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Folúntas: Gaelscoil de hÍde
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Folúntas: Bunscoil an Iúir
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Gaelscoil officially opens its ‘baile buan’
July 3, 2014
The students and staff at Gaelscoil Phortlaoise celebrated Seachtain na Gaeilge with the official opening of their new school at Summerhill, Portlaoise.
As the bagpipes played out, all gathered outside in the schoolyard for the opening ceremony on Thursday March 13 2014.
The students played the guitar and sang as Gaeilge for the parents, staff, and all who had gathered to celebrate the occasion, after which Príomhoide Dominic O Braonáin spoke.
“Today is a celebration of the fact that we have finally achieved permanent accommodation,” he said.
Since the school opened in 1998, it has had five different locations.
Muinteoir and former príomhoide Siobhán Uí Chuinn said that this was now their ‘baile buan’, or permanent home.
“Relocating was not easy, ach ní neart go cur le chéile! Our unity is our strength!
“This wouldn’t of happened without the huge amount of work put in by the parents, staff, Foras na Gaeilge and Gaelscoileanna. We all worked together, work tirelessly, to make our dream a reality.
“Our dream is to allow these children to make their native language their living language,” she said.
Múinteoir Uí Chuinn then unveiled the plaque which was erected to mark the special occasion.
Fr John Byrne, Portlaoise Parish Priest, was present at the ceremony to say a few words. The students read out the Prayers of the Faithful, and Fr Byrne then finished with the Ár nAthair.
The students then presented Múinteoir Uí Chuinn with flowers for all that she has contributed towards Gaelscoil Phortlaoise over the years.
The ceremony officially ended with the cutting of the ribbon by Príomhoide O Braonáin, and the bagpipes played out one last time with a beautiful rendition of Amhrán na bhFiann.
The parents, students and staff then went inside to the halla for refreshments, and the students performed an array of songs as Gaeilge once more.
Rang 1, 2 and 3 played some traditional music on the tin whistle, and Rang 4 and 5 showed off their guitar-playing skills.
After a lively burst of ‘Óró sé do bheatha abhaile’, Ranga 6 ended the occasion with their version of Avicci’s Wake Me Up as Gaeilge.
Príomhoide O Braonáin said that the school has gone from strength to strength.
“We have come together as a Gaelic family, to celebrate our culture and language.
“Our previous locations were not ideal, like the prefabs, which were damp, with maintenance problems, and no play area.
“Here today we have 16 classrooms, a library, a computer room, a multi-purpose halla, and we hope to develop a green field area soon,” he said.
Leinster Express
Tús curtha le hobair ar scoil agus áiseanna spóirt nua do Bhunscoil Bheann Mhadagáin
July 3, 2014
This month’s edition of Nuachtlitir Ghaelchultúir
July 3, 2014
Read online here: Newsletter
Quinn’s reforms were never going to be realised but a start has been made
July 3, 2014
If the Department of Health is Angola, Education is Luxembourg – a conservative realm highly resistant to change – and, as incoming Minister, Ruairí Quinn was always going to have his work cut out delivering on ambitious reforms. All the more so at a time of severe financial constraints.
Yet Quinn can take some pride in small victories. He has started the long-awaited process of changing the patronage of primary schools to reflect the pluralist Ireland of today.
A limited survey of parental demand identified 28 areas where divestment might take place, and this has led to two changes of patronage – one Catholic and one Protestant – along with the creation of three new Educate Together schools. It’s hardly a revolution – 90 per cent of primary schools remain under Catholic control – but it’s a start.
It’s to Quinn’s credit, moreover, that he has developed a strategic alliance with Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin that his successor can build upon.
Another key legacy, for good or ill, is the abolition of the Junior Cert exam. A new Junior Cycle Student Award is being introduced from September on a subject-by- subject basis.
While unions have concerns about the integrity of school-based assessments, these are not insurmountable and the odds are that Quinn’s plan will eventually win the day. A new minister who has less baggage will help the transition.
On budgeting, Quinn has managed the smaller kitty relatively well. Teacher numbers have grown in line with the population, and the school building programme continues with €2 billion committed to 275 new schools and extensions.
By Quinn’s own admission, this ringfencing of resources has been helped by the fact that three out of the four members of the Economic Management Council – Enda Kenny, Michael Noonan and Brendan Howlin – are teachers. But against that there has been a squeeze on supports for special educational needs.
While staff numbers have grown, teachers and parents say it is not meeting the increased rate of diagnosis.
Quinn has failed the grasp the nettle of third-level funding. Having been stung by a broken pre-election promise not to raise the student registration charge, he has set up a working group to examine the issue – to report before the general election.
www.irishtimes.com
