Coláiste na nGael
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| Formation | 2000 |
|---|---|
| Founder |
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| Fields | Irish language education and advocacy |
Coláiste na nGael is a language school, focused on the Irish language, based in England. The organisation is also involved in promoting the Irish language in Britain.
History
[edit]Coláiste na nGael was established in 2000 by Christy Evans and Cathal Ó Beirne as a volunteering group.[1][2] The organisation is involved in organising classes, book fairs, trips, weekend workshops and seminars.[1][2] It previously published a triannual newsletter titled Iris na Gaeilge.[1]
In 2009 they started co-ordinating in an umbrella group with other Irish language organisations including Glór na nGael and local branches of Conradh na Gaeilge.[2]
As of 2012, Coláiste na nGael was reportedly operating in over twenty British cities, and had teachers and students from varying backgrounds.[3][better source needed]
Christy Evans, the founder of Coláiste na nGael,[4] has won a Léargas 'Language Ambassador' award and, in 2007, received a Pride of Ireland teaching award from The Irish Post.[5][6][relevant?] Together with Donal Kelleher, who is also involved in running Coláiste na nGael, Evans undertook research on the Irish language in Britain and presented the resulting report to 10 Downing Street in 2011.[7]
As of 2011, the Coláiste na nGael Irish college was reportedly running "40 night classes around the country [UK]".[7] In 2014, they were reportedly providing Irish classes to 25 children around England.[8] They said that they had organised classes in English schools for that year's Seachtain na Gaeilge.[8]
After fiscally-driven changes starting in 2012 to how the GCSE curriculum of both Wales and England was administered meant students were no longer permitted take Irish as an exam subject there, Coláiste na nGael started a campaign to reinstate it. The campaign, which involved various groups, gained support from TDs in Dublin and an MP in London promised to raise it in parliament.[9][8][10] A partial re-introduction was announced in 2015, to take effect in 2017, a delay which the organisation said was "not acceptable".[10]
Coláiste na nGael were still active as of 2022.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Kelleher, Dónal (April 2006). Mac Muirí, Seosamh (ed.). "Coláiste na nGael". Beo! (in Irish) (60). Gleann Cholm Cille: Oideas Gael. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
- ^ a b c Birtill, Tony (October 2009). Mac Muirí, Seosamh (ed.). "Glór na nGael". Beo! (in Irish) (102). Gleann Cholm Cille: Oideas Gael.
Bhí mé féin ann, ó Chonradh na Gaeilge i Learpholl, [...] / Caithfidh mé a rá go bhfuil sárobair déanta ag Coláiste na nGael le roinnt blianta anuas. Bunaíodh an eagraíocht seo sa bhliain 2000 agus eagraíonn siad coláistí deireadh seachtaine sa Bhreatain agus thar lear. / Bíonn ceardlanna agus seimineáir oiliúna ann ag deireadh na seachtaine scaití agus tugann sin deis do dhaoine as áiteanna éagsúla líonrú a dhéanamh. Ach ní scáthghrúpa é.
- ^ The Irish World. 7 January 2012. p. 7.
{{cite news}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ a b McHugh, Connell (January 2022). "Irish language EU status welcomed by Coláiste na nGael". The Irish Post. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
- ^ "Lá Mór na Gaeilge - Irish Language Day 2025". coventryirishsociety.com. January 2025. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
[Evans'] achievements include being the European Commission Language Ambassador for Irish, Winner of The Pride of Ireland Award 2007, and Founder of Coláiste na nGael
- ^ "About". irishstudies.co.uk. 12 February 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
Evans received the title 'Language Ambassador' from 'Léargas', an award from the office of European Commissioner Jan Figel. In 2007, he also received the 'Pride of Ireland' teaching award from Waterford Crystal and the Irish Post newspaper
- ^ a b "Teacher wants to see more language choice in schools". thisistotalessex.co.uk. 28 April 2011.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ a b c Delap, Breandán (May 2014). Mac Muirí, Seosamh (ed.). "Leithcheal á Dhéanamh ar Fhoghlaim na Gaeilge i Sasana". Beo! (in Irish) (157). Gleann Cholm Cille: Oideas Gael.
- ^ Delap, Breandán (22 October 2014). "Gaeilge Shasana". The Irish Times (in Irish). Retrieved 8 May 2026.
- ^ a b Mulhall, James (6 February 2015). "Irish language will return to GCSE curriculum". The Irish Post. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
External links
[edit]- Colaiste-na-ngael.com website (archived 2012)
- Irish Cambridge - Coláiste na nGael (archived 2006)
- 2014 interview with Cruinneog on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta (~25:00-37:20)