Irish-medium education is a rapidly growing education sector which delivers education through the Irish language. The pre-schools which provide this are called Naíscoileanna and the schools are called Gaelscoileanna.

Naíscoileanna & Gaelscoileanna deliver the curriculum through the Irish language immersion system. This system allows children to learn a second language as a natural part of their day to day school life. Irish is the language of communication and children quickly and naturally acquire understanding of and fluency through planned, structured play.

Children follow the national curriculum, the same as any English language school. They are taught the full range of subjects and also learn to read and write in English. This is structured as part of a well-designed and highly successful programme which results in the children becoming fluent in both Irish and English.

Children do not see a second language as a barrier and quickly build an understanding of the language of communication. This stimulates their young brains and unlocks the potential for them to speak and understand other languages at this important age.

The Irish-medium system is based on a recognised international model developed in Canada over 50 years ago. Since then it has been replicated all over the world to promote bilingualism.

Children become part of a young, growing and vibrant Irish-speaking community. This develops a strong sense of social belonging.

We are developing a renewed confidence within the community that can speak their own native language. There is a growing interest in and support for the language generally and its status and profile have improved significantly. We have a young, fast growing and confident Irish speaking community that will build the language for the future. 

The recent surge in the growth can be attributed to the establishment of the Naíscoileanna. 

There are a wide variety of activites and events organised throughout the year which take place throughout the county and wider area to support and develop the Irish speaking community. From classes, youth clubs, festivals, lectures and talks, walks, and a number of clubs for children and adults and many more social activities. This shows that the Irish language is not just for the classroom – it is a strong, outword looking and living language that is used day in day out in all aspects of life.

Being part of the Irish speaking community allows your child to be part of and be proud of their communtity. Being able to speak two languages and to be able to switch naturally between them, gives children extra self confidence in their abilities which will in turn enhance their self-esteem.

Being bilingual gives your child the opportunity to mix and communicate with a wide variety of people. Speaking two languages offers a wider cultural experience and often a bilingual person will be welcoming, open and accept those who speak other languages and have different cultures.

Children become part of a young, growing and vibrant Irish-speaking community. This develops a strong sense of social belonging.

We are developing a renewed confidence within the community that can speak their own native language. There is a growing interest in and support for the language generally and its status and profile have improved significantly. We have a young, fast growing and confident Irish speaking community that will build the language for the future. 

The recent surge in the growth can be attributed to the establishment of the Naíscoileanna. 

There are a wide variety of activites and events organised throughout the year which take place throughout the county and wider area to support and develop the Irish speaking community. From classes, youth clubs, festivals, lectures and talks, walks, and a number of clubs for children and adults and many more social activities. This shows that the Irish language is not just for the classroom – it is a strong, outword looking and living language that is used day in day out in all aspects of life.

Being part of the Irish speaking community allows your child to be part of and be proud of their communtity. Being able to speak two languages and to be able to switch naturally between them, gives children extra self confidence in their abilities which will in turn enhance their self-esteem.

Being bilingual gives your child the opportunity to mix and communicate with a wide variety of people. Speaking two languages offers a wider cultural experience and often a bilingual person will be welcoming, open and accept those who speak other languages and have different cultures.

There are many proven educational benefits associated with being bilingual from an early age. 60% of the worlds population live their lives through the medium of at least two languages. A growing number of educationalists are now suggesting that monolingual children are at a distinct disadvantage in maximising their educational potential.

Being bilingual is recognised as a distinct advantage in today’s world.

Easier to learn a third language: Evidence from European research in Holland, Denmark, Finland and the Basque Country shows that bilingual people find it easier to learn other languages, giving them the chance to learn a third or even fourth language.

Bilingualism can also give your child a head start in reading – being less fixed on the sound and more centred on the meaning of words has been shown by Canadian researchers to give a head start in learning to read. This is particularly an advantage for children around the age of four – six.

Improved Problem Solving Abilities – Bilingual children have been shown on average to have better problem solving abilities, compared to their monolingual counterparts.

Improved Performance at English – Recent research in the Republic has shown that children who have received education in the Irish-medium sector demonstrate higher levels of attainment in English than their monolingual counterparts.

Better Curriculum Results – Research evidence from bilingual education systems in Wales, Canada, the Basque Country and Catalonia shows that children who speak two languages tend to do better in the curriculum and to show slightly higher performance in tests and examinations.

Benefits of bilingualism for mathematics – a new report published by the National Centre for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching & Learning (NCE – MSTL) at the University of Limerick revealed previously unnoticed advantages to a bilingual approach to mathematics education. The study found that learning mathematics through the medium of Gaeilge at primary level education may enhance long-term mathematical understanding and attainment in English-medium second level education. Bilingual students in second and third level education with high ability in both Irish and English, outperformed their monolingual peers in mathematics, even when assessed through their second language of learning – English. 

Higher Academic Standard – A research briefing published by the Department of Education in Northern Ireland, indicated that former pupils of Irish-medium education attained a higher academic standard than might be expected among the general population of the same age group.

Naíscoil Ghreanacháin provides an excellent opportunity for parents to try Irish-medium education – even if you opt to send your child to an English-speaking primary school your child will have benefited from an enriching experience that opens their mind to other languages and other cultures in their future life.

The designation of Irish as one of the official languages of the European Union has given international status to the Irish language at the heart of European political power. The enactment of the Offical Languages Act in the Republic has ensured the language rights of the growing number of people who choose to use Irish in their dealings with the state; the economic benefit of being able to speak Irish has never been better –

The rapid growth of the Irish language sector means there are many job opportunities for Irish speakers and they are growing each year. These opportunities include working within the rapidly growing Irish-medium education sector, in the growing Irish language media, in the Civil Service (an estimated 20,000 civil servants will be required over the coming ten years in the South to deliver services through the medium of Irish under the Provisions of Language Act). Irish speakers are needed in commerce, retail, tourism, public services, administration, translation, secretarial work, and the law.

Bilingualism gives an additional valuable skill when job seeking and bilingual people can compete for jobs both within and outside the sector.

A number of studies and international research has shown a positive impact on mental agility, the brain and mental health due to bilingualism.

Brawnier brains – Learning more than one language boosts the brain’s cognitive reserves and studies have shown bilingual people have denser grey matter in their brains. Keeping the brain sharper for longer, which protects against mental decline in old age.

Delays the onset of symptoms of Alzheimer’s –  Research has shown that bilingual individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s exhibited symptoms later than monolingual individuals – on average at least four years later.

Bilingual children can adjust more quickly to changes and multi-task better – A child who is being raised or educated bilingualy pays attention to the specific sounds of the language being spoken. This means they can be more focused in confusing situations and can adjust more quickly and anticipate changes.

Does knowing a second language and exposing it to your children have non-linguistic benefits…? In this short video, Sam Wang, a neuroscientist at Princeton University points out the benefits of exposing infants to a second language. These include: the ability to cope with conflict cues better, increasing theory of mind, and delaying dementia among others. Take a break and watch this short video that will encourage you to learn a second language.

Full Article: bilingualismresearch.com/2012/02/20/benefits-of-bilingualism/

Naíscoil Ghreanacháin plays a prominent role in the St John the Baptist parish, with close links to Glór Ghreanacháin and Michael Davitt’s GAA. Your child can start his/her journey to be immersed in their local community, be part of it and contribute to it’s success.