Ballinakill National School in Co. Laois was awarded €2,000 to collaborate with Abbeyleix South National School, Laois to form a professional learning community to support the teaching of music through Irish. This project aimed to increase the exposure of learners to Irish by extending the use of Irish as a medium of communication and instruction in real contexts beyond discrete Irish language lessons.
School’s reflection
Participation in the Féilte Bursary Scheme has been a very worthwhile experience for both staff and students in our school, Ballinakill Mixed NS. The opportunity to engage in a collaborative, cross-school CLIL project, intergrating Gaeilge and music, has enriched our teaching and learning practices. Teachers have developed new pedagogical skills, increased their confidence in using Irish, and engaged in meaningful professional dialogue through joint CPD workshops held together with Abbeyleix South NS. Observing peers and sharing best practices has strenghtened a sense of professional community, while also deepening understanding of effective bilingual instruction.
Students responded enthusiastically to the use of music as a vehicle for language learning, resulting in increased motivation, creativity, and confidence in using Irish. The project also fostered a greater sense of cultural identity and pride.
One challenge was the logistical complexity of organising substitute cover and coordinating visits between schools, which required careful planning. Time constraints also placed pressure on teachers’ existing workloads. However, over all we felt that the professional and educational gains offset these difficulties.
Overall, the bursary enabled our participation in an innovative and collaborative approach to professional learning and curriculum development. It empowered our staff and enriched the student experience, leaving a lasting impact on our two school communities.