Gradam Gaeilge an Chláir won by Clare FM

Clare FM are the winners of the 2008 'Gradam Gaeilge an Chláir' award. At an awards ceremony in Glór on Monday evening, Managing Director Liam O'Shea was presented with a specially commissioned plaque by  Seán Ó Ceallaigh,  the new Cathaoirleach  of An Clár as Gaeilge Teo., the language promotion group who organise the award scheme.

The scheme, now in its fourth year, is specifically directed at companies and organisations in the commercial sector who do most to promote the use of Irish both internally and externally.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, An tUas. Ó Ceallaigh said that he was delighted to present the award to Clare FM in recognition  of the innovative way the station had integrated the use of Irish throughout its daily programming.

He made specific reference to  the way it had embraced the spirit of Seachtain na Gaeilge and in fact had become a partner with An Clár as Gaeilge in promoting  the wide range of Irish language events that were organised around the County. But, he said, the use of Irish by Clare FM  had continued after Seachtain na Gaeilge and this was a significant factor in the judging panel's decision to nominate the station
for the Gradam.

Accepting the award on behalf of Clare FM, Managing Director Liam O' Shea said that he was thrilled and honored that the station
had been selected for the 2008 Gradam Gaeilge an Chláir award. Local radio should always respond to the needs and wishes of its
listeners and Clare FM was doing just that by including a percentage of Irish in its programming schedule. This was evident from the reaction the station had received to its coverage of Seachtain na Gaeilge and he was delighted that this was now continuing  and had become an integral part of the station's daily programming. 'Clare FM will continue to develop the use of Irish in its  schedule however possible, as that is the reason we are in existence, to respond to the needs of our listeners. It is clear that  that is what they want, so that is what we will provide' said Mr. O'Shea.

The Broadcasting Commission of Ireland has also congratulated Clare FM on winning the 2008 'Gradam Gaeilge an Chláir' award. 

Michael O'Keeffe, Chief Executive of the BCI commented: 'We wish to congratulate Clare FM on winning this award which was presented
to the station in recognition of the way it integrated the use of Irish throughout its daily programming.  It is wonderful to see a
local radio station promoting the Irish language and developing the use of Irish in its schedule in this manner.'

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Calling Irish Bloggers!

We all have heard of the growth of blogging amongst the online community in recent years.  According to the latest evidence there are over 112 million Blogs from across the world and more than 2,000 are published in Ireland at the moment.

It is no surprise that a great demand now exists amongst Irish speakers and Irish language learners for  the Irish Blog as a means of expressing opinions, spreading information and providing an insight into the human experience-in Irish of course!

Before this, the acheivements of Bloggers have not received literary recognition.  Blogs such as Hilary NY have won awards at the Irish Blog Awards for their Irish language content.  However blogging has taken off so much in recent years that a new literary award has been commissioned for Irish language blogging.

These visionary writers will be delighted to hear that a new category of award has been  established in the Oireachtas Literary Festival for Irish language blogging for the first time.  This competition is sponsored by Oifig na Gaeilge, Dublin Institute of Technology with a prize worth over 1,000Euro up for grabs for the best blog in the competition.

The organisers hope that the competition will inspire people to write their blogs in Irish which will result in more people turning to the Irish language. The competition aims to promote the Irish language amongst the online community as well as cultivate an interest in a new aspect of literature.  This new literary medium is entertaining, inspiring and engaging, is easily available to readers and gives the writer a sense of freedom.  It is very suitable for the Irish language and is a wonderful way of promoting the Irish language.

For the purposes of the Oireachtas competition, the Blog should be challenging, inspiring, exciting and enjoyable with a natural style of writing in Irish which is both gripping and authentic.  As regards the subject of the blog it can fall into any one of the following genres; prose, poetry, diary, feature article, news reporting, sports, economic or political commentary,  drama, film or research , music , drama or film criticism.  There are no limits to the material which may be used!

The Blog will be appraised on the basis of the high standard of writing, the stimulation it provides to the Irish language community, its understanding and dedication to the use of online media on a social basis and the debate which the Blog inspires.

Entries  will be accepted for the competition until  Tuesday 1st July

If you wish to find out further information about this competition you can contact Clare Spáinneach from Oifig na Gaeilge, DIT on 01 4027504

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Sile Seoige on 'Passion Fashion'

Sile Seoige has been revealed as the new co-presenter of TG4's fashion dating show 'Paisean Faisean', with series five set to begin filming on Monday 16th June.

Seoige will front the 13 week long Irish language series, produced by Magma Films, alongside Blathnaid Ni Dhonnachadha. Series five will shoot for just over 6 weeks in Galway, Cork, Belfast, Dublin, Wicklow, Kerry and Donegal, and airs on Monday nights on TG4 from September.

Seoige has presented various shows for RTE and TG4 including 'Pobal', 'Nationwide', 'Up for the Match' and 'Class Act'. She has guest- presented 'No Frontiers' and 'The Afternoon Show' and co-presented RTE's live coverage of the St Patrick's Day celebration for the last three years. Seoige took part in the first 'Charity You're a Star' series, later presenting season four of 'You're a Star'.

'Paisean Faisean' sees three guys attempt to win over a prospective date using nothing but their sense of style. The three competitors have one hour and a limited budget to buy the girl a complete outfit - the creator of her favorite outfit winning the date.

The series is directed by Deirdre Ni Fhatharta, with Clodagh Freeman as series producer and Martin Hartnett on camera. Editing will take place in Magma's Galway based posting house, Pictorian Sound and Vision.

'Paisean Faisean' is always on the lookout for new participants, and interested applicants should email paiseanfaisean@magmaworld.com or call 091 - 569142.

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Sowing the seeds of creativity!

Síol is a new development scheme for short films which will foster new talent in scriptwriting and directing from the basic script stage to the final stage when the product is broadcast on TG4.  The Síol scheme aims to provide 6 writers or director/writers from the Gaeltacht or who are fluent in Irish with the opportunity to write a television script and to arrange it for a television production.

Applicants are invited to enter in a scriptwriting competition to win a place in the master craft classes to develop a 6 part television drama based on a family theme.  The accepted scripts will be  based on the central theme of family  even though the script does not have to stick to a traditional meaning of the word.

Scripts should be 25 minutes long and should have a summary and character notes included in the application.  The writers will improve the scripts under the direction of a script editor. The projects will be adjusted and improved upon in two workshops (writing and directing) which will take place in October 2008 and February 2009.

Further information about this project  is available from Christine Ní Chonchubhair on 091-558400 and she is happy to speak with you about the project.

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Na Comharsana Nua- A new Book for Irish language Learners

A new story written by Éamonn Ó Loingsigh, aimed at Irish lanaguge learners has just been published by Cló iar-Chonnachta

Na Comharsana Nua is a light amusing novel, written in relatively simple Irish and it has a glossary at the back. The novel won first prize in the Reading material for the adult learner section of Comórtas an Oireachtais in 2007.

Eamonn Ó Loingsigh is from Dublin but has been living in Galway for a long time. He is a secondary school teacher in Coláiste Naomh Iarfhlatha in Tuam. Amongst his other publications are some plays aimed at teenagers, Pádraig is Ainm Dom, Jackie Mo Dhearthair, Ionsaí, and Níl Aon Dul ón gCinniúint also published by Cló Iar-Chonnachta. 

Na Comharsana Nua is the story of a young couple Liam and Siobhán Uí Mhaoilmhín who have moved from America to their hometown Galway, where they have bought a house ina fancy estate in the suburbs of the city where they are very happy. They are very happy and excited about starting their new life there, and evrything seems to be going well , that is until Learaí and Deborah Ó Dúill move into the house across the road from them. The Maoilmhíns are delighted at first to have made new friends and the two couples often go out for dinner or drinks together. However after a while they begin to realise that all is  not right with their new neighbours. Where did Learaí get all his money? Who are the men who come and go from their neighbours house every day? What is the story with all the accidents and threats the Maoilmhíns have been dealing with lately.

Na Comharsana nua can be bought from bookshops countrywide and at www.cic.ie.

Catríona Ní Bhaoill, an executive with Cló Iar-Chonnachta is available for interviews on the book and can be contacted on 091 593307

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Sounding Off on Abair.ie

People often come across words or sentences in the Irish language', road signs, people’s names, children’s homework - and they aren't quite sure how to pronounce them. Well, a remedy has been found. A trial computer automated voice program has been developed and is about to be tested. The text-to-speech synthesis system is available on www.abair.ie. Give it a try and let them know what you think!

The computer automated voice program has been developed in Trinity College Dublin's Phonetic Laboratory which is a part of the School of Linguistic, Speech and Communications Sciences.

To use the system, all you have to do is to input a piece of text. You then click a button and out comes your sentence voiced by a girl from Donegal. There will be other different voices as well: they  are in the process of researching how to develop a voice from Connacht, and eventually they will be able to focus on Munster Irish as well.

According to the Associate Professor of Phoenetics, Professor Ailbhe Ní Chasaide, Trinity College and Director of the Project:.

' This synthesis resource is helpful in both teaching and learning the Irish language and will be of vital importance to those who are visually or speech impaired. This new website is a resource for teachers and learners of Irish across Ireland and the wider world.  Many teachers complain that learners cannot find a phonetic version of written Irish. 

On the web, there are many sites for those who seek help with pronunciation. In respect of Irish it is often the case that learners do not have daily contact with native speakers.

Don’t miss this opportunity to evaluate and improve your spoken Irish. Visit www.abair.ie and you’ll never have to worry about the thorny issues of pronunciation again!

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Clem Ryan: KFM

Every month we ask a different Irish Language broadcaster to tell us a little about their experience as a broadcaster.

Here Clem Ryan from KFM  speaks about his experience

1. What's your name, where are you from and who are you broadcasting with?
 My name is Clem Ryan from county Clare.  I'm in a general Manager/Executive Director on KFM: the Sound of Kildare.  As well as being responsible for this I also present a traditional music show- Ceol agus Craic every weekend.

2. How long are you broadcasting in Irish?

20 years a growing

3. What is the biggest difference, do you think, between broadcasting in Irish and in English?

There isn't much of a difference, the only diffence being that not every one can understand Irish.

4. Who is the guest you would most like to interview in Irish?

No one in particular, every one has their own story

5. Who was the best guest you ever had on your programme?

Same as above

6. What is your favorite radio programme?
Sports programmes and traditional music

7. What is the biggest inspiration for you in your broadcasting?
Not to make a mess of it!

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BCI announces support for first Community Television Special Scheme

The Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) has this week announced the award of €240,000 to Community in a Studio, the first Sound & Vision Special Scheme for community television. To date, over €1.25m has been allocated to Special Schemes since the inception of the Broadcasting Funding Scheme in October 2005.

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Sound and Vision Round 7

Sound and Vision is a grant scheme designed to support the production of new television and radio programmes in the areas of Irish culture, heritage and experience and adult literacy. The Scheme is the result of the Broadcasting (Funding) Act, 2003 and is funded by 5% of the television license fee.
 
Round 7 radio forms are now available here

 For further information please contact Commissioning Officers Brian Furey, Andrew Robinson and Niamh Ní Bhroin on (01) 644 1200.

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Irish language Radio for Northern Ireland sought

Raidió Fáilte has applied for a broadcasting licence for Northern Ireland.

The station has broadcast from its base in Belfast since October 2006 and the working group of the station believes it is time to extend its reach to all the six counties.

A letter of application has been sent by the Manager of Raidio Fáilte, Fergus Ó hIr to a senior minister in the British Government, Andrew Burnham who holds the brief for broadcasting.
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Funding Secured for Irish language Broadcasting Fund

It has been revealed that the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has committed to ensuring that new finance will be available to continue funding of the Irish Language Broadcast Fund (ILBF) for Northern Ireland when it expires in March 2009.

The ILBF was established as a result of a commitment given by the British government in the Belfast Agreement.

It provides funding for the production of moving image products in the Irish language which are broadcast on TG4,  BBC Northern Ireland and RTÉ. It also has a training remit to foster the Irish language independent production sector in Northern Ireland.

The aim of the Fund is to deliver at least 75 additional hours of Irish language broadcasting per annum to a  weekly audience of 25,000 people.  DCAL agreed funding to the ILBF of £12 million to cover the four year period until March 2009.

The British government has now committed to providing an additional £6 million which will secure funding until 2011.

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Gaeilge ar RTÉ

The annual report of RTÉ for 2007  has revealed that the broadcaster has acheived some of its language aims but that it failed achieve other goals.

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Near FM-On the pigs back!

Near FM is  now podcasting some of the interviews which were given in the Irish language programme 'Ar Muin na Muice''. This programme is broadcast live every day at 5.30 and is also repeated at 9 a.m. every morning.

Near 90fm is an BCI licensed, communally owned, not-for-profit project. It is operated by a democratic co-operative, open to all organisations and individuals in Dublin North-East..

Near FM in recent times has fostered a strong Irish language culture.  More than 10 of those who work in the station speak Irish, the head of the co-operative, Ciarán  Ó Muirí being one of them.  They also have an Irish language researcher who is taking part in the FÁS CE scheme.

The podcasts are available for download here

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