What is immersion education?

Immersion Education is the system of education of an Irish-Medium school. Classes are taught through the medium of Irish, school staff converse with each other through Irish, all business and Board of Management meetings are held through Irish and pupils are encourages to converse Irish with each other. The school strengthens and promotes its Irish-speaking community both inside and outside the school gates. Irish-medium schools are open and welcoming and to that end, they support parents in partaking in schools life through different events from Irish classes to the Parents’ Committee and much more.

Aims of Irish-medium Education

• To provide an excellent standard of education to pupils in our schools
• To promote and reinforce holistic development of children
• Promote the Irish-language, Irish culture and the Irish-language community

The Immersion Education Model

Comprehensive studies have found that the most effective method of acquiring a language is through immersion.

It is policy in all schools under An Foras Pátrúnachta that immersion education is implemented and practised. Immersion education means that all subjects, school business and internal communication are carried out through the medium of Irish. In this way, all aspects of the language surround the pupil, helping them to quickly understand and acquire the language. The class teacher will speak and teach through Irish only to the pupils from the beginning of Naíonáin Bheaga (Junior Infants) until the second term in Naíonáin Mhóra (Senior Infants) or later.

Research shows that children in immersion education do better in the reading and writing of English and Irish than the national average. (Ó hAiniféin, (2007), Cloud, Genesee & Hamayan (2000) ).

Why Choose an Irish-Medium School?

Parents and guardians chose an Irish-medium education for many different reasons:

• It is extremely important to them that their children are fluent as Gaeilge.
• They recognise that children get a particular perspective on our culture and others.
• Due to the pride developed in children in their language, their culture and in themselves.
• An ability to speak, read and write fluently in two languages.
• The excellent education children receive in Irish medium schools.
• Raising of self-esteem and sense of identity.

Along with these reasons, there are numerous other benefits for children who attend an Irish-Medium School.

For further information, resources and FAQs, visit www.gaeloideachas.ie