Birr welcomes its first gaelscoil

A new chapter in Birr’s educational history began last week when the town’s first Gaelscoil opened its doors.

Gaelscoil na Laochra, Offaly’s third Irish language school, has 20 pupils, two teachers and a learning support, for its first academic year. The school, which is the only gaelscoil to open in the country this year, will spend its first few months based at Birr Soccer Club but will be moving into its permanent home, the old convent building in the centre of the town, by the end of 2015.

Principal Áine Nic Dháibhéid says that this week’s opening represents the end of years of hard work by the town’s Irish speaking community.

“Biorra la Gaelige have been on the go for five years and have been campaigning for education through the medium of Irish to be made available.”
Ms Nic Dháibhéid says that her students are settling in well to their new surroundings and that there were “no first day tears from the kids”.

“Many of the kids knew each other from the Nóiníní Beaga pre-school and I think this really helped. The only little problem is that the uniforms are not ready yet but they have really settled in and there are great facilities at the soccer club, who have been fantastic.”

The principal says that one of the advantages of attending a Gaelscoil is that it benefits students later in life if they want to learn another language.

“The children come out with perfect Irish and English, children who go to a Gaelscoil have higher language learning skill levels. One little boy here has a German parent and he speaks German and English and now he’s learning Irish. The more languages you have the quicker you can learn another one.

“There’s also a big interest in Irish culture as well. Parents are keen that their children will take part in Irish dancing and tin whistle.”
While student numbers will grow in the years to come, the school’s principal says that due to the small numbers currently, bonds are quickly being built between the different families, something she hopes will augur well for the future.

“There’s a very nice atmosphere, everyone’s getting to know everyone. There’s already a lovely kind of atmosphere, it’s more than just a school, it’s a community as well.”