Public meeting on provision of Irish-medium education for Waterside community

The proposed provision of an Irish-medium pre-school in the Waterside area of Derry is to be discussed at a public meeting.

The meeting will take place in the Croí Community Centre, Gobnascale, on Tuesday, October 24, 2023 at 7.00pm.

It is part of a feasibility study being carried out by Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta, the Department of Education sponsored body responsible for the promotion of Irish-medium Education.

The aim of the study is to assess the demand for Irish-medium education in the area and to establish how the local community can support its development.

Speaking to Derry Now, Conor Stiobhard, Development Officer with Comhairle na Gaelscolaícohta working in the Waterside area, said: “The public meeting is an excellent opportunity for local people to find out more about the benefits of Irish-medium education.

“I would encourage anyone interested in Irish-medium education or who would like to make a positive contribution to its development to attend the meeting.

“I would also encourage parents of young children to come along and find out more about how it can benefit their children.”

According to Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta, there are currently 7,310 children being educated in the Irish-medium education sector with an overall growth of 25% in the past 6 years.

Conor added: “Many children entering Irish-Medium schools have no previous experience of Irish; however, through an immersive approach they acquire the language naturally.

“They benefit from the many proven advantages of bilingualism which includes enhanced communication skills; higher performance in exams; advanced creative thinking; enhanced self-esteem and high levels of cultural awareness.”

For further information, contact Conor on 028 90 321475 or email cstiobhard@comhairle.org.