Sparánachtaí An Droichead do chúrsaí Gaeilge Ollscoil Uladh | An Droichead Scholarships for Ulster University Irish courses 2022-23
(*Béarla thíos faoi seo - English below)
Tá An Droichead, an eagraíocht Ghaeilge agus chultúrtha do Dheisceart agus Oirthear Bhéal Feirste, agus Ollscoil Uladh i ndiaidh ciste scoláireachta a athbhunú do mhic léinn Ghaeilge Ollscoil Uladh. Gan deiseanna tiomsaithe airgid le linn na paindéime, ní raibh An Droichead in ann an ciste bliantúil £3,000 a bhailiú don scoláireacht. Mar sin féin, tá an grúpa ó dheisceart Bhéal Feirste i ndiaidh teacht chucu féin agus chinn siad go mbeadh siad in ann an cuidiú luachmhar seo a chur ar fáil arís do mhic léinn atá ag iarraidh leanúint ar aghaidh lena n-aistear leis an Ghaeilge agus cáilíocht fhoirmiúil 3ú leibhéal a bhaint amach. Anuraidh, ghnóthaigh clár oideachais Gaeilge An Droichead an chéad duais don oideachas i gcomórtas mór le rá Ghlór na nGael. Ag tógáil ar an rath sin, tá siad tiomanta chun a chinntiú gur féidir leo leanúint dá n-iarrachtaí tiomsaithe airgid don scoláireacht i mbliana agus amach anseo.
Dúirt Príomhfheidhmeannach An Droichead, Pól Deeds: “Is é aidhm An Droichead suim daoine a thógáil sa Ghaeilge, agus iad a chur ag foghlaim agus ag úsáid na teanga. Tá an chomhpháirtíocht le hOllscoil Uladh ar cheann de na bealaí tábhachtacha ar féidir linn na trí cinn a dhéanamh. Go speisialta, ba mhaith linn a thaispeáint do na scoláirí inár gcuid ranganna agus inár bpobal go bhfuil conair soiléir ann chun líofacht aitheanta sa Ghaeilge. San am céanna, ba mhaith linn níos mó deiseanna a chur ar fáil do mhic léinn 3ú leibhéal páirt iomlán a ghlacadh i ngluaiseacht na Gaeilge agus i saol sóisialta na Gaeilge, mar a chuirimid ar fáil trínár gcláir chultúrtha.”
Dúirt Oifigeach Forbartha Gaeilge An Droichead, Fionnuala Nic Thom, “Tá athstruchtúrú déanta againn ar na scoláireachtaí lena chinntiú gur féidir linn tacaíocht a thabhairt don oiread mac léinn agus is féidir ar bhealach fiúntach. Ba mhaith linn dul i dteagmháil leo siúd a bhfuil an t-airgead breise de dhíth orthu, agus chomh maith leis sin, teacht ar dhaoine a choinneoidh orthu ag tógáil phobal na Gaeilge sa chuid seo de Bhéal Feirste. I measc na seirbhísí tacaíochta a chuireann An Droichead ar fáil tá an scéim bhallraíochta a sholáthraíonn lascaine 50% ar ár gcuid gníomhaíochtaí go léir – tá lúcháir orainn a bheith in ann cuidiú díreach airgeadais a thabhairt le haistear leanúnach na mac léinn Gaeilge a eascú. Beidh cuid de na daoine seo i ndiaidh fás aníos, cheana féin, in An Droichead, sa bhunscoil agus inár gcuid seirbhísí óige.”
Ag labhairt dó ar athbheochan na scoláireachta, dúirt Gearóid Ó Domagáin, léachtóir le Gaeilge agus an Stiúrthóir Cúrsa ar na cúrsaí Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge in Ollscoil Uladh: “Léiríonn an tionscnamh comhpháirtíochta seo idir Ollscoil Uladh agus An Droichead an tiomantas atá againn don teagmháil leis an phobal agus muid ag leathnú réimse na teagmhála sin leis na deiseanna breise seo do mhic léinn dul i dtreo cúrsaí tríú leibhéal. Léiríonn sí, chomh maith, an obair iontach atá déanta ag An Droichead sa réimse seo, ag cothú foghlaimeoirí teanga ar fud Bhéal Feirste agus ag cur áiseanna agus deiseanna gnóthachtála ar fáil ar an leibhéal is airde. Tá difríocht ábhartha déanta ag an scoláireacht seo ó bunaíodh in 2016 í agus cinnteoidh an scéim don bhliain acadúil seo, agus réimse is leithne cúrsaí i gceist léi, go dtabharfar tacaíocht airgid do mhic léinn san am seo a bhfuil géarghá léi.
Déan iarratas anseo roimh 24 Meán Fómhair 2022
An Droichead, the Irish language and cultural organisation for South and East Belfast, and Ulster University have reinstated their scholarship fund for Irish language students. Deprived of fundraising opportunities during the pandemic, An Droichead was unable to raise the £3,000 annual kitty for the scholarship. However, the south Belfast group has bounced back and decided that they can once again provide this valuable assistance to students seeking to continue their journey with the Irish language through a formal 3rd level qualification. Last year, An Droichead’s Irish language education programme earned them top prize for education in the prestigious Glór na nGael competition. Building on that success, they have committed themselves to ensuring their charitable fundraising efforts can continue to raise the monies for the scholarship both in the current year and going forward.
An Droichead CEO, Pól Deeds, said: “An Droichead is all about getting people interested in Irish, learning Irish and using Irish. Our partnership with Ulster University is one of the important ways that we can do all three. In particular, we want to show students in our classes and in our community that there is a clear path to recognised proficiency in Irish. At the same time, we want to provide more opportunities for 3rd level students to fully take part in the Irish language movement and in an Irish language social life as provided through our cultural programmes.”
An Droichead Irish Language Development Officer, Fionnuala Nic Thom, said, “We have just restructured the scholarships to make sure we can support as many students as possible in a meaningful way. We want to reach those who need the extra cash and also to find people who will stay involved in building an Irish language community in this part of Belfast. Among the suite of support services that An Droichead offers – which includes a membership scheme that provides 50% discount on all of our activities – we are delighted to be able to make a direct financial contribution that will help with the continuing journey of Irish language students. Some of these will have already grown up through An Droichead in the primary school and our youth services.”
Commenting on the revival of the scholarship, Gearóid Ó Domagáin, a lecturer in Irish and Course Director for Ulster University's Diploma programmes, said: “This partnership initiative between Ulster University and An Droichead epitomises our commitment to community engagement and widening participation, supporting the study of Irish language, and enhancing the opportunities for students to avail of third level courses. It also reflects the outstanding contribution of An Droichead to this area, fostering language learners across Belfast and providing facilities and opportunities for achievement at the highest level. The scholarship has made a material difference since its inception in 2016 and its re-instatement for this academic year with a broader course catchment will ensure that a range successful applicants can avail of this financial assistance at a time when it is greatly needed. ”
Apply here before the 24th September 2022
