OVERVIEW IRISH

19th February 2018 by Website Editor

“Growing your Irish roots!”

Members of the Department

HOD:	Bean Sayers/ Ms Sayers
Teachers:	An Máistir ó hAodha / Mr Hughes Bean Marlow/Mrs Marlow

Welcome to the Irish Department

In Roinn na Gaeilge we enjoy teaching our pupils to understand and speak Irish while emphasising maximum use of the target language in a stimulating learning environment. We encourage pupils to go on trips to the Gaeltacht in the Summer and at Easter so that they can have fun and enjoy speaking Irish with other young people from all around the country. As well as the social and interpersonal benefits these courses afford the pupils the opportunity to develop their fluency through bringing to life the language learnt in the classroom.

We promote a positive learning environment in Roinn na Gaeilge and we afford pupils a wide range of opportunities to enhance learning and achieve success. We have developed a strong culture of praise in the department where effort, progress and achievement are recognised, rewarded and celebrated.

Aims of the Irish Department

“Irish is rooted in our heritage, it belongs to us and gives us a sense of belonging. In our department, seeds of “Gaeilge” are sewn, nurtured and grown; we help students cultivate and appreciate their Irishness.”

To teach students to understand, speak and write Irish for the purpose of practical communication.
To develop, through the language an awareness of the student’s own cultural identity within a multicultural society and thereby foster a tolerance for others.
To give students an appreciation of the nature of languages and the benefits of language learning.
To provide enjoyment and intellectual stimulation through varied and active learning.
To develop thinking skills and personal capabilities of students in an environment; which encourages participation, success, independence and self-reflection.

Key Stage 3

All students in Key Stage 3 study Irish every week:
Bliain 8 – 2 periods
Bliain 9 – 4 periods
Bliain 10 – 2 periods

In their first three years of learning Irish at Loreto Grammar School our pupils cover a wide range of topics

Toipicí / Topics
Bliain 8 / Year 8	Bliain 9 / Year 9	Bliain 10 / year 10
Classroom Language and Myself Numbers The clock Days Months Weather Health Culture and Festivals	The Classroom / Orders Food/Meals and shopping for Food Daily Routine My Area Culture and Festivals	Travel and Holidays Daily Routine and Careers School Life Pastimes House/Home Basic GCSE Practice

Extra-Curricular Activities

Many students attend Gaeltacht courses for 2/3 weeks every Summer to practise speaking Irish with students from other schools.

Students have the opportunity to participate in Feis Thír Eoghain, Seachtain na Gaeilge, Lá na dTeangacha,competitions for Gaeltacht Scholarships, as well as ongoing internal competitions to promote Irish.A Student of the Month is recognised in each class in Year 8.

An award for 1) Loreto Learner, 2) Leader and 3)Team Player” is presented to each class in Years 9 and 10 per half-term.
GCSE pupils have the opportunity to enter for the silver “Fáinne”
Post Gaelscoil pupils have the opportunity to enter for the Silver / Gold Fáinne.