It’s been a long time coming . . . but the official opening of Scoil Bhríde was worth the wait as Gaeltacht Minister Jack Chambers was on hand last Friday to cut the ribbon on Menlo’s national school.

The school opened its doors in 2014. But between concentrating on introducing an Irish-language policy in its initial years; a flood in 2019 which meant the school had to relocate to the Killannin Stand of Galway Racecourse; and interruptions due Covid-19 restrictions, last week was the first opportunity to officially open and celebrate Scoil Bhríde.

“For one reason or another we hadn’t had an official opening. We wanted a cause for celebration to show off our wonderful school. Minister Jack Chambers was there for the official opening and we celebrated life in general after Covid,” said principal Máire De Brún.

Scoil Bhríde hit the headlines in November 2019, when a flood at the school meant all classes had to temporarily relocate to Galway Racecourse, while refurbishment works took place.

Between the school, and an All-Irish pre-school, it has roughly 160 pupils mostly from Castlegar, Headford Road, Dyke Road, Woodquay, and Menlo.

“We started the journey of Tumoideachas, (immersion teaching), in September 2018, the first year of an intake of children in immersion teaching method where all Irish was spoken in Naíonáin Beaga (junior infants). We’re up as far as third class and by 2025 all classes will the taught solely through the medium of Irish,” said Ms De Brún.

It has worked with An Bruach Thoir, a voluntary group that developed a language plan for Galway City East; and language planning officer Micheál Mac Aoidh.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

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