Southside looks set to gain new Irish school

DUBLIN is set to get two new multi-denominational Irish medium schools this September.

One of the schools will be on the Southside and will cater for Goatstown, Stillorgan and surrounding areas.

A definite location is still to be decided.

The other school will temporarily be located on the grounds of All Hallows College and will cater for Drumcondra, Marino and the Dublin 1 area.

Following a campaign supported by Gaelscoileanna Teoranta the go-ahead for both schools is dependent on whether an application for patronage by An Forás Patrúnachta is successful or not.

However, Cormac Ó Feinneadha, development officer of Gaelscoileanna Teoranta said they are “very confident” on getting approval.

“It was a very successful campaign,” he said. “A decision is to be made in the next month.”

Demand for Irish language immersion schools is on the rise, with research suggesting that learning through a second language is of huge benefit to how children develop cognitively.

According to research published by Proffesor Colin Baker of Bangor University, learning through a second language helps children to become more creative, flexible thinkers and better communicators. 

Research also suggests that bilingualism can put off the onset of Alzheimer’s by up to four years. 

And it is accepted that everyday use of Irish in school is also hugely beneficial when it comes to Irish exams later in the education system.

“There is a new campaign starting for a Gaelscoil in Dun Laoghaire for September 2017,” Ó Feinneadha added. “We would be happy to get support for it and if anybody is interested you can get information on our website,” 

“Teachers know that parents might not have Irish at home, and they cater the homework around that,” Ó Feinneadha further explained. 

To support the campaign for a new multi-denominational Gaelscoil in Dun Laoghaire visit www.gaelscoileanna.ie or tel Cormac Ó Feinneadha on 01-8057731.

Eoin Lúc Ó Ceallaigh