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LAUNCH OF WINDOWS AND OFFICE IN IRISH

SEOLADH WINDOWS AGUS OFFICE AS GAEILGE

 

John Murphy (Microsoft), Tracey Ní Mhaonaigh (NUI Má Nuad), Nana Luke (eTeams), Jonny Chambers (Microsoft), Marion Gunn (EGTeo), Fidelma Ní Ghallchobhair (Foras na Gaeilge), Joe Macri (Microsoft).

 

 

The Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Mr Éamon Ó Cuív T.D., officially launched Irish language packs for Windows XP and Microsoft Office 2003. Microsoft, in partnership with Foras na Gaeilge, has been working on the localisation of the Language Interface Pack (LIP) into the Irish language for the past year. Other partners involved in supporting the work were EGTeo, DCU, eTeams and NUI Maynooth.

 

Both packs will be available to download from www.microsoft.com/ireland and www.gaeilge.ie at no charge for all users currently running Windows XP with Service Pack 2. The Windows XP pack is available from a few days ago while Office 2003, Standard Edition will be available from the beginning of the academic year.

 

Speaking at the launch the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Mr Éamon Ó Cuív TD, said, “This initiative will aid that endeavour immeasurably making it easier for our public servants to work through Irish.  I must also commend the partners for their vision and commitment to a programme which will empower the educational sector, businesses and the IT community alike to communicate through our national language. This development coming so soon after the recognition of Irish as an official EU language is a very welcome development.”

 

Mr Joe Macri, Managing Director, Microsoft Ireland added, “I am proud of the fact that the Irish language versions of these products are being launched in 2005 – the year that we are celebrating 20 years investing in Ireland.

 

Mr Seosamh MacDonncha, Chief Executive, Foras na Gaeilge said, 'The project for Foras na Gaeilge typifies the kind of language pioneering work that we see as a core role for our organisation. Through collaboration with industry and academic partners our vision is to drive the demand for use of Irish in a modern context by Irish people living their daily lives.'  

 

EGTeo’s name is most particularly associated with the production of commercial and grant-aided software packages, including accountancy software, user interfaces, integrated suites and interactive tutorials with voice-overs. Amongst its most recent Firefox-GA, which was developed in collaboration with an international team of Mozilla volunteers, and it is EGTeo’s belief that Microsoft Office-GA is a specific proof of the success of cross-sectoral interaction by community, state agency, university and commercial enterprises in Ireland.

 

Tá cáil ar leith ar EGTeo as pacáistí ríomhaireachta, idir ábhar tráchtála agus ábhar saor in aisce a fhorbairt, ar a n-áirítear uirlisí cuntasaíochta, comhéadain úsáideoirí, sainuirlisí comhtháite agus ábhar teagaisc idirghníomhach le hathghuthú. Áirítear conarthaí Apple agus Claris i measc na dtionscadal ríomhaireachta ba thúisce a chuir EGTeo i gcrích, agus, i measc na bpacáistí is déanaí, Firefox-GA, a forbraíodh i gcomhar le grúpa deonach idirnáisiúnta, agus measann EGTeo gur cruthúnas sonrach atá i Microsoft Office-GA ar chomhoibriú rathúil idir na hearnálacha pobail, stáit, ollscoile agus tráchtála in Éirinn.

 

Marion Gunn is EGTeo’s Managing Director and Moderator of the Microsoft Office-GA project. Author of a parallel phrasebook in six languages, she has served continuously on advisory subcommittees for An Coiste Téarmaíochta and FIONTAR. She is on the board of of the Irish National Chapter of the European Bureau for Lesser-Used Languages and an ex-Chairperson of Raidió na Life and says that she sees members of such organizations as potential user groups of Microsoft Office-GA.

 

Ghlac Marion Gunn Stiúrthóir Bainistíochta EGTeo ról i dtionscadal Microsoft Office-GA mar Mheasraitheoir. Scríobh sí leabhar comhrá sé-theangach a bhíonn in úsáid ag comhdhálacha idirnáisiúnta, agus tá obair leanúnach déanta aici ar fhochoistí comhairliúcháin leis an gCoiste Téarmaíochta agus le FIONTAR. Is ball í de bhord Choiste na hÉireann den Bhiúró Eorpach do Theangacha Neamhfhorleathana agus iar-Chathaoirleach ar Raidió na Life agus deir sí go bhfuil sí ag súil gur chun tairbhe do bhaill eagraíochtaí mar iad a bheidh Microsoft Office-GA.

Le muintir IBI

Le Pádraig Ó Laighin, Nana Luke agus Fidelma Ní Ghallchobhair

 

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