Irish Dept

Irish at St Columb's College...

.Our Aim in the Irish department we hope to make the students more aware of their background and culture through a thorough knowledge of the Irish language. The department offers Irish at GCSE, AS and A2 level using the CCEA exam board..

Staff List 2008 - 2009

Head of Department: Mrs P McConnell

• Mrs B Boyle
• Mr M Ó Murchu
• Assistant: Gearalt Ó Mianáin

In Key Stage 3 and 4 our students use text books written by Nuala Mhic Craith and published by Preas Ultach. These offer opportunities to develop the key skills of Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. A range of other resources is also in use; CDs, CD ROMs, websites, PowerPoint presentations and resources created by our own staff. Students learn to describe themselves, their environment at home and school and their interests in basic Irish. They study a range of basic texts in Irish from a range of sources and learn to write about everyday events in the language. As they progress there is more emphasis on the structure of the language.

At A level extensive use is made of the internet and of Irish newspapers, such as Lá. Our students also use the Progress in Irish textbook to improve their grammar. A study guide for the drama, An Triail is in use in year 14. Our teachers have added greatly to our bank of resources at this stage. At AS, and A2 students consolidate their knowledge of grammar; they study a wide range of more advanced texts; they learn advanced translation techniques as well as improving speaking and listening skills. They are also introduced to modern Irish literature. The successful student will have a qualification which opens doors in education, journalism, community work, public administration and business. He will also be more aware of his own people, background and culture and will thus have achieved one of the most important aims of education.

ICT is an important tool at all stages within the department. All of our students learn to Podcast themselves and to use the Crazy Talk software along with the Microsoft office packages, such as PowerPoint, Word and Movie Maker.

We encourage pupils to interest themselves in all aspects of their culture, including songs and poetry and are fortunate to have the services of Gearalt Ó Mianáin as an Irish assistant. He is a first rate musician and a Gaelic sports enthusiast. All students studying for an exam will have classes timetabled with Gearalt while the Key Stage 3 students have as much contact with him as timetabling permits.

The extra curricular life of the department is varied with students participating in the local Feis, in Cnoc na Rós public speaking competitions and in the annual Gael Linn table quizzes. All students studying Irish are encouraged to attend a course in the Gaeltacht. These are available at Easter and during the summer and the numbers of boys availing of this opportunity are increasing every year. We would urge parents to send their boys on these courses. Besides helping their social development, they improve their fluency in Irish in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere and form new friendships with students from all over Ireland. Our pupils are provided with opportunities to enter for Scholarships for these courses and have been very successful in the past, winning grants from Gael Linn and Cumann Ghaelach Chnoc na Rós.