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Gaelscoil

  • 07-02-2025 11:43AM
    #1
    Acem9
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12 ✭


    my daughter is Irish/asian. She is starting primary school this year, I have applied for many schools and I got the best vibes from the gaelscoil. We are 30 mins away but the other school she is accepted in to is 20 mins away. I am Irish and will be able to help her with homework, my biggest concern would be if she will be bullied for not being fully Irish, when I viewed the school I did not see many mixed race children. I do suspect she may also have adhd I’m not sure if she will fall behind for this reason. All school reports are from a few years ago so I’m not sure what any schools are like now. I have found this decision extremely difficult and am not sure where I will be sending her to school



Comments

  • #2
    dulpit
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,311 ✭✭✭✭dulpit


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058394591/gaelscoil

    I can only speak for my niece and nephew. Both went to gaelscoil for primary and secondary school (both are in college now). They were 2 years apart in school and there were a number of children who were not from Irish backgrounds in their classes and it was never an issue. At that age no child would even know the concept of being "fully Irish".

    If you got the best vibes from the school, I'd be saying go for it.



  • #3
    Deeec
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,746 ✭✭✭Deeec


    In my experience young children do not see the colour of a persons skin so I don't think you need to worry about bullying for the moment. I would go for the school nearest to you. It's important that she will have friends close by and is doing activities with her friends. 30 minutes drive for a primary school is too far away. Most children would live 5 or 10 minutes away from their primary school. This could be an Issue for you as you will constantly be in the car and other parents will be reluctant to drive their child 30 minutes for a play date at your house or birthday parties etc.



  • #4
    Acem9
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12 ✭Acem9


    i know, it is not possible for her to attend the school in our village, i have to work in the closest town so it suits us better for her to be in a school further away, i am hoping to book her in to activities so she meets local children



  • #5
    Acem9
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12 ✭Acem9


    thanks, being a younger parent also has me conscious about sending her I have felt a lot of judgement from preschool parents, in early 20s most parents don’t try to have a conversation etc, worried it will be like this in the gaelscoil I’ve noticed there is more older parents there



  • #6
    Deeec
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,746 ✭✭✭Deeec


    I think you need to rethink. I don't know anybody who sends their kids to a school because of where they work. Honestly it is best for your child to attend a school in the community she lives in. You need to find another parent who will take her before school and after-school who lives locally. In every school there are always a few mums who provide this childminding service.

    You seem to be afraid that you and your child will be excluded. Well there is a higher chance that you actually will be excluded if your child attends the school 30 minutes away as you will be a stranger. Nobody will know anything about you. The way to get to know parents is by talking to parents at school pick up, birthday parties or local activities eg. The sideline of the gaa pitch while the kids are training etc. You won't be doing this if your living 30 minutes and doing activities local to you.

    In my daughters class we have a family who live about 20 minutes away. The child is very much welcomed and included in the class. However her mother gets offended that everyone else lives local to each other. Sometimes last minute plans for playdates happen after local activities and she gets offended that her kid wasn't invited. These are completely unplanned playdates and the only reason her child wasn't included is because she was not there at the time.

    Keeping everything local is so important at primary school age. If she goes to the gaelscoil she wont fit in fully there or in her local area. Where in her local school she is more likely to be included in everything and also you will make friends with the parents. Your age won't be a problem - just show that you are a normal trustworthy parent who lives their child and you will be fine.

    Best of luck anyway and please stop overthinking this. It's primary school - she'll be fine



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  • #7
    deirdremf
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,375 ✭✭✭deirdremf


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123148008#Comment_123148008

    I get your points, but a Gaelscoil in a rural town will always have a wider catchment area than you might imagine. There will be other parents who live some distance away, so it won't be as much of an issue as you might think.

    If things really don't work out, the OP can always change schools.



  • #8
    byhookorbycrook
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Regional South East Moderators Posts: 12,541 Mod ✭✭✭✭byhookorbycrook


    You won’t have any worries as to whether your child will fit in. The lazy media stereotype of years ago whereby parents chose them to “ avoid” other ethnicities has been rightly dismissed.
    As mentioned , children in most Gaelscoileanna travel to the school from a wide radius .
    They have their friends and activities at home and also through school.
    If it’s the school you like , then you should follow through on it .



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