A chairde, July has been one of the busiest months yet at Wikimedia Community Ireland. Preparations for the Celtic Knot Conference are in full swing with just eight weeks to go until we gather together in Waterford City in September. Our Irish Language Officer made an exciting trip to TU Dortmund and we are in the process of expanding our team. All in the midst of the ongoing Wiki Loves Earth Photo contest (there’s still time to enter!). Read on to find out some exciting updates and news.
Tickets on Sale for Celtic Knot 2024 and Scholarships Announced!
Tickets for the Celtic Knot Wikimedia Languages Conference 2024 are on sale now! You can purchase tickets to attend the conference in person or online (free ticket) via Eventbrite. Taking place in the historic city of Waterford, Ireland, this event is a unique opportunity to engage with language enthusiasts, Wikimedia contributors, cultural advocates, and researchers dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Celtic, and minority languages.
The onsite ticket includes access to all talks, presentations, workshops, and panel discussions with leading experts, keynote speakers, and those involved in minority language projects. It also includes cultural experiences like workshops and entertainment along with access to Waterford museums and a city walking tour. On the last night, Friday, September 27th there will also be a gala dinner with live music. Book your tickets now!
We were also delighted to announce our scholarship recipients who applied from all over the world. We are looking forward to welcoming these Wikimedians and language advocates to Waterford in September!
Collaboration with TU Dortmund
Our Irish Language Officer, Amy, recently travelled to TU Dortmund to give two talks in their Linguistics Department. She was invited by Dr. Maggie Glass to share about our in preserving and promoting the Irish language.
The first talk was in Dr. Glass’ class, ‘Irish Language and Identity.’ Amy talked about various Wikimedia projects that support the Irish language, especially Vicipéid (the Irish Wikipedia). The students were very interested, particularly in the WikiWomen project. Since many students are training to be teachers.
The second talk was for the department’s research colloquium. This presentation focused on how Wikimedia projects help promote and preserve minority languages. Amy explained different projects, like Wiktionary, Wikibooks, and Wikipedia as Gaeilge. Both students and faculty were very interested in how these digital tools can support language research and policy.
They also talked about possible collaborations, such as expanding Irish language resources, creating new digital tools for language learning, and exploring language policy online.
Additionally, some students who attended the talks have applied for Celtic Knot scholarships and will join us at the conference in Waterford this September. Dr. Maggie Glass will also be a keynote speaker, discussing her work on virtual communities for minority languages. We look forward to welcoming them and building strong international partnerships.
Amy with TUD Students
Wiki Loves Earth Judges Announced
It is the second last week of Wiki Loves Earth, before we focus on our other event that is running in tandem and will continue into the Autumn Wiki Loves Pride.
The Wiki Loves Earth Photo Contest aims to enhance the digital archive of Irish Natural Heritage on Wikipedia and promote nature conservation. The competition is open to everyone, and you can submit your stunning nature photographs until July 31st!
We were delighted to announce our judging panel which is in collaboration with with the Irish Wildlife Trust. Our judges this year will be:
- Carsten Krieger, photographer, author and environmentalist based on the west coast of Ireland. He is an An Taisce Climate Ambassador and a Green Sod Ireland Biodiversity Ambassador.
- Andrew Kelly, Wildlife and Landscape Photographer. Volunteer for Badgerwatch Ireland and the Little Tern Project in Baltray. Two-time winner of the Irish Photographic Federation (IPF) Nature Competition (2010 and 2011) and Magazines Ireland Photographer of the Year in 2010.
Get your entries in now and don’t forget to apply for the special ‘Human Rights’ category where applicable! For information visit Wiki Loves Earth 2024 Ireland.
A Winner from Wiki Loves Earth taken in The Burren County Clare by SíodaPhotography, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Wiki Loves Pride Photo Contest Open Now
Wiki Loves Pride is a global campaign in the Wiki Loves X outreach tradition to expand and improve LGBTQ+-related content across all Wikimedia projects, in all languages. Most activities of Wiki Loves Pride and Queering Wikipedia take place between June and October, traditionally the months when lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT+) communities around the world celebrate LGBT+ culture and history.
This year WCI are running a Photo Contest for Wiki Loves Pride. The Wiki Loves Pride photography contest is an opportunity to document and visually showcase LGBTQ+ culture around the globe. To find out more information and get involved see here.
WCI Team Expansion
We are very excited that our WCI is growing quickly this year!
We are in the process of interviewing candidates to take on the role of administrator. This WCI employee will oversee the bookkeeping and smooth running of our community, along with helping with grant applications and other reporting duties. Interviews are currently underway so watch this space!
Heritage Week 2024
National Heritage Week celebrates Ireland’s cultural, built and natural heritage.It is set to take place on the 17th – 25th August 2024.
The 2024 theme invites you to explore the ways we are connected to each other through physical or cultural connections. We are currently planning to take part in Heritage Week this year but would like to open up the space to our community to get involved. Do you have a great idea that encompasses heritage and Wiki Projects? Do you have something heritage-related you would like to showcase on our podcast? Are you involved in heritage projects and would like to collaborate? The time is now, get in touch info@wikimedia.ie to discuss.
Hertiage Week 2024 courteosy of Heritage Week Ireland
Nuacht is Déanaí- An update from our Irish Language Officer
Haigh a chairde Wiki!
Chuaigh mé go dtí TU Dortmund sa Ghearmáin le déanaí chun dhá léacht a thabhairt ina Roinn Teangeolaíochta. Thug an Dr. Maggie Glass cuireadh dom labhairt faoinár gcuid oibre again I bPobal Eireann Wikimedia chun an Ghaeilge a chaomhnú agus a chur chun cinn.
Bhí an chéad léacht i rang an Dr. Glass, ‘Gaeilge agus Féiniúlacht.’ Labhair mé faoi thionscadail éagsúla Wikimedia a thacaíonn leis an nGaeilge, go háirithe Vicipéid. Bhí an-suim ag na scoláirí, go háirithe sa tionscadal WikiWomen, a spreagann scoláirí chun ailt a scríobh faoi mhná suntasacha i mionteangacha. Toisc go bhfuil go leor mac léinn ag traenáil chun a bheith ina múinteoirí, thaitin an tionscadal seo leo agus bhí an-chuid suim acu faoi.
Bhí an dara léacht le haghaidh collóiciam taighde na roinne. Dhírigh an cur i láthair seo ar an tslí ina chuidíonn tionscadail Wikimedia le mionteangacha a chur chun cinn agus a chaomhnú. Mhínigh mé tionscadail éagsúla, mar Vicífhoclóir, Vicíleabhair, agus Vicipéid as Gaeilge. Bhí an-suim ag mic léinn agus ag an dámh araon sa chaoi inar féidir leis na huirlisí digiteacha seo tacú le taighde agus le beartas teanga.
Tá lúcháir orm a rá go bhfuil an-suim ag TU Dortmund oibriú linn ar thionscadail teanga amach anseo. Labhair muid faoi chomhoibrithe a d’fhéadfadh a bheith ann, mar acmhainní Gaeilge a leathnú, uirlisí digiteacha nua a chruthú d’fhoghlaim teangacha, agus iniúchadh a dhéanamh ar bheartas teanga ar líne.
Ina theannta sin, chuir roinnt mac léinn isteach ar scoláireachtaí Celtic Knot agus beidh siad linn ag an gcomhdháil i bPort Láirge i mí Mheán Fómhair seo chugainn. Beidh an Dr. Maggie Glass ina príomhchainteoir freisin, ag plé a cuid oibre ar phobail fhíorúla do mhionteangacha. Táimid ag tnúth le fáiltiú rompu agus comhpháirtíochtaí láidre idirnáisiúnta a thógáil.
Ar an iomlán, d’éirigh go hiontach leis an turas go dtí TU Dortmund. Tá sé an-spreagúil a leithéid de dhíograis do chaomhnú teanga a fheiceáil ó mhic léinn agus ón fhoireann freisin. Tá fonn orainn leanúint ar aghaidh ag obair le chéile chun tacú le mionteangacha agus iad a chur chun cinn.
Monthly Meetings
We meet once a month on Google Teams (usually on the third Tuesday of the month at 5:30 pm) when we discuss and plan our events and campaigns, just email info@wikimedia.ie to join. Our next meeting will take place on August 20th. Hope to see you there.
Thank you for being part of our Community and mission to enhance open knowledge!
Le gach-dea ghuí,
Wikimedia Community Ireland
Wiki Loves Earth Winner taken at Cliff of Moher Co. Clare, Dieglop, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
