Sending daughter to Naíonra..

PLL

.. When I only have v.basic Irish. Thoughts? I've had family members made awful snide comments and I need objective advice.

Background: I attended school in England (Irish family) so obviously never learned Gaeilge. My oh has Leaving Cert Irish. I always wanted my children to a gaelscoil. I wish I had the chance and I feel it is wrong to forfeit the idea for my daughter just because I don't speak it.

I am wholeheartedly willing to learn, especially starting this summer before my daughter begins in the Naíonra (If I do enrol her there). My oh would really love her to speak as gaeilge too.

My reservations are about how parents such as myself are viewed. I see some threads online about non speakers sending their children and being welcomed and classes put on it help them learn. On the other hand I see discussions about gaelscoil entrance interviews as gaeilge and schools only letting children of fluent speakers in.

The naíonra I want to enrol my daughter in actually just opened in the crèche she has attended for the last year so she would haveu no issue getting a place. She is 3 and a half. Counts to 10 in English, Spanish & Irish. I speak very basic Irish words to her currently. I am in college so will have the time & capacity to learn more gaeilge.

Sorry this is so long, but it is something that is important to me but I'm currently receive no support from many people and it is so upsetting. Any thoughts / advice are greatly appreciated.

Go raibh maith agat.

Brian?

My son goes to one and hadn't a word of Irish before he started. He's doing great though.

My hasn't a word of Irish and I can't hold a conversation in Irish.

peter_dublin

Hi.


We currently have a six year old in senior infants in a Gaelscoil. Started her in the Naíonra. My wife is Eastern European so no Irish and my own family were extremely anti Irish despite both parents being fluent so I basically had none going in.

Firstly the Naíonra my daughter attended and the people have been nothing but amazing to be quite honest and she started to pick up Irish over what I taught her within days and even correcting my own. I don't think I've ever felt they looked on myself differently and I get along very well with them but I will make an effort to try and speak in Irish as bad as it is.

The Gaelscoil itself is equally excellent, I heard the usual oh Gaelscoils are elitist, for Irish people whom don't want Foreign children with their own children etc but I can honestly say now that my daughters command of Irish is purely down to speaking it for six hours a day in school. At home it would be English / Irish with myself and my wifes language when interacting with her.

For the application we made the effort to fill the application out As Gaeilge and when they noticed I had terrible Irish they helped by switching into English if required. I can't say I had anything but excellent experience with the Gaelscoil and I've never felt sidelined or looked down upon for not speaking Irish fluently at this time but I would image it is noticed if you are actively making an effort to interact through Irish and may have an influence.

We ended up on the reserve list due to demand but did get a space as some parents applied to multiple schools and haven't looked back since as we now have a six year who can communicate without issue in three languages and I can honestly say the Irish comes 90% from the Gaelscoil and not myself. If she went to the National School 500m from our home it would not be the case to be honest and this is despite the fact the Gaelscoil is two miles in the wrong direction and adds an hour daily to my commute but I would make the same choices again without a doubt.

PLL

Thank you very much peter_dublin for your response. Great to hear a positive experience from a situation similar to my own.

byhookorbycrook

I have taught in a number of Gaelscoileanna and the vast majority of parents have little or no Irish. I am absolutely opposed to interviews or only allowing parents with fluent Irish send their children to a Gaelscoil and am glad to say I have never worked in a school where this is so.

As to being elitist? We have children of many nationalities , we have children from all sides of the community and with all kinds of differing needs and abilities.

If you even have "Dia duit" and "Slán" and are willing to support your child in their schooling, then you will be fine.
Do what you want to do, there are always people waiting to tell you what you "should" do and that you are somehow wrong. Feic 'em!

Moonbeam

I have a daughter in Naíonra and one in Gaelscoil and we have irish but the majority of the parents have little or none.
Once you are prepared to learn then it is worth it.

pwurple

I have learnt more irish from neighbours children that attend the local naionra than I could quantify. Feilicán!

As an aside, i did meet a few obnoxious parents at a gaelscoil introduction meeting, who were telling me in hushed tones that it was the best way to avoid foreigners. It is the reason we chose another school. I just didn't want our children to hang around with those particular bigot's children, friends have a big influence on a child. They are obviously not representative of every parent, or every school.. Just unfortunately they were the ones I encountered.

I don't think you'll be judged. A step up in irish is very useful.

GalwayGrrrrrl

My children go to gaelscoil and I had no Irish at all when they started (I only moved to Ireland a few years ago). I went to classes to try to learn some basic words. The staff of the school are very welcoming and will speak to me in english if they see I can't understand them. My husband is a fluent Irish speaker but I am with the children for homework etc. we mandge well and they children are now fluent.