A new Irish language blog, www.bladair.com, launched in Mayo to help primary and second level students improve their proficiency in the Irish language, is to be launched to a national audience following its success in Mayo.
The brainchild of Art Ó Súilleabháin, director of Mayo Education Centre, Bladair was developed to encourage Mayo’s post primary school students to engage with the Irish language using the latest internet technology. The project is aimed directly at students and teenagers using technology that they understand and use in their everyday lives.
“I thought of ‘blogging’ in Irish and the word ‘blather’ came to mind as most Irish people will associate ‘blather’ with chat or talk,” Mr Ó Súilleabháin said. “I felt that if children and young people could be encouraged to ‘blather’ in Irish then we could assist them with their ongoing learning of the Irish language. An important consideration for me and the Mayo Education Centre was to facilitate this learning in a safe environment so the ‘chat’ or ‘conversation’ or ‘blather’ is monitored by the Mayo Education Centre to ensure the safety and propriety of conversations. The service also has a teaching tool in the form of a ‘Big Brother’ who can point out small spelling or grammar errors so that students are actively using the language and learning in the process. To add to the fun element we will announce the best online ‘blather’ (bladair ) each month and offer small prizes for this participation or engagement with the site.”
Anyone interested in getting involved can check out the blog at www.blaidair.com or www.gaeilge.mayoeducationcentre.ie, or contact Art Ó Súilleabháin at the Mayo Education Centre on 094 902 0700.
