Gaelscoil for West Cavan/South Leitrim?

Jenny McGovern

Moves are afoot to try to establish a Gaelscoil in Ballinamore to serve the South East Leitrim/West Cavan area. The idea is in its infancy, but the move has been prompted by the possibility of a suitable venue given the secondary school is about to move into new premises, thereby potentially freeing up suitable buildings.

The move comes as a new study released this week raised concerns over the standard of Irish teaching and learning in primary and secondary schools. The Chief Inspector’s Report for 2010 to 2012 shows issues with almost one in four Irish classes at primary level. The review also found that just under a third of Irish lessons in post primary schools are also “less than satisfactory”.

Currently there are three Gaelscoileanna in Cavan, Carrick on Shannon and in Manorhamilton. A Gaelscoil in Ballinamore would, potentially, serve the Ballinamore, Aughnasheelin, Aughawillan, Corlough, Templeport, Swanlinbar, Ballyconnell, Newtowngore, Drumreilly, Carrigallen, Aughavas, Cloone, Mohill, Fenagh and Kiltubrid areas.

Fluency
Former Leitrim County Librarian and Gaeilgeoir Seán O Suilleabháin spoke to The Anglo-Celt about the benefits of a Gaelscoil.
“The main benefits of being educated in a Gaelscoil is that children will come out of it with a great degree of fluency in Irish. There’s also a belief that it generally helps them in learning subsequent languages in second-level schools.
“Generally speaking the perfomances of children in second level education who have attended a Gaelscoil tends to be very high. There is great importance placed upon getting children to learn Irish at such a young age, immersing them in the language in their first few years.”
With the opening of a new secondary school in Ballinamore next year, Seán believes this is the perfect time to pursue this issue.
He said: “The availability of buildings next year is one of the key reasons why we are pushing for this Gaelscoil.”

Meeting

A public meeting will be held in Ballinamore on Thursday, November 7 to discuss the proposal. Parents of children from the above-mentioned areas who would be due to go to school in the next one to three years are especially asked to attend this meeting.
Seán adds: “We are looking for Junior and Senior Infants, you really have to start at the bottom and you build from there. This corner of Leitrim and West Cavan is currently not served by a Gaelscoil, and the only Gaelscoil in Cavan is in Cavan town, so this new school would be of interest to people who live some distance away from the town centre.”
The meeting will take place in Ballinamore Seán O’Heslin’s GAA club on Thursday, November 7 at 8pm, where the benefits of having a Gaelscoil will be outlined and representatives from other Gaelscoileanna will attend.