REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF BUNSCOIL AN IÚIR, NEWRY
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF BUNSCOIL AN IÚIR, NEWRY,ON TUESDAY 17 NOVEMBER 1998
I am delighted to be here today to celebrate and share with you the achievement that is Bunscoil an Iúir.
Tá an-áthas orm bheith in éineacht libh inniu chun dea-scéal na scoil seo a cheiliúradh.
Irish Medium Education has come a very long way since the first Bunscoil was started in Belfast in 1970. There are now eight primary and one secondary school in Northern Ireland with almost 1,500 students receiving their education through the medium of Irish; and the numbers are growing each year.
Is mór go deo an dul chun cinn atá déanta I gcúrsaí Gaeloideachais ó tosnaíodh an chéad bhunscoil I mBéal Feirste I 1970. Anois tá ocht mbunscoil agus meánscoil amháin ag feidhmiú mar chuid den chóras oideachais anseo I dTuaisceart Éireann. Tá beagnach 1,500 (míle cúig chéad) scoláire ag fáil oideachais tré mheán na Gaeilge agus tá na figiúirí ag fás in aghaidh na bliana.
I know that the road to full recognition and funding has been a difficult one for Bunscoil an Iúir. Just a little over a year ago the Bunscoil was facing into its eighth year in ageing prefabricated accommodation and fully dependent on voluntary funding.
Tá fhios agam gur streachailt fada agus deacair a bhí ann chun aitheantas agus maoiniú a bhaint amach. Níl sé mórán thar bhliain ó shoin nuair a bhí an scoil san ochtú bliain i sean chóiríocht réamhdhéanta, agus ag brath ar foinsí deonacha chun an scoil a choiméad ar oscailt.
I congratulate everyone - parents, teachers and the many supporters of the school alike, for your courage and determination during what must have seemed at times like an impossible struggle.
Molaim crógacht and dílseacht na dtuismitheorí, múinteoirí and lucht tacaíochta uilig na scoile. Tá mé cinnte gur shíl sibh amanta gur snámh in aghaidh easa a bhí ann.
I know also that Bunscoil an Iúir has always emphasised its cross community ethos. The Irish language belongs to the people of this island, whatever their politics or their religion.
Tá fhios agam fosta go bhfuil deareadh láidir tras-phobal mar théith bunúsach sa scoil. Is le muintir an oileáin I gcoitinne í an Ghaeilge.
I am confident that the Bunscoil will go from strength to strength in the years ahead.
Ta mé cinnte go mbeidh rath agus fás ar an scoil sna blianta amach romhainn.