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25th Anniversary of Gaelscoil Ultain 1986-2011

June 13, 2011

Four hundred parents, past parents, past pupils, teachers, current and past members of Boards of Management and Parents’ Committees from Gaelscoil Ultain gathered together in the Hillgrove Hotel on Sunday night to celebrate the school’s 25th birthday. The night started with a drinks reception in the hotel’s foyer which allowed people from the school community to exchange stories and reminisce about their days and their association with the school.
The school’s Deputy Principal, Ciara Nic Gabhann and Múinteoir Rang a Sé, Niamh Nic Ghiolla Chomhail, who was in the first class in the school in 1986, acted as polished MCs for the night. Bishop Seosamh Ó Dufaigh, the school’s first patron, congratulated all involved and talked about the wealth of cultural heritage which is epitomised in the school. Brendan Ó Dufaigh, chairman of the Board of Management, recalled the history of the founding of the school during 1986 and the Founding Committee’s efforts to secure pupils, a patron and accommodation and ultimately Department approval to allow the school to go ahead.
Joe Ó Gallchóir, the one and only Principal in the twenty five years, adhered to the school community of parents, pupils and teachers in his address. Former pupil, Ailis Ní Ghiolla Eanaigh, spoke positively about her wonderful days in the school recalling sporting victories, drama successes and high academic standards. Brian Mac Domhnaill, representing parents, past and present, talked about how the Irish language disappeared as a native language in Monaghan but he was confident that it would returned as a native language to the county due to the influence of Gaelscoil Ultain and other Irish medium schools in the county.
A commemorative book, entitled ‘Ceathrú Céid ar an Chnoc’, which was compiled and edited by Joe Ó Gallchóir, was launched at the Celebration Ceremony on Sunday night by Department of Education Inspector, Rita NicAmhlaoibh. She said the book would prove to be a very comprehensive record of life in Gaelscoil Ultain during its first 25 years. She expressed delight at the wealth of pictorial records that existed in the school in the pre-digital image era. The 280 page publication was designed by Faela Nig Aonghusa and printed by R and S Printers.
An integral part of the celebration was a 20 minute visual presentation capturing key moments in the life of Gaelscoil Ultain over the years, drawn from old videos of varying qualities, which were painstakingly edited and compiled by Seán Ó Máirtín, another staff member in Gaelscoil Ultain.
After the speeches, presentations of tapestries by Liz Loughran from Swallows Studios, Annyalla, were made to Brendan Ó Dufaigh and Joe Ó Gallchóir by Mairead Corrigan and Joe Shiels respectively, both members of the present Parents’ Committee.
Photographs were taken, copies of the souvenir commemorative book were signed and guests retired to an adjoining room for a sumptuous supper with music provided by Goitse, a traditional group from Limerick. People remarked on the amount of Irish spoken by young Monaghan people, all past pupils of Gaelscoil Ultain, and compared the celebration to a function in a Gaeltacht area in terms of the amount of Irish spoken.
The 10.30 Sunday morning Mass in St. Macartan’s Cathedral was celebrated through the medium of Irish by Rev. Fr. John Chester, school chaplain, and it was a special Mass with the Gaelscoil community in mind. Suitable liturgical music was provided by the school choir, under the direction of an Múinteoir Niamh Ní Ghiolla Comhail, instrumental music was provided by parents, past parents and past pupils under the direction of an Múinteoir Tiarnán Ó Duinnchinn and an Múinteoir Fiona Yeboh. The first reading, from the Acts of Apostles, was read by staff member Anna Marie Uí Chléire, the psalm was sung by Marcus Ó Miocháin, a sixth class pupil, and the second reading from St. Paul to the Ephesians, was read by past pupil, Ronán Ó Gairbhí.
Rinne Frances O’Reilly (tuismitheoir), Lily Cheung (iardhalta) agus Jordan Ó Cléirchín (dalta Rang 6) guí an phobail. Claire Burns, parent and Lochlainn de Paor, a third class pupil, brought the gifts to the altar. Items and symbols associated with Gaelscoil Ultain were brought to the sanctuary before the beginning of the liturgy by Gabriel McCormack, Mary Neeson (tuismitheoirí), Roisin Nic Cionna, Tyler Ní Mhuirí and Eimear Ní Mhuirí (daltaí) with commentary by Múinteoir Gearaldine Mhic Cearáin. Many parents and past pupils alike returned to the school after Mass for a cup of tea, a chat and to have one final browse around their old alma mater. It was here that parents got their first glimpse of ‘Ceathrú Céid ar an Chnoc’, the commemorative book, which all agreed was an excellent publication.

www.scoilultain.ie