Reflection On The First Year Of Coláiste na Tulchann

We are delighted to have a bi-lingual guest post from Evelyn Ni Raghailll of Coláiste na Tulchann, the Aonad in Luttrellstown CC. The school is celebrating the end of their first year. 

Learn achieve succeed – Ag foghlaim go rathúil chun go n-éireoidh linn

Mar a deir an seanfhocal – Tús maith, leath na hoibre. Fíoraíodh fís faoi dheireadh ag tús na scoilbhliana seo agus tar éis obair chrua an phobail anseo i mBÁC15 tá oideachas ar fáil trí mheán na Gaeilge ar leac an dorais. Níl CNT ar an bhfód ach le bliain anuas agus tionchar suntasach le brath ní amháin i measc phobal na máthairscoile, Coláiste Pobail Bhaile Lotrail, ach i measc an phobail anseo i mBÁC15.

Mar chuid den chomhoibriú leis an mháthairscoil d’fhreastail daltaí na chéad bhliana ar an nGaeltacht agus cuireadh foireann iománaíochta chun páirce den chéad uair. Sciob daltaí Choláiste na Tulchann gradaim sa treodóireacht, sa rugbaí agus imríonn siad tionchar ar choistí éagsúla na scoile. Ghlacamar páirt i gcuriarracht Comhrá18, comórtais agus imeachtaí Sheachtain na Gaeilge agus ba é an chéad uair gur ghlac scoil iomlán páirt ar an ardán ag Scléip’19 ! Thapaíomar deiseanna chun nascadh leis an bpobal Gaelach anseo i mBÁC15, m.sh. le leabharlann Bhaile Bhláinséir áit a d’fhreastalaíomar ar cheardlanna agus scéalaíocht i gcaitheamh na bliana. Bímid ag déanamh cumarsáide go rialta ar na meáin thraidisiúnta (agallaimh raidió ar PhoenixFM agus Raidió na Life) agus ag giolcaireacht ar na meáin shóisialta (an leanann sibh muid ar @tulchann go fóill?).

Tá meitheal de mhúinteoirí tiomanta a mhúineann a n-ábhair trí Ghaeilge ag baint leasa as an teicneolaíocht agus na modheolaíochtaí is nuálaí. Oibríonn na daltaí go crua mar ambasadóirí na scoile agus táimid fíor-bhródúil as a ndilseacht agus a ndíograis. Fáilteoimid roimh an dara cóhort ag deireadh an tsamhraidh seo chugainn. Fáiltímid roimh dheiseanna nascanna a chruthú le Gaelcholáistí eile an DDLETB, idir mhúinteoirí agus dhaltaí. Le chéile, is féidir linn.

Mighty oaks from little acorns grow – Coláiste na Tulchann is nearing the end of its first year as part of the vibrant, innovative learning community that is Luttrellstown Community College, providing a comprehensive curriculum as Gaeilge to the community of Dublin 15. Coláiste na Tulchann has made its mark both in the mainstream school and the wider community.

Coláiste na Tulchann initiated a joint school trip to the Gaeltacht including students from the mainstream school and fielded a hurling team for the first time. Students from Coláiste na Tulchann ran away with awards in orienteering, rugby and they play important roles on various school committees, e.g. Student Council and Green Schools. We participated in the successful world record attempt at the longest Comhrá18 as Gaeilge, the events of Seachtain na Gaeilge and for the first time in the history of Scléip, an entire school was represented on stage in one act. We took every chance to engage with the community here in Dublin 15 – the team at Blanchardstown library organises regular literary events as Gaeilge. Keep an eye and ear out for us on social media as we have been doing radio interviews on PhoenixFM and Raidio Na Life and celebrating our achievements on Twitter – please follow us on @tulchann! In September we welcome the second cohort of students and are looking to create links with other Gaelcholáistí, both teachers and students, in the DDLETB family. Is féidir linn.