Lucan student features in new TG4 documentary about ETB learners

A student from Coláiste Cois Life in Lucan will feature in a new documentary to be aired on TG4 about Ireland’s Education & Training Boards (ETBs).

In Eachtraí Foghlama le Kayleigh Trappe (Learning Adventures with Kayleigh Trappe), Samuele Arzate Montalti meets the TikTok sensation and Dancing with the Stars finalist as she travels around Ireland and connects with a diverse group of learners embracing education through Irish.

On her journey, Kayleigh visits her old ETB school in Monaghan, meets a budding Bangladeshi doctor in Tralee, a boatbuilder in Connemara, a girl with a 300km commute to school on the Aran Islands and keen coder Sam, who attends Coláiste Cois Life in Lucan, part of Dublin & Dún Laoghaire ETB.

Sam, who’s mum is from Venezuela and dad is from Mexico, says that staff and students at the school were “very patient” with him on his Irish language learning journey in the Gaelcholáiste.

In the entertaining documentary, Sam teaches Kayleigh to play chess and discovers that they both went to the same Irish summer college.

Speaking of the week-long adventure, Kayleigh said: “I’ve had an amazing week. It’s so wonderful to see the opportunities that the ETBs provide across Ireland.

“I got to meet such a variety of people around the country, all with their own amazing stories.

“They all have a positive outlook towards Irish”.

Education & Training Boards are the largest provider of education through the medium of Irish at second level. Dublin and Dún Laoghaire ETB are the patrons of 4 Gaelcholáistí and 1 Aonad Lán Gaeilge (an Irish school situated within an English medium school).

Speaking in advance of the broadcast, CE of DDLETB, Caitríona Murphy said: “Dublin and Dún Laoghaire ETB is delighted that one of our schools, Coláiste Cois Life, is featured in Eachtraí Foghlama le Kayleigh Trappe and we would like to thank Samuele for participating in this project; we are thrilled with his contribution.

“We are very proud of the diversity of learners across DDLETB.

“We have 2,000 learners studying through the medium of Irish, including some who may not have attended Irish-language primary schools, and we are committed to ensuring that they are fully supported throughout their educational journey.” 

The documentary was produced by Spicy Dog Media.

Eachtraí Foghlama le Kayleigh Trappe will be aired on TG4 on Monday 29 September at 7.30pm