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Irish

Department Staff

Mr C Madden

Mrs J Quinn

Miss K Corvan (language assistant)

Subject Information

Fáilte go Roinn na Gaeilge, Coláiste Phádraig Droichead na Banna!

 

Irish language is an important cultural aspect of the everyday life of our school. Not only does learning Irish give us the remarkable skill to be able to speak and understand a second language, but it gives us the opportunity to connect with our heritage and cultural surroundings on a much deeper level. We endeavour to instil a sense of great pride in the Irish language in all our pupils. Many of our pupils can be spotted on our corridors proudly sporting their “Cúpla Focal” pins as well as Silver and Gold “Fáinní,” each representing various levels of fluency and commitment to mastering Irish.

 

Irish is studied by all students when they enter St Patrick’s in Year 8 and they have the opportunity to continue their studies to GCSE and A-Level.

 

Our department has welcomed many pupils who attended Irish Medium Primary Schools, who, as well as having the opportunity to complete their GCSE Irish much earlier than Year 12, have contributed enormously to the life of the department and to the status of Irish throughout our school community.

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Curriculum Information

Key Stage 3

KS3 Irish students will study a wide range of topics each year in accordance with the NI curriculum, with much emphasis being placed on spoken Irish. Topics studied at KS3 include:

 

  • Numbers/colours

  • Time

  • Myself & Others

  • School Life

  • The Weather

  • Hobbies & Pastimes

  • Daily Routine

  • Holidays

  • The House, My Area & Facilities

  • Food & Drink

  • The Body & Health

  • The World of Work

Key Stage 4 (GCSE)

GCSE Irish is an increasingly popular option in St Patrick’s. Students cover a broad range of topics, each of which falls into one of three broader contexts:

 

  1. Identity, lifestyle and culture;

  2. Local, national, international and global areas of interest;

  3. School life, studies and the world of work.

 

GCSE Irish focuses on the practical use of Irish and is a sound basis for progression to further study, higher education and employment. Pupils in Year 11 have the opportunity to attend a residential trip to the Donegal Gaeltacht during the Spring term.

Key Stage 5 (A-Level)

We are delighted that Irish has recently become an option at AS and A-level in St. Patrick’s. Students at AS/A2 level will study in-depth grammar, language structures and Irish literature. Students will also study and analyse Irish short films and poetry.

 

Students who study Irish at AS/A2 will also avail of one-to-one sessions with a language assistant on top of their regular timetabled classes. Year 13 students will also have the opportunity to attend a residential trip to the Donegal Gaeltacht during the Spring term.

Extra-Curricular

Throughout the school year, St Patrick’s Irish students have the opportunity of attending Feis An Dúin and the Gael Linn Quiz. Our Year 11 and Year 13 students have the opportunity to participate in our ‘Blas na Gaeltachta’ residential trip each year to Rannafast in the Donegal Gaeltacht in collaboration with a number of neighbouring schools. Summer Gaeltacht courses are widely promoted and encouraged amongst pupils from all year groups, regardless of their ability.

Careers

Fluency in Irish enables students to develop interesting careers, not only in the more traditional areas such as teaching, translation and the media, but also in the arts and cultural sector, in public sector organisations, and in professions such as healthcare, ICT and marketing.

Useful Links

https://ccea.org.uk/irish

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