Arts Minister's initiative offers 100 bursaries to bring Irish language to a wider audience

Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL),
11 April 2013, Northern Ireland

á an tAire Cultúir, Ealaíon agus Fóillíochta, Carál Ní Chuilín, ag cur an ‘céad’ isteach sa ‘Céad Míle Fáilte’ le seoladh Scéim Sparánachtaí Gaeltachta na bliana seo.

The traditional Irish greeting means ‘A Hundred Thousand Welcomes’ and that’s exactly what’s on offer to learners this year – 100 bursaries to study the language in the County Donegal Gaeltacht.

Tá a fhios ag an saol cad is brí le ‘Céad Míle Fáilte’. Is léir go bhfuil flaithiúlacht na beannachta traidisiúnta á tairiscint d’fhoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge i mbliana – 100 sparánacht le staidéar a dhéanamh ar an teanga i nGaeltacht Dhún na nGall

Building on the success of last year’s pilot, Líofa, the Minister’s initiative to bring the Irish language to a wider audience in the north, is sponsoring 100 places at colleges in Irish-speaking areas around the county.

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure Carál Ní Chuilín is putting the ‘céad’ into Céad Míle Fáilte with the launch of this year’s Gaeltacht Bursary Scheme.

Tá sé mar aidhm ag Líofa níos mó daoine ar fud an tuaiscirt a mhealladh i dtreo na Gaeilge agus tá tionscnamh an Aire ag dul ó neart go neart ó seoladh é. D’éirigh go maith leis an scéim phíolótach sparánachtaí anuraidh agus tá an Aire ag iarraidh tógáil ar an rath sin. Beidh Líofa ag déanamh urraíochta ar 100 áit ag coláistí i gceantair Ghaeltachta ar fud an chontae i mbliana.

The Minister said: ‘Líofa is about challenging people to learn the language and become fluent by 2015. The initiative is about broadening the appeal of the Irish language and the bursary scheme offers the opportunity to learners, irrespective of tradition or background to enjoy the Gaeltacht experience.

Arsa an tAire: ‘Is é an aidhm atá ag Líofa ná dúshlán a chur faoi dhaoine agus iad a spreagadh le go mbeidh siad líofa faoi 2015. Tá an tionscnamh ag iarraidh níos mó daoine a mhealladh i dtreo na Gaeilge agus tugann an scéim sparánachtaí deis d’fhoghlaimeoirí sult a bhaint as saol na Gaeltachta, beag beann ar thraidisiún nó ar chúlra.

‘The purpose of the scheme is to provide practical assistance to those who have signed up to the Líofa challenge and it has been developed to support individuals with financial outlays which may otherwise be a barrier to them accessing a Gaeltacht course.

Is é cuspóir na scéime cúnamh praiticiúil a chur ar fáil dóibh siúd atá cláraithe leis an dúshlán Líofa. Forbraíodh an scéim le tacú le daoine ó thaobh costais de, rud a d’fhéadfadh bac a chur orthu freastal ar chúrsa Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht.

‘I know from my own experience that in the Gaeltacht, the Irish language really comes alive and I’m pleased that we can offer this opportunity to 100 Líofa participants.’

‘Tá a fhios agam ó mo thaithí féin go bhfuil an Ghaeilge ina teanga bheo sa Ghaeltacht agus tá lúcháir orm go dtig linn an deis seo a thairiscint do 100 rannpháirtí Líofa.’

http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/index/media-centre/news-departments/news-dcal/news-dcal-110413-liofas-cead-mile.htm