Grants to Study Irish Language, Summer 2022

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 $800 for students studying in Ireland and $400 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 arranged to be held via FaceTime or Zoom variously on March 5^th and 12^th, 2022 (Saturdays) beginning at 1:00 p.m.

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 thirtieth year of the Cumann’s Scholarship Grant Program. Please consult Cumann na Gaeilge’s website, cumann-na-gaeilge.org  for a downloadable application form. Applications must be filled out and submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 1^st, 2022, via e-mail, to info@cumann-na-gaeilge.org. Application form is available here.