Sci-Fest Winners

Overall Best School - Gaelcholaiste Luimnigh
2nd Place Overall - Aideen McLoughlin
Best Communicator Award - Cillian Moloney
Discover Sensors Award - Ciara Olsthoorn & Jenny Mullins
Best Use of Chemistry Award - Shellie Galligan
SEAI Award - Brian Grace

1st Place Junior Physical Sciences - Aideen McLoughlin
2nd Place Senior Life Sciencs - Niall Heally
3rd Place Junior Physical Sciences - Brian & Oisín (Rang Sisil)

Highly Commended Physical Sciences - Lauren, Caitlin, Treasa (Rang Sisil)
Highly Commended Life Science - Fiona, Lillian, Ailish (Rang Dominic)

1st Year's National Enterprise Winners

Press Release

Press Release

Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh is thrilled to have been selected as one of four All-Irish Medium Post-Primary schools in the country to participate in the framework for Junior Cycle change. The all Irish Post Primary College in the City Centre, along with the other schools selected to pilot the initiative will be leading the way in pioneering the changes that will occur in the Junior Cycle programme over time. College Principal, Mr. Donncha Ó Treasaigh stated that 'the NCCA was very impressed with the submission and presentation made by the College and that there was considerable demand for the pilot school status. Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh, which opened in 2006 is regarded as highly progressive and modern-thinking with particular emphasis on providing the highest quality of teaching and learning as part of its service to pupils and parents in the region. We see this as an excellent opportunity to work with the Department of Education & Skills to address the challenges and future requirements of our learners and society in furthering a modern and successful Ireland'. Mr. Ó Treasaigh complimented the tremendous commitment of the staff at the College for embracing the new challenges this programme will involve. He also thanked Minister Jan O' Sullivan and Councillor Joe Leddin for their interest in this initiative and for visiting the College to officially announce the achievement.

What is involved?

What students learn will be made more explicit. There will be 24 Statements of Learning describing the learning to take place. Priority will be given to the skills of literacy and numeracy. Six key skills for learning, living and working in the 21st century will be named and embedded in every subject, including Communicating and Being Creative. All subjects will be set out in terms of learning outcomes – what the student will know or be able to do.

The curriculum will, as at present, comprise of subjects. But there will also be short courses. Some of these will be available for schools to use ‘off the shelf’ in their new junior cycle. But schools will also be able to innovate and create their own short courses to an agreed template. So we could see short courses on Innovation and Enterprise, Chinese, Sustainability, Information Technologies, Debating, or Coaching in the community.

Assessment will be a major lever of change in the new junior cycle. The role assessment plays in driving learning progress on a day-to-day basis will be emphasised and supported. Assessment for qualifications will involve both external exams (60%) and school-based assessment (40%) by means of a portfolio completed by the student during second and third year. The assessment proposals involve teachers in the field of assessment for qualifications to a greater extent than at present, but this is essential – if assessment practice doesn’t change, teaching and learning practice won’t change either!

There will be two new national qualifications. The first, at Level 3 of the National Framework of Qualifications, will replace the Junior Certificate. The second, at Level 2, will be designed for students with particular special educational needs. The learning achievements of this group of students are not currently recognised in the Junior Certificate. Both Qualifications will be smaller than the Junior Certificate, so that the focus on final examinations doesn’t become disproportionate and detract from the focus on learning, skills, innovation and creativity in junior cycle programmes.

More Information: Click Here....

Comhairle na nDaltaí, DonnchaÓ Treasaigh, Minister Jan O' Sullivan, Sinéad Ní Chiardha

Buaiteoir ag GCLuimnigh ag Scléip 2012

Márta 26, 2012

Comhghairdeas le gach éinne a ghlac páirt i gcraobh ceannais Scléip 2012, bhí lá den scoth againn ar an 24 Márta in amharclann an Axis, Baile Munna. Ghlac 15 scoil páirt sa chraobh, agus bhí an-rath ar an imeacht. Bhí triúr i mbun moltóireacht ar an seó, Sinéad ní Uallacháin, Tomaí Ó Conghaile agus Jen ní Mhathúna, agus bhí sé an-dian orthu cinneadh a dhéanamh maidir leis na buaiteoirí toisc feabhas na tallainne a bhí ar stáitse rompu. Mholadar na hiomaitheoirí uile as an dul chun cinn a bhí déanta acu ó na réamhbabhtaí, ba léir go ndearna gach éinne an t-uafás cleachtadh! Tar éis go leor plé, chuireadar na torthaí thíos in iúl don slua. Gabhaimid buíochas leo as an sár-obair ar fad, agus gabhaimid buíochas chomh maith leis na múinteoirí, tuismitheoirí agus an lucht tacaíochta a thug oiread spreagadh do na rannpháirtithe uile. Guímid gach rath ar na hiomaitheoirí; is cinnte go bhfuil tallann agaibh agus tá súil againn sibh a fheiceáil ar stáitse arís amach anseo, bíodh sin ag Scléip 2013 nó san o2!

Grand Prix 2012:
Sinéad Toomey, Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh

Tá grianghraif ón lá le feiceáil sa ghailearaí. - http://www.gaelscoileanna.ie/gallery/?album=1&gallery=17&nggpage=6

Scoláire Cheoil Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh: Buaiteoir Gradam "Grand Prix" ag Scléip!

Bhuaigh scoláire na dara bliana ó Ghaelcholáiste Luimnigh, Sinéad Toomey, an Gradam is airde ag an gcomórtas Scléip an Satharn seo chaite. Bhuaigh Sinéad, 14 bliana d’aois, an gradam shóisearach sa chatagóir “Ceol Nua-aimseartha Aonair” agus chomh maith le sin, d’éirigh léi an duais “Grand Prix” a bhaint amach, in aghaidh iomaíocht láidir ó na h-iomaitheoirí ar fad eile sna catagóirí eile, Sóisir agus Sinsear.

Tá Sinéad ag seinm an giotár agus an piano le cúig bliana anuas ach níor thosaigh sí ag scríobh a cuid amhráin féin go dtí gur thosaigh sí sa mheánscoil. Tá a cuid saothair ar fad eile scríofa i mBéarla agus is í seo a céad thriail ar amhrán a scríobh trí Ghaeilge. Is é ábhar a h-amhrán “D’athraigh mé” ná cairdeas agus an chaoi go mbeidh na daoine is tábhachtaí ann duit i gcónaí.
Ghlac thart ar 600 scoláire dara leibhéil páirt sna ceithre craobhacha réigiúnacha a bhí ar siúl i mí Feabhra agus d’éirigh le cúig scoil déag dul ar aghaidh chuig Craobh na hÉireann. Bhí an craobh ar siúl in Amharclann an Axis i mBaile Átha Cliath an Satharn seo chaite agus rinne Sinéad Ní Uallacháin, Tomaí Ó Conghaile and Jen Ní Mhathúna, ealaíontóirí mór le rá, bhreithiúnas ar an lá. Dhéanadh taifead ar an gcomórtas ar fad do Raidió na Gaeltachta agus craolfar sraith faoin gcomórtas i mí Aibreán.

Tá an-áthas ar Shinéad faoin mbua agus ghabh sí buíochas leis na daoine ar fad ag Gaelscoileanna Teo, a eagraíonn an comórtas. ‘Is déis iontach é an comórtas seo do mheánscoileanna Gaeilge chun an Ghaeilge a spreagadh i modh nua-aimsire agus chun é a coimeád beo san aos óg. Mhol múinteoir cheoil Shinéad, an Mháistreás Naomi Ní Mhuiríosa, í as ucht an éacht ollmhór a tá bainte amach aici agus dúirt sí gur ‘ceoltóir agus scríbhneoir oilte, ard tallainne í Sinéad agus táimid ar fad i nGaelcholáiste Luimnigh ar bís go bhfuil aitheantas náisiúnta faighte aici’.
Mhol Príomhoide na scoile, Donncha Ó Treasaigh, Sinéad chomh maith agus ghabh sé buíochas leis an Máistreás Ní Mhuiríosa as ucht Sinéad a spreagadh chun páirt a ghlacadh sa chomórtas seo agus don chabhair a thug sí di tríd an bpróiseas. ‘Táim an-bhuíoch do na múinteoirí ar fad sa Choláiste a spreagann ár scoláirí sna healaíona, an Mháistreás Naomi Ní Mhuiríosa agus an Mháistreás Fionnuala Ní Choigligh ina measc’. Mhínigh an tUasal Ó Treasaigh gurb é an dara uair go raibh an gradam seo buaite ag scoil Luimnigh. ‘I 2008, bhuaigh Laurel Hill Coláiste an gradam le cur i láthair traidisiúnta iontach agus tá áthas an domhain orainn go bhfuil an trófaí tagtha ar ais go Luimneach ar feadh bliana eile.
Sa phictiúr thíos tá Sinéad, ag glacadh leis an ngradam i mBaile Átha Cliath an Satharn seo chaite.

Féilire do Sheachtain na Gaeilge i nGaelcholáiste Luimnigh
Imeachtaí na Seachtaine

Beidh múinteoiri na céad bliana agus múinteoirí  bliain a dó (Gaeilge) ag tabhairt Seanfhocal an Lae do na ranganna gach maidin i rith Seachtain na Gaeilge agus beidh ar na daltaí postaeirí a ullmhú bunaithe ar na seanfhocail sin gach oiche mar chuid den obair bhaile. Caithfear na postaeirí ar fad a thabhairt do Chaitriona Ní Chonchúir ionas gur féidir iad a chrocadh don taispeántas ! Buaiteoir Ainmnithe ag deireadh na seachtaine. Moltóir : ???

Seanfhocal Bl. 1 : (le déanamh ar an Luan) : Aithníonn ciaróg ciaróg eile
Bl. 2 (ar an Máirt) : Is maith an scáthán súil charad
Bliain 3 : (ar an gCéadaoin) : Is trom an t-ualach an leisce

• Beidh ar mhúinteoirí  bliain 1, 2, 3 , 5 (Gaeilge) an rún a phlé leis an rang agus an díospóireacht a ullmhú sa rang an tseachtain roimh ré.

Bl. 1, 2, 3 : An féidir libh beirt a roghnú ó do rang féin a bheidh i gcoinne an rúin agus beirt a roghnú a bheidh i bhfabhar an rúin. Is féidir leis na daltaí eile sa rang cabhrú leo na pointí a chur le céile (Brainstorm !)

Bl.5 : An féidir le múinteoiri Gaeilge na ranganna seo triúir a roghnú ó do rang a bheidh i gcoinne agus triúir a bheidh i bhfabhar an rúin.
Rún Bl. 1 : Is fearr an mheánscoil ná an bhunscoil
Rún Bl. 2 : Is é an scoláireacht an rud is tábhachtaí i saol na n-óg
Rún Bl.3 : Ba chóir fáil réidh le scrúdú an Teastas Shoisearaigh
Rún Bl. 5 : Tír gan teanga, Tír gan anam

• Ceisteanna don tráth na gceist curtha le céile ag an bhfoireann ar fad. Catagóir áirithe tugtha do gach duine.

Munster Schools Indoor Athletics

• Conor Foley (Bl 4) won Bronze medal in Boys Intermediate Shot Putt throwing a personal best of 11m 17.
• Lauren Whelan (bl 1) Came third in her long jump, jumping 4m 44cm. Gráinne Fitzgerald came fourth with a jump of 4m 05cm Róisín willlis came 5th, jumping 4m.
• Deirbhle Ní Riain (bl 2) won all of her events well, leaving with 4 gold medals, she won the 60m hurdles, Shot Putt, high jump jumping 1m 50cm and the Long jump with a new personal best of 5m14cm.
• Brian Drew Hartigan rang an excelent race in a very tough semi-final, just loosing out on the final, excellent effort for first time competing competively.
• Jacob O Lachtnáin came 5th in his 600m. He won bronze medal at the Munster Indoors at the weekend.
• Ewan Gallagher won his heat of the 1200m well but missed out on a medal due to fastest times.
• All athletes did very well on the day and some were very unfortunate to miss out on places in the final and medals.

We are very excited to announce the publication of Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh’s first ever poetry anthology. Over 200 students haves submitted poems that broach a wide range of themes and issues such as life, death, love, relationships, sport and nature.

The work, A Collection of Poems by Students of Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh is divided into two volumes. Volume I contains all poems submitted by First, Second and Third Year students and Volume II contains all work submitted by students in TY, Fifth and Sixth Year. Each volume costs €2.50 or it costs €4 for both. All surplus donations would also be very gratefully accepted and appreciated!

Limerick Pupil wins Brainfood Writing Competition

Emily Jane Waters, a Third year pupil from Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh was chosen as the overall winner in the Brainfood Writing Competition at an awards ceremony in Dublin on Monday, 6th February. Emily’s work entitled, ‘The Darkest Hour’ beat off competition from over 5,200 entrants to win first prize. The Brainfood.ie Fantasy Writing Competition was aimed at all pupils of primary and secondary school students in the Republic of Ireland. Pupils were asked to compose their own original fantasy short story. This competition enabled students to really tap into their creativity while improving their writing and vocabulary skills.
Fantasy writing, such as Harry Potter, Twilight etc., has soared in popularity in recent years and has captured the imaginations of young people all over Ireland.
Given the importance of literacy skills throughout life, this is a great opportunity to enable students to tap into their creativity while improving their writing and vocabulary skills.
Emily Jane’s English teacher, Ms. Sinéad Ní Shúilleabháin who accompanied Emily Jane was thrilled with the result saying; “Emily Jane is a highly talented and gifted pupil and I am delighted for her. Sometimes people ask me, if going to an All-Irish school impacts on English, I can firmly respond by saying no when you consider all of the prizes that pupils of Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh have won in various English writing competitions”. Ms. Ní Shúilleabháin praised her colleagues at Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh stating that; “we have an excellent English Department at Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh and we are supported to no end by the school in spite of cutbacks and ever-pressing challenges in the economy”.
School Principal, Mr. Donncha Ó Treasaigh praised Emily Jane, her parents, her teacher - Ms. Ní Shúilleabháin and the competition organisers saying that; “Emily Jane is an excellent pupil and is a credit to her parents and teachers. I wish to compliment Brainfood on facilitating this competition and in attracting such a considerable number of entrants totalling over 5,200”. Young people need to have as many opportunities as possible, such as these competitions, to express their talents and thoughts. We wish Emily Jane every success in the Junior Certificate this Summer”.
Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh is an all-Irish Post-Primary college, under the auspices of City of Limerick VEC, located in the heart of Limerick City offering boys and girls the opportunity of pursuing their second level education exclusively through the medium of Irish.

Please contact Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh for further information – 404959 or www.gcluimnigh.ie

Cispheil na gCailíní
Girls Basketball Team

Brúigh ar an íomhá i gcomhair chóip den Nuachtlitir
Click on the image above for a copy of the Newsletter

Gaelcholáiste Pupils selected by Irish Times Editors

Ciarán Gaffney (North Circular Road) and Jean Langford (Caherdavin) were invited to attend the book launch of "Dispatches from the Developing World" by Concern in Newman House, on St. Stephen’s Green, Wednesday the 23rd of November.  
The Concern Writing Competition is a highly competitive and prestigious writing competition which takes place each year. Over 800 entries from thirty-nine countries, spanning five continents were considered for this year's competition.
Both Ciarán's and Jean's works were shortlisted for publication in the book  ‘Dispatches from the Developing World’.
All stories were judged by renowned journalists such as Lara Marliowe, Catherine Halloran, Denis Staunton, Deputy Editor of the Irish Times and Tom Arnold, Chief Executive Officer of Concern Worldwide.

According to Ciarán, "In Transition Year, Ms. O’Sullivan asked my class if we were interested in entering a creative writing competition co-ordinated by Concern Worldwide. We had to write a journalistic article reporting on poverty in the Third World. We were given a choice of three topics, “Lessons we can learn from the developing world,” “Imagine the future of a child in the developing world”, to name but two. We were all extremely interested in entering this competition, and luckily enough two weeks ago Jean Langford and I discovered that our short-stories were to be included in the collaboration of short-stories written by students from all over the world. We are sincerely honoured to have had our stories judged by some of the very well renowned journalists and to have had our stories published in this book.

Ciarán stated that "I got to listen to some extremely inspiring speeches made by the journalists who judged our stories.  Having an interest in journalism, the opportunity to hear speeches delivered by these well-known journalists was an invaluable experience, and gave me a great deal of confidence in terms of writing and finding a route into becoming a journalist."
Deputy Principal of Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh, Ms. Sinéad Ní Chiardha praised both pupils and staff at the school saying, "We would like to express how grateful we are to Ms. Ní Shúilleabhán (Head of the English Department) for encouraging our pupils to enter this very important competition and to congratulate both Ciarán and Jean for their regal achievement in being selected by the judges and for being acknowledged in this new publication".

Pictured (Left to Right) : Ms. Sinéad Ní Shúilleabháin (Head of English), Jean Langford (Fifth Year), Mr. Pádraig Ó Súilleabháin (Board of Management), Ciarán Gaffney (Fifth Year) and Ms. Sinéad Ní Chiardha (Deputy Principal of Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh)

Ollscoil Luimnigh

Glacann daltaí na h-Idirbhliana páirt i gceiliúrthaí Ollscoil Luimnigh!

Ciarraí Abú !
The Call from Limerick based Kerry Footballers and fans

Go n-éirí leat a Mháistir - ó do Dhaltaí is do Chairde ag GCLuimnigh

A Business Studies teacher at Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh (A City of Limerick VEC Post-Primary All-Irish College) is also a member of the Kerry Senior Football Squad destined for Croke Park next Sunday.  Dáithí’s commitment and record with Kerry football is certainly very impressive; a player with his local club, CLG Daingean Uí Chúis and honours such as NFL Vs Cork 2011, Championship Vs Limerick 2011, 1 Munster Senior, 1 Munster Minor, 2 McGrath Cups, and 1 County Intermediate.

His pupils are fully behind him at Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh where school Principal, Donncha Ó Treasaigh outlined that ‘Dáithí is a very professional, committed and hard-working member of staff at the school which now serves 401 pupils in the City-Centre located Gaelcholáiste.  He is an excellent mentor and role-model for all young people and we wish him the very best of luck on Sunday’.
Speaking with Dáithí, he is very philosophical and optimistic; ‘This Sunday, it all comes to a head, all the hard work, all the daydreaming, all the wishing, all the hoping... Kerry V Dublin... we all grew up in Kerry - watching the ‘Golden Years’- the battles between the two, really Mouth-watering’.

On Working in Limerick, Dáithí added; ‘I want to take this opportunity to thank all my colleagues in Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh for all their support, not only in the lead up to the final, but all year long. Since joining the Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh last year, I have relished in the opportunity to work in such a fantastic school and work with such brilliant pupils, and to have very good people to lean on when the pressure is on. I sincerely thank  the Principal, the staff and the City of Limerick VEC, for all of their support and I appreciate what it means to be a part of such a special team here in Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh.
This school is full of students chasing dreams and they helped me to realise that giving up on mine, regardless of how late it was getting was never an option... So onwards we go and hopefully when we get back... our old friend Sam might be with us...’

Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh is an all-Irish Post-Primary college located in the heart of Limerick City offering boys and girls the opportunity of pursuing their second level education exclusively through the medium of Irish.

Centre For Talented Youth

Observations by Aidan O' Mahony who attended DCU this Summer

The three weeks that I spent attending the CTYI summer course in DCU were the greatest three (relatively!) academic weeks of my life. It was a great opportunity to spend three weeks learning about medicine and also to experience college life within a controlled environment. It was extremely enlightening for me as I had an interest in medicine prior to the course but I am now sure that it is something that I wish to work toward during my time left in secondary school. I enjoyed the academic challenge that I was presented with at CTYI. Another benefit was the chance to spend time with teenagers of similar abilities and outlooks as myself. I was unbelievably lucky to be given the chance to go to Dublin, and I am extremely grateful to my school principal, teachers and without doubt the City of Limerick VEC who all did their utmost to make sure that I was able to attend. They were three of the most memorable weeks of my life so far, and I am glad to be able to call myself a CTYIzen!