Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh moving to purpose-built premises

“Anuraidh rinne muid ceiliúradh ar 25 bliain de Ghaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh ar an tSrath Bán. Bhí an ceiliúradh seo níos tábhachtaí mar go raibh sé ag tarlú agus foirgneamh nua bríce úrscothach ar luach £5m á thógáil don Ghaelscoil agus don Naíscoil.  Tá an obair seo faoi lán seoil agus tá súil againn a bheith bogtha isteach inár scoil nua i mí Bealtaine 2024. 

“Is am thar a bheith speisialta dúinn é seo mar go bhfuil an aisling a rabhthas ag súil leis le fada á tabhairt i gcrích anois.”

The Irish language community in Strabane celebrated 25 years of Irish-medium Education with the Silver Jubilee of the town’s Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh.

Speaking to Derry Now, príomhoide (principal) Máire Ní Dhochartaigh said it was an extra special celebration for the Irish community in Strabane as it coincided with the start of a new school build, costing more than £5 million.

Máire added: “For years previous a growing number of dedicated and driven Gaels have promoted the Irish language in Strabane and in surrounding areas.

“This group grew in numbers and in the early 1990s a new branch of Conradh na Gaeilge was established in the town. From this Naíscoil an tSratha Báin was born in 1994. It soon became apparent that there was a demand for Irish medium primary provision at the time.

“Spurred on by Cathal Ó’Donnghaile, from Gaeloiliúnt, a decision was made to establish an Irish-medium primary school in Strabane.

“A lack of funds, no teacher and no pupils did not deter the hard-working individuals and in September 1997 Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh opened its doors in St Anne’s pastoral centre to four pupils and one teacher,” said Máire.

Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh received no state funding until December 2000.

“In the meantime, the Irish language community raised funds and promoted the school to ensure the school would continue to thrive,” said Máire.

“In 2010, the status of Naíscoil an tSratha Báin changed from voluntary nursery to statutory nursery.  This meant that the Naíscoil was in receipt of government funding and put Irish medium nursery education on equal footing with our English medium counterparts.

“In 2013, the then Minister for Education, John O’Dowd, visited our school and announced a short time later that we would be getting a new school build.

“It was with great joy we witnessed the diggers move into the field on Strahan’s Road and with sheer delight we watched holes being dug, founds being laid and walls being built, and our dream come closer to fruition.

“The Irish language, the Gaelscoil and the Naíscoil belong to everybody in our community and we are delighted to see our Irish language family grow. The Irish language it's no longer ‘in áit na leathphingine’ (in the halfpenny place) but is an integral part of the social and cultural fabric of our town.

“Irish language is spoken daily in our homes, on our streets and in our local businesses. The Irish language can be seen on our road signs. We have come a long way and together we will travel even further.

“Beidh muid i gcónaí ‘ag fás, ag forbairt agus ag foghlaim le chéile!”