It’s claimed the lack of a fully-independent Gaelcholáiste in Clare is “absolutely farcical”.
It comes as Clare’s TD’s have received an open letter calling on the Government to make steps towards establishing a Gaelcholaiste in the county.
Clare is one of just 10 counties in Ireland that currently doesn’t have an independent Gaelcholáiste.
This means any student who enters education through Irish is unable to complete second-level education through the language.
Ennis-based musician Cathy Potter has written to the county’s Government TD’s calling for the shortfalls in Irish language education here to be addressed.
She says given the prevalence of Irish culture in Clare, it’s shocking the county doesn’t have a dedicated Irish medium secondary school.
At present, Gaelcholaiste an Chláir in Ennis is the only Irish language secondary school, however, it forms part of Ennis Community College, with English language classes taking precedence.
Independent status would allow the Gaelcholaiste to appoint its own principal and staff, and to access grants from the Department of Education.
Presenter of Clare FM’s Cúl Chaint and Irish language enthusiast, Dónal Ó Lionsigh, says there’s a simple, cost-neutral solution to provide Clare with an independent Gaelcholáiste.
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