Bean an tí
Encyclopedia
(ˈbʲan ə ˈtʲiː, plural ) is an Irish
phrase meaning "woman of the house". With the rise of Irish language education in the Gaeltacht
, or Irish-speaking areas of Ireland, it has come to refer to a landlady who takes in students who wish to learn Irish in a family setting, providing lodging and meals as well as education. Concerns have been raised about the future of this form of language education as the teaching of Irish becomes more institutionalized in Ireland.
Gaeltacht spokesperson Fergus O'Dowd
called for a reduction in the tax increases that Mna Tí faced at the time, saying that Mna Ti were the heroes and protectors of the Irish language and culture. Later that year Na Mná Tí were given total tax exemption under the Irish Language Learners’ Scheme. Under this scheme there is also a grant paid by the Department to Gaeltacht households that accommodate Irish language learners, which plays a huge role in the economic life of the Gaeltacht and is worth millions to the local economy.
In March 2007, Sinn Féin
councillor Pearse Doherty
called for an urgent government response to the withdrawal of recognition from Colaiste an Phiarsaigh
(Pearse College), the Irish language summer college in Gaoth Dobhair (Gweedore ). He was concerned about the impact on the economic well-being and cultural life of the region and in particular with the future financial welfare of Mna Tí. For 21 years, the "Colaiste" (college) was made possible by the hard work of local Mna Tí, with around 30 local homes hosting students each summer. The decision to withdraw funding from the college could have cost the area up to €1.5m in lost revenue. A new college Coláiste Bun an Ibhir is now run by Gael-Linn in the area.
around her body three times in front of the house. She would then encircle the house three times. Then the cross would be welcomed into the front door by the family and hung over the kitchen door, becoming the heart of the house.
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
phrase meaning "woman of the house". With the rise of Irish language education in the Gaeltacht
Gaeltacht
is the Irish language word meaning an Irish-speaking region. In Ireland, the Gaeltacht, or an Ghaeltacht, refers individually to any, or collectively to all, of the districts where the government recognises that the Irish language is the predominant language, that is, the vernacular spoken at home...
, or Irish-speaking areas of Ireland, it has come to refer to a landlady who takes in students who wish to learn Irish in a family setting, providing lodging and meals as well as education. Concerns have been raised about the future of this form of language education as the teaching of Irish becomes more institutionalized in Ireland.
Importance in regional economy
Students traveling to and living in the Gaeltacht and studying with Bean an Tí have become an important source of income in these mostly rural areas. On 17 September 2000 it was reported in The Sunday Mirror that Irish college sources said a small number of Mna Tí were then accommodating up to 30 students and earning up to £30,000 a year during peak holiday periods. On 20 February 2003, Fine GaelFine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
Gaeltacht spokesperson Fergus O'Dowd
Fergus O'Dowd
Fergus O'Dowd is an Irish Fine Gael politician. He is currently a Teachta Dála for the Louth constituency, and the Minister of State for the NewEra Project....
called for a reduction in the tax increases that Mna Tí faced at the time, saying that Mna Ti were the heroes and protectors of the Irish language and culture. Later that year Na Mná Tí were given total tax exemption under the Irish Language Learners’ Scheme. Under this scheme there is also a grant paid by the Department to Gaeltacht households that accommodate Irish language learners, which plays a huge role in the economic life of the Gaeltacht and is worth millions to the local economy.
In March 2007, Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
councillor Pearse Doherty
Pearse Doherty
Pearse Doherty is an Irish Sinn Féin politician. He serves as a Teachta Dála for the Donegal South West constituency and as Sinn Féin's Dáil spokesperson on Finance. Doherty formerly served on Donegal County Council from 2004–07 and in Seanad Éireann from 2007–10.-Background and education:Doherty...
called for an urgent government response to the withdrawal of recognition from Colaiste an Phiarsaigh
Coláiste an Phiarsaigh
Mairimid i ré na teicneolaíochta. Tá fón póca, ríomhaire agus méid mhor uirlisí againn inniu chun an saol a dhéanamh níos éasca. Tá taithí againn go léir ar na huirlisí a chabhraionn linn ó lá go lá. Tá sé deacair orainn aon saol eile a shamhlú. Muna bhfuil bhfuil rudaí i gceart cuirimid an milleán...
(Pearse College), the Irish language summer college in Gaoth Dobhair (Gweedore ). He was concerned about the impact on the economic well-being and cultural life of the region and in particular with the future financial welfare of Mna Tí. For 21 years, the "Colaiste" (college) was made possible by the hard work of local Mna Tí, with around 30 local homes hosting students each summer. The decision to withdraw funding from the college could have cost the area up to €1.5m in lost revenue. A new college Coláiste Bun an Ibhir is now run by Gael-Linn in the area.
Origin
Until the 1950s on St. Brigid's day the Bean an Tí would pass the Brigid's crossBrigid's cross
Brigid's cross, Brighid's cross, or Brigit's cross, often with the "Saint" prefix, or Cros Bríde, Crosóg Bríde or Bogha Bríde, though not recorded before the seventeenth century, is an Irish symbol. Though a Christian symbol, it possibly derives from the pagan sunwheel. It is usually made from...
around her body three times in front of the house. She would then encircle the house three times. Then the cross would be welcomed into the front door by the family and hung over the kitchen door, becoming the heart of the house.
Sources
- Kay Kevlihan, "Mna tí - unsung heroes of Irish revival", Irish Farmers Journal Interactive, 7 August 2004, http://www.farmersjournal.ie/2004/0807/ruralliving/countrylifestyle/careerprofiles.shtml
- Fine Gael News. Speech by Fergus O'Dowd TD 20 February 2003, on the Finance Bill in Dáil Éireann (in Irish Gaelic with English synopsis) http://www.finegael.ie/news/index.cfm/type/details/nkey/21822/pkey/653
- County Donegal on the Net News, Vol.8 No.3 March 2007, http://www.dun-na-ngall.com/nw75.html
- "Gweedore area set to lose E1.5m", Donegal Post, http://www.donegalpost.com/2007/03/14/gweedore-area-set-to-lose-e15m/
- Andrew Bushe, "Gaeltach in uproar over tax demands", Sunday Mirror, 17 September 2000 http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20000917/ai_n14509412