Iontaobhas na Gaelscolaíochta assists Naíscoil Uí Chléirigh, Dungannon to grow and strengthen as demonstrated by Iolo Eilian (Chairperson and parent, “We’d have been lost without the Iontaobhas”. “On a practical level they purchased our mobile classroom, fitted it out and so much more. But the help went further than that. We were a new committee set up just 12 months ago and as with all new committees we needed time to settle in” etc.
Iolo continued, “The Iontaobhas put no pressure on us, gave us time to learn and develop. That is crucial for a new committee. They would phone us every so often to offer their support. This grant has given us an opportunity to take the school to the next level”.
He added, “In fact, the naíscoil is already full and it seems likely that we may have to expand even further in the near future. We could not have achieved this without this essential financial support, so “Míle buíochas Iontaobhas na Gaelscolaíochta!”
Naíscoil an Chléirigh is a practical example of cooperation between the Iontaobhas and Foras na Gaeilge, the all Ireland language body, to provide funding to support the development of Irish-medium education in East Tyrone.
Cuireann Iontaobhas na Gaelscolaíochta tacaíocht ar fáil do Naíscoil Uí Chléirigh, Dún Geanainn mar ar labhair Iolo Eilian: “Bheimis
caillte gan an Iontaobhas,” deir Iolo Eilian, Cathaoirleach agus tuismitheoir. “Ar leibhéal praiticiúil ba iad a cheannaigh an seomra ranga soghluaiste, a d’fheistigh é agus a rinne a lán, lán eile. Ach níorbh é sin deireadh cuidithe. Ba choiste nua muid nár bunaíodh ach 12 mí ó shin agus mar a tharlaíonn le coistí úra theastaigh am le socrú isteach, srl. Níor chuir an tIontaobhas aon bhrú orainn, thug siad am foghlama agus forbartha dúinn. Tá sé sin riachtanach ag coiste úr. Cuireadh siad scairt ó am go ham orainn ag tairiscint tacaíochta. Tugann an deontas seo deis dúinn an scoil a thabhairt a fhad leis an chéad leibhéal eile.
“Déanta na fírinne, tá an naíscoil cheana féin lán agus is cosúil go gcaithfimid í a leathnú tuilleadh go gairid amach anseo. Ní bhainfimis seo amach gan an tacaíocht riachtanach airgeadais seo, mar sin ‘Míle buíochas, a Iontaobhas na Gaelscolaíochta!’
“Sampla praiticiúil í Naíscoil Uí Chléirigh de chomhoibriú idir Iontaobhas agus Foras na Gaeilge, an comhlacht teanga uile-Éireann, i soláthar maoinithe chun tacú le forbairt an Ghaeloideachais in Oirthear Thír Eoghain.”