An Ghaeilge in Ollscoil Mhá Nuad
A chairde,
In Ollscoil Mhá Nuad, tá cuma bheo fholláin ar an nGaeilge – cibé i dtaighde a aithnítear go hidirnáisiúnta, inár ranganna Gaeilge a mbíonn an-tóir ag mic léinn agus baill foirne orthu, nó san obair agus sa staidéar laethúil atá chomh tábhachtach sin dúinne, mar institiúid.
Tosaíodh ar Ghaeilge a mhúineadh i Má Nuad breis agus 200 bliain ó shin. Go gairid tar éis bhunú Choláiste Phádraig, Má Nuad, i 1804, bhunaigh an coláiste Ollúnacht le Gaeilge. Rud eile nach eol do chách: Ba i Má Nuad a cuireadh an chéad leagan iomlán Gaeilge den Bhíobla ar fáil. Mar sin féin, tá níos mó ná traidisiún i gceist le Gaeilge Mhá Nuad: is teanga bheo fhuinniúil í lena dtacaíonn an Ollscoil. Mar a dúradh inár bPlean Straitéiseach 2012-17: “Tá an ollscoil tiomanta do chaomhnú na Gaeilge, dá cur chun cinn agus dá húsáid, agus do chaomhnú agus cur chun cinn chultúir shainiúla na hÉireann, trí theagasc, taighde agus trí gach gné de shaol na hollscoile.”
In Ollscoil Mhá Nuad, tá os cionn 450 ag gabháil don Ghaeilge mar nua-theanga; 100 don Luath-Ghaeilge; agus déanann os cionn 100 ábhar múinteora staidéar ar an nGaeilge mar chuid dá gcéim. Cuirimid cúrsaí Gaeilge saor in aisce ar fáil don fhoireann agus do mhic léinn agus óstáilimid comhdhálacha acadúla ábhartha gach
bliain.
Le deireanas, bhuaigh an tOllamh David Stifter, Ceann Roinn na Luath-Ghaeilge, dámhachtain thábhachtach ar fiú €1.8 milliún é ón gComhairle Eorpach um Thaighde ar son tionscadail trína gcuirfear dáta le líon mór téacsanna Gaeilge ón tréimhse idir an 7ú agus an 10ú haois agus trína bhforbrófar modheolaíochtaí nuálacha chun dáta a chur le teangacha, modheolaíochtaí a mbeifear in ann leas a bhaint astu ar fud an domhain. Is údar mórtais dúinn a rá gur i Má Nuad amháin atá an cineál oibre seo ar siúl, agus is sárshampla é den obair uathúil is féidir le hollscoil a dhéanamh chun aird a tharraingt ar an nGaeilge ar fud an domhain.
Ina theannta sin, tá oifig Ghaeilge agus coiste Gaeilge bunaithe ag an Ollscoil, cuirtear cóiríocht trí Ghaeilge ar fáil do mhic léinn (Gráig na Gaeilge), agus tá spás comhrá ann do chainteoirí Gaeilge (Seomra na Gaeilge).
I láthair na huaire tá tríú scéim Ghaeilge na hOllscoile á cur chun feidhme. Áirítear uirthi sin leathnú a dhéanamh ar sheirbhísí dátheangacha agus é a dhéanamh níos fusa do dhaoine gnó laethúil na hOllscoile a dhéanamh trí Ghaeilge. Tá súil againn go gcabhróidh an scéim seo linn dul chun cinn a dhéanamh i leith chuspóir ginearálta na hOllscoile, is é sin rialacháin maidir leis an nGaeilge a chomhlíonadh ach ina theannta sin, an Ghaeilge, an stair agus an cultúr a cheiliúradh de bhrí gur orthu atá sochaí na hÉireann bunaithe.
Le dea-mhéin,
An tOllamh Pilib Ó Nualláin, Uachtarán
Ollscoil Mhá Nuad
Dear friends,
The Irish language is alive and well at Maynooth University—whether it be through our internationally recognised research, our popular Irish languages classes for students and staff, or in the day-to-day work and study experiences that we as an institution value deeply.
Irish has been taught at Maynooth for more than 200 years. In 1804, shortly after the founding of St. Patrick’s College Maynooth, the college established the Professorship of Irish. Another little known fact: The first complete Irish language version of the Bible emerged from Maynooth.
Yet Irish at Maynooth is about more than the past; it’s a living, breathing language that the University has a role in supporting and encouraging. As referenced in our Strategic Plan 2012-17, “The University is committed to preserve, promote and use the Irish language, and to preserve and promote the distinctive cultures of Ireland, through teaching, research and all aspects of university life.”
At Maynooth, more than 450 students study Modern Irish; 100 study Early Irish; and more than 100 student teachers study Irish as part of their degree. We offer free Irish language courses to staff and students and host many relevant academic conferences each year.
Prof David Stifter, Head of the Department of Early Irish, recently won a highly prestigious €1.8 million award from the European Research Council for a project that will date a large number of 7th–10th Century Irish texts and develop innovative methodologies for dating languages that will be applicable across the world. We are proud to say that this kind of work is unique to Maynooth, and serves as a perfect example of the unique role a university can play in showcasing the Irish language across the globe.
The University also has established an Irish language office, an Irish language committee, provides Irish language accommodation for students (Gráig na Gaeilge), and offers a conversational space for Irish language speakers (Seomra na Gaeilge).
We currently are implementing the University’s third Irish language scheme, which includes expanding bilingual services and making it easier for everyday business to be conducted in Irish. With this, we hope to make progress toward our collective objective, which is not to simply comply with Irish language regulations but to truly celebrate our language, history and culture as the bedrock of Irish society that it is.
Best wishes,
Professor Philip Nolan, President
Maynooth University