The write stuff: 8,000 pupils compose books 'as Gaeilge'
Kerry football great Dara O Cinneide presents, from left, Rachel Ni Chonchubhair, Siobhan Ni Laighin, Eoghan O Laighin and Nuireann Ni Chathasuigh with certificates at the Kerry Education Centre, Tralee
Friday May 23 2008
Who says pupils don't like Irish? With an imaginative project and encouragement from their teachers they will write fluently 'as Gaeilge'.
More than 8,000 children took part in 'Scriobh Leabhar', a project which promotes reading and writing through Irish. Hosted through seven education centres nationwide, 'Scriobh Leabhar' encourages primary school children to compose, design and publish their own books in Irish.
The 'Write a Book' project was started by the Blackrock Education Centre over 20 years ago, to promote reading and writing among primary school pupils.
In 2006, Bord na Leabhar Gaeilge and An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta & Gaelscolaiochta (COGG) began working in conjunction with a number of education centres to offer an Irish strand of the project -- 'Scriobh Leabhar' -- to promote reading and writing through Irish.
The first prize-winning ceremonies were held in early 2007.
All teachers were offered an in-service course which helped them devise strategies to motivate and inspire children's Irish language writing.
The participating schools swap books so that children can read and discuss material written by their counterparts.
Over the coming weeks, the students and their schools will be recognised for their participation in the project.
Aedin Ni Bhroin, director of Bord na Leabhar Gaeilge, said: "We are delighted with the success of Scriobh Leabhar. We realise the importance of cultivating readers and writers from a young age as they are the future of the Irish language and this scheme goes a long way towards achieving that goal."
- John Walshe
