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A new Irish-medium gaelchoπaiste/ secondary school is welcoming applications for places from students in Newry and surrounds. Gaelcholáiste Dhún Dealgan is a co-educational, multi-denominational, multi-cultural, secondary school and it is opening its doors for First Year students in September 2023. Everyone is welcome and you can register through the school website.
Newry currently has no Irish secondary school so pupils in Bunscoil an Iúir up to now haven't had the option of continuing their studies in the Irish-medium. Dundalk at around 20km is perfectly manageable to travel to.
Students from Bunscoil an Iúir in Newry and Gaelscoil Phádraig Naofa in Crossmaglen came to visit the new Irish-medium secondary school last week. The students got an opportunity to have a look around the school and took part in Visual Art, Music, Science and Home Economics workshops. Students got to show their creativity in card making and cake decorating. There were Science experiments, music, laughter and healthy snacks.
Caoimhe Héarún Deputy Principal of Gaelcholáiste Dhún Dealgan said “We are located so close to Crossmaglen and Newry. It’s wonderful that students attending a gaelscoil in this area can now continue their education through Irish at second level. We’re so excited to open and provide excellent education through Irish plus so much more.”
Ms Héarún is a native Irish speaker from Cork and received both primary and post-primary education through Irish. She holds a Bachelor of Education in Home Economics and Irish and a Master’s Degree in Education and Training Management (Leadership) from DCU in 2021. Caoimhe has a wealth of experience as a teacher since 1997. She taught in Fingal Community College in Swords, Co. Dublin for over eighteen years. She is looking forward to bringing her knowledge of teaching and learning to Gaelcholáiste Dhún Dealgan. Caoimhe has a particular interest in wellbeing, running, music, crafts, gardening and sustainability.
The new school is located at Robin House in The Ramparts area of Dundalk. Gaelcholáiste Dhún Dealgan is linked with another Gaelcholáiste, Coláiste Ghlór na Mara in North Dublin. This enables the new school to share expertise, resources and have more extra-curricular options.
The new Gaelcholáiste is under the patronage of An Foras Pátrúnachta, the largest patron of Irish-medium schools with 17,000 students attending its schools in 23 counties. It has been in operation for the past thirty years and now runs 80 Irish-medium schools.
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact eolas@gcdd.ie or visit the school website www.gcdd.ie
