Irish-medium Education meánscoil opportunities abound

We are extremely fortunate in Derry city and county that our young people can continue their Irish-medium Education journey post-primary.

They can choose to go to St Brigid’s College / Coláiste Bhríde in the Shantallow area of the city, which has a thriving Irish-medium Unit.

They can also choose Gaelcholáiste Dhoire, the multi-denominational, co-educational meánscoil situated in Dungiven.

Both St Brigid’s College / Coláiste Bhríde and Gaelcholáiste Dhoire are non-selective, all ability schools.

Conchúr Ó Braoin leads the Irish-medium Unit at St Brigid’s College / Coláiste Bhríde.

Duirt sé: “Ceann de na príomhaidhmeanna atá ag Coláiste Bhríde is ea oideachas ardchaighdeánach a sholáthar do gach dalta sa chathair agus cinnte a dhéanamh go bhfuil leanúnachas cuí ann dóibh agus iad ag fágáil na mbunscoileanna éagsúla. Tá duine is daichead dalta i mblianta 8-11 agus cúigear i mblianta 13-14 faoi láthair in Aonad na Gaeilge.”

Speaking to Derry News, Conchúr said: “One of the main aims of St Brigid’s College / Coláiste Bhríde is to provide a high standard of education for every pupil in the city and to ensure that there is relevant continuity for them as they transfer from the various primary schools. There are now forty-one pupils in years 8 to 11 and 5 in years 13 to 14 in our Irish-Medium Unit.

“Cuirtear sé ábhar ar fáil, chomh maith le clár tréadchúraim ina bhfuil rang foirme ar leith ann do na daltaí: Gaeilge, Tíreolaíocht, Creideamh, Teicneolaiocht and Eolais, Stair, Foghlaim don Saol agus do Obair agus Fraincis.

“Cuirtear Matamaitic, Béarla, Eolaíocht, Ceol, Ealaín, Teicneolaíocht agus Dearadh, Corpoideachas agus Eacnamaíocht Bhaile ar fáil trí mheán an Bhéarla  in éineacht le daltaí eile ón bhliainghrúpa.

St Brigid's College - Coláiste Bhríde Class of 2023 including Irish-Medium Unit students

“We offer seven subjects, as well as a Pastoral Care programme in which the pupils have their own form class, taught through the Irish-Medium Unit: Irish, Geography, Religious Studies, ICT, History, Learning for Life and Work and French.

“Mathematics, English, Science, Music, Art, Technology and Design, PE, and Home Economics are taught through the medium of English alongside the other pupils in the year group,” said Conchúr.

Tugtar tacaíocht do na daltaí agus spreagtar iad i rith an lae tríd an scoil ag foireann dhíograiseach a úsáideann cibé méid Gaeilge atá acu lena chinntiú go bhfuil an Ghaeilge le cloisteáil agus le feiceáil mar theanga bheo ar fud na scoile.

Déantar gach iarracht féinmhuinín, pearsantacht agus gnóthú na ndaltaí a chothú agus a fhorbairt agus iad ag Coláiste Bhríde agus táimid muiníneach go rachaidh Aonad na Gaeilge ó neart go neart sa scoil.

Tá muid bródúil as an deis a chuirimid ar fáil dár ndaltaí, an deis le forbairt agus rath a bheith orthu go dátheangach. Cuirtear an-bhéim ar leas na ndaltaí go hacadúil agus go pearsanta sa dóigh is gur féidir leo an méid is mó a bhaint amach.

According to Conchúr, pupils in the Irish-medium Unit are supported and encouraged throughout the school day by an “enthusiastic staff who use whatever Gaeilge they have”.

“We want to ensure that Irish can be heard and seen as a living language throughout the school,” said Conchúr.

The new Music Suite at Gaelcholáiste Dhoire

“Every effort is made to promote and develop each pupil’s self-confidence, personality and attainment while they are at St Brigid’s College / Coláiste Bhríde and we are confident that our Irish-Medium Unit will go from strength to strength.

“We are proud of the opportunity we provide for our pupils, the opportunity to develop and succeed bi-lingually. We place great emphasis on pupil welfare, both academic and personal, so that they can achieve to the best of their ability,” said Conchúr.

Gaelcholáiste Dhoire has grown rapidly since it was founded in September 2015 with 13 pupils.

The more than 300 pupils who now attend the school travel from all parts of County Derry and from Strabane to receive their Education through the medium of Irish.

According to príomhoide (principal) Diarmaid Ua Bruadair, Gaelcholáiste Dhoire’s “vibrant linguistic setting supports the delivery of excellence in education”.

Diarmaid added: “We place an emphasis on independent, analytic and creative thinking.

“There is also a strong emphasis on building pupils' self-confidence, a strong sense of community, and fostering a culture that values high achievement. 95% of Gaelcholáiste pupils in the last two years have attained their first-choice course at University.

St Brigid's College pupils using their Irish

“Our excellence in exam results has been matched with winning ways on the sports field with Six Ulster Colleges titles won last year.

“Our Senior Hurling team were narrowly beaten in an All-Ireland semi final and school teams are now competing in Division A in a number of age groups, offering our pupils the opportunity to make their mark on Gaelic Games at the highest level as well,” said Diarmaid.

The new Music Suite in Gaelcholáiste Dhoire also allows all students who wish to learn an instrument the opportunity to do so.