Q 1. Cá bhfuil an scoil?
(Where is the school located?)
Q 2. Gaelscoil?
(What are the main advantages in sending my child to a Gaelscoil?)
Q 3. Obairbhaile?
(If I don’t speak Irish, how will I help my child with homework?)
Q 4. Meán Scoil?
(What about a second level all-Irish school?)
Q 5. Táillí?
(Is this a fee-paying school?)
Q 6. Patrún?
(Who is the Patron of the school?)
Q 7. Idircreidmheach?
(What does inter denominational religious instruction mean?)
agus Sacraimintí?
(and Will my child be instructed in the sacraments?)
Q 1. Cá bhfuil an scoil lonnaithe?
(Where is the school located?)
The school is located in prefabs in the grounds of the Adult Education Centre, VEC in Blessington, Co. Wicklow. (See our google map in the contact us section). This has been our home since the opening of the school in September 2006. We have spent a lot of time and effort on landscaping our site and maintaining it to the highest standard. The porta cabins are comfortable, bright and modern. This is, however, our temporary home and we have been working relentlessly on moving our school to our permanent home in Kilmalum (on the old Ballymore Eustace Rd. 0.8 km from our present site). Planning permission has been granted from Kildare County Council and we are awaiting the final go ahead from the Department of Education and Science.
Q 2. Cad iad na buntaistí is mó maidir le páiste a chur ag Gaelscoil?
(What are the main advantages in sending my child to a Gaelscoil?)
Your child will learn Irish through music, play, gestures and rhymes. They will enjoy learning the language and they will be proud to be able to speak it.
International research shows that being bilingual helps intellectual and cognitive development.
Children who are bilingual can often have enhanced self esteem.
Children who speak Irish understand their own cultural identity as Irish citizens and as Europeans. There is a better chance that they will understand and respect people of other races and cultures who speak different languages.
Being bilingual will help your child learn a third and fourth language when they are older.
Q 3. Muna bhfuil Gaeilge agam, conas go mbeidh mé in ann cabhrú le mo pháiste
leis an Obairbhaile?
(If I don’t speak Irish, how will I help my child with homework?)
Sending your child to a Gaelscoil is a journey. The whole school community is immersed in the language and the promotion of the language. With a bit of effort, it becomes easy to pick up some words and phrases quickly. Conversation evenings are held in the town for parents. Letters home are written in friendly bilingual language with new words and phrases included every week. This all helps gradually increase the store of words for those trying to pick up the “cúpla focal.”
And, of course, this all feeds in to helping with the obairbhaile at home. The school acknowledges that this is a precious time in the home and teachers make every effort to make the Obairbhaile straightforward and easy to understand. The teachers are always mindful that there are many parents without fluent Irish. What parents find is that the simple homework in infant classes allows them the opportunity to help their child and pick up more words. (In fact, some parents often discover that they have more Irish than they first thought!). Be assured, the Obairbhaile starts very simple and builds up very gradually and most parents find it becomes less of a problem than they may have first envisaged.
Also, as the children get older, there is less of a responsibility on parents to help with homework as the children are lead to working more and more independently.
In the event of obairbhaile issues, the school actively encourages parents to come and just talk to the teachers. At this point, usually all concerns are eased.
Q 4. Céard faoi Mheán Scoil?
(What about a second level all-Irish school?)
The school has established links with Coláiste de hÍde, in Tallaght (
http://www.colaistedehide.ie/). The current Dublin bus service brings students from Blessington to just outside the school. There is also a second level all Irish school in Clondalkin (Coláiste Chilliain) and Newbridge.
Q 5. An bhfuil táillí scoile i gceist?
(Is this a fee-paying school?)
No. The school is run and funded by the Department of Education just like any other primary school. Teachers’ salaries, capitation grants, furniture etc. are all funded by the Department from day one.
Q 6. Cén pátrún atá ag an scoil?
(Who is the Patron of the school?)
Our Patron is “Foras Pátrúnachta na Scoileanna Lán-Ghaeilge”. This body protects the ethos of the school and oversees the Board of Management. The ethos of our school is twofold: Gaeilge and Interdenominational.
Q 7. Cad is teagasc idirchreidmheach ann?
(What does inter denominational religious instruction mean?)
This means that children receive instruction in both Catholic and Protestant religious beliefs. Obviously there are common elements across both religions, as stories and values are shared. However, the children will always be aware that not everyone worships in the same way. They will learn an understanding, appreciation and celebration of differences, which in today’s society is so important.
An múinfear na sacraimintí do mo pháiste?
(Will my child be instructed in the sacraments?)
Yes. Both Communion and Confirmation will be celebrated at the appropriate time in the child’s life, just as with Catholic or Protestant schools.
