Donegal Junior Certificate students receive Special Irish Recognition Awards

University of Galway has presented students who achieved a distinction, between 90% and 100%, in their higher level Irish Junior Certificate examination with a Special Irish Recognition Award.

Over 100 students from Donegal, Clare, Mayo, Leitrim, Sligo, Roscommon and Galway attended a special event in the Bailey Allen Hall in University of Galway to recognise and celebrate their achievements.

These students are among the 2.6% of students across the country who achieved a distinction in the higher level T2 Irish paper, or the 3.6% of students who achieved a distinction in the higher level T1 paper in the 2022 Junior Certificate examinations.

University of Galway President, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh welcomed the students and their families and also congratulated the teachers and principals from the 36 schools they are attending while recognising the hard work being done in the schools.  

“I am very pleased that we can give the next generation of Irish speakers the respect and recognition they deserve, particularly as the Irish language is so important to us here at Ollscoil na Gaillimhe and that it is such a central part of our identity,” he said.

Deputy President and Registrar, Professor Pól Ó Dochartaigh also congratulated the students.

He said: “You should all be very proud of yourselves. You are exceptional students, with exceptional ability in the Irish language, and you are all a great source of encouragement to us as we can rest assured that the future of the Irish language is in safe hands.”

The importance of thriving Irish-speaking communities in the Gaeltacht and beyond is recognised in the University’s first Irish language strategy, 

A Strategy for the Irish Language 2021-2025, which was launched in July 2021.  These communities were given due recognition at this event with the University fulfilling its role in leading higher education in the Irish language and showing Irish speakers respect, as is set out in the Strategy.

Tá Gradaim Aitheantais bronnta ag Ollscoil na Gaillimhe ar scoláirí ar éirigh leo pas le gradam, idir 90% agus 100%, a bhaint amach i scrúduithe ardleibhéil Gaeilge an Teastais Shóisearaigh. 

D’fhreastail breis agus 100 scoláire as Co. Dhún na nGall, Co. an Chláir, Co. Mhaigh Eo, Co. Liatroma, Co. Shligigh, Co. Ros Comáin agus Co. na Gaillimhe ar ócáid speisialta a reáchtáladh i Halla Bailey Allen ar champas na hOllscoile chun ceiliúradh a dhéanamh ar na héachtaí a bhain na scoláirí meánscoile seo amach.  

Áirítear na scoláirí seo i measc an 2.6% de scoláirí na tíre ar éirigh leo pas le gradam a bhaint amach sa pháipéar ardleibhéil T2 Gaeilge go náisiúnta, nó an 3.6% de na scoláirí a bhain pas le gradam amach sa pháipéar ardleibhéil T1 Gaeilge sa Teastas Sóisearach in 2022.

Chuir Uachtarán Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, an tOllamh Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh fáilte chroíúil roimh na scoláirí agus a dteaghlaigh, agus rinne sé comhghairdeas leis na príomhoidí agus leis na múinteoirí a bhí i láthair ón 36 scoil ar a bhfuil na scoláirí ag freastal freisin, agus é ag tabhairt aitheantais dóibhsean as an dea-obair atá ar bun acu féin sna scoileanna. “Tá mé chomh sásta go bhfuil ar ár gcumas ómós a thaispeáint don chéad ghlúin eile Gaeilgeoirí, i bhfianaise go bhfuil an Ghaeilge chomh tábhachtach dúinn ar fad anseo san Ollscoil agus go bhfuil an Ghaeilge chomh lárnach inár bhféiniúlacht.”

Bhí an méid seo le rá ag an t-Ollamh Pól Ó Dochartaigh, Uachtarán Ionaid agus Meabhránaí Ollscoil na Gaillimhe agus é ag tréaslú leis na scoláirí: “Ba cheart go mbeadh sibhse an-bhródúil asaibh féin.  Is léir gur scoláirí eisceachtúla sibh, a bhfuil sárchumas sa Ghaeilge agaibh, agus is údar misnigh dúinne é go bhfuil bhur leithéid ann, agus go bhfuil todhchaí na Gaeilge slán.”

Aithnítear an tábhacht a bhaineann lena chinntiú go mbeidh pobail bhisiúla Ghaeilge sa Ghaeltacht agus taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht i gcéad straitéis Ghaeilge na hOllscoile, Straitéis na Gaeilge 2021-2025, a seoladh i mí Iúil 2021.  Tugadh aitheantas do na pobail sin ag an ócáid cheiliúrtha seo agus an Ollscoil ag déanamh cúraim don ról a chuir sí roimpi sa Straitéis, ó thaobh ceannasaíocht a thabhairt don ardoideachas i nGaeilge agus meas a léiriú ar lucht labhartha na Gaeilge.