A Laois secondary school has held a highly successful pop-up Gealtacht in Portlaoise, and is on the way to earning a national award.

Dunamase College in Portlaoise have held several events that encourage the use of Gaeilge in everyday life, and are on track to earning the Gaelbhratach, a national award that recognises the fostering of the Irish language.

Teachers Chloe Ní Ghealbháin and Niamh Strong expressed their pride in the students’ dedication to the Irish language.

"We are so proud of our students' commitment to celebrating Irish language and culture," they shared.

"There’s a lovely Irish proverb—‘Mol an óige, agus tiocfaidh sí’—which means ‘Praise the youth, and they will prosper.’ Our students are proving to be incredible ambassadors for Gaeilge, not just in our school but in the wider community.

"Through their outreach to primary schools and their commitment to events like this, they are inspiring the next generation of Gaeilgeoirí. We look forward to seeing where their passion for the language takes them next!" the teachers finished.

The Cumann Gaelach (Irish Society) at Dunamase College has been at the heart of promoting the Irish language since its establishment in January 2023.

From organising engaging Irish activities for local primary schools to producing their own podcast, The GaelTalkers, their grá for the language is evident in everything they do.

This year, the school has also embarked on the exciting journey of earning the Gaelbhratach, a national award that recognises schools for their dedication to fostering Irish in everyday life.

Through student-led projects, cultural initiatives, and participation in Irish-language events, the Gaelbhratach Committee and Cumann Gaelach are working tirelessly to ensure that Gaeilge is not just seen as a school subject but a living, thriving language within the school and local community.

As part of this year’s Seachtain na Gaeilge celebrations, the Gaelbhratach Committee and Cumann Gaelach partnered with Portlaoise Library to host a lively Pop-Up Gaeltacht on Wednesday, 12th March.

The event was a fantastic success, bringing together students, teachers, and members of the wider community to celebrate and speak Irish in a relaxed and welcoming setting.