Scoil Na Nog
School Details
Location
About
Scoil na nÓg is a full‑Irish primary school (bunscoil) offering day‑time education for boys and girls in 5th and 6th class. The school operates an immersion model in which every subject – from mathematics to science and the arts – is taught through Irish, allowing pupils to acquire fluency naturally within a daily Irish‑speaking environment. Small class sizes ensure personalised attention, and the curriculum is complemented by a wide range of extracurricular activities, including a daily work club, sport, chess, and structured debates, all designed to foster social skills, independence and critical thinking. Located approximately seven kilometres from Cork City, the campus provides easy access for families and includes dedicated spaces for classroom learning, specialist rooms for arts and physical education, and facilities for the new after‑school service that will open in mid‑September 2024. The service, managed by the charitable organisation Gaelachas Teoranta, will offer additional support and training for pupils beyond the regular school day. Scoil na nÓg’s holistic approach aims to develop cultural, spiritual, academic, physical and aesthetic dimensions of each child within a supportive, Irish‑language‑rich community.
History
Gaelachas Teoranta was established in 1942 with the aim of revitalising the Irish language and culture. In 1958 the organisation founded Scoil na nÓg, initially as a co‑educational boarding school for children aged 9‑13, where Irish was the language of learning and communication. The following year the school expanded, opening a separate site in Trá Bholgáin, East Cork, for boys while continuing to educate girls in Gleann Maghair. Over the decades Scoil na nÓg has evolved into a day‑school that maintains its original immersion ethos while adapting to contemporary educational needs.