User:Náiscoil Con Rí Uladh

General Information re Naiscoil Con Ri Uladh, Ballymena

Náiscoil Con Rí Uladh established in 2004 is now about to enter it’s 4th successful year as an Irish-medium pre-school based within Saint Joseph’s Early Learning Centre, Ballymena. The School Teacher and Classroom Assistant are both fluent Irish speakers, our Classroom Assistant having been born and reared in the Donegal Gaeltacht. The Naiscoil Con Ri Uladh Committee consists of 9 dedicated enthusiastic members who have held a number of fund raising events during this year to promote the school, and have recently been recognised as a Parish group which has greatly enhanced their standing within both the community and the Parish.

Origin of Náiscoil Con Rí Uladh, Ballymena

It is widely known that our Parish is called Kirkinriola. This name is an anglicised translation from the Irish coil Con Ri Uladh meaning Church of Con the High King of Ulster. Following tradition with our Parish name our School is also known in English as Con High King of Ulster. We considered this to be appropriate as it was both meaningful to our local area and also due to it’s Irish historical relevance.

Children’s admission and School activities

Your child will be eligible for registration at age 3. The School activities are regulated within a strict daily timetable between the School opening hours of 9:00a.m. and 12:00p.m. These activities provide relaxed fun and games, based upon a structured educational plan via the medium of Irish. The schedule and content has been clearly and expertly defined in order to be stimulating, interesting, and challenging, so as to promote productive play and to improve both concentration levels, and social skills, thus enhancing the child’s overall confidence, growth and development, and acceptance of discipline. If you are interested in registering your child for Náiscoil Con Rí Uladh please contact either Aódan Mac Sheafraidh on 07936648423 or Tony Mulvenna on 07762309781 for further details.

Ultimate aims and future development

Due to the current popularity and growth of Naiscoil Con Ri Uladh, it is the ultimate aim that either a Bunscoil or an integrated Irish-medium unit within a Primary School will be established within the near future. This will provide the facility for those parents who intend their child to continue to benefit from the many advantages of being educated via the Irish-medium. It will also set up a permanent base to initiate the potential development and growth of the Irish speaking community within the Ballymena area, hopefully leading into future generations.

As a parent/primary carer must I speak Irish?

Over 90% of parents who send their children to Irish-medium Schools do not have any Irish. You can still support your child’s learning even if you do not speak Irish. However, for those of you who do wish to either participate in beginners Irish classes or to improve/refresh the Irish that you already know, a local committee has been formed called Glór Dhal Riada. This committee was established with direct links to Naiscoil Con Ri Uladh and is currently successfully providing Irish classes in Martinstown Credit Union, and due to demand has scheduled to provide further classes both for beginners and at a more advanced level within the new All Saint’s Parish Centre, Ballymena, this September. If you are interested please contact either Rosie Lyness on 07740684152 or Aodán Mac Sheafraidh on 07936648423 for further details.