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. As of 2011, it was reportedly running 40 night classes in Britain,[1] and by 2014 was teaching Irish to approximately 25 children in England.[2]
History
[edit]
Coláiste na nGael was established in 2000 by Christy Evans and Cathal Ó Beirne as a volunteering group.[3][4] The organisation has been involved in organising classes, book fairs, trips, weekend workshops and seminars.[3][4] As of 2006, it was publishing a triannual newsletter titled Iris na Gaeilge.[3]
Christy Evans, the founder of Coláiste na nGael, received a "Pride of Ireland" teaching award from The Irish Post in 2007.[5][6]
As of 2009, Coláiste na nGael was reportedly participating in discussions with other Irish language organisations such as Glór na nGael and some local branches of Conradh na Gaeilge.[4]
Together with Donal Kelleher, who is also involved in running Coláiste na nGael, Christy Evans undertook research on the Irish language in Britain and presented the resulting report to 10 Downing Street in 2011.[1]
As of 2011, the Coláiste na nGael Irish college was running "40 night classes around the country [UK]".[1] In 2014, the organisation was reportedly providing Irish classes to 25 children in England.[2] In an interview in Beo! in May 2014, Evans also stated that the organisation was undertaking classes in schools in England for that year's Seachtain na Gaeilge.[2]
In 2012, after changes to how the GCSE curriculum was administered in Wales and England meant students could no longer 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 (Chris Ruane of Labour) was reportedly intending to raise the issue in parliament.[7][2][8] A partial re-introduction was announced in 2015, to take effect in 2017, a delay which the organisation said was "not acceptable".[8]
Coláiste na nGael was still active as of 2022.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "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 d Delap, Breandán (May 2014). Mac Muirí, Seosamh (ed.). "Leithcheal á Dhéanamh ar Fhoghlaim na Gaeilge i Sasana". Beo! (in Irish). No. 157. Gleann Cholm Cille: Oideas Gael.
- ^ a b c Kelleher, Dónal (April 2006). Mac Muirí, Seosamh (ed.). "Coláiste na nGael". Beo! (in Irish). No. 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). No. 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.
- ^ "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.
In 2007, he [Evans] also received the 'Pride of Ireland' teaching award from Waterford Crystal and the Irish Post newspaper
- ^ 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.
- ^ McHugh, Connell (January 2022). "Irish language EU status welcomed by Coláiste na nGael". The Irish Post. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
External links
[edit]- Colaiste-na-ngael.com website (archived 2012)
- 2014 interview with Cruinneog on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta (~25:00-37:20)