Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta supporting Derry’s Irish-medium Education sector

Since the first bunscoil (primary school) opened its doors to pupils in Derry 40 years ago, Irish-medium Education in the city and district has gone from strength to strength. 

As a result, 2023 is a very special year for Irish-medium Education here - our  three bunscoileanna are celebrating “significant milestones”.

Bunscoil Cholmcille in the Steelstown is celebrating its 40th birthday; Gaelscoil Éadain Mhóir in Brandywell is celebrating its 25th birthday; and Gaelscoil na Daróige in Ballymagroarty is celebrating its 20th birthday. 

In addition, Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh in Strabane is moving into its brand new, purpose-built building this coming May.

This growth of Irish-medium education in Derry and across the North is due in no short measure to the support of Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta.

Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta was established in 2000 by the Department of Education to help, assist and advise it on how to fulfil its statutory obligation to encourage and facilitate the development of Irish-medium Education.

Speaking to Derry Now, the organisation’s newly appointed chief executive, Maria Thomasson highlighted the valuable work of its development team, which is responsible for progressing new Irish-medium Education provision.

“Usually this would involve establishing a committee and supporting groups of interested people on the ground to come together and set up a committee and work towards the opening of a naíscoil (nursery school),” said Maria. 

“We would then work towards the establishment of a gaelscoil or a bunscoil.

“Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta would engage with those individuals. We work, support and advise the local community. We have a wealth of experience in supporting groups all across the North in terms of identifying possible sites and also moving forward with accommodation on those sites.

“In doing that, we work closely with our partners in Iontaobhas na Gaelscolaíochta - the trust fund for Irish-medium Education - and the Department of Education. Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta is the intermediary between the people on the ground and the Department. 

Architect's impression of Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh's new, purpose-built school opening in May 2024.

“We also have an education team, which looks specifically at supporting everything inside the classroom including, teacher supply, resourcing, support for children with special educational needs, and continuous professional development opportunities for teachers and leaders in the Irish-medium sector,” said Maria.

Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta also has a policy and advocacy officer.

Irish-medium education in the North can trace its roots to the establishment of the first school in 1971 in Shaw’s Road in Belfast.

Maria said: “A group of pioneering parents and young couples came together and decided to live and work in and grow a Gaeltacht community in 1969. By 1971, some of their children were school starting age and they established that first community.

“Those people have encouraged and inspired groups all over the Six Counties to establish Irish-medium Education. In Derry, the first one was Naíscoil Dhoire and Bunscoil Cholmcille, which was established in 1983 - not too many years later.

“The sector has continued to grow and flourish year on year and Derry city and county is no exception. We have the three schools in the city and they are all celebrating significant milestones this year. 

“Their numbers are growing and growing year on year. The word is spreading about the benefits, not only of Irish-medium Education but immersion education and the benefits of early bilingualism,” said Maria.

“There is a wealth of international research on early bilingualism and studies have been done all over the world on all the benefits for children, including cognitive benefits in terms of their learning, better communication skills, greater empathy, and increased self-esteem and self-confidence,” she added.

“Bilingual children and young people do have a greater sense of empathy with and understanding and tolerance of other cultures.

“I think that is  very important when we have such a multi-cultural society today with the arrival of new comer families Ukrainians most recently.

“Not only do our children have a better sense of empathy and tolerance, our practitioners are well trained and equipped to support children coming in, learning through a language which isn’t the language of their home or their first language. 

“I think English-medium schools have an awful lot to learn from immersion pedagogy and our practitioners,” said Maria.

DELIGHTED

Proof positive of Maria’s description of the positive effect of  Irish-medium Education is the “really exciting” news Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta is now working closely with the community in Derry’s Waterside, in co-operation with Iontaobhas na Gaelscolaíochta in terms of the provision of a site and accommodation.

“We are absolutely delighted to see and support this development and that the group is now welcoming applications for September 2024 for a naíscoil,” said Maria.

“It is really exciting and absolutely testament to the work of the Irish-medium Education schools already in place and of the commitment of those out and around who are hearing this and seeing the benefits and saying, ‘I want a bit of that too and I want that in my community’.

“Immersion education and early bilingualism is commonplace all over the world, in Canada, the Basque Country, Scotland, Wales, New Zealand, Australia, everywhere.

“I think when we consider our location geographically, on the island of Ireland we are quite vulnerable.

“We are on the most western point of Europe and for our young people who will compete with their peers from across the EU and beyond in the job market, bi and multilingualism is such a celebrated and sought after skill. Irish-medium Education is giving our children an extra string to their bow. I think this is especially true of children going through Irish-medium education with an additional learning need. For many of those children, bilingualism will be a feather in their cap that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.”

Derry News recently featured a 16-page supplement on the growth of Irish-medium Education within the city.

Maria was also adamant that children in Irish-medium Education deserved an equitable playing field in terms of their school accommodation and how that would enhance the delivery of the curriculum.

She also extended a warm invitation to any parents considering Irish-medium Education to come along to Lá Nollaig - Christmas Family Day  - in the Guildhall on Sunday, November 26.

“Come along and speak to the teachers, principals, other parents and they will be able to reassure you. Learn a bit. Ask questions. On the back of that, there will be open nights in each of the schools. 

“Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta is always available as well. We are online at www.comhairle.org and we have lots of information for parents.”