nasc sin ag an am céanna.”
4ú Lúnasa 2015
Nótaí don Eagarthóir:
Ní Dámhachtainí Fulbright iad na Dámhachtainí Samhraidh Gaeltachta ach tionscnamh ar leith de chuid Choimisiún na hÉireann-Stát Aontaithe um Malartú Oideachasúil (Coimisiún Fulbright). Tacaíonn an Roinn Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta agus an Crannchur Náisiúnta leis na dámhachtainí seo.
Grianghraif ó Sheán Ó Mainnín
Ceisteanna ó na meáin:
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Coimisiún na hÉireann-Stát Aontaithe um Malartú Oideachais [FULBRIGHT]
Dámhachtaithe Samhraidh na Gaeltachta
Tá céim sa chumarsáid ag Nicole Albee ón University of Southern Maine. Rachaidh sí chuig Scoil Idirnáisiúnta Samhraidh OÉ Gaillimh, An Cheathrú Rua, do Dhámhachtain Samhraidh na Gaeltachta.
Is fochéimí Dylan Cooper sa University of California, Berkeley, agus í ag déanamh staidéir ar an Teangeolaíocht agus an Léann Ceilteach. Rachaidh sí chuig Scoil Idirnáisiúnta Samhraidh OÉ Gaillimh, An Cheathrú Rua, do Dhámhachtain Samhraidh na Gaeltachta.
Is oibrí deonach é Gerald Costello san Irish Cultural Center ag Elms College. Rachaidh sé chuig Scoil Idirnáisiúnta Samhraidh OÉ Gaillimh, An Cheathrú Rua, do Dhámhachtain Samhraidh na Gaeltachta.
Tá cónaí ar Neil Clayton ar feirm bheag i ndeisceart Oregon áit a ndéanann sé staidéar ar bhitheolaíocht, éiceolaíocht fad a ólann sé cupáin bhreátha tae. Rachaidh sé chuig Scoil Idirnáisiúnta Samhraidh OÉ Gaillimh, An Cheathrú Rua, do Dhámhachtain Samhraidh na Gaeltachta.
Is fochéimí Andrea Eberle sa University of California, Berkeley, agus í ag déanamh staidéir ar an Teangeolaíocht agus an Léann Ceilteach. Rachaidh sí chuig Scoil Idirnáisiúnta Samhraidh OÉ Gaillimh, An Cheathrú Rua, do Dhámhachtain Samhraidh na Gaeltachta.
Is fochéimí Ilana Dresdner ag New York University agus í ag déanamh staidéar ar Stair na hEalaíne, leis an Léann Éireannach, an Léann Iodálach agus Ealaín Stiúideo. Rachaidh sí chuig Scoil Idirnáisiúnta Samhraidh OÉ Gaillimh, An Cheathrú Rua, do Dhámhachtain Samhraidh na Gaeltachta.
Tá Tara Higgins díreach i ndiaidh a Céim sa Bhéarla a bhaint amach sa University of Connecticut. Rachaidh sí chuig Scoil Idirnáisiúnta Samhraidh OÉ Gaillimh, An Cheathrú Rua, do Dhámhachtain Samhraidh na Gaeltachta.
Bhain Kevin Houston BA i dTionscail an Cheoil le fo-ábhair sa Léann Éireannach agus sa Chuntasaíocht i Monmouth University. Rachaidh sé chuig Scoil Idirnáisiúnta Samhraidh OÉ Gaillimh, An Cheathrú Rua, do Dhámhachtain Samhraidh na Gaeltachta.
Bhain Howard Katen céimeanna amach roimhe seo sna Teangacha Rómánsacha agus an Litríocht agus san Altranas. Tá sé i mbun an Chláir Ghaeilge faoi láthair mar mhac léinn Encore sa City University of New York-Lehman College. Rachaidh sé chuig Scoil Idirnáisiúnta Samhraidh OÉ Gaillimh, An Cheathrú Rua, do Dhámhachtain Samhraidh na Gaeltachta.
Is teagascóir le heacnamaíocht Loren Weeks Langan sa University of St. Thomas in St. Paul áit a ndearna sí staidéar ar an nGaeilge. Rachaidh sí chuig Scoil Idirnáisiúnta Samhraidh OÉ Gaillimh, An Cheathrú Rua, do Dhámhachtain Samhraidh na Gaeltachta.
Is fochéimí Zoë Langsdale atá ag déanamh staidéar ar an gceol agus ar an eitnicheoleolaíocht ag ag Smith College in Massachusetts. Rachaidh sí chuig Scoil Idirnáisiúnta Samhraidh OÉ Gaillimh, An Cheathrú Rua, do Dhámhachtain Samhraidh na Gaeltachta.
Bhain Alessandra Moyer a céim amach le déanaí sa University of California, Berkeley, le B.A. sa Bhitheolaíocht Chomhtháiteach. Rachaidh sí chuig Scoil Idirnáisiúnta Samhraidh OÉ Gaillimh, An Cheathrú Rua, do Dhámhachtain Samhraidh na Gaeltachta.
Is teagascóir teanga pobail agus stiúrthóir cúnta san Irish Center i Kansas City Renata Rua agus tá M.Phil. aici sa Léann Éireannach ón gColáiste Ollscoile, Baile Átha Cliath. Rachaidh sí chuig Scoil Idirnáisiúnta Samhraidh OÉ Gaillimh, An Cheathrú Rua, do Dhámhachtain Samhraidh na Gaeltachta.
Is fochéimí sa University of St. Thomas Meghan Scott agus í ag déanamh staidéar i gcomhair Céim sa Bhéarla leis na fo-ábhair: Léann Éireannach agus Léann Caitliceach. Rachaidh sí chuig Scoil Idirnáisiúnta Samhraidh OÉ Gaillimh, An Cheathrú Rua, do Dhámhachtain Samhraidh na Gaeltachta.
Tá Abigail Smith sa University of St. Thomas. Rachaidh sí chuig Scoil Idirnáisiúnta Samhraidh OÉ Gaillimh, An Cheathrú Rua, do Dhámhachtain Samhraidh na Gaeltachta
Dámhachtaithe Fhondúireacht OllscoilÉireann Cheanada
Scoláirí Cheanada
Patrick Mairs: As Montréal dó agus tá sé ag freastal ar Concordia University, ag déanamh staidéar ar an Léann Éireannach Ceanadach.
Cynthia Houlden: Tá cónaí uirthi in Ajax, Ontario, Ceanada agus tá sí ag obair faoi láthair do Rialtas Cheanada.
Pat Coutsos: Tá sé ina chónaí i Waterloo, Ontario, agus tá fochéim aige in Innealtóireacht Dearadh Córas as an University of Waterloo.
Brian McElwain: As Toronto dó agus faoi láthair tá sé i mbun BA sa University of Toronto.
Teagascóirí Gaeilge a bheidh ag múineadh na Gaeilge i Ceanada 2015-2016
Oisín Montanari: As Baile Átha Cliath é agus tá MA aige sa Nua-Ghaeilge le Ollscoil na hÉireann, Má Nuad. Beidh sé ag dul chuig St Thomas University, Fredericton.
Siobhán Ní Mhaolagáin: As Baile Átha Cliath í agus tá Dioplóma Gairmiúil Oideachais aici chomh maith le Máistreacht i Scríobh agus Cumarsáid na Gaeilge. Beidh sí ag dul go Concordia University, Montreal.
Cáit Ní Shiúrtáin: Is múinteoir bunscoile í as Corcaigh. Bhain sí M.A. i dTeagasc na Gaeilge amach ó OÉ Gaillimh in 2011. Beidh sí ag dul go dtí an University of Ottawa.
Sinéad Ní Mheallaigh: As Dún na nGall í agus tá sí ina múinteoir i Gaelscoil de hÍde, Órán Mór, Gaillimh. Tá BA aici sa Ghaeilge agus sa TF agus iarchéim sa Chumarsáid Fheidhmeach ó Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh. Beidh sí ag dul go Memorial University, Newfoundland.