Committee Reports > List of Committees > Joint > 1988 > Committee on the Irish Language (2nd Committee) > Report No. 05 - Influence of Computerisation on the Irish Language

Appendix 3

Summary of several information technology schemes for Irish

1. An Foras Ríomheolais

This group arose from a seminar organised in 1987 by Muintearas na nOileán to assess the effects of new information technology on Irish. The group constitutes a forum for sharing information and has access to a range of expertise in the areas of education, computer science and linguistics. It has representatives from the Department for the Gaeltacht, the Department of Education, Údarás na Gaeltachta, Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge, the Linguistics Institute of Ireland, Thomond College of Education and experts from University College Galway, Queen’s University Belfast and from Ríomhairí Rath Cairn. The Joint Committee is of the opinion (see 3.8.2 above) that An Fóras Ríomheolais should now build on this range of expertise and develop as a pressure group and as the core of a network for information and intercommunication for anyone concerned with computer technology through the medium of Irish, somewhat after the model of the computer user groups which are widespread in the United States. This task could be carried out by means of a newsletter, by publicity and by putting in place throughout the country a group of committed individuals who appreciate the needs in this area. These could operate as disseminators in the spread of skills and expertise necessary to develop this field of computer literacy through Irish.

2. GCOMM Ltd

This company was set up by Údarás na Gaeltachta to develop and extend the uses of new technology in the Gaeltacht. It will establish three centres in Gaeltacht areas, in Conamara, Donegal and Kerry and these will be used as central training locations to provide teaching facilities and courses on the use of computers for these districts. The company will attempt to expand information technology services in the Gaeltacht, by encouraging ‘cottage industry’ developments. The three central units will be linked through computer telecommunications, to allow business services (data storage and retrieval, and perhaps later, teleconferencing) to be provided through the network. Similarly, it is felt that this network could be used as the basis for some inter-school communication, with local schools linked to nodes, and through these to other schools at a distance.

3. GLÉACHT

This project is funded entirely by Patrick Mulreany, an Irish-American with a wide range of experience in computers. It is essentially a research project directed towards work on Irish lexicology, being based in the main on the Irish-English dictionary of Ó Dónaill. The research is progressing through the co-operation of An Gúm and the Department of Education, with the intention of making available a range of Irish lexicographical materials on computer. Among these will be a spellcheck system and a computer based English-Irish dictionary integrated with a word processor. In addition, it will be possible to draw upon the development work as a basis for a new English-Irish dictionary to be prepared through the Department of Education. A great deal of the expertise and programs developed through this project will be available for a projected large-scale study of the lexicon of modern Irish literature in order to provide a solid statistical background of word frequencies and sentence patterns for those involved in the development of reading and other teaching course materials for Irish.