Why the Irish (and Irish-speaking) communities of North America are Vanishing

Deireadh le Seanré na hImirce Éireannaí i Meiriceá Thuaidh

Tá saol na Gaeilge ag athrú i Meiriceá Thuaidh le tamall anuas. Go dtí na seachtóidí, d'fhéadfaí ceantair agus bailte áirithe a a aimsiú a raibh pobail shuntasacha labhartha Gaeilge iontu, mar Woodlawn Nua Eabhrac, Springfield Massachusetts, agus deisceart Siceágó. Go minic, thagadh imircigh na hÉireann díreach go dtí na háiteanna seo ón bhád nó ón eitleán go bhfaighfidís obair ó dhaoine eile i bpobal na nÉireannach. D'fhanadh siad ina gcónaí sna ceantair seo agus go minic phósadh siad sna pobail chéanna. Ar ndóigh, bhí sé go héasca Gaeilge a aimsiú sna ceantair seo agus an méid sin de mhuintir na Gaeltachta ina gcónaí iontu. D'athraigh gach rud sna seachtóidí, ámh. Agus airgead ag na himircigh, agus clann orthu, agus gluaisteáin acu, scaipeadar amach go dtí na fobhailte. Ní amháin sin, ach bhí na ceantair seo ag athrú freisin, le áitritheoirí nua ag teacht as pobal Gorm an deiscirt agus Hiospáinigh Mheiriceá Theas.

Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse in Ireland

Talking last week on Radio Kerry about the alcohol epidemic in Ireland: http://nova.wpunj.edu/obroinb/drinkdrinkObroin.mp3

Excessive Drinking in Ireland / An Iomarca Óil in Éirinn

Why emergency departments in Ireland are overloaded:
http://www.irishtimes.com/letters/index.html#1224307633594

Stuttering in the Classroom / Stadaireacht sa Seomra Ranga

Having had a debilitating stutter right into my twenties, I identify with Philip Garber, the stuttering teenager who was asked to modify his classroom behavior at a community college. A bright student, I was frequently angry at teachers for not calling on me, or for moving on to other students as soon as I began to stutter. I consequently spent half my school days with my hand in the air, daring my teachers to ignore me. Speech therapy helped greatly, however, and I am now a university professor with a full teaching load (linguistics!).

Several years ago I had a student with a stutter equally as bad as mine had been. Despite his stutter, this student nevertheless wished to answer every question I posed the class and often interrupted other students. His answers were long, excruciating, and often unintelligible. More than most, I could sympathize, having been in the same position myself. His constant desire to participate in the class, however, severely affected my ability to teach, and I considered sending him an email similar to the one Elizabeth Snyder, the community college professor, sent Mr. Garber. I was literally seconds away from sending it when I was reminded of the irreversibility of email. I deleted the email and, several days later, took the student aside after class for a discussion.

But for my decision that day, I could now be in Elizabeth Snyder's position. She wanted to make her classes more bearable for everybody (Mr. Garber included) and thought that her suggestions would help. Instead she ended up being vilified on the front page of a national newspaper.

Stuttering is horrible for everybody, both speaker and listener alike. Nobody wants to hurt stutterers further, and Ms. Snyder certainly had only the best intentions when she sent her email.

Occupy X! Gaibhigí X!

My Beo article this month concerns the growing "Occupy" movement, particularly how it started in Wall Street and was conceived in Canada: http://www.beo.ie/alt-gaibhigi-aitainm-anseo.aspx

In Beo na míosa seo, déanaim scagadh ar an nGluaiseacht agóidíochta "Occupy", go háirithe mar a thosaigh sé in Wall Street, agus mar a cheapadh i gCeanada é ar dtús: http://www.beo.ie/alt-gaibhigi-aitainm-anseo.aspx

Brian Ó Broin