Let’s Make Gaeil Lú CTR A Reality
Nationally across Ireland c. 4% of all children have access to Irish medium secondary level education. It is not evenly distributed and there is significant demand. Louth has no secondary school places at all, despite being the 10th most populous student county.
Recent government policy has stated that the capacity should be increased to 8-10%, however this has not been fleshed out and there is no current timeline to achieve this.
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History
As a result of a parent led campaign which started in 2005, from 2013-2019 children in Co Louth could attend a Irish medium secondary school, Coláiste Lú, (under the patronage of LMETB) in Dundalk. However, a change of principal resulted in its closure, leaving 70+ teenagers unable to continue their education through Irish. No other schools in Louth provided such education.
Following a campaign by parents after the closure of Coláiste Lú, the Dept. of Education accepted and considered a proposal from An Foras Pátrúnachta to develop and provide immersive Irish medium education in Dundalk to cater for the demand in Co. Louth and the wider North East. While this proposal is still in the final stages of approval, the Dept. have advised that the approval is conditional on suitable buildings being available. The Dept. have indicated that this is not considered to be their responsibility, though they will pay any associated annual lease costs. The Dept. will not purchase any premises. Parents, therefore, will have to source and secure a suitable building for the school.
Who We Are
The following parents set up Gaeil Lú CTR:
Aidan Kinsella, Cathriona Connor, Eimear Rice, Eugene Toner, Marguerite Cooney and Maria Ward
We all have children who either used to attend Coláiste Lú and still want to be educated through Irish, and/or attend an Irish medium primary school – gaelscoil – and plan to continue education through Irish.
Testimonials
Julian de Spainn – General Secretary – Conradh na Gaeilge
Caoimhín Ó hEaghra – General Secretary – An Foras Pátrúnachta
Bláthnaid ní Ghréacháin – CEO Gaeloideachas
Xx TD – Sinn Féin / Fianna Fáil / Green Party / Fine Gael
Legal
Solicitor : Ciarán Mulholland, Mullholland Law, Dublin St, Dundalk
Gaeil Lú Cuideachta faoi Theorainn Ráthaíochta
A company limited by guarantee without share capital
Registered in Ireland Company No 670366
Directors: A Kinsella, E Rice, E Toner