Folúntas: Gaelscoil de hÍde
July 7, 2014
Folúntas: Bunscoil an Iúir
July 3, 2014
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
Folúntas: Coláiste Íosagáin
July 3, 2014
Remembrance Service for Jessica
July 3, 2014
There were heartbreaking scenes at Gaelscoil Longfoirt this afternoon where a service was held to remember Jessica Jeeti (10).
Jessica died alongside her mother Pat and two family friends after a car accident close to Bunbrosna on Saturday morning.
Teachers, pupils and parents gathered with Jessica’s uncle, Evan, and family friends at the school to commemorate the little girl’s life earlier today.
“We are gathered here to remember Jessica who was a vibrant, fine, smart, bubbly and popular girl at our school,” Principal Yvonne Ní Mhurchú said.
Fr Brendan Sullivan who officiated proceedings, pointed to sorrow of her classmates and to the important role that they played in Jessica’s family. “Jessica’s class were like her little family,” he added. “It is important to have a place of welcome and a sense of belonging and her class here was part of that.”
Described by her teacher as “playful, fun loving, musical and artistic”, the talented 10 year-old was firmly on the minds of all those who gathered to celebrate her short, but enriching life. “Jessica really valued her friendships and she had great friends; she cherished her friends dearly,” the teacher added.
A candle was then lit in memory of the little girl and handed to Jessica’s Uncle to bring to the family home. The service was attended by over 100 people who heard Fr Brendan conclude by saying, “Our life is a gift of God; it is measured not in years, but one day at a time. Yesterday is gone never to return; tomorrow is not assured, only today is ours”.
Jessica Jeeti is survived by her father Jim, brothers Geoffrey, Jamie and Jack, extended family, relatives and friends. May she Rest in Peace.
www.longfordleader.ie
GAA star Tomás Ó Sé in fight for gaelscoil
July 3, 2014
Kerry football legend Tomás Ó Sé is helping to lead the fight for a new gaelscoil amid concern it may not be built as quickly as promised.
Ó Sé, a teacher at Gaelscoil de hÍde, Fermoy, is part of an action group which has been formed to lobby politicians to live up to a promise to build its 394 pupils a new school.
The Department of Education promised a new facility would be opened in 2014/2015, but according to the Sunday Game pundit this seems unlikely as a site hasn’t even been identified yet.
The five-time All Ireland-winner, who has taught at the school for the past 14 years, said the pupils are having to deal with seriously cramped conditions and the situation is going to get worse because more numbers are being taken in every year.
“Many classrooms are half the size of the standard classroom. We have two resource teachers operating in a computer room and we’ve a portable building in the yard.
“The kids have to walk around the yard now at break time, when they just want to run about,” Mr Ó Sé said.
“Exercise is crucial for children. I grew up in a country school and we could blow off steam at break and play games to our hearts content. The children here can’t and it’s unacceptable. It’s wrong.”
The action group is urging people in the Fermoy area to send a postcard featuring the pupils to as many politicians as they can in order to get the project moved on.
In 2011 the Government pledged that a new multi-purpose facility would be built to facilitate growing numbers at the school and funding has been earmarked under the capital schools building programme.
However, according to Mr Ó Sé, to date no site has been officially designated.
Initially the school was told the new building would open in time for this school year.
This was then moved back to 2015, and now it seems that target date will also not be met either.
“We know we’re going to get a new school at some stage, but with all the red tape it is likely to surpass the 2015 date which will be a huge blow to pupils, teachers and parents,” he said.
“I am totally frustrated at the extremely slow pace by public bodies in securing a site for our new school. The school community deserve a new school now,” principal Seán Mac Gearailt said.
www.irishexaminer.com
Ballincollig Seeks 800-Pupil Gaelcholáiste
July 3, 2014
AN APPLICATION has been made for a new 800-pupil Gaelcholáiste to be set up in Ballincollig.
A committee of teachers and parents has prepared and submitted a detailed application to the Department of Education calling for the establishment of the school to meet the need for an all-Irish secondary school in the town.
The principal of the town’s all-Irish primary school, Gaelscoil Uí Ríordáin, Gabriel Ó Cathasaigh, has warned that the lack of available gaelcholáiste places for graduating gaelscoil pupils could reach crisis point.
Mr Ó Cathasaigh said that if current trends continued, up to 90 children would have no place in an all-Irish secondary school by 2020.
Almost 200 parents of pupils of Gaelscoil Uí Ríordáin attended a public meeting in the school last month to discuss the immediate lack of second-level, all-Irish education places in the town and the difficulties it will cause over the coming years.
The meeting heard that the boards of management of Choláiste Choilm and Gaelcholáiste Choilm adopted a new admissions policy before Easter 2014, meaning that for the first time, pupils graduating from Gaelscoil Uí Ríordáin this year were not guaranteed a place in Gaelcholáiste Choilm.
The figures mean that if just 80% of the students attending gaelscoileanna in the area wish to continue their second-level education in Irish this year, there will be a shortfall of 29 second-level places.
A committee set up by Mr Ó Cathasaigh and parents has urged parents to lobby local politicians, including Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney, Ministers of State Sean Sherlock and Kathleen Lynch, and TDs Michael Creed, Áine Collins and Michael Moynihan.
Mr Ó Cathasaigh has also written to parents in the area, outlining the proposal.
He said: “The parents of Gaelscoil Uí Ríordáin can help the government focus on this issue, in the hope that with some planning now, our politicians can avert a looming gaelcholáiste places crisis.
“We hope this will create the momentum we need to get the campaign on track and to ensure the application will get the support it needs and deserves.”
www.eveningecho.ie
