Once again, as part of St Paul’s High School Seachtain na Gaeilge celebrations, a successful Céilí was held in the school Assembly Hall.   With the expert Catherine McAnulty as bean an tí, and music provided by the Gold Ring Céilí Band, a great night has had by the large crowd attending.  Our photos from the night are below, and our highlights video.

Pictured above is some Céilí action at St Paul’s 

Below are some photos from the night:

Video below: Highlights from the St Paul’s Céilí night:

Head of Irish, Miss Ciara McCoy, and Head of Year 10, Mr Brendan McArdle congratulate some of the students in Year 10 who received their Fáinne Airgid (Silver Fainne) for proficiency and fluency in Irish.

Students in Year 9 enjoyed a Tráth na gCeist Mór (Bumper Table Quiz) for Seachtain na Gaeilge recently.  Questions were posed by Fear a’tí, Mr Murray and the winning team came from the boys of 9/28, 9/92 and 9/82.  Mr Burns presented Easons vouchers to the winning team, and Easter eggs to the runners up.

Mr Burns, Vice-principal congratulates the winners of the annual Year 9 Irish language quiz

Below few photos during the quiz: 

A Level students of Irish at St Paul’s High School and St Joseph’s High School, Crossmaglen, along with guest speakers, Tomaí Ó Conghaile (Journalist), Niall Comer (Lecturer at University of Ulster), Lynette Fay (Broadcaster & Producer, BBC), Head of Irish Miss Ciara McCoy  and Irish teacher Mr Stephen Quinn.

Year 13 and Year 14 students of Irish at St Paul’s High and St Joseph’s High School, Crossmaglen, had the opportunity to discuss career opportunities in Irish with three distinguished guest speakers who visited the school as part of Seachtain na Gaeillge celebrations.  Tomaí Ó Conghaile, a journalist and TV presenter who hails from Cloghogue, Lynette Fay, producer and presenter with BBC Northern Ireland, and lecturer at the University of Ulster, Niall Comer, discussed their careers and backgrounds and answered questions as Gaeilge from the interested students.

Some photos below which were captured during the event, and scroll down for video footage of the three guest speakers’ remarks.

BBC Broadcaster, Lynette Fay 

Journalist, Tomaí Ó Conghaile

Head of Irish Miss Ciara McCoy, with a few year 8 pupils who received their Cúpla Focal badges along with Head of Year 8 Mrs Mary McMahon

Year 8 students of Irish had their proficiency in the language recognised at a special Assembly to mark Seachtain na Gaeilge.  The students who have been learning Irish since September received their Cúpla Focal badges – a national award, which recognises basic fluency in Irish.

Head of Irish at St Paul’s, Miss Ciara McCoy, paid tribute to the students for their hard work and wished them well as they continue to study Irish through their years at Ardscoil Naomh Pól.

Tá Seachtain na Gaeilge faoi lánseoil in Ardscoil Naomh Pól, An Sruthán.  Féach ar chlár na n-imeachtaí thíos.

Seachtain na Gaeilge (Irish week) is well underway in St Paul’s, Bessbrook.  Have a look at our list of events below.

Pictured Above – Back row: Ms Anne McElroy, Kevin Nogher, Darren Mackin, Keenan Shields, Miceal McCartney, Miss McCoy
Front Row: Noelle Cunnane, Nassim Zerai, Jade McCaffrey

Students in 9/53 were recently presented with their ‘cupla focal’ award after completing a speaking test in Irish.  This award recognises the ability of these students to speak a ‘cupla focal’ or a couple of words in Irish.  This is a fantastic achievement for the students of 9/53 who have only started studying Irish in September.

During the month of March, as part of the celebrations for Seachtain na Gaeilge, students in Key Stage 3 are giving the opportunity to try and achieve the ‘cupla focal’ award or the ‘fáinne airgid’ (silver fáinne).  The successful students will be presented with their awards at special assemblies during Seachtain na Gaeilge.

9/53′s Irish teacher and Head of Irish, Miss McCoy praised the students on their achievement. “The students of 9/53 have worked very hard to achieve this level of Irish in a short space of time.  They are now able to answer questions about themselves, their school and their family quite confidently in Irish.  Ms McElroy, a classroom assistant with 9/53, has provided great support to the students in their efforts to achieve this award.  Ms McElroy practised the oral questions with the students and encouraged the students, who were lacking confidence, to attempt the exam.”

Bhí craic den scoth againn ag an Chéilí Mhór, a eagraíodh mar chuid d’imeachtaí Sheachtain na Gaeilge in Ardscoil Naomh Pól.

Tháinig slua mór de scoláirí, de mhúinteoirí agus de chairde Ardscoil Naomh Pól agus bhain gach duine sult mhór as an cheol agus as an damhsa.

Caitríona, Bean Mhic an Ultaigh a bhí mar bhean an tí, agus Seán Ó Néill agus Banna Cheoil Fháinne an Óir, Cnoc an Mhargaidh, a chuir an ceol ar fáil.

Bailíodh corradh le £500 a chuideoidh le daltaí ó Ardscoil Naomh Pól a rachaidh chun na Gaeltachta an samhradh seo.

Watch our video highlights from the Céilí Mór.

A great night’s craic was had be all at the Céilí Mór, held at St Paul’s as part of the school’s celebrations for Seachtain na Gaeilge / Irish Week.

A terrific crowd of students, staff and friends of St Paul’s attended, and they all enjoyed the opportunity to participate in various céilí and set dances.

Mrs Catherine McAnulty was bean an tí, and Seán O’Neill and the Gold Ring Céilí Band, Markethill provided the excellent music.

Over £500 was raised on the night, which will be used to provide scholarships to students from St Paul’s who will attend Irish summer colleges in the Gaeltacht.

We all had great craic at the recent Céilí Mór held in St Paul’s High School as part of the Seachtain na Gaeilge (Irish week) celebrations.

Organised by the Irish Department, the Céilí was a great success, with many staff, students and friends of St Paul’s taking to the floor and spending an enjoyable evening doing a jig, or a reel!

Music was provided by Head of Technology & Design Sean O’Neill, and the Gold Ring Céilí Band, and bean an tí for evening was Catherine McAnulty.

Principal, Mr Oliver Mooney, thanked everyone for their attendance, and praised the hard work of the Irish Department in organising the céilí, in particular Miss Ciara McCoy and Mr Stephen Quinn.

A selection of photos from the Céilí are below.

The Michael Warde Library was the location for this year’s Foram Plé, a discussion forum for senior students of Irish, which is part of Seachtain na Gaeilge.

The theme of the discussion was ‘Cad é atá i ndán dom leis an Ghaeilge?’ and the students heard from three very interesting speakers who shared their own personal story and experience of learning Irish and how it benefitted them in later life.

The first speaker was local man Réamann Ó Ciaráin, Bainisteoir Chúige Uladh with Gael-Linn, who spoke about his youth growing up in Crossmaglen, and his work with all-Ireland language body Gael-Linn.  Past pupil, and TV and radio producer and presented Céara Ní Choinn was the second speaker, and Céara spoke about her experiences learning Irish at St Paul’s, and how this encouraged her to continue her studies at university.  Céara talked about her experience in working in various different media roles, and how having Irish was an additional advantage.

The third speaker was Niall Comer, Uachtarán Chomhaltas Uladh and lecturer at University of Ulster, Coleraine.  Niall spoke of how his family was steeped in Irish culture and how, again his early days and experiences of learning Irish helped him to develop a deep love for the language.

A lively discussion continued after the speakers.