Radio listeners across Ireland will join internet users worldwide next Monday, as they tune in to the first episode of a new series focusing on the social aspects of the internet. It’s the first time an Irish radio series has been devoted exclusively to the phenomenon of “online social networking”, of which the best known example in recent months has been Bebo. What’s more: all 59 episodes of the show will be in Irish. The programme is called An Líonra Sóisialta, which translates to The Social Network. It will broadcast a 12 minute episode each day for 12 weeks. So…
Woman claims she was held for speaking Irish
This is a few days old, but still relevant. A Northern Ireland schoolteacher claims she was arrested for not obeying an order to stop speaking Irish with her friends. It’s been discussed heavily on some Irish blogs. Most doubt that she was arrested simply for her refusal to stop speaking Irish, but who knows. Her attorney has requested that all the papers in the case should be in Irish.
Beo! Turns Five
The online Irish language magazine Beo! is five years old this month. A special concert will be held on Wednesday, 10 May in the Temple Bar Music Centre, Dublin to celebrate these first five years. The doors will open at 8.30 p.m. and guests will include the Irish language rock group Na Fíréin. Tickets will cost €8 and €6 and will be available at the door on the night. For more information, call (01) 675-3658.
First Irish Podcast to Achieve Radio Syndication
Congratulations to Conn at An tImeall, who will become the first independent Irish podcast to cross-over to traditional radio. An tImeall begins a syndicated run on Galway city’s college community station, Flirt FM today. I was approached by a web radio operator who wanted to syndicate my Nahenahe.net podcast in his streams, but needed me to secure releases for the music and had stipulations that made it less than attractive for me do it. If someone was able to do it without requiring me to do any additional legwork (or fingerwork) and broadcast the podcasts as is, I would definitely…
Speeding fine dropped over Irish
A Co Donegal builder who was accused of speeding last year will not be prosecuted because the authorities failed to meet their constitutional obligation to deal with him in Irish. I love it!
Go maire tú a Chonn!
Congratulations to Conn at An tImeall for reaching his 100th podcast. Quite a milestone. I’m downloading as I write this. I sent him an audio note of congratulations, in Hawaiian, of course. Wow, it’s just short of an hour long. I wonder what I’ll do for my 100th podcast, if I ever get there
Irish language under threat in Glencolmcille
Oideas Gael’s Language Director Liam Ó Cuinneagain is concerned that the Gaeltacht status of Glencolmcille could be under threat unless more of a community effort is made to use Irish as a daily language. They found that less than 50% of people in Glencolmcille rate themselves as fluent in Irish and only around 20% speak it every day. My wife and I spent three wonderful weeks at Glencolmcille and were well served by Liam, Siobhan and the staff there.
NUIG Irish language requirement removed.
[ From the Galway Independent ] A Bill was passed last week removing an obligation on NUI Galway to appoint people competent in the Irish language to offices or positions in the University. NUI Galway has welcomed the new legislation. Under the new legislation the University will still be required to ensure its strategic development plan contains a provision for the delivery of education through the Irish language.
First Welsh language protester locked up in 11 years.
The granddaughter of former president became the first Welsh language campaigner to be locked up in 11 years. Gwenno Teifi Ffransis was sent to a prison for five days after the 19-year-old refused to pay court-imposed compensation to a Welsh radio station. She damaged Radio Carmarthenshire’s Narberth studio in protest over its lack of Welsh broadcasts.
My Name Is Yu Ming.
This is simply the best movie short I’ve ever watched. “A bored Chinese shopkeep learns Gaelic and moves to Dublin only to find the locals no longer speak their mother tongue. Follow Yu Ming as he pursues his dream of life in the Celtic world.” To put it into perspective, imagine this fellow learning Hawaiian and coming here instead of Ireland. I was nearly in tears at one point, and laughing my behind off the next.