Irish Stream/ Sraith Gaeilge ***Moderator Advisory in 1st Post. Please Read!***

3fullback

Hard to justify those fluent Irish speakers who don't reach same standards as everyone else being allowed through. A fair process would see all those wishing to go through the Irish stream sitting all their exams to be sat in Irish

Neddieog

3fullback wrote: »

Hard to justify those fluent Irish speakers who don't reach same standards as everyone else being allowed through. A fair process would see all those wishing to go through the Irish stream sitting all their exams to be sat in Irish

Ní bheadh fadhb ar bith agamsa le mo chuid scrúdaithe a dhéanamh i nGaeilge.

I would have no problem sitting my exams in Irish. Challenge accepted.

billie1b

Neddieog wrote: »

Ní bheadh fadhb ar bith agamsa le mo chuid scrúdaithe a dhéanamh i nGaeilge.

I would have no problem sitting my exams in Irish. Challenge accepted.

All I can say is that I studied Irish for 12 years and I am brutal at it! If it stands a better chance for you then I say fair play, i'm not going to begrudge you for that, my only problem is that i'm jealous of you because I can't speak it and would love to be able to. Best of luck to you with it.

Shield

Moderator post:

Infracted for ignoring instructions not to comment on, or reply to my post, which was posted in the capacity of a Moderator. I gave clear instructions to send me a PM if anybody wished to discuss the post.

Please do not comment on, or reply to this post. If you want to comment about this post, please contact me via PM.

Let's get this back on-topic please and thanks.

-Shield.

Neddieog wrote: »

Irish is my first language. I was born and raised with the language and quite proud of it. It isn't mine or anybody else's fault your moderators don't speak Irish. Didn't they go to school for 14 years at the very least?

Irish enjoys constitutional status as the national and first official language of the Republic of Ireland. It is an official language of the European Union and an officially recognised minority language in Northern Ireland.

Neddieog

billie1b wrote: »

All I can say is that I studied Irish for 12 years and I am brutal at it! If it stands a better chance for you then I say fair play, i'm not going to begrudge you for that, my only problem is that i'm jealous of you because I can't speak it and would love to be able to. Best of luck to you with it.

Go raibh míle maith agat a chara agus gurb amhlaidh duit!

Thanks very much and same to you a chara!

Zadie10

3fullback wrote: »

Hard to justify those fluent Irish speakers who don't reach same standards as everyone else being allowed through. A fair process would see all those wishing to go through the Irish stream sitting all their exams to be sat in Irish

I think being a fluent Irish speaker is a far greater achievement than being able to spot a pattern in a series of shapes. I'd take an aptitude test any day over an Irish exam!!

Neddieog

Cad é mar atá ag éirí le gach duine leis na ceisteanna cleachtais?

How's everyone getting on with the practice questions?

thekopend

When are ye doing the tests

Ladymuck Thesecond

Dia dhaoibh lads, hi everyone,
I just read our familiarisation material and it says we should get our practice least by noon Fri 25th Feb- I'm presuming this is a mistake as tues is the 25th and aren't we supposed to be allowed to sit our tests from that date? Maybe I'm just reading this wrong ( I'm just out of the bed!! Please make allowances!) An bfuair éinne an ríomhphost seo fós? Did anyone get this yet? Inniu an chéad seans atá agamsa dul tríd an eolas. Today's my first chance to read through the info! Conas atá ag éirí libh? How are Ye getting on?

Ladymuck Thesecond

Ladymuck Thesecond wrote: »

Dia dhaoibh lads, hi everyone,
I just read our familiarisation material and it says we should get our practice least by noon Fri 25th Feb- I'm presuming this is a mistake as tues is the 25th and aren't we supposed to be allowed to sit our tests from that date? Maybe I'm just reading this wrong ( I'm just out of the bed!! Please make allowances!) An bfuair éinne an ríomhphost seo fós? Did anyone get this yet? Inniu an chéad seans atá agamsa dul tríd an eolas. Today's my first chance to read through the info! Conas atá ag éirí libh? How are Ye getting on?

One more question, sorry!! In our familiarisation material, in the section entitled "practice tests" it says click here for practice assessments. This isn't showing up as a link for me though- I can't click into it. Anyone else in same boat?

Neddieog

Ladymuck Thesecond wrote: »

One more question, sorry!! In our familiarisation material, in the section entitled "practice tests" it says click here for practice assessments. This isn't showing up as a link for me though- I can't click into it. Anyone else in same boat?

We have from noon on Tuesday the 25th till noon on Friday the 28th to complete the tests. To access the practice tests, click on CTRL and the link at the same time and that should open it for you

Ladymuck Thesecond

Neddieog wrote: »

We have from noon on Tuesday the 25th till noon on Friday the 28th to complete the tests. To access the practice tests, click on CTRL and the link at the same time and that should open it for you

Thanks for that, I knew it was prob something silly I was doing!! I'm going to try that again later- need to blitz the practice today!!!

KERSPLAT!

Finished mine on Thursday, good luck to the rest of ye

Neddieog

Is dócha go bhfaighfidh muid na ríomhphoist ar maidín lena nascanna faoi iamh.

We should more than likely receive the emails in the morning with the links included

billie1b

Neddieog wrote: »

Is dócha go bhfaighfidh muid na ríomhphoist ar maidín lena nascanna faoi iamh.

We should more than likely receive the emails in the morning with the links included

Best of luck to you

BluesAndThrees

Neddieog wrote: »

Is dócha go bhfaighfidh muid na ríomhphoist ar maidín lena nascanna faoi iamh.

We should more than likely receive the emails in the morning with the links included

what makes you think that?

KERSPLAT!

BluesAndThrees wrote: »

what makes you think that?

Well the exam window is open from 12 noon tomorrow so if you don't get them and were supposed to, there's a problem

Neddieog

billie1b wrote: »

Best of luck to you

Míle buíochas - Thanks a million!

Ladymuck Thesecond

An ndearna éinne babhta 2 inniu? Conas ar éirigh libh? Níl sé déanta agam fós- b'fhéidir ba chóir dom cleachtadh a dhéanamh anocht Agus an triail a dhéanamh amárach. Feicfidh mé ar ball! Did anyone complete round 2. How did ye get on? I haven't done it yet, maybe I should do more practice tonight and do it tomorrow. It'd be good to have it done though- I'll see later

Archer3083

You should look at the other forums for advice from people who have done the Stage 2 aptitude tests. I did mine last week. And by the way. Táim lán tsásta Gaoluinn a labhairt but I honestly don't see the point of writing my message in two languages for the sake of it. Do any of ye know if we have to the interview through Irish if we progress to the interview stage or is it just an Irish language exam and an English interview.

Ladymuck Thesecond

Archer3083 wrote: »

You should look at the other forums for advice from people who have done the Stage 2 aptitude tests. I did mine last week. And by the way. Táim lán tsásta Gaoluinn a labhairt but I honestly don't see the point of writing my message in two languages for the sake of it. Do any of ye know if we have to the interview through Irish if we progress to the interview stage or is it just an Irish language exam and an English interview.

I'm not too sure- I'd imagine there'd be a written test and oral along the way, they could just add that in as an extra step and then, if successful, send us back to do the interview with the Sraith Béarla

redout

Archer3083 wrote: »

You should look at the other forums for advice from people who have done the Stage 2 aptitude tests. I did mine last week. And by the way. Táim lán tsásta Gaoluinn a labhairt but I honestly don't see the point of writing my message in two languages for the sake of it. Do any of ye know if we have to the interview through Irish if we progress to the interview stage or is it just an Irish language exam and an English interview.

Common sense would say the interview would be done as gaeilge.

Archer3083

redout wrote: »

Common sense would say the interview would be done as gaeilge.

You would think that but depending on how they form the interview panel, it might be hard to find 2 or 3 Irish speaks. Plus, we didn't get an option to do the last aptitude tests in Irish. So, anything's possible. Oh, and what's that they say about common sense, it's not that common lol

Archer3083

Ladymuck Thesecond wrote: »

I'm not too sure- I'd imagine there'd be a written test and oral along the way, they could just add that in as an extra step and then, if successful, send us back to do the interview with the Sraith Béarla

I think if we're successful and proceed to the assessment centre, then we'll have to do an extra written and oral Irish exam. I've been through something similar in the past, and it was just an Irish oral which didn't help me cos the Irish oral wasn't hard, lots would attain a high grad without being great at Irish.

redout

Archer3083 wrote: »

You would think that but depending on how they form the interview panel, it might be hard to find 2 or 3 Irish speaks. Plus, we didn't get an option to do the last aptitude tests in Irish. So, anything's possible. Oh, and what's that they say about common sense, it's not that common lol

Not sure if the interview will have an ex-garda on the panel or not. I believe in the past it did. If you get a lad from the likes of West Cork or Kerry you won't blag it. I thought that the interview was basically just the ex-Garda asking the questions and the PAS employee taking the notes. Anytime I have ever done an interview with more than one person it usually works as such i.e. one does the majority of the talking whilst the other just takes notes. If they won't to test your fluency then it is the perfect opportunity. Someone mentioned this campaign and cost cutting. If so, then I would expect then interview as gaeilge and for them not to be adding an additional round of testing. Just my take.

Archer3083

redout wrote: »

Not sure if the interview will have an ex-garda on the panel or not. I believe in the past it did. If you get a lad from the likes of West Cork or Kerry you won't blag it. I thought that the interview was basically just the ex-Garda asking the questions and the PAS employee taking the notes. Anytime I have ever done an interview with more than one person it usually works as such i.e. one does the majority of the talking whilst the other just takes notes. If they won't to test your fluency then it is the perfect opportunity. Someone mentioned this campaign and cost cutting. If so, then I would expect then interview as gaeilge and for them not to be adding an additional round of testing. Just my take.

It makes no difference to me which language is chosen for the interview. And I won't need to blag any thing, in fact it's the other way around, I will instantly know if they're a native speaker or if they learned the language. I'll also know what dialect they use naturally, and what Gaeltacht they come from. I just asked a question as to whether the interview will be in Irish. In the information they have mentioned a language test. The oral would be easy but my Irish spelling would be a bit rusty now cos I don't write Irish any more except rare occasions.

redout

Archer3083 wrote: »

It makes no difference to me which language is chosen for the interview. And I won't need to blag any thing, in fact it's the other way around, I will instantly know if they're a native speaker or if they learned the language. I'll also know what dialect they use naturally, and what Gaeltacht they come from. I just asked a question as to whether the interview will be in Irish. In the information they have mentioned a language test. The oral would be easy but my Irish spelling would be a bit rusty now cos I don't write Irish any more except rare occasions.

Sure you'll be grand so If you speak fluent I'm sure they will welcome you with open arms.

Archer3083

redout wrote: »

Sure you'll be grand so If you speak fluent I'm sure they will welcome you with open arms.

It's hard to know, no doubt there'll be plenty of competition for the sraith Gaeilge as well.

redout

Archer3083 wrote: »

It's hard to know, no doubt there'll be plenty of competition for the sraith Gaeilge as well.

If you pass the tests i'd say you are a safe bet (you mentioned you placed in band 1?) and they obviously did not have enough native speakers place in band 1, hence why lads from band 2 and 3 were afforded the opportunity to sit stage 2.

Archer3083

Tables can turn quite quickly. In the stage 2 tests, someone from Band 2 could score higher than me from Band 1. It's the same as anything else in life. Football teams, soccer teams etc have bad days, and can be brilliant one day and bad another. I never bought into this suggestion that Band 1 were better than Band 2.

OscarWhiskey

Are they taking any fluent Polish speakers, not that I am one, but it would make the same amount of sense as them making exceptions for the Irish speaking candidates.?

There's an A4 sheet behind the desk in the station where I work and it has a list of common 'garda' phrases (i.e. Do you request a translator/What is your name/DOB/Address etc) in English and then the Irish translation, gas craic.

redout

Archer3083 wrote: »

Tables can turn quite quickly. In the stage 2 tests, someone from Band 2 could score higher than me from Band 1. It's the same as anything else in life. Football teams, soccer teams etc have bad days, and can be brilliant one day and bad another. I never bought into this suggestion that Band 1 were better than Band 2.

I already had this debate on another thread. Off days aside, In general, your level will not drastically change.

redout

OscarWhiskey wrote: »

Are they taking any fluent Polish speakers, not that I am one, but it would make the same amount of sense as them making exceptions for the Irish speaking candidates.?

There's an A4 sheet behind the desk in the station where I work and it has a list of common 'garda' phrases (i.e. Do you request a translator/What is your name/DOB/Address etc) in English and then the Irish translation, gas craic.

Not sure, though I also thought it would have made sense. I work with a Polish woman who does translating at the local station in her spare time.

Archer3083

redout wrote: »

I already had this debate on another thread. Off days aside, In general, your level will not drastically change.

I think it can change. I let my nerves get the better of me the first day, I also ran out of time doing the Stage 1 tests. And I also had a cold at the time. I learned from my experience. I controlled my nerves better, practiced way more this time around, and thankfully had no cold. I should in theory do better, but I'm not confident, they could be worse. The one thing I've wondered about though is did those preparation courses help people out. I didn't bother with any. I practiced myself, but I'd be curious to know if they were helpful

Archer3083

OscarWhiskey wrote: »

Are they taking any fluent Polish speakers, not that I am one, but it would make the same amount of sense as them making exceptions for the Irish speaking candidates.?

There's an A4 sheet behind the desk in the station where I work and it has a list of common 'garda' phrases (i.e. Do you request a translator/What is your name/DOB/Address etc) in English and then the Irish translation, gas craic.

There are geographically designated Irish speaking areas in the country called Gaeltachts where Irish is the first language. I think it's reasonable that Irish speaking officers are recruited to service these areas. Irish is an official state language also. So, I don't understand why other people have a problem with it. And arguments about other languages should be brought up such as Polish. Polish is not an official state language. And there are not geographically designated Polish speaking areas. I won't go into the joke about how many guards kept charging the same Polish person for hundreds of parking offences!

Neddieog

Ní chuireann mórán rudaí isteach orm sa tsaol seo ach déarfaidh mé seo, cuireann sé isteach go mór orm go bhfuil daoine áirithe den bharúil go bhfuil sé níos fusa de lucht an tsraith Ghaeilge ná mar atá sé do lucht an tsraith Bhéarla, ag deireadh an lae, is iad na scrúdaithe céanna iad. Rud eile a chuireann fearg orm ná nuair a dhéanann daoine áirithe comparáid idir an Ghaeilge agus an Pholainnis. Seo Éire a chairde, ní an Pholainn.

I have to say I don't take life or anything else for that matter seriously for the most part but it really annoys me that certain people (especially on the other forums) think the Irish Stream candidates have it easier to the rest of the candidates. We all have to do the same aptitude tests as the rest of you. Another thing that REALLY gets on my nerves is when certain people compare Polish to Irish. This is Ireland lads not Poland.

KERSPLAT!

Neddieog wrote: »

Ní chuireann mórán rudaí isteach orm sa tsaol seo ach déarfaidh mé seo, cuireann sé isteach go mór orm go bhfuil daoine áirithe den bharúil go bhfuil sé níos fusa de lucht an tsraith Ghaeilge ná mar atá sé do lucht an tsraith Bhéarla, ag deireadh an lae, is iad na scrúdaithe céanna iad. Rud eile a chuireann fearg orm ná nuair a dhéanann daoine áirithe comparáid idir an Ghaeilge agus an Pholainnis. Seo Éire a chairde, ní an Pholainn.

I have to say I don't take life or anything else for that matter seriously for the most part but it really annoys me that certain people (especially on the other forums) think the Irish Stream candidates have it easier to the rest of the candidates. We all have to do the same aptitude tests as the rest of you. Another thing that REALLY gets on my nerves is when certain people compare Polish to Irish. This is Ireland lads not Poland.

I think it's great to have fluent Irish speaking candidates going through. I think what's getting up some people's backs is the fact that some of ye finished in Band 2 and as such should not have advanced while others who got similar scores and also ended up in Band 2 are left in limbo. As I said, I think it's great to have ye go through, just trying to explain how others may feel

Archer3083

KERSPLAT! wrote: »

I think it's great to have fluent Irish speaking candidates going through. I think what's getting up some people's backs is the f acc t that some of ye finished in Band 2 and as such should not have advanced while others who got skinnier scores and also ended up in Band 2 are left in limbo. As I said, I think it's great to have ye go through, just trying to explain how others may feel

That's reasonable enough, but there's plenty more about this process that isn't fair, but that's life.

redout

Neddieog wrote: »

Ní chuireann mórán rudaí isteach orm sa tsaol seo ach déarfaidh mé seo, cuireann sé isteach go mór orm go bhfuil daoine áirithe den bharúil go bhfuil sé níos fusa de lucht an tsraith Ghaeilge ná mar atá sé do lucht an tsraith Bhéarla, ag deireadh an lae, is iad na scrúdaithe céanna iad. Rud eile a chuireann fearg orm ná nuair a dhéanann daoine áirithe comparáid idir an Ghaeilge agus an Pholainnis. Seo Éire a chairde, ní an Pholainn.

I have to say I don't take life or anything else for that matter seriously for the most part but it really annoys me that certain people (especially on the other forums) think the Irish Stream candidates have it easier to the rest of the candidates. We all have to do the same aptitude tests as the rest of you. Another thing that REALLY gets on my nerves is when certain people compare Polish to Irish. This is Ireland lads not Poland.

There is no argument - certain applicants who chose the Irish stream have had "it easier" to quote yourself. Irish speaking applicants from bands 2 and 3 have been afforded the opportunity to sit stage 2 whilst applicants from the English stream have not. Are you really arguing that they have not been afforded an advantage? At the end of the day I couldn't care less but to insinuate that they are being treated no different to the rest is quite frankly absurd.

Archer3083

I'm an Irish speaker. I haven't been treated differently. I'm in Band 1. I think you mean Irish speakers in Band 2 and Band 3 have been treated differently. Like I've said in other forums and in other posts. This is not a fair process. Forget about fairness. Everyone has strengths, talents or skills that will be a big advantage at some stage. Irish speakers may have an advantage at this stage. Reserves will surely have an advantage at interview stage. More physically fit people will have an advantage at the physical competency test etc. In fact, for the PCT, different age groups have different pass rates. If you're 18-25 you have to be fitter than if you're 26-35. Is that fair. Like I said, forget about fairness.

redout

Archer3083 wrote: »

I think you mean Irish speakers in Band 2 and Band 3 have been treated differently.

Yeah, that is what I said.

Neddieog

An bhfuil na scrúdaithe déanta ag éinne go fóill?

Has anybody done the tests yet?

Archer3083

Neddieog wrote: »

An bhfuil na scrúdaithe déanta ag éinne go fóill?

Has anybody done the tests yet?

Yeah, the people in Band 1 have done the tests that ye're doing this week

Neddieog

Archer3083 wrote: »

Yeah, the people in Band 1 have done the tests that ye're doing this week

Na daoine sa tsraith Ghaeilge a bhí i gceist agam

I meant the people in the Irish Stream, brónsies!

Archer3083

wouldn't you be better off getting info from the guys in band 1 like me, cos we've done those tests

Neddieog

Archer3083 wrote: »

wouldn't you be better off getting info from the guys in band 1 like me, cos we've done those tests

Bhuel, cad é mar a d'éirígh leat mar sin Archer?

Well, How did you get on so Archer?

Archer3083

I did ok this time around. You have more time with both tests. So, that definitely benefited me. Practice is the key. The more practice the better. You'll have to figure out the rules yourself for the abstract/inductive reasoning. It's a step up from Stage 1, but if you practice the test will be broadly similar.

Neddieog

Agallamh a rinne Gráinne Ní Mhórdha, teagascóir i gColáiste na Gardaí ar an Teampall Mór le Raidió na Gaeltachta roimhe na Nollag ag caint faoi an earcaíocht agus go háirithe an tsraith Ghaeilge.

An Interview with Gráinne Ní Mhórdha, lecturer in Irish in Templemore with Raidió na Gaeltachta before Christmas talking about the recruitment and specific details on the Irish Stream.

http://www.podcast.de/episode/233681246/Gr%25C3%25A1inne%2BN%25C3%25AD%2BMh%25C3%25B3rdha%252C%2Bteagasc%25C3%25B3ir%2Bi%2BgCol%25C3%25A1iste%2Bna%2BGarda%25C3%25AD%2Bar%2Ban%2BTeampall%2BM%25C3%25B3r/

Muna n-oibríonn an nasc sin, bain triail as seo - If the link above doesn't work, try this: http://podcast.rasset.ie/podcasts/audio/2013/1213/20131213_rteraidion-barrscealta-grinnenmhr_c20492546_20492562_232_.mp3

Archer3083

Go raibh maith agat, éisteoidh mé leis gan mhoill.

3fullback

Neddieog wrote: »

Agallamh a rinne Gráinne Ní Mhórdha, teagascóir i gColáiste na Gardaí ar an Teampall Mór le Raidió na Gaeltachta roimhe na Nollag ag caint faoi an earcaíocht agus go háirithe an tsraith Ghaeilge.

An Interview with Gráinne Ní Mhórdha, lecturer in Irish in Templemore with Raidió na Gaeltachta before Christmas talking about the recruitment and specific details on the Irish Stream.

http://www.podcast.de/episode/233681246/Gr%25C3%25A1inne%2BN%25C3%25AD%2BMh%25C3%25B3rdha%252C%2Bteagasc%25C3%25B3ir%2Bi%2BgCol%25C3%25A1iste%2Bna%2BGarda%25C3%25AD%2Bar%2Ban%2BTeampall%2BM%25C3%25B3r/

Muna n-oibríonn an nasc sin, bain triail as seo - If the link above doesn't work, try this: http://podcast.rasset.ie/podcasts/audio/2013/1213/20131213_rteraidion-barrscealta-grinnenmhr_c20492546_20492562_232_.mp3

Any chance you might let me know what she said as bearla ?