Ceiliúradh na GaelscolaíochtaA Celebration of Irish Medium Education 2018

Ó Neart go NeartFrom Strength to Strength

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This magazine has been put togetherto give the reader a brief taste of thecontinuous development of IrishMedium Education in the North overthis past year or so. It offers a snapshotof the language as it is today, a centralpart of the educational experience ofin excess of 6,000 pupils; wherechildren, teaching staff and parentsengage with each other in Irish on adaily basis. The development of aflourishing bilingual educational sectoris something that the state shouldcelebrate and encourage as addingvalue to its educational output.

However, things don’t just happen;people make things happen. Thepeople who set up naíscoileanna andbunscoileanna are transformingcommunities, with limited fundingfrom my organisation, InaG and Forasna Gaeilge, along with support andadvice from CnaG [Comhairle naGaelscolaíochta]. We have seen newIME [Irish Medium Education] projectsin SSwwaattrraagghh,, CCoo.. DDeerrrryy,, TToooommeebbrriiddggee,,CCoo.. AAnnttrriimm,, and in AArrmmaagghh cciittyy.CCaarrrryydduuffff will see its own naíscoilopening its doors in the coming year.To all of those who have played a partin getting these schemes up andrunning tá ár mbuíochas tuillte agaibh.

This is just part of the story. Themajority of IME schools in the Northwere set up between 10 and 20 yearsago – as educational institutions theyare young. But they are maturing interms of capacity, infrastructure andthe delivery of a quality education.Coláiste Feirste in Belfast has justcompleted a £12m extension and newbuild to cater for the increasednumbers seeking Irish post-primaryeducation. Indeed, plans are now advanced for a North Belfast campusfor Coláiste Feirste to ensure the schoolcan meet the demand which is growingyear on year.

Gaelcholáiste Dhoire is just coming tothe end of its second year in DDuunnggiivveenn,trying manfully to meet theburgeoning demand for Irish post-primary in County Derry. BunscoilBheann Mhadagáin has now got afantastic building on BBeellffaasstt’’ssCClliiffttoonnvviillllee RRooaadd, Gaelscoil nagCrann’s newbuild is underconstruction in OOmmaagghh, while GaelscoilUí Néill, Gaelscoil Aodha Rua andGaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh are atvarious stages in getting new buildings.In Belfast, Scoil an Droichid andGaelscoil Éanna will have new fit-for-purpose buildings in the next few years.

These infrastructural changes show thesystem catching up with the robustgrowth of Irish schools over the pastdecade; that catching up process is byno means complete. But it shows IrishMedium Education is now anestablished part of the fabric of theeducational system in the North.

We are getting bigger and better, moreprofessional, with greater capacity andgreater expertise. Bilingual educationgives added value to those pupils whocome through our schools and providesthe framework to give them the skillsand knowledge that can ensure theybecome fully participating citizens in thiscountry in the 21st century and beyond.

PPiilliibb ÓÓ RRuuaannaaíí ((IInnaaGG))

The Trust Fund for Irish Medium Education

199 Bóthar na bhFál, Béal Feirste BT12 6FB199 Falls Road, Belfast BT12 6FB

�: 02890 241510

R-phost/Email:eolas@iontaobhasnagaelscolaiochta

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The people who set upnaíscoileanna and bunscoileannaare transforming communities...

Fáilte - Welcome

Gaelcholáiste DhoireDungiven PAGE 3

3 New Irish Medium Nursery Schools PAGE 4

Gaelscoil na gCrannOmagh PAGE 6

Coláiste FeirsteBelfast PAGE 7

Bunscoil Bheann MhadagáinNorth Belfast PAGE 8

Gaelscoil Uí DhochartaighStrabane PAGE 9

Naíscoil Aodha DhuibhCarryduff PAGE 10

Gaelscoil na mBeannKilkeel PAGE 11

Gaelscoil ÉannaGlengormley PAGE 12

Bunscoil an TraonaighLisnaskea PAGE 13

’’‘‘

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It’s back to ‘cool’ as much as back toschool for the pupils of GaelcholáisteDhoire every time they head back to theclassroom.

Who else gets to go to school in animposing 200-year-old castle?

‘Hogwarths na Gaeilge’, as DungivenCastle is now affectionately known.

“Sixteen pupils started when we openedin September 2015,” says PrincipalDiarmuid Ua Bruadair. “We haveincreased that number five-fold to 82students this term. In September we’llhave 120 pupils. That’s a ten-fold increasewithin three years.”

Growing and expanding is a constant atGaelcholáiste Dhoire — and not just forthe pupils.

“We will have three or four new teacherscoming in in the autumn. Freshperspectives, different experiences, newskills,” says Diarmuid. “And the schoolwill also be growing dramatically in aphysical sense.

“We’ll soon have 120 pupils and thatnumber will increase each year. So we’llneed more space.”

So, as they say in the the real Hogwarths,Alakazam!

And there you go, a brand new five-classroom extension build alongsideDungiven Castle.

Not so much down to Harry Potterwizardry as to a helping hand fromIontaobhas na Gaelscolaíochta who havefinanced the new-build.

Iontaobhas recognises that GaelcholáisteDhoire is the most importantdevelopment in Irish Medium Educationin the last 25 years.

It is only the second independent IrishMedium post-primary in the North.

A third will open in North Belfast in thenear future, when Coláiste Feirste opensa satellite school there.

And all the while demand for places inIrish Medium streams at St Malachy’sHigh School, Castlewellan, Naomh Iósaef,Donaghmore, and St Catherine’s Armaghis steady or indeed increasing.

Gaelcholáiste Dhoire’s success is anothersign that the rapid growth which hascharacterised the nursery and primary IMEsector is now about to be replicated in thepost-primary sector.

These are good times for the IME sectorand Diarmuid is delighted to be involved,

particularly in bringing Irish back to anarea where it was spoken as a nativelanguage within living memory.

Gaelcholáiste Dhoire is his dream job.

Born into the first urban Irish languagecommunity, Bóthar Seoighe in WestBelfast, Diarmuid was himself brought upin an Irish speaking household, was amongthe first children to attend Bunscoil PhobalFeirste and later went on to work in thefirst IME secondary school, Coláiste Feirste.

Diarmuid links that first IME school,Bunscoil Phobal Feirste, and one of thenewest schools, Gaelcholáiste Dhoire.

And recently the link was strengthenedfurther when some of those who set upthe Shaws Road Gaeltacht in Belfast cameto visit Gaelcholáiste Dhoire to celebrate asector which has gone from just 12 pupilsto well over 6,000 within a generation.

Which is the fastest growing educationalsector north and south.

They had a wonderful evening inDungiven Castle.

Those pioneers from the early days ofIME inspiring the pupils of today and intheir turn inspired by the pupils of today.

Looking back at a great past, andforward to an even better future!

Gaelcholáiste Dhoire Dungiven

Alakazam!

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Since his four-year-old daughterCaelainn enrolled as one of the 16pupils in Naíscoil Fíobha, John finds it’ssomething of roles reversed afterschool.

“I’ve a bit of Irish but to be truthful I’mlearning as much from her as I’mteaching her!

“Having said that, there are eveningclasses for parents, which is great, andthe wider community has been verysupportive, with so many individualsand groups organising fundraisers orhelping in other ways — the local GAAin particular.

“So Naíscoil na Fíobha has very much acommunity feel to it, but that doesn’tsurprise me as I know a lot of the IME(Irish Medium Education) schools havethat strong community participation.”

Now that the naíscoil is going so well,an announcement is expected verysoon about the opening of a Bunscoilin the Toome area.

11 Naíscoil na FíobhaToomebridge

It’s the Slaughtneil effect!

So says John Mulhern of Naíscoil naFíobha as he muses on why lastSeptember, for the first time in manyyears, three new naíscoil, (Irish Mediumpre-schools) opened their doors.

Naíscoil na Fíobha in Toomebridge,Naíscoil Ghreanacháin in Swatragh andNáiscoil na Caille in Armagh city.

For John, chair of Naíscoil na Fíobhacommittee, the explanation is clear.

“So many people are passionate nowabout the language, it is really striking.

“It’s partly the Slaughtneil effect,” hesays, referring to the South Derry clubwhich has had numerous Ulster andnational success in recent years.

“It’s clear that the revival of thelanguage and culture in Slaughtneilhas rejuvenated that community andarea. A lot of the kids and adults therespeak Irish as their first language. Andit’s something which we want toemulate here.”

22 Naíscoil na CailleArmagh City

In Armagh Naíscoil na Caille is the thirdnaíscoil in the city, but the firstindependent one.

While naíscoil and bunscoil streams inlocal schools have helped meet theneeds of IME until now, demandcontinues to soar.

Which led to the opening of Naíscoil naCaille last September.

Naíscoil na Caille has had a tremendousfirst year, so much so that a newstandalone Bunscoil in Armagh is nowdue to open in 2019.

“The momentum is evident,” saysNaíscoil committee member Gearóid ÓMachail.

“Just look at the sterling work done inthe Irish Medium streams in the localschools.

“Look at Gael-Linn here in Armagh, atCleamairí Ard Mhacha, Píobairí ArdMhacha, Cairde Teo.

“And of course, Aonach Mhacha, theIrish language cultural centre which isbeing developed on the site of theformer fire station. And so much more.

“We’ve done a lot of work in Armaghto ensure that the Irish language is notseen as the exclusive domain of anyone group or community.

“Widening access to IME (Irish MediumEducation) is a logical progression. So,an Ghaeilge in Ard Mhacha is movinginto the fast lane. Ar aghaidh linn!’

1-2-3 It’s elementaryas Irish Medium continues to grow

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33 Naíscoil GhreanacháinSwatragh

In County Derry, they know all aboutlife in the IME fast lane, with almost1,100 children attending 11 naíscoil,bunscoil and meánscoil.

When a public meeting was held to setup Naíscoil Ghreanacháin in Swatraghit’s no surprise that past pupils ofBunscoil Luraigh in Maghera andparents of children in otherbunscoileanna were on the committee,bringing with them a wealth ofknowledge and experience of IME.

Also central to the initiative are thelocal GAA, CLG Mhícheáil MhicDhaibhéid.

With 10 children in the school this yearand good enrolment for next termalready, Naíscoil Ghreanacháin joinsthe rapidly increasing number of IMEschools in the Oak Leaf County.

You can find more information aboutNaíscoil Fíobha, Naíscoil na Caille andNaíscoil Ghreanacháin on theirFacebook pages.

All three naíscoil depend on the unpaidcommitment of many volunteers,supporters and parents.

Crucial also has been the role ofAltram, the support group for IrishMedium Early Years Projects, thedevelopment officers of Comhairle naGaelscolaíochta, and financial andother help from Foras na Gaeilge andIontaobhas na Gaelscolaíochta.

If you are interested in Irish MediumEducation get in touch with Comhairlena Gaelscolaíochta athttp://www.comhairle.org/

Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí!

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Omagh didn’t have any Irish Mediumschools 15 years ago.

Back then who could have imagined thattoday 180 children would be attendingGaelscoil and Naíscoil na gCrann onKillyclogher Road?

Just 10 years ago who would haveforecast that the Department ofEducation would invest £2.3m in a brick-build seven-classroom state-of-the-artbrand new building for Gaelscoil nagCrann?

Almost everything is in place and thehope is that work will start this year;estimated build time once the green lightis given, 60 weeks.

Secondary-level Irish Medium Education iswell served at Scoil Iósaef, St Joseph’sGrammar School in Donaghmore.

However, with the rapid growth ofGaelscoil na gCrann in Omagh andGaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh in Strabane,along with the renewed impetus in theGaelscoileanna in Derry, a new IrishMedium secondary nearer to Omaghseems inevitable some time in the future.

However minimalist expectations for IrishMedium Education in Omagh have beenin the past, no one expects anything butmore growth and significant developmentfor IME in years to come.

“There is a a growing demand for IME inOmagh for sure,” says Risteard MacDaibhéid, Vice-Principal of Gaelscoil nagCrann. “We are lucky to have a lot ofreally great schools in the Omagh areaand Gaelscoil na gCrann is one of them.

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Take a leafout ofour book

Gaelscoil na gCrann Omagh

But with bilingualeducation we do offersomething quitedistinctive and I think a lotmore parents are seeing theunique advantages of that.

“The new school building, when it comes,will add to that momentum but the trendhere and throughout the North has seenthe numbers choosing Irish MediumEducation increasing year on year.

“I think that in Omagh IME is in safe hands.”

A past winner of Primary Teacher of theYear Northern Ireland and with over 20years of experience teaching in the IMEsector, Risteard might well be referring tohimself as ‘safe hands’.

But he’s in fact referring to the newgeneration of IME teachers, particularly thosehe sees around him in Gaelscoil na gCrann.

“I love teaching in Irish Medium schools.There is just something about thelanguage itself, it’s a great spur tochildren learning.

“The young generation of teachers in thisschool, they are as passionate andenthusiastic and capable as I and myfellow teachers were when we started off20 years ago.

“They’re great. They believe in IME, intheir vocation.

“They put in incredibly long hours andthey are an inspiration. So I do think IMEhere is safe in their hands.”

But the Strabane man does have somepedigree when it comes to all-Ireland titles.

A few years back he wrote the schoolplay, which pupils performed at the FéileScoildrámaíochta, the All-Ireland SchoolsDrama Festival in Mullingar.

In total, 44 schools took part, butGaelscoil na gCrann was overall winner,bringing one of the most covetedaccolades in Irish school drama to theNorth for the first time ever. What aboutthe future?

“To try to be the best school in Omagh,then in Tyrone, then in Ireland,” he saysjokingly.

“That was special,” says Risteard. “We doput a big emphasis on extra-curricularactivities, drama, music, sport and manyothers. And to win an all-Ireland title wasjust fantastic for everyone.”

When visiting the school and announcingthat the Department was to invest in anew building for Gaelscoil na gCrann,then Minister John O’Dowd commented:“This school has flourished as a result ofstrong leadership and communityinvolvement.”

That was a formula for success in the past.

And undoubtedly it will be a formula forsuccess in the future.

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Upbeat is a default setting at Coláiste Feirste.

And they have a lot of reasons to be upbeat.

The latest £16.5m capital investment innew buildings, classrooms and stunningsports facilities has left Coláiste Feirste witha first class school campus.

It’s a milestone moment, giving the schoolthe facilities and environment to match itsambitions.

Adding even further to the attraction of aschool which since the day it opened in1991 with nine children has seen pupilnumbers increase year on year to the pointthat it now has 650 pupils.

There is such demand for places at ColáisteFeirste that in the near future they willopen a satellite in North Belfast, bringingpost-primary IME to that part of the cityfor the first time.

A reflection of the high esteem in whichColáiste Feirste and its educational model isheld.

“The numbers keep growing and they area confirmation of the confidence which thecommunity has in us,” says Principal GaraíMac Roibéaird.

“The new buildings, the excellent academicresults, the community involvement in theschool and their use of school facilities,these are all elements which have helpedthe school succeed and will continue tohelp us as we move to the next phase,” headded.

“The governors have also been central tothe success story.

“And the very strong school community.

“We value every child. We make them awareof that. We make them aware that they havesomething very valuable to contribute,

“And the thing that most unites us all isactually the Irish language.

“There is an extra edge to an IME schoolbecause of the language itself as aneducational tool and as the normallanguage of communication.”

Academically, Coláiste Feirste matches orexceeds the standards in similar English-medium schools.

In particular achievements in GCSE Maths,English and Gaeilge are consistently wellabove the three-year average for similarschools.

The school also has an excellent reputationfor drama and art, for sport, for mediastudies and for wider cultural activities.

Children with learning difficulties benefitfrom specific IME support strategiesthrough the school’s innovative LearningSupport Centre.

Alongside all of this Coláiste Feirste issituated in the burgeoning GaeltachtQuarter, an area which has seen continuinginvestment and increasing profile, with theemphasis on promoting jobs and enterprisefor Irish speakers.

As the Irish language community continuesto grow former pupils of Coláiste Feirsteare in leadership roles in CultúrlannMcAdam Ó Fiaich, in Raidió Fáilte, in Glórna Móna, in Gael Ionad Mhic Goill, inConradh na Gaeilge, in An Dream Deargand many other organisations and groups.

Coláiste Feirste is a co-educational, non-denomonational school which caters forpupils of all abilities.

The most up-to-date techonology is usedin classrooms where pupils are taught thefull curriculum to A-level, from Scienceand Maths to Home Economics.

Class sizes are kept at between 25-30 asIrish Medium works best in a language-rich immersion context.

“Our aim,” says Garaí Mac Roibéaird, “isto develop highly educated and confidentyoung people who have excellent choicesin life.

“When I started here in 1994 I wanted tobe part of the ‘ideal’ IME school.

“I used to discuss with others what such aschool should look like.

“Now looking around us today, I knowwhat that ‘ideal’ IME school would look like.

“It would look like Coláiste Feirste.”

An environment to match its ambitions

Coláiste Feirste Belfast

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The ‘Beast from the East’ closed the schoolfor a few days.

But then only something totallyexceptional could make the children ofBunscoil Bheann Mhadagáin in NorthBelfast miss school.

They love their school! They loved BunscoilBheann Mhadagáin even when they were incramped, ageing classrooms in their oldschool building at Wyndham Drive.

Then they were ‘bowled over’ in 2016when they moved to their five new-buildclassrooms on the old Cricket Ground atCliftonville Road, where they also sharefloodlit 3G pitches with local sports clubs.Yee-hah!

The nursery school, the naíscoil, which hashad statutory status since 2012, is nowoversubscribed. And such is the demand forIME in the area that the Department hasagreed to allow the Bunscoil to increase itsfirst year intake. With 163 pupils at theBunscoil and Naíscoil at present, and withthat number to increase this autumn, plansto add new classrooms are afoot.

And plans are well advanced to open asatellite school of Coláiste Feirste in NorthBelfast in the near future.

“Our children and our community deservethe very best education, care and facilitiesand that is what we are giving them,” saysMáire Uí Éigeartaigh, Principal of BunscoilBheann Mhadagáin.

“We have seen a significant increase inenrolment since we moved to the new school.

“There is no doubt, buildings areimportant. But what happens inside thebuildings is also very important.

“For almost 20 years we were inaccommodation in Wyndham Drive whichwas clearly unsuitable as the schoolnumbers increased.

“Even so, we had a great school withgreat spirit, with high standards and withhappy, well-educated children.

“Now on our new site we have theopportunity, with enhanced facilities, toimprove things even more.”

Bunscoil Bheann Mhadagáin was set up in1994 in an old Church of Ireland buildingat Wyndham Drive.

It took almost two decades ofcampagining before the school was givenits new site.

On a dark winter day in December 2015pupils waved ‘slán’ to their old school andwalked to their bright new spaciousclassrooms a mile or so away.

“They went into the new school withcheers and clapping ringing in their earsas parents and locals gathered to givethem a ‘Céad Míle Fáilte’,” says Máire.

“And that was fitting as parents and thewider community have and will alwaysplay a key role in this school.

“And indeed in the development of IMEin North Belfast.”

It was those parents who made a bravedecision in 1984 to send their children toNaíscoil Ard Eoin who started it all off.

“The growth since that first Naíscoil has beentremendous but it didn’t happen accidentally.

It came from the hard work and energyand sheer willpower of parents andteachers and the wider community.

“Alongside the constant and crucialsupport of Iontaobhas na Gaelscolaíochtaand Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta. Thatenergy is still needed, still there, and youcan see its impact in the increasingnumbers of parents in North Belfast whoare choosing IME. Maith iad.”

Máire herself watched the start of IME inNorth Belfast from the sidelines.

“I was at school at the time Naíscoil ArdEoin was set up in 1984. Even then Iknew I wanted to be a teacher.

“When I was at school I was veryinfluenced by my Irish teachers, BridLynsey and Nuala McGrath. They reallyinspired my love for the language. So Ihad good role models.”

As do the children of Bunscoil andNaíscoil Bheann Mhadagáin as they getexcited not only about life at their schoolbut the expectation that when it’s timeto go to secondary school they’ll begoing up the road rather than acrosstown to Coláiste Feirste in West Belfast.

The first generation from North Belfastto ever do so. At nursery, primary, andsecondary level, Irish Medium Education inNorth Belfast is now firmly set on a brighterand better future.

And it will take a lot more than the‘Beast from the East’ to steer it offcourse!

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The North Wind blows...Bunscoil Bheann Mhadagáin North Belfast

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Greeting children at the school gate is stilla highlight of her day for Máire NíDhochartaigh, principal of Gaelscoil UíDhochartaigh in Strabane.

Tapping into their energy, enthusiasm andpositivity is always a real fillip.

She does though have a lot more of themto greet nowadays, with over 170 pupils inGaelscoil and Naíscoil compared to justfour when the school first opened in1997!

While the intake of children has beenincreasing steadily year on year, thenumbers are expected to surge even furtherwhen Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh moves to anew £3m brick-build seven-classroom schoolon a site on Strahan Road.

Plans for the development are in theirfinal stages, with expectation thatworkers will get the go-ahead soon.

“The move has been delayed a few timesbut we’re near to it now,” says Máire.“We’ve had bigger waits for things intimes past so we just keep focused on thehere and now.”

She will be sad to leave their neighboursin Ballycolman estate who, along withCumann Mhic Shíogair, have beenfantastic — but the links will always bethere.

“The new school will certainly be morecomfortable, more modern and spacious,and easier in many respects for theteachers and the pupils.

“It will also increase our profile more thanever before.

“But the standard of education in thisschool, whether in the new buildings orthe old, was, is and will be excellent.’

Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh opened in 1997with four pupils and one teacher, buildingon the success of Naíscoil an tSratha Báinwhich had opened in 1994 and had shownclearly the demand for IME in Strabane.

Having been teaching there since 1999,Máire has seen many highlights.

2010 was a seminal year for the school asfor the first time the Naíscoil came in withthe Gaelscoil.

In 2013 Minister for Education JohnO’Dowd visited and the Departmentconfirmed that the school would begetting a new building and site.

2016 was another really special year forthe school.

They celebrated their 20th anniversary.

And celebrated great results in GCSEs.

13 pupils sat the exams, scoring 6As and7A*s.

There are always things to celebrate atGaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh!

“This is an Irish Medium school of course,but it’s also a community school,” saysMáire.

“We are so lucky to have such a great PTA,so many parents and others from thewider community whose volunteer workhas been crucial. So many people whohave collected money, organised events,helped inform people about the schooland Irish Medium Education.

“Everyone can play a role here inGaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh.”

A few years back the school performed‘An Béal Bocht’, a stage version of thebest-selling book by one of Strabane’smost famous sons, Flann O’Brien, BrianO’Nolan, Myles na gCopaleen.

They paid tribute to another ofStrabane’s famous sons the year theGaelscoil opened.

Gearalt Ó Dochartaigh was a Conradh naGaeilge stalwart who from the 1940sonwards cycled the towns of Tyroneteaching Irish and helping promote theGAA.

When Strabane got its Gaelscoil in 1997 itwas fittingly named in his honour.

And undoubtedly he and Flann O’Brienare both looking down with pride onStrabane today, marvelling at how theirhome town is now a hub not just for IrishMedium Education but for the Irishlanguage.

Leading the way!

Maidin mhaith daoibh

Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh Strabane

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That’s been the opinion of StephanieHaughey since she was a young girl growingup there, frustrated that she couldn’t go toa Naíscoil or Gaelscoil locally.

So she determined to make sure that herown child and others should have the choiceof IME in Carryduff in the future.

And as Chairperson of the committee to setup an IME school in Carryduff, GaelscoilAodha Dhuibh, Stephanie and fellowcommittee members and supporters havebeen very busy for the last year.

They have been organising fundraisingevents, inviting among others Linda Ervineto come and talk about ‘Hidden History,Protestants and the Irish Language.’

They have been canvassing locally to try andgauge demand for an IME school inCarryduff.

And encouraged by a great response to thatcanvass they have been searching for asuitable location for a new school.

May 2018 brought not only an earlysummer but an early Christmas for thecommittee when they secured a suitablelocation.

This autumn an Grúpa Súgartha, an IMEParents and Toddlers Group, will open inMcKibben House on the East Bank Road.

Gaelscolaíochta. We have also been incontact with Bunscoil an Droichead, whohave pioneered IME in South Belfast, andthey are delighted to see Carryduff makeour first move towards providing IME.”

And of course Gaelscoil Aodha Dhuibhhave also the example of more than 80schools in the North who have alreadysuccessfully travelled the path they aresetting out on.

There is no one template for a successfulIrish Medium school.

Some are bigger, some are smaller, sometake a long time to cross the line, some ashort time.

But there is one element common to everyschool that succeeds.

A dynamic committee made up of caringand committed parents and supporters.

And Gaelscoil Aodha Dhuibh has that inspades.

For more information about GaelscoilAodha Dhuibh go to their Facebook page.

Naíscoil Aodha Dhuibh Carryduff

Carryduff -Ready for Irish MediumEducation...

And in September next year Naíscoil AodhaDhuibh, the first IME nursery school inCarryduff, will open its doors.

“It’s tremendous news,” says Stephanie. “Andto top it all we got confirmation fromIontaobhas, the IME funding body, that theywill be funding the refurbishment of the unitfor the Grúpa Súgartha so that it can be openthis September.”

The name of the Committee, GaelscoilAodha Dhuibh, confirms that their ultimateaim is to set up a Gaelscoil, an IME primaryschool, in Carryduff. And based on goodpractice in other areas which have successfulIME schools, they’ll do it in stages.

“To be able to start the Grúpa Súgartha thisyear, just a year since the committee cametogether, is a great boost,” says Stephanie.

“There are great schools in Carryduff and inthe future we want Gaelscoil Aodha Dhuibhto be one of them. So we will start with theGrúpa Súgartha in the autumn, the Naíscoilnext year and we’ll take the next step fromthere. But we have a very capable anddynamic committee, a really good responsefrom the public and the backing ofIontaobhas and Comhairle na

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If only Niall Loughrancould make toast he’d be theperfect teacher! Or that’s whatsome of his pupils think.

Newry man Niall, Principal of Gaelscoil namBeann in Kilkeel Co. Down, greets thechildren each morning at the ClubBricfeasta, the Breakfast Club.

But can he make toast right?

Dá bhfeicfeá é!

Even so Niall and the other teachers atGaelscoil and Naíscoil na mBeann must bedoing something right.

For the school is doing great!

Since the Naíscoil was set up in 2007 andthe Bunscoil in 2010 they have steadilyenhanced their reputation and thenumber of pupils.

Having started with four children, thereare now more than 80 pupils betweenGaelscoil and Naíscoil, and the numbersare growing each year.

In 2013 Minister John O’Dowd openednew accommodation for Gaelscoil andNaíscoil na mBeann on a site in town,beside the local High School.

It’s an ideal site for a school which drawsabout 40% of pupils from Kilkeel andabout 60% from the surrounding areas.

And alongside the steady progress at nurseryand primary level, second-level education inIrish is also on offer at St Malachy’s HighSchool in nearby Castlewellan.

Gaelscoil na mBeann are in a good placeboth metaphorically and physically.

It’s quite a turnaround from a few yearsback when accommodation wasinadequate, Department recognition wasstill a way off and the school was situatedon a mountainside, quite a bit out of town.

‘Get off the mountain’ was a good bit ofadvice.

Another was ‘phone a friend’, or in thiscase two friends.

Iontaobhas naGaelscolaíochta andComhairle na Gaelscolaíochta.

The two organisations which from 2001have been working to promote andsupport Irish Medium schools.

With their help the school was able toprogress further, quicker, better.

“It was hard at the start particularly,” saysNiall.

“Parents would send their children to theNaíscoil but some might have baulked alittle at sending them on to the Gaelscoil.

“They waited to see how things went.

‘But when they got good reports backabout the Gaelscoil they made up theirminds and came on board.

“Word of mouth was a crucial factor.”

And he continues: “Your child’s education isone of the most important decisions you willmake in your life so I understand parentsthink really hard before choosing a school.

“And that’s why we are elated that somany are choosing Gaelscoil and Naíscoilna mBeann.’

But it isn’t only about numbers, says Niall.It’s about the quality of education and thebenefits of IME.

“Having two languages at an early age; thesmall class sizes, the relationships builtthrough having pupils call teachers by theirfirst name, a child becoming comfortablewith diversity from an early age.

“All these and many other benefits of IMEare well documented and I think that theyspeak to parents who want an option

which includes bothbilingualism and an

excellent quality ofeducation.”

Conradh na Gaeilge in the Mournes areahas been central to the success ofGaelscoil na mBeann, as also has beenthe Gaelscoil’s links to other IME schoolsin the wider area.

“Newry has its Bunscoil and Naíscoil aswell as Gaeláras Mhic Ardghail, the Irishlanguage cultural centre,” says Niall.

“In Castlewellan you have Bunscoil andNaíscoil Bheanna Boirce. You also haveGlór Uachtar Tíre and a whole range ofIrish language social activities. InAnnalong you have Páirc na Mara.

“So Kilkeel isn’t out on the edge, it’sbang centre in the middle of all thisactivity.”

Living in the shadows of the Mournes,the Gaels of Boirche Íochtar are used toscaling heights.

But Gaelscoil na mBeann has still a ridgeto go before they get to the summit.

Says Niall: “We are on a great site atpresent and in the short term it’s all good.But we haven’t had certainty yet about thelong-term future of the site and we’d loveto get that cleared up soon.

“We’ll be talking to the Department inthe coming months and we’re confidentit’ll work out.

“We’ve had a lot of challenges in thisschool over the years. And we’veovercome them all.”

Well, almost all.

If only he could learn how to make toast!

Gaelscoil na mBeann Kilkeel

One roundor two?

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You need to be patient ifyou want to talk toMaighréad Ní Chongaile,Principal of GaelscoilÉanna.

Situtated in Glengormley on thenorthern approaches of Belfast,Gaelscoil Éanna is one of the fastestgrowing schools in the North.

You want to talk to Maighréad aboutthe past 10 years, about the fact thatGaelscoil Éanna has gone from aPortakabin with 12 children and a singleteacher to a well-respected school in fourmodern modular classroomsaccommodating over 185 pupils.

Oops, that’s 211 pupils if you include thenaíscoil, which now has statutory statusand is fully subscribed for the next year.

Maighréad insists she will talk about thepast 10 years in a while but for now hermind is focused on the next 10 years.

Planning for the new seven-classroomschool with all mod cons which is on itsway. She wants to talk too about the newcommunity hall being built by the GAAclub which has been so integral to thesuccess of Gaelscoil Éanna, that is StEnda’s GAA.

She is enthused about the role the schoolcommunity can play in the new hall withplans to expand the already veryextensive Irish cultural activities of CroíÉanna – music, dance, language, sport,history.

Oh, and did she mention the new Wrap-Around Service, with supervised activitiesfor the pupils from 8am until 6pm?

You try to ask her about her owncontribution to the success story which isGaelscoil Éanna.

She tells you instead about Donna NíMhealláin who was the first teacher at theschool and is now in charge of the naíscoil.

She wants to talk about the governors,some of whom have been there from thevery start 10 years ago, and yet today areworking away with the same energy andvision they had back then. The parents,the volunteers.

The way they helpraise the extramoney needed tosupplement the schoolbudget.

And she mentions againthe unstinting help fromSt Enda’s GAA.

She points out for you, just in case you’rea bit slow, the difference local peoplehave made.

Tells you about the nights in mid-winterrapping thousands of doors tellingpeople about IME, about the ‘fáiltemhór’ they got on the doorstep andabout the increasing number of parentswho opt for Gaelscoil Éanna.

You give it a last try — get her to followyour script!

Why is IME doing so well in this area?

The same reason the Irish language isdoing so well in Belfast she says.

Ná habair é, déan é — don’t say it, do it.

It’s an attitude which was exemplified bythose who set up Pobal Bhóthar Seoigheand the first Bunscoil.

And it’s an attitude adopted by manyIrish speakers in North Belfast, she says.

That default position of beingupbeat and getting on with doingrather than just talking.

Speaking of which, she has to helporganise the event in BelfastCastle to celebrate 10 years ofGaelscoil Éanna.

So, rather than just talking aboutit...

Off she goes.

Ná habair é, déan é!

Gaelscoil Éanna Glengormley

Don’t say it, do it!

Ná habair é

Déan é!

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Bunscoil an Traonaigh Lisnaskea

A growing voice

Like many good things it started with achildish voice.

Twelve of them actually.

Answering the roll call.

In Irish and in English.

Finding their voice in two languagesrather than just one.

The start of a great adventure!

In September 2004 those 12 pupils ofBunscoil an Traonaigh in Lisnaskeachalked up a first for Fermanagh.

They were the first pupils in the first classin the first Bunscoil ever in Fermanagh.

Nowdays 16 childish voices answer theroll call in Rang 1.

But they are no longer a solitary class.

From Rang 1 to Rang 7 a full chorus ofalmost 70 voices answer the roll call eachmorning.

A sign of the times.

Of the popularity of the Bunscoil and ofthe continuing growth of IME, IrishMedium Education.

At a time when many schools aresuffering a drop in numbers, Bunscoil anTraonaigh is kicking the trend.

Their numbers, like those in most IMEschools, continue to increase.

Which brings its own challenges.

One being pressure on space.

As they wait for the green light to movefrom their present site at DrumbrughasNorth to their new site in the grounds of theold Lisnaskea High School, a move which willgive them a lot more space, Iontaobhas naGaelscolaíochta is providing an extra double-modular classroom.

And the Iontaobhas will continue tosupport the school until relocation.

For Principal at Bunscoil an Traonaigh,Sorcha Ní Mhurchú, the emphasis is veryfirmly on the present.

“We keep focused on the children, onour normal daily school activities,” saysSorcha. “Moving to a new site will be agreat tonic when it happens butwherever we are sited we havewonderful children and teachers,fantastic support from the widercommunity, and a great school spirit.

“The present is great and yes the futurewill be even better.”

Their Facebook page tells the story ofBunscoil an Traonaigh.

Smiling children and lots of activities.

Pupils being interviewed at the BalmoralShow by TG4.

Hushed children listening to a talk ontownland names.

A visit to a local supermarket tounderstand how Fair Trade works.

Dressing up as characters from literaturefor International Book Day.

On a treasure hunt.

Taking part in the St Patrick’s Day parade.

Out on a nature walk

And running in Rith 2018, an all-Irelandrunning event for IME schools.

When Rith 2018 came to Fermanagh itwas the children of Bunscoil an Traonaighwho got to carry the race baton when itcame to Lisnaskea.

Inside the baton a message from thePresident, an tUachtarán Michael DHiggins, saluting Irish speakers for thegreat strides they have made inpromoting the language.

It could well have been a personal messageto the kids of Bunscoil an Traonaigh whohave been carrying the baton for IrishMedium Education inFermanagh withconfidence for morethan 10 years now.And aren’tabout to slowtheir paceanytimesoon!

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RéamhscolaíochtPre-School

BunscolaíochtPrimary

Iar-bhunscolaíochtPost-Primary

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ChooseIrish Medium Educationand give your child a head start with two languages

Súile a MátharHer Mother’s eyes

Béal a hAtharHer Father’s mouth

A Teanga féinHer Own language

Give your child the chanceto excel in education and benefitfrom a bilingual start in life

Comhairle na GaelscolaíochtaTeach an Gheata Thiar, 4 Sráid na Banríona, Béal Feirste

Westgate House, 4 Queen Street, Belfast BT1 6ED

�: 02890321475 Email: eolas@comhairle.org

Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta Twitter: @comhairle14

Website: www.comhairle.org

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