Fiche Bliain ag Fás: Twenty years of Gaelcholáiste Chéitinn in Tipperary

On Saturday, November 18, the school hall in Gaelcholáiste Chéitinn, The Mall, Clonmel, hosted a very special evening to mark a significant milestone in the growth and continued development of the school.

This academic year, 2023/ 2024, the Irish-speaking secondary school at the heart of education in Clonmel will turn 20 years old. To honour the occasion, current staff members, former students and staff, along with family and friends, gathered to celebrate all things Gaelcholáiste Chéitinn.

The evening commenced with Príomhoide Mr. John McCarthy welcoming all present, joined on stage by former príomhoide Mr. Charlie McGeever, and the first Múinteoir i bhFeighil at the dawning of this innovative institution back in 2003/2004, Mr Mathúin Ó Caoimh.

Principal Mr McCarthy spoke enthusiastically about the values that Gaelcholáiste Chéitinn embodies among students and staff, and how he is filled with pride and joy as a principal of a school with such a strong tradition and grá for the Irish language. This tradition has been fostered on a daily basis through the hard work and dedication of former Múniteoir i bhFeighil Lorna Ní Ghallachóir, current Múinteoir i bhFeighil, Bróna Ní Chuinneáin and current acting Múinteoir i bhFeighil Máire Ní Mhurchú.

Former students Chloe Ní Lionsigh, Clár De Paor, Rachel Ní Eochaidh at the recent 20th anniversary celebrations at Gaelcholáiste Chéitinn in Clonmel.

Mr McGeever spoke about the challenges at the inception two decades ago and remembered, with glowing praise, the committee involved, the community and Tipperary ETB for supporting the school in its infancy and for continuing that support right up to the present day. He added that the school began with only 14 students, and he was delighted to see that there are now over 160 students attending.

EDUCATION ‘AS GAEILGE’
Long-serving former teacher Mathúin echoed the sentiments of the earlier speakers. He also emphasised the tireless pioneering effort that was undertaken by everyone at the inception to provide students in Clonmel with the chance of secondary education ‘as Gaeilge.’

Although retired a number of years, Mathúin is no stranger to the school and is often in to keep an eye on the development of a programme that is very close to his heart. From his ongoing interactions with students, he highlighted the high standard of Irish that is alive on the corridors of the school and further emphasised the importance of community to create the hub of Irish culture that is Gaelcholáiste Chéitinn today.

The evening was well attended and enjoyed by all present who spent easy time over a cupán tae reminiscing on the ‘glory days’ of the Gaelcholáiste’s infancy, regaling through old school photos and also generally catching up on the progress of former past pupils and staff, all the while enjoying some traditional Irish music from the current school band.
Like Muiris Ó Suilleabháin in the novel Fiche Bliain ag Fás, Gaelcholáiste Chéitinn has also grown and been nurtured by community and grá and here’s to many more thriving years ahead.