Grant was music to ears of Bantry gaelscoil pupils

Some of the Gaelscoil Bheanntraí pupils who have benefitted from the grant which provided for musical instruments.

By Cammy Harley

GAELSCOIL Bheanntraí has benefitted hugely from a unique grant which they used to develop music at the school.

Two years ago, spearheaded by Cristín Ní Chróinín, the Gaelscoil applied for a fund of money from Dúnlaoi Teo.

The Dúnlaoi Fund was administered by The Community Foundation on behalf of Dúnlaoi Teoranta’s Board who wished to disperse the money as a once-off financial support to promote Irish language.

Irish language schools in Cork city and county, especially Gaelscoileanna, were invited to apply and outline their plans for the funds, if they were successful.

Cristín and her team put in a successful application towards the school’s music programme and were awarded €7,500.

As a result, the children now have a varied and stimulating assortment of musical instruments including violins, button accordions, piano accordions, bodhráns, guitars, ukuleles, banjos, flutes, harps, recorders and tin whistles.

Mairéad Uí Chroinín, who is in charge of putting together the music programme and sourcing tutors says there is so much on offer to children in the school.

‘We have also recently sourced a lever harp and tutor, and pupils have already signed up for lessons,’ she told The Southern Star.

Mairéad said that Tom O’Sullivan helped source good quality instruments, and all the flutes are handmade.

Apart from the music, the Gaelscoil has collected a few other accolades such as winning a Discovery Science Award every year, being awarded its 5th Green Flag, a Blue flag for being an Active School, and a Digital School of IT Excellence award.

The school is also a health promoting school, which has its own garden and polytunnel, and also hosts numerous after-school activities like Irish dancing, set dancing, table tennis, golf, cycling and an active homework club.

Gaelscoil Bheanntraí was initially started in 1994 by a group of parents who wished to give their children an education through Irish. Since then, the school has developed and grown to the success it is today, with over 140 pupils in a purpose-built, state of the art building on the outskirts of town.

The ethos of the school is that learning is a life-long process which begins at home and is then nurtured at school by teachers fostering a curiosity and interest in ongoing achievements.

Principal Catherine Ní Mhuircheartaigh extends a welcome to the open day on Thursday February 12th (from 11am-12 noon) for all those interested in having a tour of the school.

For further information contact Deirdre on 027-51966.