Irish alive and well in Gaelscoil Átha Í
May 9, 2012
Retired RTE GAA commentator Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh was on hand to perform the official opening of Gaeilscoil Átha Í last Thursday morning.
Local politicians, clergy, parents, teachers and members of the local community in Athy joined the pupils in celebrating the occasion and they heard the guest of honour say that the spirit of the people of Athy made the day possible.Each of the class groups gave musical performances between the speeches and in keeping with the tradition of the school these speeches were ‘as Gaeilge’.
The 199-pupil school opened in September 2004 with 21 students at the Aontas Ogra premises on the Kilkenny Road. The new building opened in 2010 and it has eight classrooms, 10 teachers, one special needs assistant, a secretary, a cleaner and a caretaker.
Sinead Ní Nualláin has been principal of the school since last November. During her speech to the assembled audience she said her school was more fortunate than most. “There are schools that have been on the waiting list for buildings before us who are still on the list.
“We have a lovely building now but when we opened first in 2004 we had nothing. We were working out of the Aontas Ogra Hall and I want to thank the parents who believed in the dream of a gaelscoil in Athy and I want to thank them for their support.”
Credit for the establishment of the school was given by all who spoke to local woman Kathleen Robinson. Ms Ní Nualláin said that Kathleen Robinson had an unbelievable dream. “People didn’t think that a gaelscoil could ever exist in Athy and it’s a proud day for us because Kathleen did succeed. Without Kathleens belief we wouldn’t be here. For that reason we are naming our new general purpose hall after Kathleen.”
Following this Mícheál O Muircheartaigh and Kathleen Robinson unveiled a plaque, which named the hall Halla Mhic Róibín.
The MC for the event was local man and parent Johnny Watchorn who said that the school was a great achievement which was due in no small measure to the work of Sinead and her team and the commitment of the parents.
“Once upon a time people used to ask me when Irish was last spoken in Athy. Today I am able to tell people that Irish is alive and well in Athy and that is because of the gaeilscoil.”
The guest of honour Mícheál O Muircheartaigh said that Kathleen Robinson had succeeded because the people of Athy supported her. “Kathleen is not a fluent speaker but she believed Irish was as much for her as it was for those who are fluent. The people of Athy bought into her vision and the parents took a chance sending their children to this school and it is this spirit that made today possible.”
He went on to add that it was good to see inclusiveness at the heart of the school. “It is great to see boys and girls from different traditions and religions side by side in an inclusive and positive environment.”
