Donegal intern Laura Ní Aoidhne takes centre stage at Leinster House

TG4 intern Laura Ní Aoidhne took centre stage at Leinster House speaking about the Gaeltacht. 

Laura, a Ballybofey native, is the Social Media Coordinator of TG4’s Molscéal. Laura didn’t have a strong Irish-language influence growing up at home and attended English-medium schools for her education - St Mary’s National School, Stranorlar and St Columba’s College, Stranorlar.

  
Laura Nic Aoidhne 

In a tale unlike others, Laura’s grá grew when practising for the famous scrúdú béil. She speaks fondly of her aunt, Martina Dunleavy, a former primary school teacher of St Mary’s National School, Stranorlar who called her every day in the months leading up to the Leaving Cert, to have a comhrá as Gaeilge in preparation for her exams. 

Laura carried this new-found confidence for the language to third-level education as she successfully applied for a place in the Irish-speaking accommodation in Ollscoil Mhaigh Nuad (Maynooth University) while undertaking her bachelor's degree in Irish and Spanish.

Laura was a part of the TG4’s interns that took centre stage in Leinster House and spoke with members of the Committee on the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Irish-speaking community to air their views and aspirations about the future of the Irish language. The Committee is dedicated to promoting the use of Irish as a vernacular language in every aspect of Irish life. 

Laura Nic Aoidhne and Senator Robbie Gallagher 

The Ballybofey native had the opportunity to meet with Donegal politician Senator Robbie Gallagher in Leinster House yesterday. While speaking in front of the committee Laura raised the housing crisis issue in the Gaeltacht. 

“The housing crisis is widespread throughout the country but when we are discussing the development of the language, attention must be paid to the Gaeltacht,” Laura highlighted.  

“The future of the community depends on young people being able to live in their area but people from the area are denied planning permission because, according to local councils, they do not have 'local needs'. 

“This is contrary to Government policy on language planning, as outlined in the Gaeltacht Act 2012." 

Among the TDs and senators present at the committee meeting were Catherine Connolly TD, Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD, Senator Seán Kyne, Éamon Ó Cuív TD, Senator Lorraine Clifford Lee, Aindrias Moynihan TD, Mattie McGrath TD, Mairéad Farrell TD, Donnchadha Ó Laoghaire TD, Rúairí Ó Murchú TD, Senator Rónán Mullen and Senator Fintan Warfield.

Laura was joined by the other interns who are working with TG4 Social Media teams including, Oisín Ó Conaill from Galway who is the social media coordinator with Sport TG4, Clíodhna Nic Gafraidh from Mullingar working with Cúla4, Laura Pakenham from Longford is creating educational content for TG4 Foghlaim, Chloe Ní Ghríofa from Tipperary works with the station’s graphics team, Saoirse Nic Aogáin from Ráth Chairn works as a social content creator with the platform Bloc, Cúán de Búrca from Stoneybatter in Dublin is this year’s music intern in TG4. 

Since 2018 TG4 has invited applications from third-level graduates, or newcomers to the industry, to participate in a year-long work experience internship programme with the Irish language station. To date up to 30 interns have come through this programme and have grasped this opportunity to gain the experience of being mentored by members of the TG4 team.  

These work experience positions are available annually in TG4. This is a wonderful chance for people starting in the audiovisual industry, who want to get hands-on, practical experience to add to the training they have already received.