Wednesday 1 May 2013

Áird le díriú ar réabhlóid Inis Oirr.

Tá Áras Éanna ag reachtáil a gclár ealaíne i mbliana i gcuimhne laoch scannánaíochta a bhásaigh níos luaithe sa bhliain, Éamon de Buitléar.

Cé cheapfadh go mbeadh carraig bheag amuigh i lár an Atlantaigh, áit nach bhfuil ach 300 duine ina gcónaí, in ann cuid de na réalta is mó in Éirinn a mhealladh?  
Le blianta beaga anuas tá ceoltóirí ar nós Declan O'Rourke, Damien Dempsey, Brian Kennedy, agus Martin Hayes ag triall ar an oileán aoibhinn seo, maraon le taispeántais ealaíne agus grianghrafadóireachta ó Bill Doyle, Leabharlann na hÉireann, Charles Lamb, agus Seán Ó Flaithearta.  Is féidir drámaí den scoth a fheiceáil i mBéarla agus i nGaeilge, taispeántais oidhreachta ó mhuintir na h-áite, agus fiú féilte ar nós Féile na mbodhrán - Craiceann, a bhíonn ar siúl chuile bhliain.
Léiriú is ea an obair atá á dhéanamh ag Mairéad agus Danny amuigh san ionad ealaíne, Áras Éanna, gur féidir le h-áit bheag spiorad faoi leith a chruthú ach an dearcadh agus an uallmhian a bheith ceart.  
S'én trua nach dtógfadh ceantair Ghaeltachta eile nod ón obair seo.  Cuireann ionad ealaíne dá léithid go mór le saol agus le spiorad an cheantair - cruthaíonn sé féinmhuinín i measc an phobail agus tugann sé deis do mhuintir na h-áite, idir óg agus sean, a bheith rannpháirteach sna h-ealaíona.  
Tá clár na bliana seo á reachtáil i gcuimhne Éamoin de Buitléar, a bhásaigh níos luaithe i mbliana.  Fear ionspráidiúil ab ea Éamoin, scannánaí, ceoltóir, bailitheoir scéil agus seanchaí - ní aon iontas go bhfuil lucht na réabhlóide ealaíne in Inis Oirr ag tipeáil an chaipín ina threo.  

Deirtear liom go mbeidh Mary Kennedy, as Nationwide, ag seoladh cláir an Árais go h-oifigiúil Dé hAoine seo ag 8in. Go n-éirí leo...  www.araseanna.ie 

Thursday 4 April 2013

An Cultúr Neamh Bhuíoch - IRFU & Kidney.

Declan Kidney, a briseadh as a phost gan fiú buíochas a ghlacadh leis.


Shocraigh an IRFU Declan Kidney a bhriseadh as a phost arú inné, agus más rud é gur ghlacadar buíochas leis as ucht an méid a rinne sé don eagraíocht sin le roinnt blianta anuas níor déanadh trácht ná tuairisc ar an mbuíochas sin sna meáin.
In áit a bheith buíoch is ea go raibh an IRFU muiníneach go bhfaighidís ‘top class coach’ agus go deimhin d’admhaigh siad go raibh an próiséas tosaithe acu le tamaillín anuas go ‘rúnda’.  Nach iontach an dream iad.
Is fiú dhá rud a luaigh go sonrach:  1)  is é Declan Kidney an chéad chóitseálaí ó 1948 a thug ‘Grand Slam’ go h-Éireann agus 2) fear mánla múinte a bhí ariamh i Kidney (mar a deir an sean amhrán fadó). 
Ar ndóigh tá seans ann gur ghlacadar buíochas leis an bhfear i ráiteas éicínt i rith an lae, ach nar thagair na meáin de seo ar chor ar bith.  Dá mba rud é gur glac, cé ar a bhfuil an locht gur fágadh an ‘buíochas’ ar lár sna tuairiscí – na meáin nár thagair de, nó ar an eagraíocht a shocraigh ar theachtaireachtaí éagsúla a chur amach in aon lá amháin.  I mo thuairimse, níor chóir ach teachtaireacht amháin a bheith curtha amach ar an lá úd:  ‘tá deireadh le conradh Declan Kidney agus tá muid ag iarraidh ár mbuíochas a chur in iúl dó – fágfar gach ráiteas eile go lá eile.’
Cén fáth go bhfuil an t-ábhar seo ag dó na geirbe dhom?  Mar gheall ar go bhfuil cultúr á chothú sa tír seo le blianta beaga anuas atá suarach agus ag sodar i ndiaidh na n-uaisle.  Cultúr é seo a bheartaíonn go bhfuil laigeacht éigin i gceist le buíochas a ghlacadh le duine (bainisteoirí spóirte go minic!) nuair a thagann críoch lena c(h)uid ama i gceannas.  Sa gcás áirithe seo theastaigh ón IRFU léiriú go raibh an oiread dúil acu i rath na foirne, agus an oiread ‘gairmiúlachta’ san eagraíocht, gur bheag leo fear a sheoladh go Siberia gan fiú slán a fhágáil leis.
Tá samplaí le tabhairt don aos óg pé uair go bhfuil cúrsaí spóirte i gceist.  Ariamh anall thug Kidney deá-shampla an chúraim:  ní raibh sé ró-bhuartha nuair a chaill a fhoireann, agus ní raibh sé ariamh ró-thógtha leis féin nuair a bhuaigh a fhoireann.  Bhí sé cneasta, macánta agus múinte uair ar bith go raibh sé ag pléigh leis na meáin.  Bhí a chuid laigeachtaí aige gan amhras ach is mór an méid atá bainte amach aige más ann do na laigeachtaí féin.
Ar an lámh eile thug an IRFU sampla an t-suarachais don aos óg leis an gcaoi gur caitheadh le Kidney ag a dheireadh.  ‘Top class coach…’ beidh jab acu duine níos fearr a aimsiú.

Friday 22 March 2013

'6 Counties' an Offensive Term? Raidió na Gaeltacht Raise the Question.


Is it right to refer to Northern Ireland as 'the 6 counties' or 'na 6 chontae'?  

This was the topic of debate on RnaG's Rónán Beo programme yesterday after the presenter, Rónán Mac Aodh Bhuí, had posted the following message on the programme's Facebook account, an hour before the start of the show:  

"Tá gearán déanta liom as 'na 6 chontae ' agus na '26 contae' a rá ar an chlár , seachas Poblacht na hÉireann agus Tuaisceart Éireann. Dúradh liom go raibh sé 'dí mheasúil'. Ach is le tréan measa a deirim é. Tuairim ag duine ar bith?"

Rónán's show is a mix of entertaining chat, irreverent ideas and contemporary music.  It is rarely controversial and certainly never disrespectful - as his Facebook comment illustrated (translation:  'I've been told it's disrespectful.  But I say it (six counties) with great respect').  It is, however, a show that can often ask those 'awkward' questions that we as a society rarely scrutinise.  What ensued on his programme yesterday was an interesting debate that reflected the confused state of our two-state Island.  

Language does matter and the spirit in which Rónán asked his question is to be commended.  In everyday life we tend to use expressions without giving a moment's thought as to whether they cause offence or not and what can be offensive to one can simply be fact to the other.  As I understand it,  referring to Northern Ireland as 'the 6 counties/na 6 chontae' can be offensive to some unionists while referring to Northern Ireland as 'Ulster' can be offensive to some nationalists. 

This has a long history... firstly the concept of 'county' boundaries in Ireland actually owes it's origin to medieval English bureaucracy.  The fact that Northern Ireland consists of six of those counties leads many Irish people to think nothing of referring to Northern Ireland as 'the six counties' - other than reflecting the accurate situation. Since the partition of the country in 1920 Northern Ireland operates as a separate state on this Island, so any reference to that part of the Island as 'the 6 counties' makes little of the 'separateness' of the two states. Think Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990:  the Iraqis referred to Kuwait as the '19th Province'.  Same logic and same historical context.

Some people in both the nationalist and unionist communities can often be tetchy about language.  Derry vs Londonderry.  RUC vs PSNI. The 'South' of Ireland. The use of 'Ulster' as a separate unit of unionist being... the list goes on.  As with all 'controversial' matters if we can take a step or two back and take a wider view of the issue it can actually become a bit comical, even farcical.

I 1937 De Valera's constitution changed the name of the southern state to 'Ireland' or 'Éire'.  This maddened the English government at the time and suggestions were made that the northern state would change its name to 'Ulster'.  Poor Monaghan, Donegal and Cavan, who are also in Ulster but not in the state of Northern Ireland, were left feeling a tad awkward on the outside.

So, what is the solution to the '6 county/6 chontae' debate?  Well, since the passing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 every Northern Ireland citizen has the right to feel both British and Irish and to hold both a British and Irish passport.  This means that, yes, for some it is the 6 counties, and for others it is Northern Ireland.  

Once you know the full context it simply comes down to a question of who you do, or do not, wish to not offend - a sentence that has too many negatives for comfort.

Nóta ón údar:
Ní raibh mé cinnte ar dtús an scríbhfinn an alt seo i mBéarla nó Gaeilge ach shocraigh mé ar theanga na Banríona Sasanaigh a úsáid i ngeall ar go raibh an díospóireacht le clos cheana féin i nGaeilge amháin a chlár Rónáin.  Fair plé do Rónán Mac Aodh Bhuí as an gceist shuimiúil seo a chur agus tá súil agam go raibh m'alt in ann é a leathnú amach ar sin de bheagán, agus nach raibh aon mhasla ann d'éinne, nó ar a laghad gur mhaslaigh mé chuile dhuine in éineacht!


Tuesday 19 March 2013

It's the Gaeltacht, stupid.

Julian de Spáinn, fear atá ina cheannaire éifeachtach do 'phobal na Gaeilge', ach cá bhfuil ceannairí 'phobal na Gaeltachta'?
Nuair a ceistíodh cúntóirí Bill Clinton i dtaobh an rud ba thábhachtaí agus é ag dul do thoghachán na hUachtarántachta i 1992 ba mhinic leo an ráiteas seo a dhéanamh: 'it's the economy, stupid'.  Is féidir freagra mar é a thabhairt i dtaobh cás na Gaeilge:  'it's the Gaeltacht, stupid'.

I gcur chun cinn na Gaeilge go náisiúnta tá seans ann go bhfuil neamháird á dhéanamh ar phobal na Gaeltachta traidisiúnta, rud atá baolach do thodhcaí na teanga. 

Ní theastaíonn ón mblag seo deighilt a chruthú idir 'Ghaeilgeoir Bhleá Cliath' agus 'Ghaeilgeoir Ros Muc' - ach is fiú áird a tharraingt ar roinnt pointí tábhachtacha, dar liom, ar mhaitheas le todhchaí na Gaeltachta traidisiúnta, agus todhchaí na Gaeilge dá réir.

Ar dtús báire:  má fhaigheann an Ghaeilge bás sna pobail Gaeltachta traidisiúnta ní bheidh fágtha ach dídeanaí teanga.  Ní mhairfidh sí i bhfad ina dhiaidh sin mar theanga phobail in aon áit agus beidh sé thar a bheith deacair argóint a dhéanamh ar a son nuair a bheas airgead á lorg ó rialtais éagsúla chun tacú léi.  

Tá ceannaireacht láidir á léiriú ag léithidí Julian de Spáinn ó Chonradh na Gaeilge do phobal na Gaeilge leasmuigh den Ghaeltacht ach ní móide go bhfuil an cinéal céanna ceannaireachta de dhíth ó mhuintir na Gaeltachta féin.  Déanann Seachtain na Gaeilge an t-uafás chun cás na teanga a chur faoi bhráid na tíre ar fad, ach an féidir a rá go bhfuil an tábhacht céanna ag baint le Seachtain na Gaeilge i gceantar ina labhartar í chuile lá?

Nuair a chloistear argóint na Gaeilge ins na meáin is beag cainte a dhéantar faoi chás na Gaeltachta féin.  Cé go bhfuil maolú ag teacht ar an nGaeltacht is fiú a rá go bhfuil sí ann, go bhfuil sí suantasach fós agus go bhfuil géarghá lena coinneáil beo. Cé go bhfuil an argóint seo gaolta le h-argóint na Gaeilge leasmuigh den Ghaeltacht is argóint éagsúil fós é.  

Mar shampla, an raibh aon duine ón nGaeltacht ar Primetime an lá cheanna (seachas an Aire) nuair a déanadh ceist na teanga a phléigh?  Nó ar ardaíodh ceist na Gaeltachta sa díospóireacht ina dhiaidh sin?

Ach céard a theastaíonn ó mhuintir na Gaeltachta?

Molaim na pleaineanna seo a chur in áit:
1.  Pleain shóisialta.
2.  Pleain margaíochta.
3.  Pleain gnó.
4.  Pleain turasóireachta.

Ar ndóigh tá Údarás na Gaeltachta in áit ach táimse ag tagairt do ghluaiseacht cosmhuintireach.

Thar aon rud eile, molaim go ndéanfaí urlabhraíocht don Ghaeltacht a bheas neamhspléach ar 'cheist na Gaeilge' agus a dhíreoidh ar cheist 'na Gaeltachta'.  Molaim gur chóir go mbeadh clár riachtannais ag an nGaeltacht a bheadh éagsúil, ach a chuirfeadh le riachtannaisí léithidí Chonradh na Gaeilge.

Wednesday 13 March 2013

Primetime debate on Irish more interesting for what’s not said.



When you introduce a debate on the Irish language with the words ‘should we be propping up a language’, as Claire Byrne did in her intro to last night’s Primetime debate, then what you are not explicitly saying, tone and attitude, becomes as interesting as the words you actually use.
Languages are not spoken by tin cans or lampposts but rather by people.  Neither are languages spoken by people in isolation but by communities.  When the Primetime presenter spoke of ‘propping up a language’ in a pejorative way, she was actually talking about ‘propping up a community’ and the implication being that the community is a burden on the State, ‘but sure we have a historic responsibility towards them’.
Statistics were rolled out that were designed to cast the language in a negative light.  We were supposed to be appalled at the lack of people speaking Irish on a daily basis (83,000 according to the latest census figures), and yet the census figures that showed 1.7 million people could speak Irish was completely dismissed, indeed mocked! 
The amount of money being spent on Irish was highlighted with a ‘tut tut’ attitude.  One interesting note was that RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta were said to be given €10million per year and had ‘only’ 90,000 listeners daily.  Wait a minute… if the census states that we ‘only’ have 83,000 daily speakers of Irish and RnaG are attracting an audience of 90,000 every day then I say: send the big wigs of RTÉ down to Casla to learn a thing or two! 
Sunday Indo journalist Declan Lynch gave the language a good old bashing too.  He comes from the school of commentators who consider Ireland to be full of eejits doing idiotic things such as supporting their own language financially and of course he considers himself as the comic genius that stands apart. 
Another journalist, Brenda Power, displayed a completely confused attitude.  She was against ‘compulsory Irish’ and claimed that it took up too much class time - time that could otherwise be spent on subjects such as science, yet on the other hand she wanted every school in Ireland to spend one dedicated hour per day at the subject.
Of course there was an attempt at balance – we had a number of language activists amongst the audience.  Most of these people produced a more nuanced and thought out argument but the tone of the programme put them on the back foot and made them defend their ‘case’.
The truth is that most Irish speakers are tired of the constant argument.  We are tired of having to defend compulsory Irish, the amount of money spent on the language, the perceived advantage given to Gaeltacht students and more.  The arguments against Irish seem to be the exact same ones that led to the abandonment of the language by many Irish people in the 19th century:  it’s no good to us economically.
Perhaps it’s time the Irish speaking community helped to ‘change the record’.  Firstly, state support for Irish shouldn’t be considered a complete ‘failure’.  Making Irish a central part of our education system, right up to leaving cert, has helped to keep the language very much alive.  Secondly, 83,000 daily speakers of Irish is not insignificant – this is a sizeable community of people that speak a language unique to this Island in a very real and modern sense on a daily basis.  Thirdly, why should we dismiss the 1.7 million people who claim on the census to ‘speak Irish’?  My experience is that people throughout the country can actually speak a lot more Irish than they give themselves credit for – yet we have this enormous sense of self-loathing in relation to the language.
Lastly:  should we not consider marketing the language more in its heartland, the Gaeltacht?  The Basques do this so well – they make a virtue of their uniqueness and children follow the example of adults who achieve beyond the norm because of their ‘otherness’.  The Gaeltacht should promote their own ‘stars’ internally:  TV presenters, footballers, artists and business people who have made an impact nationally and who are from the Gaeltacht, proud of their language.
Isn’t it time to change the record?

Tuesday 12 March 2013

Tá Muid Beo - We're Live!

Our website is live at www.measmedia.com and we're finally up and running as the Gaeltacht's bilingual communications company, and to celebrate we'll be offering a service free of charge for all Galway based charities for the month of April!

Má tá baint agat le h-eagras carthannachta i nGaillimh téigh i dteagmháil linn ag measmediacommunications@gmail.com agus feicfidh tú céard atá muid in ann a dhéanamh dhuit!  Beidh muid in ann an-chuid a bhaint amach in imeacht na míosa sin.

We are also offering a great service to all public bodies, as well as businesses and individuals/start-ups.  How can we help you?  Check out our website at www.measmedia.com  agus scaipigí an scéal!

Friday 8 March 2013

The State of Female Representation in the West of Ireland.


It's International Women's Day - the day when Ireland cringes at how low a percentage of women actually hold political office in this country.  But how does the west of Ireland fair in terms of female representatives on the various councils, let's see...

Mayo County Council:          3 out of 31
Sligo County Council:           6 out of 25
Leitrim:                               2 from 22
Galway County Council:       3 from 30 
Galway City Council:            5 from 15

Figures the Taliban would be proud of...

So what exactly stops women from entering politics?  According to Clair McGing from NUI, Maynooth, there are five reasons:  cash, culture, care (childcare and othewise), confidence and candidate selection.  

Should these reasons apply at local level?  
Cash:  for what - posters, leaflets etc?  Could we not create a massive online campaign? 2,000 votes should secure election for most councils.
Culture:  this needs to be changed from the outside - the male dominated political class are not in the strongest position to change, we need to create a groundswell of support behind good female candidates.
Care:   many Councils nowadays are changing the times of their meetings to accommodate men and women who have caring roles.  It should also be made known to prospective candidates that being a local rep is not a full time role, nor should it be turned in to one.
Confidence:  if this is a problem it can be changed by communities persuading female candidates that they should go ahead and run due to their ability as a community activist.
Candidate selection:  hardly suprising.

If there is any small thing we can do at MeasMedia to help change things in this regard then let's pledge today of all days to do that!  We could give our services free of charge to help new, up and coming female candidates in any one of these Councils... perhaps we could run and online campaign to get more women onto the Council in Galway?