Grants to Study Irish Language, Summer 2020

Cumann na Gaeilge is accepting applications for Fr. Seán Sweeney Scholarship grants, a limited number of which will be awarded to qualified applicants to supplement the costs of taking a Cumann-approved Irish language course, such as those sponsored by CONCOS in Ireland and Dáltaí na Gaeilge in America, this coming summer. The maximum amount of the grant is $750 for students studying in Ireland and $350 for students studying in America. Applicants for grants should be in at least their second year of study in Irish language classes conducted or approved by the Cumann and be a member in good standing. We ask that those who have previously received a scholarship allow a two-year window of time before reapplying.

Grants will be awarded on the basis of a written application and an interview by a committee of examiners in West Roxbury to be held on Saturday, February 29, 2020, from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Donohue Building across the road from the main campus of Catholic Memorial School, 235 Baker Street, West Roxbury, MA 02132. Parking is available adjacent to the Donohue Building. However, please do not park at or enter the main building, parts of which are under construction, and where many concurrent events will be taking place on that Saturday. We ask that you find your directions via the address given and otherwise direct all questions to the scholarship committee, but refrain from contacting Catholic Memorial School.

The examiners will evaluate the Irish language skill of the candidate to respond to simple questions about work, home, weather, time-telling, the calendar, and other everyday situations. Applicants should be able to recite from memory a short selection of poetry and some seanfhocla, and be familiar with simple grammatical constructions, such as those found in the first lessons of Gaeilge gan Stró, Buntús Cainte 1, and lessons 1-50 of Progress in Irish.

This will be the twenty-eighth of the Cumann’s Scholarship Grant Program. Forms may be obtained here and must be filled out and submitted by February 22, 2020.