Archive for February 2010

Ulster Irish is not forgotten in Abair Leat! Irish language teaching website – O’Domhnaill

February 3, 2010 Donegal News & Sport No comments
Senator Brian O'Domhnaill

Senator Brian O'Domhnaill

A new interactive website to teach second level students Irish is currently being piloted in 14 schools around the country, according to Donegal South West Fianna Fáil Senator Brian O’Domhnaill.
He said that contrary to inaccurate claims by Sinn Fein Senator Pearse Doherty, the website does feature Donegal Irish, Senator O’Domhnaill countered after earlier criticism from the Sinn Fein Senator.
“The website Abair Leat! was officially launched this week by the Minister for Education and Science Batt O’Keeffe TD with support from the comedian and Irish language enthusiast, Des Bishop,” Senator O’Domhnaill said.
“It is an interactive website that has functions to allow students interact on the internet with native Irish speakers.”
“The website is initially being piloted in 14 secondary schools, but I would be hopeful that it will be rolled out properly in time following on the trial period.”
“The proportion of marks for oral Irish in the Leaving Certificate examination will increase from 25 per cent to 40 per cent in 2012 so it is important that new tools for teaching oral competency are investigated and tried out now.”
“I would like to clarify that, contrary to criticisms from Senator Pearse Doherty, the website does feature dialect from Ulster Irish.”
“And all dialects will be featured on the site in time. It is currently in a trial period and content will be built upon. However, I am happy to clarify that Ulster Irish already features and its presence on the site will increase with time,” concluded Senator Brian O’Domhnaill.

Donegal south west Labour convention this Friday

February 3, 2010 Donegal News & Sport No comments

The selection convention to select a candidate for the Donegal South-West bye-election will be held in Jackson’s hotel on Friday Feb. 5th 2010 at 8.00pm.

The meeting will be chaired by Alan Kelly MEP for Munster. There is only one candidate nominated and that is Councillor Frank McBrearty jnr.

After the historic achievement of electing two Labour councillors to Donegal County Council the Labour Party say they are approaching this election with optimism.

Party activists say Frank McBrearty has shown himself to be a councillor of outstanding ability and already has brought a new dimension to Donegal politics.

“With the Government limping from one disaster to another and Donegal suffering loss of business and levels of job losses never before seen, Labour can provide the people of Donegal with a unique representative to take our case to Dublin,” a spokesperson said.

“The recent polls have shown that the Irish people consider Eamonn Gilmore as the best Political leader in the country. Frank will be joining Eamonn Gilmore’s team in the Dail if the people of Donegal elect him.”