It was Seachtain na Gaeilge when Gaelscoil Phortlaoise officially opened it’s doors for the first time on its splendid new site in Summer Hill. (Above right, Dominic Ó Braonáin, school principal and above left, Siobhán Uí Chuinn, school vice principal.)
The students of the school were at the centre of the occasion, as they marched behind the piper before they sang Gaelscoil Phortlaoise (the school anthem) and Amhrán na bhFiann.
It was then vice principal Siobhan Uí Chuinn cut the red ribbon.Siobhán was one of the first teachers in the school when it was founded in 1998. She was involved with all five sites the school had resided at over the years.
The pupils and visitors then when to the hall for a cup of tea. Monsignor John Byrne SP blessed the school and joined them for sandwiches and light entertainment provided by the pupils.
The Principal, Dominic Ó Braonáin, thanked all involved for the fantastic occasion that had been put together; he gave high praise to the members of staff, the parents and especially the children.
“We have come together as a Gaelic Family to celebrate our language and culture,” he said.
“The previous sites in which the school had resided didn’t completely serve our needs. But now we have 16 classrooms, a library, a computer room and a hall.”
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Ba Sheachtain na Gaeilge í nuair a d’oscail Gaelscoil Phortlaoise a cuid doirse go hoifigiúil don chéad uair ar láithreán aoibhinn nua i gCnoc an tSamhraidh. (Thuas ar dheis, Dominic Ó Braonáin, príomhoide na scoile agus thuas ar chlé, Siobhán Uí Chuinn, leasphríomhoide na scoile.)
Bhí daltaí na scoile lárnach san ócáid, iad ag máirseáil taobh thiar den phíobaire sular chan siad Gaelscoil Phortlaoise (amhrán na scoile) agus Amhrán na bhFiann.
Is ansin a ghearr an leasphríomhoide Siobhán Uí Chuinn an ribín dearg. Ba í Siobhán duine de na céad múinteoirí nuair a bunaíodh an scoil sa bhliain 1998. Bhí baint aici leis an gcúig suíomh ina raibh an scoil lonnaithe thar na blianta.
Ina dhiaidh sin, chuaigh na daltaí agus na cuairteoirí go dtí an halla i gcomhair cupán tae. Beannaíodh an scoil ag Moinsíneoir John Byrne SP agus bhí tuilleadh siamsaíochta curtha ar fáil ó dhaltaí na scoile.
Ghabh an príomhoide, Dominic Ó Braonáin, buíochas le cách as ucht an ócáid iontach a cuireadh le chéile, thug sé ardmholadh do na baill foirne, do na tuismitheoirí agus do na páistí ach go háirithe.
“Táimid tagtha le chéile mar chlann Gaelach chun ceiliúradh a dhéanamh ar ár gcultúr agus ar ár dteanga,” a dúirt sé.
“Níor fhreastail na suíomhanna ina raibh an scoil lonnaithe ar ár riachtanais ar fad. Anois, tá 16 seomra ranga againn, leabharlann, ríomhlann agus halla.”
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