Pamela Louderback, Day 74

I had hoped to contact the principals from the Bunscoil an tSiebhe Dhuibh, the Bunscoil Phobail Fierste, and the Bunscoil na bhFal (all Irish-language primary schools in the Belfast area) but got no answers.  They may still be out for holiday or closed due to the water situation.  Since I don't have emails for these individuals, I will continue to attempt to reach them via telephone. 

Most of my research today was spent on finishing a book on "Spoken Irish in Primary Schools" by John Harris and the Institiuid Teangeolaiochta Eireann.  It's a bit dated (1984) but gives good examples of chievement analysis and accompanying data.  Although it's a Republic of Ireland publication, there may be similar policies and practices that were performed in Northern Ireland.  When I get a chance to revisit the Comhairle na Gaelscolaiochta staff (Sean O Coinn and Reamai Mathers [who visited the Cherokee Immersion school in Tahlequah last summer]) I'll see if they have any information to share.

I find the comparison of Irish language policy in the Republic and Northern Ireland to be confusing on one level.  There most surely are a variety of underlying factors, such as motivation for (or lack thereof for) cultural identity that play a part here -- I still need to learn so much more.  For example, recently the Taoiseach and three Republic MP's (Cary, Dempsey, and O Cuiv) unveiled their twenty year strategy for the Irish language.  Of course, the future of the Fianna Fail is currently not very strong either.  There seems a growing fear that the native tongue may die out altogether, and whatever about hanling over the economic sovereignty of the country, letting the Irish language fall into obsolescence would be the final straw.  The Government plan is to increase the number of people who speak Irish on a daily basis from 83,000 to 250,000 over the next twenty years. 

Part of the new scheme is to encourage families to speak Irish by increasing the number of gaelscoileanna (Irish Medium schools), and promoting the Gaeltacht areas as holiday destinations.  There is a fear that in 15-20 years, if no action is taken, the language will die out in these areas.  As part of the strategy, Gaeltacht communities will ahve to prepare a language plan and will lose their Gaeltacht status (and the possiblity of claiming Irish language grants) if they don't

The Irish language has survived the effects of colonization, famine and cutural globalization.  For the Irish people, the language represents an unbroken chain that stretches back over 2,000 years.  There's cross party support for the plan -- the challenge -- there's not as much support from the people that I expected.  In this time of economic crisis, the strategy's success will undoubtedly depend on the people.

Photos from the Crecent Centre - a place where art, music, dance, etc... classes and workshops are offered.  There are other photos of the Lower Crescent area which is two blocks from my apartment.

Abandonned building with weather vane shaped like clipper ship

Same abandonned building with stained glass window panes

Stained glass windows on side of Crescent Centre

Crescent Centre window

View of the Crescent Centre from the front.  There's also a nice cafe inside with wonderful snacks.

Blue Ulster History Circle emblem on outside wall of Crescent Centre noting Margaret Byers who was instrumental in helping provide equal access to education for women.

Building across the street from the Crescent Centre

Alleyway to my back porch area.  Just beyond the white van you can barely make out the green door that leads to my back patio area where the trash bins are kept.