Turas staidéir go Ghlaschú / Study visit to Glasgow

D’imigh scaifte againn ó Ghlór na Móna go Ghlaschú in Alban maidin Dhéardaoin ar thuras staidéir, agus ní féidir a shéanadh gur turas léargásach, taitneamhach a bhí ann.

Agus muid in Alban, d’fhan muid sa “Triantán Gaidhlige,” bhí neart le feiceáil agus le deánamh againn agus muid ann. Ar an chéad lá dúinn bheith ann, bhuail muid le chainteoir Ghaidhlige agus ionadaí ón fheachas neamhslpeachais Angus MacLeod. Mhínigh Angus dúinn an comhthéacs polaitiúla agus cultúrtha in Alban agus é mar chainteoir Ghaidhlige triú ghlúin. Ba cainteoirí dúchásacha iad seanthuismitheoirí Angus ach roghnaíodh gan an teanga a thabhairt do thuistí Angus ar eagla go mbeadh cúngú ann ó thaobh deiseanna saoil agus fostaíochta agus an Béarla mar phríomh-theanga cumarsáde in áiteanna eile, gléas a usáideadh ar chainteoirí in Éirinn chomh maith chun meath a chur ar an Ghaeilge. Sin ráite, thóg Angus an teanga agus léiríodh saol agus gluaiseacht beo bríomhara Gaidhlige dúinn idir ceol, damhsa, scolaíocht agus siamsaíocht ar fad laistigh den Triantán Ghaihlige

Bhí deis againn cuairt a thabhairt ar chaife pobal bhunaithe darbh ainm, ‘Caife agus Craic.’ Sochfhiontar Ghaidhlige atá ann bunaithe ag cainteoirí Ghaidhlig, tá sé mar aidhm acu spás sóisiálta do chainteoirí agus foghliameoirí Gaidhlige araon. Bíonn réimse imeachtaí idir lámha acu, agus bhí an t-ádh orainn bheith i láthair d’sheisiún amhránaíochta dírithe ar teaghlaidh agus páistí óga.

Bhuail muid le hAllison Ní Dhorcaidte fosta, oibrí óige as Baile Átha Cliath atá anois ag obair agus ina cónaí tríd Ghaidhlige i nGlaschú. Is cinnte gurb é an chuairt a thug muid ar Sgoil Ghaidhlig Ghlaschú ar cheann de na rúdaí is suimiúla dá bhfaca muid i rith an turais. D’eascaigh leas-phríomhoide na scoile, Caitriona Cambueill turas treoraithe thart ar Sgoil Ghaidhlig Ghlascú dúinn. Is iontach an turas a bhí againn thart ar an  Naíscoil, Bunscoil agus Meánscoil (ar fad ar an suíomh céanna)! Mhínigh Caitriona cúlra na scoile chomh maith leis na deachrachtaí a bhí acu, mar shampla easpa earraí teagaisc agus foghlamtha cuí sa Ghaidhlig agus an obair breise a mbíonn ar mhúinteoirí de bharr seo,deachracht a mbíonn os comhair múinteioirí gaeloideachais fosta. Sin ráite áfach, agus arís, cosúil lenár córas gaelscolaíochta féin, tá Sgoil Ghaidhlig Ghlaschú ag dul ó neart go neart le foireann díográiseach agus cumasach, pobal toilteanach agus figiúirí atá ag ardú i rith ama le  beagnach 700 dalta acu idir naícsoil, bunscoil agus meánscoil, ag seachadadh cainteoirí Ghaidhlige óga le hoideachas ard chaighdeán.

Mar fhocal scór, bhí turas staidéir den chéad scoith againn go Ghlaschú le neart eagsúlacht, neart abhár macnaimh agus neart nascanna tógtha. Bhí lúchair orainn bualadh le scoth scaifte daoine, agus gabhann muid ár  mbuíochas le ghach duine a ghlac ama chun bualadh linn, go háirithe Evan ó Conradh Na Gaeilge Glaschú. Móran taing!

A group of us from Glór na Móna left for Glasgow in Scotland on a study trip last Thursday, and it was without doubt an i8nsightful and enjoyable trip!

During our stay in Glasgow, we were located in the “Gaidhlig Triangle” of which there was plenty to see and do. On our first day, we met with Angus MacLeod, a Gaidhlig speaker and representative of the Independence campaign. Angus took the time to explain the political and cultural context as a third generation Gaidhlig speaker. Angus’s grandparents were in fact native speakers; however, both grandparents decided against raising their children in their native language for fear it would hinder their life and employability opportunities as English was the predominant language of communication, a manipulative tool employed by those in power to ensure language decline amongst native speaker,s (of which  was also used to aid the decline of the Irish language in Ireland also). Having said that, Angus chose to learn Gaidhlig, he is a fluent speaker and was able to show us a lively Gaidhlig life and movement with music, dance, education and events all located within the Gaidhlig triangle.

We had an opportunity to visit the community based café called “Caife agus Craic,” a social enterprise founded by Gaidhlig speakers with a vision to create a social space for both Gaidhlig speakers and learners alike.  The café offer a range of events, and we were lucky to be there for a singing session for families and young children.

We also met with Alison NíDhorcaidte, a youth worker from Dublin now working and living through Gaidhlig in Glasgow.  Visiting Sgoil Ghaidhlig Ghlaschú was definitely a highlight and great experience. Caitriona Cambueill, Scoil Ghaidhlig Ghlaschú’s vice principal kindly facilitated a tour of the school. We had a great tour around the nursery, primary and secondary schools which are all on the one site. Caitriona explained the school’s background along with various difficulties the school faced, one of which our own Irish medium teachers also face which is the lack of teaching and learning resources in the relevant language, which adds to teacher’s already heavy workload. That being said however, and again very much akin to own Irish medium education system, the school is going from strength to strength with dedicated and competent staff, a willing community and rising figures with almost 700 pupils between nursery, primary and secondary, turning out young Gaidhlig speakers with a high standard of education.

Lastly, we had a great study visit to Glasgow with plenty of diversity, plenty of food for thought and plenty of new links built. We were very lucky to have met a great bunch of people , a big thank you to all who took the time out of their busy schedules to meet with us, especially Evin from Conradh na Gaeilge Glaschú. Móran Taing!