Is this the model our Gaelscoileanna should follow?

[Gruffalo]

I have often thought a Gaelscoil should be more than just a school. It should be a mini-Gaeltacht, an organisation built on the promotion of Irish language and Culture. It should cater for the needs of the whole community, not just the children.

I had not thought that such a model existed but today I had to do some research on Gaelscoileanna. While researching I came upon a Gaelscoil based on the the Lower Ormeau Road, Belfast. The gaelscoil is called Scoil An Droichid and it is part of a larger cultural organisation:

Filte go dt An Droichead | Welcome to An Droichead

I know that our smaller towns may not be able to offer something on this large a scale, but surely it is a suitable model for Gaelscoileanna in larger towns and cities.

Any opinions?

[macdarawhitfield]

God ,this is brilliant,the future of Gaeilge gan amhras.Nothing like it here,the scoileanna are like warehousing for the kids - rather like English medium schools in fact.Galway could have something similar,NUIG seems to be very pro-active on the teanga.But this multifaceted project goes way beyond parental involvement ( often fairly grudging) You could enjoy stuff at an droichead even if you had no kids there.Whereas ,for most people Irish stops at leaving Cert.Then many years later,the kids come home with Peig to groans of horror.Great post.Dont know of anything like this place here in Cork.Darren would be way more clued up.

[Darren Mac an Phríora]

Community Voice is the best local paper in Dublin 15. Have a read of this article from 2005. I find it very annoying that so-called Irish language activists are not doing this work in particular around our gaelscoileanna. I have since all together put signs up in overall around 40 places in Dublin (about 30 places in Dublin 15) and they are still there in around 30 of them.

[Feirsteach]

Community Voice is the best local paper in Dublin 15. Have a read of this article from 2005. I find it very annoying that so-called Irish language activists are not doing this work in particular around our gaelscoileanna. I have since all together put signs up in overall around 40 places in Dublin (about 30 places in Dublin 15) and they are still there in around 30 of them.

Arís maith an fear. Aontaím go huile agus go hiomlán leat ar an ábhar seo.
The Gaelscoileanna movement has set An Foram Scoilphobail which is currently working on as strategy for developing an Scoilphobal ([Irish-medium] school community). The organisations involved are GAELSCOILEANNA TEO., Forbairt Naíonraí Teoranta, Comhluadar, Iontaobhas na Gaelscolaíochta & Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta.

The first phase of this work has already begun with the development of all-Ireland marketing material that focuses on Irish-medium education from preschool to Third Level. Much more needs to be done but with minimal resources and many outstanding challenges for the sector not least the accomodation crisis and the lack of recognition for new schools this is taking time.

The benefit of An Droichead & Pobal an Chaistil and the group in Clondalkin Áras/pobal Chrónáin (other than the fact that there are committed and visionary people involved in them) is that they have a full-time Irish-language Development Officers that can plan and implement the development of these Scoilphobail.

[Darren Mac an Phríora]

Arís maith an fear. Aontaím go huile agus go hiomlán leat ar an ábhar seo.
The Gaelscoileanna movement has set An Foram Scoilphobail which is currently working on as strategy for developing an Scoilphobal ([Irish-medium] school community). The organisations involved are GAELSCOILEANNA TEO., Forbairt Naíonraí Teoranta, Comhluadar, Iontaobhas na Gaelscolaíochta & Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta.

The first phase of this work has already begun with the development of all-Ireland marketing material that focuses on Irish-medium education from preschool to Third Level. Much more needs to be done but with minimal resources and many outstanding challenges for the sector not least the accomodation crisis and the lack of recognition for new schools this is taking time.

The benefit of An Droichead & Pobal an Chaistil and the group in Clondalkin Áras/pobal Chrónáin (other than the fact that there are committed and visionary people involved in them) is that they have a full-time Irish-language Development Officers that can plan and implement the development of these Scoilphobail.

It does not take a full-time Irish language officer to put up signs. As I pointed out Dublin 15 is ceart go leor ó thaobh sin. Most of it is. I will continue to look after my area on this issue. I have signs to replace the ones I have put up. I don't know why other voluntary activists are not looking after their own areas. Heck I even put up some signs in a couple of places beside the gaelscoileanna in Finglas (which has since moved- to good premises I hear thank God) and Cabra (which is in severe need of new premises as some of us are aware).

[Feirsteach]

It does not take a full-time Irish language officer to put up signs.

See page 7 of GAELSCOILEANNA TEO.'s recent newsletter. http://www.gaelscoileanna.ie/

[Darren Mac an Phríora]

The picture of the kid???

[discosunbeams]

Once they get out of prefabs maybe the government will bother developing them further. I went to a gaeilscoil, bun agus mean, and we were so underfunded! everything was a struggle, and without the determination of the students and their parents it would have gone to bits. I believe a lot more time and investment is needed in gaeilscoileanna, and this would be an ideal alternative to the system we have now.